The mixed PAL and component environment

Much equipment is now provided with a range of interfaces to different signal formats. These have been thoughtfully provided by the manufacturer and allow the equipment to be installed in many different ways. However, in some methods of interconnecting equipment the signal quality suffers more than others. The situation becomes further complicated by the need to consider the implications further downstream than where a particular interface is being installed. The paper considers some of the difficulties that might be experienced in interconnecting television studio equipment using different standards. It also points to some of the wider implications of adopting standards in various areas of television production.