How to Output a MacBook to a S-Cord
TVs and projectors are predominantly video-only devices, yet more and more offer computer-friendly interfaces. There are still times, however, when laptop users need to display information on older TVs or projectors on which S-Video is the best input option. Fortunately, Apple MacBook users have the option of using a DVI-to-S-Video adapter. This device allows S-Video connection, albeit at reduced quality, for times when there are no better options available.
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Things You'll Need
- Apple MacBook laptop
- DVI-to-S-Video adapter (or Mini-DVI-to-S-Video adapter, depending on the model of your Macbook.)
Instructions
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Determine which connections are available for your video device. If it has a DB-15, DVI or HDMI port, you may want to seek other cabling options, as these will give you better quality. On older devices, S-Video and Composite Video are often the only choices, with S-Video being the better option of the two.
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Connect the DVI-to-S-Video adapter to your MacBook DVI port.
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Connect your S-Video cable to the DVI-to-S-Video adapter.
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Connect the other end of the S-Video cable to the S-Video port on your desired device.
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If the display is not automatically recognized, you may need to change a video setting on your MacBook to enable the S-Video output. Refer to your manual for specific instructions on how to do this.
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Tips & Warnings
Newer MacBooks may use Mini-DVI ports, so a Mini-DVI-to-S-Video adapter may be needed instead. Both offer the same functionality.
S-Video only transmits video, not audio. For audio, you will likely need a 1/8-inch headphone-jack-to-stereo RCA cable.
S-Video uses a 720X480 resolution NTSC signal, which is much less than most laptop resolutions, so you may want to test your display before a key event to ensure that everything shows up as expected.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit s-video cables image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
