What is HDMI?

Confused about what HDMI is? Here's the answer.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is the state of art digital HDMI cable connection that supports uncompressed, all-digital video and audio in a single connection. It is truly the first digital "multi-media" interconnect supporting both digital video and audio.

Fundamentally, HDMI is the same as DVI in video quality. The major difference is that HDMI also supports multi-channel digital audio in the same cable! HDMI transmits in native digital (no A/D conversions) R,G,B format that is ideal for HDTV systems.

HDMI (high definition multimedia interface), a new connector that bases itself on the DVI-HDCP model. HDMI with HDCP addresses the concerns of the Hollywood film community while providing consumers the ability to view high quality content on all HDTV displays and projectors. It also offers several features that make it perfectly suited for the consumer electronics market:

HDMI supports uncompressed high definition video plus multi-channel audio in a single cable using a smaller connector that eliminates the need for multiple cables in home entertainment systems, simplifying installation and eliminating cross technology confusion.

HDMI transmits uncompressed digital video so that the picture maintains a high quality of color depth, brightness and contrast.

HDMI supports Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) based on the HDMI protocol so it can be controlled with a universal remote that is used with multiple HDMI sources such as DVD players or satellite set-top boxes.

HDMI supports bi-directional communication between devices, allowing the DTV to communicate its preferred audio/video formats to the set-top box, and the set-top box to communicate what video format it is providing to the display. This enables the DTV to make intelligent decisions on how to render any given image in the format designated by the original film providers.

HDMI supports every uncompressed standard, enhanced and high definition video format ranging from 480I to 480P, 720P, 1080I and 1080P as well as existing PAL formats.

HDMI has the bandwidth to support compressed audio formats such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS, DTS EX and uncompressed formats (PCM audio) up to eight channels, up to 192kHz, up to 24-bits.

HDMI supports most standard PC monitor formats, such as VGA, XGA and SXGA in a single HDMI cable.

HDMI extends as far as 500-meters using proper cabling techniques. In most commercial and home theater installations, the consumer electronics components are installed in a closet or basement far from the actual displays. This makes cable length an important feature for consumers and installers.

Because of these advantages, HDMI is expected to become the standard digital interface for consumer home theater devices, computers systems and DTVs. Already, HDMI is being featured on Silicon Image's new PanelLink Cinema chipset providing HDMI with HDCP for a high definition content-ready solution, and consumers will likely see HDMI connectors on new electronics devices for many years to come.