Audio connectors and video connectors are

electrical Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described ...

or optical connectors for carrying audio or

video signal Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) sy ...

s. Audio interfaces or video interfaces define physical parameters and interpretation of signals. For digital audio and digital video, this can be thought of as defining the physical layer,

data link layer The data link layer, or layer 2, is the second layer of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. This layer is the protocol layer that transfers data between nodes on a network segment across the physical layer. The data link layer ...

, and most or all of the application layer. For

analog audio Analog recording is a technique used for the recording of analog signals which, among many possibilities, allows analog audio for later playback. Analog audio recording began with mechanical systems such as the phonautograph and phonograph. L ...

and

analog video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying Copying is the duplication of information or an artifact based on an instance of that information or artifact, and not using the process that originally generated it. With analog f ...

these functions are all represented in a single signal specification like

NTSC The first American standard for analog television broadcast was developed by National Television System Committee (NTSC)National Television System Committee (1951–1953), Report and Reports of Panel No. 11, 11-A, 12–19, with Some supplement ...

or the direct

speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

-driving signal of analog audio. Physical characteristics of the electrical or optical equipment include the types and numbers of wires required, voltages, frequencies, optical intensity, and the physical design of the connectors. Any data link layer details define how application data is encapsulated (for example for synchronization or

error-correction In information theory and coding theory with applications in computer science and telecommunication, error detection and correction (EDAC) or error control are techniques that enable reliable delivery of digital data over unreliable communica ...

). Application layer details define the actual audio or video format being transmitted, often incorporating

codec A codec is a device or computer program that encodes or decodes a data stream or signal. ''Codec'' is a portmanteau of coder/decoder. In electronic communications, an endec is a device that acts as both an encoder and a decoder on a signal or ...

s not specific to the interface, such as PCM, MPEG-2, or the

DTS Coherent Acoustics codec DTS, Inc. (originally Digital Theater Systems) is an American company that makes multichannel audio technologies for film and video. Based in Calabasas, California, the company introduced its DTS technology in 1993 as a competitor to Dolby Labor ...

. In some cases, the application layer is left open; for example,

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controlle ...

contains an

Ethernet Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1 ...

channel for general data transmission. Some types of connectors are used by multiple hardware interfaces; for example,

RCA connector The RCA connector is a type of electrical connector commonly used to carry audio and video signals. The name ''RCA'' derives from the company Radio Corporation of America, which introduced the design in the 1930s. The connectors male plug an ...

s are used both by the composite video and

component video Component video is an analog video signal that has been split into two or more component channels. In popular use, it refers to a type of component analog video (CAV) information that is transmitted or stored as three separate signals. Compo ...

interfaces, but DVI is the only interface that uses the DVI connector. This means that in some cases not all components with physically compatible connectors will actually work together. Analog A/V connectors often use shielded cables to inhibit

radio frequency interference Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrost ...

(RFI) and

noise Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference aris ...

Interfaces and their connectors

Multiple signals

Several generic digital data connection standards are designed to carry audio/video data along with other data and power: * USB was designed as a single connector to support all needs, including any generic data, audio/video, power, and more; DisplayLink is its most successful Audio+Video protocol. Until the 3.0 revision, very low data rates meant most A/V needed alternative connectors. *

USB-C USB-C (properly known as USB Type-C) is a 24-pin USB connector system with a rotationally symmetrical connector. The designation C refers only to the connector's physical configuration or form factor and should not be confused with the conn ...

can directly transport USB 3.1, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and MHL protocols, with power, and audio and many other protocols are possible. *

Thunderbolt A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hel ...

is the successor to FireWire, a generic high-speed data link with well-defined audio/video uses. The latest Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C as its connector, though not all USB-C is Thunderbolt-compatible. * FireWire is a generic data link with audio/video standards used on Camcorders (particularly

MiniDV DV refers to a family of codecs and videotape, tape formats used for storing digital video, launched in 1995 by a consortium of camcorder, video camera manufacturers led by Sony and Panasonic. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, DV was strongly ...

