Hardware Output both HDMI and COMPONENT video

[Rambytes]

Hi,

I've read almost many topic in different forum about the WiiU and the HDMI video/composite sound.... but never found avout the audio/video for HDMI AND Component cable?

I have a hdmi switch box for my pc monitor and I want to play sometime with the WiiU on my computer. So i've plug the component cable into the WiiU to my TV, and the HDMI to my switchbox (into my pc monitor).

But it's like the WiiU is not able to send BOTH hdmi AND component video signal. In the option of the WiiU, I only can select HDMI or OTHER... not both. For the sound it's okay I can select HDMI, CABLE or BOTH, but not the video.

It's me or it work like this?

 

[Foxi4]

It's not just you and I'm pretty sure that you can't display both HDMI and Component/Composite at the same time. Turning on HDMI makes the game render in HD resolutions, such as 720p or 1080p while the standard TV Out is mostly used for Composite video signal which goes up to 480i/576i. Since the game only renders at one pre-set resolution, only one output is active at a time. Component can handle 720p/1080p, but I believe the output is disabled when HDMI is used. You could use an HDMI splitter though - have you considered doing that?

EDIT: Mistakes corrected.

 

[shinkodachi]

Foxi, the Wii U will output 1080p via component as it's capable of recognizing the cable type. (I tried this with an official Nintendo Wii Component AV Cable). Yes, p as in pie. Very good and sharp 1080p pie. Yummy. However, due to video sync delay in digital to analog conversion, the component picture will not look clean and slightly "fuzzy".

Still, even with 1080p selected, only one output can be active at a time. I believe this restriction is due to the video processing in the Wii U, which either passes or bypasses the digital to analog converter, depending on the selected output type.

 

[Foxi4]

Foxi, the Wii U will output 1080p via component as it's capable of recognizing the cable type. (I tried this with an official Nintendo Wii Component AV Cable). Yes, p as in pie. Very good and sharp 1080p pie. Yummy. However, due to video sync delay in digital to analog conversion, the component picture will not look clean and slightly "fuzzy".

Still, even with 1080p selected, only one output can be active at a time. I believe this restriction is due to the video processing in the Wii U, which either passes or bypasses the digital to analog converter, depending on the selected output type.

Huh? You learn something new everyday - I thought component video in general was restricted to 1080i like imbecil (that being me for not Googling it up). You are correct though, if the resolution is not the issue and the game can be rendered at the same resolution for both outputs then the structure of the video converter is at fault. Points to you, sir.

My "solution" remains the same though - use an HDMI splitter to output to two sources, it's the easiest thing you could do to achieve the desired result.

 

[shinkodachi]

A splitter is the best solution in this case, yes.

Small tidbit (I have background in cinematography): component video can actually carry any resolution video, up to and including 4K and beyond. The use for component video in such use would be so limited and inconvenient (due to expensive high speed analog video processing and sensitivity to electric interference) that it hasn't been adopted for general use. Digital (HDMI, SDI, D-Tanshi, etc.) is the cost effective solution here.

 

[Rambytes]

So, in other word, I need a hdmi splitter to be able to play on my TV and my PC monitor... Monoprice have some splitter for 30$... I will give a shot on this.

 

[Elusivo]

Won't a splitter add a few frames of further gameplay lag...?

 

[shinkodachi]

Won't a splitter add a few frames of further gameplay lag...?

This depends entirely on the splitter. A good splitter will not introduce lag, at most a few milliseconds that is imperceptible.

 

[Foxi4]

Small tidbit (I have background in cinematography): component video can actually carry any resolution video, up to and including 4K and beyond. The use for component video in such use would be so limited and inconvenient (due to expensive high speed analog video processing and sensitivity to electric interference) that it hasn't been adopted for general use. Digital (HDMI, SDI, D-Tanshi, etc.) is the cost effective solution here.

I obviously meant component in everyday applications - stuff that you can buy in your local Radioshack.

