|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 23, 2012 10:31:09 GMT
Well as I said in my latest article, I'm no anti-emulation snob. I do love to use the original hardware but when you look at an emulator like bsnes it really is extremely accurate. Plus with an emulator you have to worry less about upscaling etc.
Neo Geo's another good example, with it's weird vertical refresh lots of TV's and equipment have problems with it. On an emulator you can triple buffer the output to prevent stuttering etc.
Still, I don't think a better picture is possible than with the capture card, especially as it captures at 240p native. I suppose you could play on a 320x240 window on the PC emulator.
The Saturn of course is a different kettle of fish altogether, we're unlikely to see cycle-exact emulation of that any time soon.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 23, 2012 8:40:49 GMT
The colours look perfect to me. Here's a Yoshi's Island cap to compare:- dl.dropbox.com/u/3459629/videos/yoshi.mp4Yeah and we've seen how well they work out Remember this card does HD (720p and 1080p/24) too. As well as component.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 22:15:05 GMT
You can route component video through a SCART switch just with a simple adaptor. Y goes on red, Pb on Green and Pr on blue. VERY useful for the PS2, since you can use a RGB SCART cable and get a better picture for 240p and 480i material then switch to component mode for those one or two 480p games. Long as your device knows how to decode it out the other end of course.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 21:23:03 GMT
Damn! I suspected they might be selling off remaining stock. Almost wish I'd bought a spare now. It's only going to get harder and harder to get SCART switches as time goes on.
Might if you had a CRT I suppose, or were hooking them up via component (YpBpr).
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 20:44:22 GMT
Yeah it's not bad if you have all the bits lying around, can't really touch the above solution though, the SNES capture blows that away.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 20:35:25 GMT
I agree the quality really is amazing. I didn't think that anything could improve the noisy component output of the PS2, for instance, but it really does.
Japanese Saturn working fine here with Retro-console-accessories raw sync cable.
It can also act as 5 in 1 out or 4 in 2 out RGB, check the instructions if this interests you. I don't believe you can do RGB in S-Video out though.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 18:13:03 GMT
Introducing the StarTech.com PEXHDCAP video capture board! Okay, once upon a time there was a company called Micomsoft. This company makes crazy cool retro gaming stuff including the XRGB series of video processors. Round about the time they bought out the XRGB Mini they also announced the Micomsoft SC-500N1 RGB Capture Card. This card came bundled with all the cables etc needed to capture any source (except HDCP protected sources) from 240p up to 720p in FULL RGB! Of course several enthusiasts bought one and the results were stunning. Check out this capture from the SNES for instance:- dl.dropbox.com/sh/sc8u9c5urbkme8u/5ohamYc77F/videos/r-type-iii.mp4So what was the drawback? The card was expensive, and that's before you took the cost of importing it from Japan into account. Fast forward a few months and thanks to RGB32E on the shmups forum, it was realised that the Micomsoft card was just a rebranded/repackaged version of a generic card, with a special adaptor cable. StarTech.com PEXHDCAP video capture board is the same card and all that is required to use it with RGB SCART is a sync splitter such as the Sync Strike So, the card is just under £100 (http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?region=GB&prodID=B878736) The Sync Strike will set you back around £30 shipped (http://wp1114205.wp150.webpack.hosteurope.de/xtcmodified/product_info.php?products_id=15&XTCsid=cfivchun6gtbbpsc2a6o10upg2) So a complete, easy to use RGB capture solution for £130, now it's possible! ;D
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 21, 2012 16:28:27 GMT
very interesting, thanks for sharing this... I can confirm no video cross talk with the Mad Katz switch but never tried audio.
Just tested the Keene Scart Commander switch - Passed with flying colours so I can recommend that one.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 20, 2012 22:03:57 GMT
You could always ask on the Shmups forum about your LKV362, people are very knowledgeable on there and Fudoh himself (who's page you found where he tested it) posts there regularly.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 20, 2012 19:09:44 GMT
Here's an interesting factoid, that could be the root cause of your problems
60hz modded PAL Saturn - Vertical refresh rate 59.40 Genuine 60hz NTSC Saturn - Vertical refresh rate 59.82
It could be that the PAL Saturn is just too far out of spec.
Don't buy any more capture cards because there might be a sub £100 card that captures everything from 240p up to 1080i in full RGB, just waiting on confirmation.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 16, 2012 16:44:57 GMT
Good luck finding one on there I decided I'd get a Thor switch for myself, they really are lovely, I've never ever come across a better switch. Every input I throw at it and it produces a wonderful noise free image. During testing however, some reason my BlueDelta SMART SCART died, so one step forward one step back! If anyone wants it, I've a Mad Katz switch here with one faulty port (effectively making it a 3 way switch instead of a 4) free to anyone who pays P 'n' P, just let me know.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 15, 2012 21:19:41 GMT
Yeah Extron stuff is built for pro use, in unis and TV studios even, nice thing is its trickling down now so second hand consumers can get at it, and course being built for professional use its virtually indestructible. I don't have the room for a switch that big either though
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 15, 2012 20:54:14 GMT
Indeed SCART switching does feel like some sort of Voodoo sometimes. Apart from the phenomena I described before, I've encountered several switches that have the push buttons to select an input and found that for all intents and purposes the push buttons actually did nothing. Powered auto switches are another thing, I know some people (e.g Mick) swear by them, but try using a PC Engine or an Amiga through one and you run into trouble. Even the lovely powered switches like the Thor have some issues. Running the PS2 with component through the Thor I'd never seen it come out so clean (PS2's component is pretty highly noise prone) but apparently if you use a Neo Geo with the Thor you can get rolling blackouts (not seen this myself, seems unlikely but don't know why someone would lie about it). Worth reiterating that some sources are more fussy than others and longer cables can have an effect too. The quality on my Madcatz switch vs a powered switch is unnoticeable for my Saturn, but can be clearly seen when using the CD32. Course if you REALLY want a good switch, and space isn't a problem, and you're happy wiring some custom cables, get one of these:- www.ebay.com/itm/Extron-Crosspoint-Series-Switcher-ER-21430-/200774105986?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebf11bb8232 inputs and 16 outputs, you're not going to outgrow that in a hurry
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 15, 2012 14:26:18 GMT
You mean 15khz and 31khz? No, it doesn't work like that.
I don't think they're that expensive compared to other video processors especially, and it's a one time payment that you can take with you when you upgrade your TV, though I'd avoid the 3 now as it's just not worth it on modern TV's, too poor compatibility.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jun 14, 2012 14:33:54 GMT
|
|