From Sal Prince,
Your Guide to Digital Video Recording.
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Digital Video cables

The shift to digital video sources and displays has led to digital video connections. There are two main digital video options: DVI cables and HDMI cables.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cables can carry standard-definition and high-definition digital video signals. HDMI is also capable of carrying digital audio.

Most HDTV tuners and HD-ready TVs, and some DVD players, recorders and DVRs now come with either a DVI or HDMI terminal. HDMI cables are backwards compatible with most DVI connections, so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter to connect a component with a DVI terminal to one with an HDMI terminal.

Computer Connections

i.LINK port

i.LINK, also known as IEEE 1394 or FireWire, is an extremely fast (up to 400 megabits per second), two-way digital connection used between computers and peripherals like digital camcorders. It is used in digital camcorders because it is one of the few connections capable of quickly transferring full-motion video. Most consumer video equipment uses 4-pin i.LINK ports and connectors, but some peripherals employ a 6-pin i.LINK configuration.

PCI slot

PCI is an acronym for Peripheral Component Interconnect. This is a slot that allows you to connect various peripheral devices to your PC, such as ethernet cards, sound cards, and TV and Video capture cards. The slots themselves can only be accessed by opening your computer's case, so they're not designed to support the frequent peripheral-swapping you can do with connection technologies like USB and i.LINK.

USB port

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a plug and play interface between a computer and peripherals which lets you plug in a device without adding an adapter card or even restarting your PC. This is the easiest way to capture video or TV to a computer.

USB 2.0 is very fast, 480 Mbps. That kind of speed makes USB 2.0 suitable for transferring demanding files like full-motion video.

Today, most new computers (both IBM-compatible PCs and Macs) and many peripheral devices are equipped with USB; for example, USB support is integrated into Windows 98, 2000, ME and Windows XP, as well as Mac OS 8.6 and up.

USB ports are expandable with the addition of hubs, which allow you to connect several peripherals simultaneously through a single USB port. Many newer PCs offer multiple USB ports, often placing one or more on the front of the case for easy access.

Cables that connect your Digital Video Recording device to a TV, A/V Receiver or a Computer come in all shapes and sizes. Remember to use the cables that give the best quality for the inputs on your TV.