Electronic multimedia converters are designed to take an audio or video signal and modify it in some way, usually to switch it between two different video standards. Much like an adapter does for electricity, these converters can allow interfaces between two different devices that normally would not be compatible. This can save significant amounts of money rather than having to coordinate all the devices in a system to use the same standards, which may not be efficient or cost effective, or even possible when it is an organic system.

Some converters today convert video signals from an analog to a digital format. So an older monitor can function with a newer computer video card or vice versa. The important aspect of a converter is that the signal is changed and not just rerouted. Other video signals can be modified to be in the VGA format, which was the standard format for older computer CRT monitors, an analog format.

Audio conversion can also take place between digital and analog formats. Also, optical audio signals occasionally need conversion into more standard varieties that can be done with electronic converter technology.