), and high-end studio audio and video equipment. *

DisplayPort DisplayPort (DP) is a digital display interface developed by a consortium of PC and chip manufacturers and standardized by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). It is primarily used to connect a video source to a display device su ...

carries digital audio and video, as well as auxiliary information, along with its

Mini DisplayPort The Mini DisplayPort (MiniDP or mDP) is a miniaturized and less common version of the DisplayPort audio-visual digital interface. It was announced by Apple in October 2008, and by early 2013 all new Apple Macintosh computers had Mini DisplayP ...

cousin. * 30-pin dock connector, a docking cradle for Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad, and its

Lightning Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of an avera ...

successor * Apple Display Connector (ADC), now-defunct Apple Display Connector *

using

modular connector A modular connector is a type of electrical connector for cords and cables of electronic devices and appliances, such as in computer networking, telecommunication equipment, and audio headsets. Modular connectors were originally developed fo ...

s supports

audio over Ethernet In audio and broadcast engineering, Audio over Ethernet (sometimes AoE—not to be confused with ATA over Ethernet) is the use of an Ethernet-based network to distribute real-time digital audio. AoE replaces bulky snake cables or audio-specif ...

audio over IP Audio over IP (AoIP) is the distribution of digital audio across an IP network such as the Internet. It is used increasingly to provide high-quality audio feeds over long distances. The application is also known as audio contribution over IP (ACI ...

IPTV Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is the delivery of television content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. This is in contrast to delivery through traditional terrestrial, satellite, and cable television formats. Unlike downloaded med ...

and other digital multimedia formats. Some digital connection standards were designed from the beginning to primarily carry audio and video signals simultaneously: *

combines DVI-compliant uncompressed video data with compressed or uncompressed audio, and supports other protocols. * Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) Many analog connectors carry both: * F connectors, also known as RF connectors, were the standard analog connector of the analog era in the Americas, used primarily with coaxial cable (

RG-59 RG-59/U is a specific type of coaxial cable, often used for low-power video and RF signal connections. The cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms, and a capacitance of around 20pF/ft (60pF/m). The 75 ohm impedance matches a dipol ...

and

RG-6 RG-6/U is a common type of coaxial cable used in a wide variety of residential and commercial applications. An RG-6/U coaxial cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. The term, ''RG-6'', is generic and is applied to a wide variety of ...

), and have been repurposed for generic digital data connections. *

SCART SCART (also known as or , especially in France, 21-pin EuroSCART in marketing by Sharp in Asia, Euroconector in Spain, EuroAV or EXT, or EIA Multiport in the United States, as an EIA interface) is a French-originated standard and associated 2 ...

was the standard connector of the analog era in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

. *

S-Video S-Video (also known as separate video, Y/C, and erroneously Super-Video ) is an analog video signal format that carries standard-definition video, typically at 525 lines or 625 lines. It encodes video luma and chrominance on two separate chan ...

was an improvement over the F connector. * Tip-ring connector with 4 conductors.

S/PDIF

S/PDIF is an audio-only format carried over electrical coaxial cable (with RCA jacks) or optical fibre (

TOSLINK TOSLINK (from ''Toshiba Link'') is a standardized optical fiber connector system. Also known generically as optical audio, its most common use is in consumer audio equipment (via a "digital optical" socket), where it carries a digital audio st ...

). Note that there are no differences in the signals transmitted over optical or coaxial

S/PDIF S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) is a type of digital audio interface used in consumer audio equipment to output audio over relatively short distances. The signal is transmitted over either a coaxial cable (using RCA or BNC connectors ...

connectors—both carry exactly the same information. Selection of one over the other rests mainly on the availability of appropriate connectors on the chosen equipment and the preference and convenience of the user. Connections longer than 6 meters or so, or those requiring tight bends, should use coaxial cable, since the high light signal attenuation of

cables limits its effective range.

HDMI

High-Definition Multimedia Interface High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controller ...

(HDMI) is a compact audio/video standard for transmitting uncompressed digital data. There are three HDMI connector types. Type A and Type B were defined by the HDMI 1.0 specification. Type C was defined by the HDMI 1.3 specification. Type A is electrically compatible with single link DVI-D. Type B is electrically compatible with dual link DVI-D but has not yet been used in any products.

IEEE 1394 "FireWire"

IEEE 1394 IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer. It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony an ...

(branded "FireWire") is a digital data transfer protocol commonly used for

digital cameras A digital camera is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film. Digital cameras are now widely incorporated into mobile devices ...

(common on MiniDV tape camcorders), but also used for computer data and audio data transfers. Unlike Point-to-Point connections listed above, IEEE 1394 is able to host several signals on the same wire, with the data delivered and shown on the destination set. It is also fully bi-directional, with its full bandwidth used in one direction or the other, or split directions up to its maximum.

DisplayPort

is a digital display interface standard (approved May 2006, current version 1.4 published on March 1 2016). It defines a new license-free, royalty-free, digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily between a computer and its display monitor, or a computer and a home-theater system. The video signal is not compatible with DVI or

, but a DisplayPort connector can pass these signals through. DisplayPort is a competitor to the HDMI connector, the

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...

digital connection for high-definition consumer electronics devices.

Audio connectors

Audio connectors are used for audio frequencies. They can be

analog Analog or analogue may refer to: Computing and electronics * Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable ** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals *** Analog electronics, circuits which use analog ...

or digital. Single-wire connectors used frequently for analog audio include: *

Banana connector A banana connector (commonly banana plug for the male, banana socket or banana jack for the female) is a single-wire (one conductor) electrical connector used for joining wires to equipment. The term 4 mm connector is also used, especiall ...

s * Spade connectors * Five-way binding posts and banana plugs for

loudspeaker A loudspeaker (commonly referred to as a speaker or speaker driver) is an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. A ''speaker system'', also often simply referred to as a "speaker" or ...

s * Fahnestock clips on early breadboard radio receivers. * Euroblock "European-style terminal block" or "Phoenix connectors", screw terminal connectors used for audio and control signals * Multi-conductor connectors: **

DB25 The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smallest connectors used on computer systems. Description, no ...

is for

multi-track recording Multi-track may refer to: * Multitrack recording, the process of mixing individual sound sources to a single recording * Multi-track diplomacy, a method of conflict resolution * Multi track, a process of civil litigation in England and Wales ** ...

and other multi-channel audio, analog or digital ** DIN connectors and

mini-DIN The mini-DIN connectors are a family of multi-pin electrical connectors used in a variety of applications. Mini-DIN is similar to the larger, older DIN connector. Design Mini-DIN connectors are in diameter and come in seven patterns, wit ...

connectors ** Euroblock "European-style terminal block" or "Phoenix connectors", screw terminal connectors used for audio and control signals **

s, also known as ''phono'' connectors or ''phono plugs'', used for analog or digital audio or analog video **

Speakon connector The Speakon (stylized speakON) is a trademarked name for an electrical connector, originally manufactured by Neutrik, mostly used in professional audio systems for connecting loudspeakers to amplifiers. Other manufacturers make compatible prod ...

s by

Neutrik Neutrik is a Liechtenstein, Liechtensteiner company that manufactures connectors used in audio and video recording studios and concert sound systems. Its product range includes XLR connector, XLR-type connectors, Speakon connector, speakON conn ...

for

s ** Phone connector also known as tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) or tip-sleeve plug, phone plug, jack plug, mini-jack, and mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35mm (quarter inch) jack and the more recent and standard 3.5mm (miniature or 1/8 inch) and 2.5mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and stereo (balanced) versions. **

XLR connector The XLR connector is a type of electrical connector primarily used in professional audio, video, and stage lighting equipment. XLR connectors are cylindical in design, and have three to seven connector pins, and are often employed for analog b ...

s, also known as ''Cannon plugs'', used for analog or digital

balanced audio Balanced audio is a method of interconnecting audio equipment using balanced interfaces. This type of connection is very important in sound recording and production because it allows the use of long cables while reducing susceptibility to external ...

with a balanced line. * Digital audio interfaces and interconnects: ** ADAT interface (DB25) ** AES/EBU interface, normally with

, either over electrical coaxial cable (with RCA jacks) or

optical fiber An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass ( silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a mea ...

(

Phone connector

A phone connector (tip, ring, sleeve) also called an audio jack, phone plug, jack plug, stereo plug, mini-jack, or mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35 mm (quarter inch) jack and the more recent 3.5 mm (miniature or 1/8 inch) and 2.5 mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and stereo versions. There also exists 4.4 mm Pentaconn connectors.

DIN

DIN connector The DIN connector is an electrical connector that was standardized by the ' (DIN), the German Institute for Standards, in the early 1970s. The male DIN connectors (plugs) feature a 13.2 mm diameter metal shield with a notch that limits the ...

is a connector that was originally standardized by the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN).

Mini-DIN The mini-DIN connectors are a family of multi-pin electrical connectors used in a variety of applications. Mini-DIN is similar to the larger, older DIN connector. Design Mini-DIN connectors are in diameter and come in seven patterns, wit ...

is a variation.

BNC

The

BNC connector The BNC connector (initialism of "Bayonet Neill–Concelman") is a miniature quick connect/disconnect radio frequency connector used for coaxial cable. It is designed to maintain the same characteristic impedance of the cable, with 50 ohm and 7 ...

is a very common type of RF connector used for terminating coaxial cable.

TOSLINK

or Optical Cable is a standardized optical fiber connection system.

XLR

plugs and sockets are used mostly in professional audio and video electronics cabling applications. XLR connector are also known as ''Cannon plugs'' after their original manufacturer. They are used for analog or digital

with a balanced line Digital audio interfaces and interconnects with the AES/EBU interface also normally use an XLR connector.

RCA

s, also known as ''phono'' connectors or ''phono plugs'', are used for analog or digital audio or analog video. These were first used inside pre–World War II radio-phonographs to connect the turntable pickup to the radio chassis. They were not intended to be disconnected and reconnected frequently, and their retaining friction was quite sufficient for their original purpose. Furthermore, the design of both cable and chassis connectors was for minimum cost. Initially intended for audio-frequency connections only, the RCA plug was also used for analog composite video and non-critical radio-frequency applications.

Video connectors

Video connectors carry only

video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syst ...

signals. Common video-only connectors include: *

Component video Component video is an analog video signal that has been split into two or more component channels. In popular use, it refers to a type of component analog video (CAV) information that is transmitted or stored as three separate signals. Compo ...

aka

YPbPr YPbPr or Y'PbPr, also written as , is a color space used in video electronics, in particular in reference to component video cables. YPBPR is gamma corrected YCBCR color space (it is not analog YUV that was used for analog TV, though component ...

RCA The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...

or BNC; or D-Terminal) * Composite video (1

Antenna socket A TV aerial plug is a connector used to connect coaxial cables with each other and with terrestrial VHF/UHF roof antennas, antenna signal amplifiers, CATV distribution equipment, TV sets and FM / DAB-radio receivers. In Europe and Australia the B ...

, or BNC) *

DB13W3 DB13W3 (13W3) is a style of D-subminiature connector commonly used for analog video interfaces. The 13 refers to the total number of pins, the W refers to workstation and the 3 refers to the number of high-frequency pins. Usage It was used p ...

("13W3" computer video connector) *

DMS-59 DMS-59 (Dual Monitor Solution, 59 pins) was generally used for computer video cards. It provides two Digital Visual Interface (DVI) or Video Graphics Array (VGA) outputs in a single connector. A Y-style breakout cable is needed for the transiti ...

, single connector carrying two DVI and two VGA *

Musa Musa may refer to: Places * Mūša, a river in Lithuania and Latvia * Musa, Azerbaijan, a village in Yardymli Rayon * Musa, Iran, a village in Ilam Province * Musa, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran *Musa, Kerman, Iran * Musa, Bukan, West Azerbaija ...

, British connector used in broadcasting and telecommunications * PAL connector, common in

as an antenna connector *

) * SDI - Broadcast grade digital interface over BNC cables *

VGA connector The Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector is a standard connector used for computer video output. Originating with the 1987 IBM PS/2 and its VGA graphics system, the 15-pin connector went on to become ubiquitous on PCs, as well as many monitor ...

A type of

D-sub The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smallest connectors used on computer systems. Description, no ...

connector standard on most video cards *

Mini-VGA Mini-VGA connectors are a non-standard, proprietary alternative used on some laptops and other systems in place of the standard VGA connector, although most laptops use a standard VGA connector. Apple, HP and Asus have separate implementations us ...

Found on some laptop computers * 5 BNC Connectors can also be used to carry the VGA signal as R, G, B, HSync, VSync *

Digital Visual Interface Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a video display interface developed by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). The digital interface is used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller, to a display device, such as a com ...

(DVI) A hybrid analog/digital connector commonly found on PC graphics cards and LCD monitors *

Mini-DVI The Mini-DVI connector is used on certain Apple computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized DVI and the tiny Micro-DVI. It is found on the 12-inch PowerBook G4 (except the original 12-inch ...

Found on some Apple laptops *

Enhanced Graphics Adapter The Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) is an IBM PC graphics adapter and de facto computer display standard from 1984 that superseded the CGA standard introduced with the original IBM PC, and was itself superseded by the VGA standard in 1987. In ...

(EGA) * RGB interface * RGBI interface * VESA Digital Flat Panel

Mini-DIN

The

connectors are a family of multi-pin electrical connectors used in a variety of applications.

is similar to the larger, older

. Both are standards of the Deutsches Institut für Normung, the German standards body.

D-subminiature

D-subminiature The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smallest connectors used on computer systems. Description, no ...

or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector used particularly in computers. Calling them "sub-miniature" was appropriate when they were first introduced, but today they are among the largest common connectors used in computers. The DB25 is used for

and other multi-channel audio, analog or digital ( ADAT interface (DB25)), and was the standard connector for IBM compatible PC printer connection before USB and other connections became popular. It offered 8 simultaneous data pathways to the printer.

