How to switch different video formats using one switcher?
If a composite video switcher is used to switch component video, the component video signals should first be converted to composite (using a video encoder), then switched, and, if necessary, converted back to component video using a video decoder. The encoding-decoding process usually introduces some noise, distortion and band limiting and should be avoided when working “on line”, unless there is no alternative. Normally, encoding and decoding interface between one video format and another and are not done “back-to-back” in the same session.
