Component AV Switch

[ronnie 1.8]

I have a need for a switch to support 2 sources. The first has component video and stereo audio, while the second has composite video and stereo audio. I need to output component video and stereo audio. My question is, will the component video output carry the composite video signal? If so, in which of the 3 comp inputs (Y, Pb, Pr) should I connect the composite video? I found one switch that has 4 comp inputs, and 1 comp out, and the online manual said it will support composite, but ONLY if all inputs are composite and the single out are composite. The manual mentioned nothing of mixing the inputs. Thanks.

 

[MDS]

Component video separates the RGB colors whereas 'composite' is so named because it carries them all over a single cable. In order to output component video when the input is composite, the switcher needs to perform 'transcoding'; ie convert one format to another. A/V recievers can do that but switches generally do not.

If you have a mix of composite and component they will have to be carried separately even if you buy a switch. That means that you will have to input the component video to the switch with a component video output to the monitor and a separate composite video input to the switch with a composite video output to a different composite video input on the monitor.

If you happen to be ready to upgrade your receiver, just get one that can transcode composite video to component and your problems are solved without a separate switch.

Still, http://www.gefen.com may have a switch that can also do transcoding.

 

[ronnie 1.8]

Component video separates the RGB colors whereas 'composite' is so named because it carries them all over a single cable. In order to output component video when the input is composite, the switcher needs to perform 'transcoding'; ie convert one format to another. A/V recievers can do that but switches generally do not.

If you have a mix of composite and component they will have to be carried separately even if you buy a switch. That means that you will have to input the component video to the switch with a component video output to the monitor and a separate composite video input to the switch with a composite video output to a different composite video input on the monitor.

If you happen to be ready to upgrade your receiver, just get one that can transcode composite video to component and your problems are solved without a separate switch.

Still, http://www.gefen.com may have a switch that can also do transcoding.

Great feedback. Very helpful. That explains why the tens of switchers I've viewed do not have both component and composite input. This is for a friend of mine, who is trying to add a TiVo Series2 (standard def) to a custom in-wall, in-ceiling installation to a second room (Zone 2). Because he does not want to tamper with the current installation, he wants to piggy-back off the current component video/stereo audio interconnects to Zone 2. So, it sounds like we need to find a swith that performs transcoding. I'll look at the Gefen products. Thank you.