Question about ScanDoubler and Mediator Video Card

[Legerdemain]

...ok...

...just to get some things straight here...

1. You should be aware of the fact that there isn't even ONE single scandoubler available for the A1200 which is true 24-bit (not that I am aware of, at least). What does this mean? Well, that there is no way for you to properly display the AGA-screenmodes with the help of a scandoubler for the A1200 (the AGA will look like ECS/OCS and be everything but pretty).

2. S-VHS is not the same thing as S-Video. S-Video connectors do exist on some TV-cards that can be used with the Mediator. Aver TV-Phone is one. I don't see why this input couldn't be used together with an RGB -> S-Video converter. I would try it out myself right now if it hadn't been for me not having that kind of converter at hand at the moment.

3. The sad thing when using the TV-card to display the graphics isn't only that the quality of the picture is 'crap' (well, some could say that it is perfectly decent according to them, but it is still 'crap' and most probably worse than using the computer with an RF-cable connected to a decent TV-set), but also the fact that you most probably will have the update of the screen reduced to 25 or 30 FPS making everything that scrolls around scroll around VERY jerky. What am I trying to say here? Well, that it is very much a WORKING solution, but in the end it all comes down to what you demand from your solution.

4. It is pure hell to get some things to run in fullscreen when using the TV-card solution since once you start an OCS/ECS/AGA application your RTG-screen freezes and there is no way to make the TV-application to automatically realise when this happens and turn the window to fullscreen... so unless there is an delay available such as the once in WHDLoad (or one manually made with a script) it is pretty much impossible to get some things to run in fullscreen with this solution (once again, at least as far as I know). Non-WB-startable applications are out of the question, by the way, since this solution need WB to be running to work.

[Legerdemain]

color matching and blur/bleeding colors are 2 different things. No matter what sd/ff you have, it will still kick the a$$ of a vhs input. SVHS and S-Video INPUTS mean the same thing here (Greece) if it means something else there , I don't know...

VHS and S-VHS is two different video systems; in other words, two different formats to record and play analogue video. S-Video is short for Separate Video and is a video signal. Its quite a difference, really, and that is valid for every country. But, yes, S-VHS and S-Video is VERY OFTEN confused to be the same thing. So, in short: S-Video, Composite Video, RGB and such... are all analogue video signals... which VHS and S-VHS isn't. So, in all honesty, I don't have a clue as of what you mean with VHS input, sorry.

And, no, a ScanDoubler doesn't necessarily have to produce high quality video output... but, yes, in most cases there will be insanely much better quality of the picture when using a ScanDoubler/Monitor solution than when using a, for example, composite video together with a TV (obviously).

Also does the rgb output of the a1200 provide the luminance and chrominance signals to create the S-Video signal?

No, it doesn't... but you could still use a RGB -> S-Video converter and get much better quality of the picture than when using composite video (or worse, a RF-connector) as long as the TV-cards drivers support input from the S-Video connector.

[Legerdemain]

@keropi

There are tons of RGB to S-Video converters out there. Fully functional. I am not thinking of a S-Video cable that you put directly on the RGB port, rather a regular RGB-scart which you then convert into S-Video and then plug it into the S-Video connector on the TV-Card.

Not really related to this thread, but if there is one thing I can't understand it must be the lack of RGB in the US (and all other places which doesn't have RGB as a standard). I couldn't live a day without RGB output on all of my gaming consoles (and my Amiga). It is a shame that it isn't a standard all over the world, because it is surperior to all of the other analogue video signals, S-Video included... *SOB*  ...I guess it won't matter that much ahead because other digital variants are kicking in, but up until this point I am rather thankful to have been living in Europe.

[Legerdemain]

My TV card provides a better display on my Belinea monitor than I get on my Amiga monitors or TV, but in fairness they have seen better days. Joking apart though, it really isn't a bad display.

Every kind of TV/Monitor I have tried that runs RGB nicely have given a much better picture than anything related to TV-Cards running with either composite or RF input... and, even though there might exists TV-Cards that outputs the full 50- or 60Hz on the Amiga, I have yet to see one (and or hear from one having used one that seems to work nicely with the Mediator and its drivers). I just can't be satisified with less than S-Video (preferably RGB) and full 50- or 60Hz update. Frameskipping and an obviously rather blurry picture have never been enough for me. I am simply too picky when it comes to this very matter.

But, in the end, like I said earler... it is really nothing but a matter of what one expects and demands when running this very solution. Surerly there are tons of people that feel satisfied with what is offered.

Getting an RGB to S-Video solution is not straightforward. I don't think you'll find anything you can buy to do the job, which leaves fixing it yourself.

I was about to point you towards some sites offering a RGB -> S-Video converter, but I now see that Patrik already has done exactly that, so I won't bother.

:lol: