How to Use a RCA Cable with a VGA Monitor

The easiest way to use an RCA cable with a VGA monitor is to purchase a specialized cable. On one end of the cable are three RCA male connectors, one for the video signal (yellow), one for the right audio (red), and the last one for the left audio (white), and on the other end is the VGA 15-pin male connector.

Step 1 - Pick an RCA Cable

Connectors are usually referred to by gender, a male connectors having one or more stems or pins coming out of it that are meant for insertion into a matching female connector which has the same arrangement but with orifices for those pins to set into when plugged together.refer to an item that is output or plugs into, while a female item refers to input or receiving the information. There are cables that offer RCA male connectors and others offering RCA female connectors. Your need will determine what specialized cable you will get. The VGA end on all of these cables will be male since it is designed as the 15-pin standard. If you get a cable that has both male VGA and RCA ends, you are only able to display what is currently playing on the VGA. For instance, you would use the RCA male ends to plug them into speakers to hear the sound coming from the VGA output. There may also be instances where you needed to document images on the VGA monitor. Make sure the specialized cable is properly connected, then simply begin playing the images on the VGA monitor while recording.

Step 2 - Check if You Need a Converter

If you need to switch the VGA to output and the RCA to the input you need to get what is called a VGA converter. This would be done if you wanted to display video game consoles, security cameras, or DVD players onto the VGA monitor. Independent filmmakers also use it to display the images being recorded on camera and onto the VGA monitor. You can purchase a VGA converter at your nearest electronics store or online at a number of suppliers. They range in price from $50 to over $500 depending on the quality you would like to receive. You may also be able to run multiple monitors at once from a single device as long as there are enough input and output options. For instance, if the main console of five security cameras does not have enough input/output options, a converter can be purchased to accommodate the other monitors.

Step 3 - Check if You Need an S-Video Connector

Sometimes these specialized cables will come not only with a VGA and RCA end but also with other options as well. One of these options is S-Video or Separate Video. S-Video is commonly mistaken to mean Super Video, but it is actually just another, slightly better alternative to RCA video. This would only be used if you wanted to connect your VGA monitor to something that already has a device that is using the RCA outputs or simply to receive a better definition.

Step 4 - Check if You Need a Gender Changer

If you already have a specialized cable, but you need to change the connectors from male to female, or from female to male, you can purchase a connector referred to as a gender changer. They range in price from $2 to more than $10 depending on the quality and the number of connectors you wish to gender change. There are gender-changing options for both the VGA connector and the RCA connector.

After following all of these steps simply plug your RCA cable into your VGA monitor and you're done.