Audio and Video Converter Cables

Answer 1

These days, audio and video cables seem to come in every shape and size under the sun. Whether you are trying to connect a new DVD player to an old TV or an old VCR to a new HDTV, there are plenty of options for how to connect all of your audio and video devices.

Analog vs. Digital Cables

Most connectors of older audio and video equipment is analog, meaning a variable change in voltage across a line. This is in contrsat to newer equipment which is digital, meaning a series of 1's and 0's across the line. These two methods are a bit tricky. Analog connectors can easily be transferred to other analog sources. An example of this would be a headphone to RCA adapter to connect, say, an iPod to a theater system through two Red and White cables. Digital cables can also be interchanged fairly easily as well, such as a DVI to HDMI cable, typically used to connect an older computer with a newer TV. The problem comes in, however, when you are converting from an analog signal to a digital signal.

Connector Boxes

Typically, in order to convert an analog signal to a digital signal, a converter box must be used. A converter box takes the analog signal and is able to create a digital signal from that, though these boxes due take up a bit of space (typically ranging in size from a deck of cards to a power supply size). One problem that occasionally comes up with digital converters is copy protection. Some standards, such as HDMI, have an optional Anti-Piracy flag that content makers and delivery systems can implement (DVD makers, DVD Players, Cable Boxes, etc.). These are in an effort to prevent High Definition signals from easily being copied. Special boxes can be purchased that are able to circumvent these protections, though they are extremely expensive and their legality may be subject to varying laws depending on where you live.

Overall, it is typically fairly easy to convert signals from the sources available to what is needed. Often times these can be purchaesd at a local electronics store or online for much cheaper. Whether you are converting from analog to digtial, digital to digital, or analog to analog, typically the right cable is only a little bit of research away.