Video In Video Out

Video In Video Out Video in video out (usually seen as the acronym VIVO), commonly pronounced ( VEE-voh), is a graphics port which enables some video cards to have bidirectional (input and output) analog video transfer through a mini-DIN connector, usually of ...

, usually seen as the acronym VIVO (commonly pronounced vee-voh), is a graphics card port which enables some

video card A graphics card (also called a video card, display card, graphics adapter, VGA card/VGA, video adapter, display adapter, or mistakenly GPU) is an expansion card which generates a feed of output images to a display device, such as a computer mo ...

s to have bidirectional (input and output) video transfer through a

, usually of the 9-pin variety, and a specialised splitter cable (which can sometimes also transfer sound). VIVO is found predominantly on high-end ATI video cards, although a few high-end

NVIDIA Nvidia CorporationOfficially written as NVIDIA and stylized in its logo as VIDIA with the lowercase "n" the same height as the uppercase "VIDIA"; formerly stylized as VIDIA with a large italicized lowercase "n" on products from the mid 1990s to ...

video cards also have this port. VIVO on these graphics cards typically supports

Composite Composite or compositing may refer to: Materials * Composite material, a material that is made from several different substances ** Metal matrix composite, composed of metal and other parts ** Cermet, a composite of ceramic and metallic materials ...

, and Component as outputs, and composite and S-Video as inputs. Many other video cards only support component and/or S-Video outputs to complement

Video Graphics Array Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a video display controller and accompanying de facto graphics standard, first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, which became ubiquitous in the PC industry within three years. The term can n ...

or DVI, typically using a component breakout cable and an S-Video cable.

DVI Connector

The

(DVI) is a video interface standard designed to maximize the visual quality of digital display devices such as flat panel LCD computer displays and digital projectors. It is designed for carrying uncompressed digital video data to a display. There are four basic connectors: *DVI-D (digital only) *DVI-A (analog only) * DVI-I (integrated, digital & analog) * M1-DA (integrated, digital, analog & USB) The connector also includes provision for a second data link for high resolution displays, though many devices do not implement this. In those that do, the connector is sometimes referred to as DVI-DL (dual link). So we need to know two things about the connector: # Whether it carries analog, digital, or both; and # For connectors that carry digital links, if it is single or dual link, and if it carries USB

Color codes

Audio

: For computers: : ::† Although the mic input is usually mono, the input is still a TRS phone socket. Many mono 'computer' mics are fitted with TRS plugs. The tip is for the MIC and the ring is for power (to power an electret-condenser style MIC). There are exceptions to the above: * Hosa cables use grey and orange for left and right analogue channels. * RadioShack cables sometimes use grey and black for left and right. *Older

sound card A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal expansion card that provides input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under the control of computer programs. The term ''sound card'' is also applied to external audio ...

s had non-standard colour codes until after PC 99, prior to that there were no colors at all.

PC System Design Guide audio

Older

s had no common standard color codes until after PC 99. The

PC System Design Guide The PC System Design Guide (also known as the PC-97, PC-98, PC-99, or PC 2001 specification) is a series of hardware design requirements and recommendations for IBM PC compatible personal computers, compiled by Microsoft and Intel Corporation d ...

(also known as the PC 97, PC 98, PC 99, or PC 2001 specification) is a series of hardware design requirements and recommendations for IBM PC compatible personal computers, compiled by Microsoft and Intel Corporation during 1997–2001. PC 99 introduced a color code for the various standard types of plugs and connectors used on PCs. The color codes for audio plugs follow:PC 99 System Design Guide
Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, 14 July 1999. Chapter 3: PC 99 basic requirements
PC 99 System Design Guide (Self extracting .exe)
Requirement 3.18.3: Systems use a color-coding scheme for connectors and ports. Accessed 2009-02-05 : ::† Though the input is often mono, the actual connector is usually still a 3-conductor TRS phone minijack. Many mono computer microphones have 3-conductor TRS plugs.

Video

: Newer connectors are identified by their shape and not their colour.

Storage

For efficiency and simplicity, the same codec or signal convention is used by the storage medium. For example, VHS tapes can store a magnetic representation of an NTSC signal, and the specification for Blu-ray Discs incorporates PCM, MPEG-2, and DTS. Some playback devices can re-encode audio or video so that the format used for storage does not have to be the same as the format transmitted over the A/V interface (which is helpful if a projector or monitor cannot handle a newer codec).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Audio And Video Interfaces And Connectors Audiovisual connectors Digital display connectors * Color codes