Inaccurate meme - the white and red RCAs in composite typically don’t actually carry the left and right channels - usually, the white one is L+R, meaning both the left and right channels combined into one, and the red one is L-R, the difference between the right and left channels.
This is done so that a mono television, which will only have a yellow and white port, will still be able to hear both audio channels, as opposed to having to completely miss out on one of them
It’s so funny, I had the same reaction! Never quite understood it, just switched plugs until it worked. Then it got phased out and… decades later a meme brings light to my confusing childhood!
Do you have a source for this? AFAICT this is untrue. Mono audio using just the white connector exists, but this depends on configuration and does not make the red connector a difference signal.
I swear that I’ve seen it mentioned somewhere, but you are entirely right that I can’t find a source. Maybe it was some weird device I used a long time ago? Regardless, sorry for not doing my research before posting
I can confirm that everything that uses component and L/R that I have used in my life (born in 2001 in the Netherlands, so PAL) has separate L and R channels. I have confirmed this with my multimeter before.
Inaccurate meme - the white and red RCAs in composite typically don’t actually carry the left and right channels - usually, the white one is L+R, meaning both the left and right channels combined into one, and the red one is L-R, the difference between the right and left channels.
This is done so that a mono television, which will only have a yellow and white port, will still be able to hear both audio channels, as opposed to having to completely miss out on one of them
Wow, Til I guess. Never ever thought that this is what actually it is for.
That makes so much sense! I never understood it, and it became irrelevant before I worked it out.
It’s so funny, I had the same reaction! Never quite understood it, just switched plugs until it worked. Then it got phased out and… decades later a meme brings light to my confusing childhood!
Do you have a source for this? AFAICT this is untrue. Mono audio using just the white connector exists, but this depends on configuration and does not make the red connector a difference signal.
I swear that I’ve seen it mentioned somewhere, but you are entirely right that I can’t find a source. Maybe it was some weird device I used a long time ago? Regardless, sorry for not doing my research before posting
Oh, they did the same with stereo radio.
This must be BS or a regional thing. All the RCA ports I’ve seen in North America are labeled L and R, not L+R and L-R.
It’s possible that it might only be a thing in PAL regions - I’d try, but I don’t have anything that uses composite to try now.
I can confirm that everything that uses component and L/R that I have used in my life (born in 2001 in the Netherlands, so PAL) has separate L and R channels. I have confirmed this with my multimeter before.
I use those on my speakers and I can flip left/right stereo if I flip the cables. I think that confirms that they don’t have both in one I think.
I appreciate you starting this comment with ‘Inaccurate meme’. I think it should become a thing. Really helps me know to buckle in for something good