| A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) offeres a superior | | | | inputs. The later, is more suitable for Security Camera |
| way of processing a Video signal, as opposed to older | | | | applications where Composite Video is still the |
| methods which utilize analog techniques. The method | | | | accepted standard. |
| of storage being the main difference where Video | | | | These devices also have the advantage of being able |
| tape is replaced by a Digital Storage Device such as | | | | to rob their power supply (+5VDC) from the USB port |
| Flash memory, or a Hard Disk Drive. Digital data | | | | that they are plugged into. |
| transfer is not as prone to the effects of noise, | | | | There are some advantages to digitizing S-Video (the |
| crosstalk, or signal coupling issues. | | | | 'S' stands for Separate) over a Composite Video |
| Once a Video Image consisting of single or multiple | | | | Signal. S-Video consists of Separate channels for the |
| frames has been stored it is extremely easy to modify | | | | Luminance (Y) and Chrominance (C) Video |
| or add effects to. In a lot of cases a Personal | | | | components (both are in time synchronism). The |
| Computer (PC) is involved in the storage and image | | | | Luminance signal conveys the brightness component |
| modification process. The digital information (Digitized | | | | of the image (like Composite Video without any Color |
| from incoming Video) usually originated from a PCI | | | | component) while the Chrominance component is |
| board which is plugged into the PC's internal backplane, | | | | simply the Color information. As both S-Video channels |
| or simpler yet, via the USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. | | | | are separated, there are no crosstalk issues and |
| (Video Digitizers) that plug into the computers USB port | | | | detrimental Bandwidth limitations due to low pass |
| are often in the form of a small dongle. Some versions | | | | filtering. Due to these characteristics, S-Video offers |
| provide Composite Video, S-Video, and Stereo Audio | | | | improved image reproduction. |
| inputs while others provide multiple Composite Video | | | | |