A newer composite converter than N4
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
I went to the Salvation Army today, I have a large store just down my street and they have a few shelves of electronics and a/v equipment.
Turns out there was a 40% off sale today.( Some random guy just in front of me picked up a very good Laserdisc player for 5$!)
I found a small 4:3 HP LCD monitor, the model 1530. I paid 6$ for the thing and it's great, it has clock and phase adjustments and has a good stand.
It even rotates into portrait mode which is very unusual. I have this idea that my LCD should be about the same size and aspect as the old CRTs. I don't think I can handle a 64 on a modern display.
So I think a Kramer scaler and a old LCD is a good combo. (Now to figure out if I can replace the CCFLs in there)
Turns out there was a 40% off sale today.( Some random guy just in front of me picked up a very good Laserdisc player for 5$!)
I found a small 4:3 HP LCD monitor, the model 1530. I paid 6$ for the thing and it's great, it has clock and phase adjustments and has a good stand.
It even rotates into portrait mode which is very unusual. I have this idea that my LCD should be about the same size and aspect as the old CRTs. I don't think I can handle a 64 on a modern display.
So I think a Kramer scaler and a old LCD is a good combo. (Now to figure out if I can replace the CCFLs in there)
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
Re: A newer composite converter than N4
The Chinese converter I got does a decent job for the price after all. Just don't expect miracles.
Quite sensitive to noise in the C64 signal, especially when using S-Video.
It has more features than the eBay listing says. It does 480p, 720p and 1080p all at 60Hz refresh rate and it will automatically support both PAL and NTSC.
Quite sensitive to noise in the C64 signal, especially when using S-Video.
It has more features than the eBay listing says. It does 480p, 720p and 1080p all at 60Hz refresh rate and it will automatically support both PAL and NTSC.
Wealth, like happiness, is never attained directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service. -Harland D. Sanders
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
I wonder how to split up the blame
1) The 64's non-standard signalling levels and timings
2) The converter
3) The TV
Did you play any games with it? Notice any lag or other weirdness that you don't get with a CRT?
1) The 64's non-standard signalling levels and timings
2) The converter
3) The TV
Did you play any games with it? Notice any lag or other weirdness that you don't get with a CRT?
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
Re: A newer composite converter than N4
You can scratch no. 1 off. It's more like ringing in the signal whenever there is a transition between darker and lighter luma levels.Gyro Gearloose wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:02 pm I wonder how to split up the blame
1) The 64's non-standard signalling levels and timings
2) The converter
3) The TV
Did you play any games with it? Notice any lag or other weirdness that you don't get with a CRT?
Nothing to do with the TV too as it receives HDMI...
No lag at all. Could play Ms. Pacman quite fine.
Wealth, like happiness, is never attained directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service. -Harland D. Sanders
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
Sounds like some sort of edge-sharpening that's set too high. That's what I don't like about these cheap scalers, no control. They could simply put in a USB serial port to access features but that doesn't seem to be the case.
But I've tried several scalers and monitors and nothing even looks close to component video on my 1080, even with control of the scaler's features.
The old LCDs aren't as bright as the 1080, and no matter what I do the scaler/LCD combo just never looks ... right.
I think I'll try my Commodore 1950 monitor next. But it is stored away and it didn't work the last time I used it.
It can also display 15KHz RGB but has no component inputs.
But I've tried several scalers and monitors and nothing even looks close to component video on my 1080, even with control of the scaler's features.
The old LCDs aren't as bright as the 1080, and no matter what I do the scaler/LCD combo just never looks ... right.
I think I'll try my Commodore 1950 monitor next. But it is stored away and it didn't work the last time I used it.
It can also display 15KHz RGB but has no component inputs.
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
Re: A newer composite converter than N4
Have you seen this page on the 1950? It contains a couple of good tips for potential problems.Gyro Gearloose wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 4:50 pm I think I'll try my Commodore 1950 monitor next. But it is stored away and it didn't work the last time I used it.
It can also display 15KHz RGB but has no component inputs.
https://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/ ... spx?id=856
Sound is so bad in most monitors, I never missed it on the 1950.
C-64, C-128, and Amiga A2000 user
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
This is what I really really want:
Control over the scaler input parameters. Although I didn't clean the keypad yet so it's a bit frustrating to navigate the menu.
Control over the scaler input parameters. Although I didn't clean the keypad yet so it's a bit frustrating to navigate the menu.
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
Oh dear, that's the *output* timings. Oh well.
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
- Gyro Gearloose
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Re: A newer composite converter than N4
Well I never did find a better solution than my old Viewsonic converter, but here's a new one I just found tonight:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OSSC-HDMI-Open- ... Sw1fJex3zY
I'm not buying this one, I'm a bit over budget on these kinds of trinkets right now. But if anyone wants to give this a whirl... I doesn't seem to have a composite or s-video input but it claims to be open source.
This is just FYI.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OSSC-HDMI-Open- ... Sw1fJex3zY
I'm not buying this one, I'm a bit over budget on these kinds of trinkets right now. But if anyone wants to give this a whirl... I doesn't seem to have a composite or s-video input but it claims to be open source.
This is just FYI.
The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.
Re: A newer composite converter than N4
Well... "Composite video and S-Video are not supported, adapter/transcoder is required"Gyro Gearloose wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:28 am Well I never did find a better solution than my old Viewsonic converter, but here's a new one I just found tonight:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OSSC-HDMI-Open- ... Sw1fJex3zY
I'm not buying this one, I'm a bit over budget on these kinds of trinkets right now. But if anyone wants to give this a whirl... I doesn't seem to have a composite or s-video input but it claims to be open source.
This is just FYI.
Wealth, like happiness, is never attained directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service. -Harland D. Sanders
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