DCTV Question for Amiga 2000

[Ami_GFX]

Hi, the DCTV only works with the DCTV software and ouputs 24 bit better than Amiga quality composite video. You need an A520 video adaptor to output the regular Amiga display as color composite video. Another option is an A2300 genlock board and just by coincidence, I just listed mine on Ebay. Here it is:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220124566381&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=012

Most other genlocks will do this as well and some of the better ones will have s-video outs.

Also, if you need the DCTV software, PM me, I have an extra set of disks. Cheers

[Ami_GFX]

 I own 5 DCTV units, one for each Amiga

Yeah, DCTV is cool. It is one of the most underrated pieces of Amiga hardware around. I own 3 of them, 2 working and one that I fried by connecting it to a Toaster equipped Amiga. I had read that the Toaster and DCTV were incompatible but I just had to try it once and they weren't kidding about that one. Just glad it didn't fry the Toaster. And that's where my extra disks are from.

[Ami_GFX]

do you know if there is any workaround?

Since this is a hardware issue--ie there is something that happens when a DCTV is connected to a Toaster equipped Amiga that physically damages the DCTV, work arounds are unlikely. The best work around is a dedicated Amiga.

You need 2 monitors for a Toaster system. One Amiga RGB monitor for the Amiga control panel, one composite monitor for the Toaster output. You can use 3 which will give you a monitor for the Toaster preview output but this is not absoultely neccessary. With the A2000 Toaster, you can use the mono composite out for the control monitor and that is what a lot of video production studios did.

[Ami_GFX]

A few more words about the DCTV:

An RGB adaptor is nice, but not absolutely neccessary. The quality of the composite output is amazing--much better than the normal mono composite out of an A2000 and much much better than the color composite out of the A2300 genlock. The DCTV has a really saturated color output which is really apealing for graphics, animation and games. It is more intensely colored than real life for sure. I love DCTV paint. I personally find it's compsite out on a modern LCD monitor much better than the RGB out of an Amiga on a 1084 monitor.

And of the 3 DCTVs I own, the most expensive one was $24--package deal with a DigiView gold digitizer as well. The cheapest was around $5 or $6. This is one of the real bargains in Amiga hardware.

[Ami_GFX]

Yes I am. Not much action on that forum these days.