 

[shinkodachi]

I obviously meant component in everyday applications - stuff that you can buy in your local Radioshack.

No Radioshack where I live... But you'll find component video up to 1080p is fairly common (especially in TVs and consumer electronics released in 2005-2008 when HDMI was not as popular).

 

[tbb043]

The PS3 and 360 are the same way. You can go up to 1080p via component, but can't use component and HDMI at the same time (for video, anyway, each has a method to send audio over both).

It could be a resource problem, maybe they just can't handle sending both a digital and analog signal at the same time, but I suspect it's more of a "OMG THEY MIGHT TRY TO RECORD MOVIES WITH IT" copyright hysteria, which is absurd, but the whole reaction to that sort of thing has never been particularly rational.

 

[shinkodachi]

It could be a resource problem, maybe they just can't handle sending both a digital and analog signal at the same time, but I suspect it's more of a "OMG THEY MIGHT TRY TO RECORD MOVIES WITH IT" copyright hysteria, which is absurd, but the whole reaction to that sort of thing has never been particularly rational.

First up, PS3 had to undergo changes in later models due to "analog sunset" (read more: http://www.engadget.com/topics/hd/2009/06/08/aacs-finalize-death-to-analog-in-2013/) because it doubles as a Blu-ray player and therefore had HDCP protection. That's why the PS3 (in later models) restricted component output.

Wii U does not play Blu-ray discs (who would've thought that's a good thing). You're free to use any off the shelf component video recorder, standalone or PC/Mac compatible, and record all your Nintendo frenzy in unadulterated 1080p. You can of course do that via HDMI as the Wii U is completely free of HDCP.

The real reason is, due to economics and application, the design of video processing chips inside consoles that primarily transmit one video signal, passing it through digital to analog conversion if necessary, but not being able to duplicate it for two outputs at the same time. You can try this with any other electronics device as well and you'll notice it's the norm, not the exception.

 

[trumpet-205]

Huh? You learn something new everyday - I thought component video in general was restricted to 1080i like imbecil (that being me for not Googling it up).

Component doesn't have hard line standard that limits it to 1080i. Many people get the perception that it is limited to 1080i because of either player restriction (to encourage the use of HDMI), or having the first gen HDTV.

Technically component can work with any resolution, but because being an analog signal, UHD (4K) is not practical on component.

Wii U does not play Blu-ray discs (who would've thought that's a good thing). You're free to use any off the shelf component video recorder, standalone or PC/Mac compatible, and record all your Nintendo frenzy in unadulterated 1080p. You can of course do that via HDMI as the Wii U is completely free of HDCP.

Small correction, when you use apps like Netflix on Wii U, HDCP is enabled.

 

[grossaffe]

It's not just you and I'm pretty sure that you can't display both HDMI and Component/Composite at the same time. Turning on HDMI makes the game render in HD resolutions, such as 720p or 1080p while the standard TV Out is mostly used for Composite video signal which goes up to 480p/576i. Since the game only renders at one pre-set resolution, only one output is active at a time. Technically Composite can handle 720p/1080i, but I believe the output is disabled when HDMI is used "just in case the cable is Composite". You could use an HDMI splitter though - have you considered doing that?

You're getting composite and component mixed up. Composite will give you 480i (it's the yellow video cable), while component can give you HD video.

 

[Foxi4]

You're getting composite and component mixed up. Composite will give you 480i (it's the yellow video cable), while component can give you HD video.

I'm not mixing them up - composite and component are two completely different things indeed.

EDIT: Aaaaah, I see what you're on about now. I'll correct the error. Well-spotted.

 

[grossaffe]

I'm not mixing them up - composite and component are two completely different things indeed.

You credited composite with being able to do 720p/1080i.

 

[Foxi4]

You credited composite with being able to do 720p/1080i.

See above, I re-read and found the issue.

 

[grossaffe]

See above, I re-read and found the issue.

ah, cheers.