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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    3.5mm audio/video question

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    cable
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    • OmnijaO
      Omnija
      last edited by

      Last night i was reading up about the 3.5mm audio/video jack to rca/av cables. So i rummaged through my box of wires and found this wire wondering if it would work the same?

      alt text

      Systems: Raspberry Pi 2
      Overclocked: 1050 | 525 | 350 | 425 | 256
      My Themes: Metro Theme | Simpler Turtlepi | Future Mini

      O CapemanC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • O
        ortsac @Omnija
        last edited by

        @omnija It should work if it was wired right. No harm to try it out. Yellow is composite video. Red and White are Right & Left audio.

        herb_fargusH 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • OmnijaO
          Omnija
          last edited by

          @ortsac thanks, i would of tested it myself but currently just moved... so my pi's in a box somewhere.

          Systems: Raspberry Pi 2
          Overclocked: 1050 | 525 | 350 | 425 | 256
          My Themes: Metro Theme | Simpler Turtlepi | Future Mini

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • herb_fargusH
            herb_fargus administrators @ortsac
            last edited by

            @ortsac I've found with a lot of those 3.5mm to composite I had to swap around the colours in order for it to show proper but may have just been a crappy supplier

            If you read the documentation it will answer 99% of your questions: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

            Also if you want a solution to your problems read this first: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

            PokeEngineerP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • PokeEngineerP
              PokeEngineer @herb_fargus
              last edited by

              @herb_fargus

              Yeah, same with me.

              Don't sweat it.
              When in doubt, take a BYTE out of life.

              😎

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • CapemanC
                Capeman
                last edited by Capeman

                @herb_fargus @Omnija There are multiple different specs for TRRS 3.5mm to rca cables. The differences in these specs has to do with the placement of the a/v signals and the ground on the rings, tip and sleeve. It's a confusing mess and poorly documented.

                The raspberry pi supports the same spec as used by Apple iPods, so any TRRS 3.5mm to RCA designed for ipod or zune will work just fine. The camcorder spec has the same ground location, so switching the AV cables around will usually still work, these appear to be the most common cables found in the bottom of people's random wire boxes.

                The cables used in old feature phones will NOT work since the ground is on a different pole location, i don't think it will cause damage to try it, but you'll definitely get some messed up results.

                I've attached a diagram showing the differences in how the 4 poles are layed out in various TRRS plugs.

                The raspberry pi supports CTIA/APPLE (center) and kinda supports CAMCORDER AV (left) if you switch the red and yellow cables. The OMTP/NOKIA cable spec will simply not work.

                0_1502854395443_trrs-diagram3.jpg

                Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                herb_fargusH 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • CapemanC
                  Capeman @Omnija
                  last edited by Capeman

                  @omnija So an easy test, if you don't want to plug it into your pi, is to short the contacts i labeled below with a multimeter set to continuity (or an LED and a battery) to see if these connect. If they do, then ground is on the second ring and you're in the clear.

                  0_1502854803775_LqmTl3X copy.jpg

                  Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • herb_fargusH
                    herb_fargus administrators @Capeman
                    last edited by

                    @capeman useful info. I guess I just have a bunch of the camcorder type.

                    If you read the documentation it will answer 99% of your questions: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                    Also if you want a solution to your problems read this first: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

                    CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • CapemanC
                      Capeman @herb_fargus
                      last edited by

                      @herb_fargus I have a few of them myself. No idea where they came from, I don't remember knowing anybody with camcorders, haha.

                      Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                      edmaul69E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • edmaul69E
                        edmaul69 @Capeman
                        last edited by edmaul69

                        @capeman xbox 360 e slim a/v cables are wired correctly as well.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • MrGasS27M
                          MrGasS27
                          last edited by

                          alt text

                          The cable MUST have this pinout, I had to re-solder completely a cable that I have (I re-soldered cables on the 3.5 jack, for precision) and after this job it worked like a charm with my Pi3 :)

                          CapemanC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • CapemanC
                            Capeman @MrGasS27
                            last edited by

                            @mrgass27 The camcorder spec also works, due to the ground being on the same pin. For that spec, just switch the audio R (red) and composite video (yellow) and they will work the same. See my diagram above.

                            The only must not situation is the Nokia (and other feature phone) spec, that one has a conflicting ground location, so it cannot be used.

                            Vector Artist, Designer and Maker of Stuff: Laser Cut Atari / Pixel Theme Bartop

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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