Native Amiga Video and TV Cards

[JaXanim]

I need to get my native Amiga video output into a TV card so I can run LightWave on an A200T/Mediator/Voodoo5.

For anyone unfamiliar with LightWave3D, it outputs Hi-Res Interlace or Picasso video only. Since I've swapped my PIV for a Mediator/Voodoo setup, I can't run LightWave on my SVGA monitor. Running it in Hi-Res Interlace on an old Microvitec multisync is a nightmare.

So, has anyone done this? It seems a good way of getting native AGA output onto an SVGA screen, but I'm struggling with it.

Native Amiga output is on TV Channel 36, so tuning a TV card to that channel should give me what I need, eh? I understand that I need to connect the A1200's Composite video out to the TV card Comp-In connector.

Well, I've done that and get nothing on the TV video screen.

Anyone got any ideas on this?

Cheers,

JaX

[Tahoe]

Ehm, you want to use the arial out of the A1200 to connect to a TV card? Maybe it would be a better idea using the composite out and connecting it to line in on the TV card. (oops that's what you mentioned later). Do not search for channel 36 when using this but you need AV1 (or something similar)

Would't a Scandoubler/Flicker Fixer be a better option?

[lorddef]

or a scandoubler and a monitor switch would probably be a better soloution...

[JaXanim]

I originally intended to use both the PicassoIV (which runs LightWave perfectly on an SVGA)together with the Voodoo card, using the MediatorZ4. Unfortunately, my kit won't do it. After long discussions with Elbox, it seems I have a system frequency imbalance which precludes both video cards being used together. So, I removed the PIV (which has a built-in scan doubler).

I have all the other kit I need to run via a TV card, so I thought this is the easiest option. I don't have a separate scan doubler.

I'll take a look at AV1, which I'm not familiar with. Is it on Aminet?

Cheers,

JaX

[Ilwrath]

Why not just forcably promote the NTSC-Laced LightWave3D screen to DblNTSC?

I think that's what I used to do.  I think just the VGAOnly tool should work.  If not, ModePro or whatever was up to the task.  I know I didn't work all those hours in interlace, and I never had a Picasso..

[Tahoe]

Sorry, AV1 is not a program. When you select or search channels (in your case I believe you were looking for Channel36) you should select AV1 (or Line-In) depending on what software you are using. I only use a TV card in my PC and Pinnacle Vision calls it AV1.

[CaptainHIT]

Err, AV1 stands for Audio/Video input channel 1, as always seen on TV's.
So if you take the Amiga Video signal from the composite, then you have to switch to Composite from Antenna/Air. There you don't have to search any channels, it'll just show up, and better quality than Antenna/Air.
If you wanna try using CH36 on your TV-Card, then take the Antenna cable from the RF-Output from your A1200 and plug in the TV-Cards Antenna/Air IN plug, it'll work then. :-)

Sorry if i was a bit confusing... But it's very simple. I have a Mediator with TV card aswell and i use Composite OUT from my A1200 to show AGA modes on my SVGA Monitor. ;-)

Just switch to Composite or AV or AV1 on your TV software.
If you use TvR, then click on the LINE button (the one between FS and the Speaker button) at bottom. :-)

[JaXanim]

@Tahoe
@CaptainHIT

Ah, I see now, thanks.

I've got TvR, but haven't had it running yet.

The instructions are pretty confusing for a new starter.
They refer to functions which I don't see on the TvR gui.
I don't see a 'Line' button anywhere!

Maybe I should reinstall it? I followed the instructions about the Fonts and the Stills drawer, but I'm blowed if I can get it running!  Help..!

JaX

EDIT: Er, I mean the 'Shots' drawer.

      As with lots of software nowadays, this one assumes you are a tv engineer already and know what all the abbreviations mean, without any explanations. I'm sure this is a nice piece of kit, but without a more lucid explanation of its bells and whistles, I'll probably not be able to use it. A pity.

[JaXanim]

Ho-Kay,

I've got the TV channels running perfectly on my Workbench screen (a High Definition Voodoo format). For now, I'm using the standard software supplied in Elbox's MMCD package.

Now I need to understand how  to get the Composite output from native AGA format onto the default Voodoo screen via the tv system.

When I start LightWave (which has PAL or Picasso output only), the default Voodoo screen switches off and I can only see the output using a 15KHz Amiga monitor attached to the A1200's video interface.

How do I arrange things so that this PAL output can be seen via the Voodoo graphics? I have connected the A1200 Composite output to the Hauppauge TV Card Comp-In socket.

I've set the TV software to use the 'Source 1' (the Elbox info says this is the composite-in source), but I don't see anything when I switch screens (ctrl-M) to get back to the Voodoo screen.

Do I need to 'tune in' the TV software to see the Composite input and if so what is its frequency?

Sorry if all this seems like stupid questions, but I'm completely baffled by the TV system.

Any help appreciated.

JaX

[X-ray]

I might be saying something foolish now, but it seems to me that you are trying to get the Amiga to generate two different screenmodes at the same time.

But I don't mean in the same sense as I may have two programs running simultaneously, one at 31kHz and the other at 15kHz, and I can drag the front screen to see the other program running in the back screen, adopting the screenmode of the program in front, on my 1438s multisynch.

No. What I mean is a genuine two-monitor display, in other words running one program through the 15kHz video port and the other through the 31kHz VooDoo. It seems to me that if this was possible you would be able to watch a 15kHz native demo on your TV, while raytracing with Cinema 4D on your PC monitor, with  changes to the one screenmode not affecting the other.

I don't think this is possible. What I mean is that the Amiga is choosing what to display, and it either displays it through the 15kHz video port, OR it displays it through your Voodoo.

Am I right or have I lost the plot here?


edit: chose the wrong name for a 31kHz-friendly trace prog. Fixed it.

[JaXanim]

@X-ray

I think you're exactly right and that's why I'm trying to understand how people get AGA stuff to display on their VGA monitor via the Composite-in on a TV card.

See CaptainHIT's post above. I'm trying to understand how that's set up.

Cheers,

JaX

[X-ray]

I wonder if he is displaying the AGA signal of the A1200 that does not have the mediator, on the A1200 that does have the mediator? He has two 1200s.
If he's doing it all on one machine, I am really curious how it works (and in need of enlightenment)

[JaXanim]

@X-ray

Guess we'll have to wait till CaptainHIT comes back.

I'm baffled too!

Cheers,

JaX

[Karlos]

JaXanim wrote:
@X-ray

I think you're exactly right and that's why I'm trying to understand how people get AGA stuff to display on their VGA monitor via the Composite-in on a TV card.

See CaptainHIT's post above. I'm trying to understand how that's set up.

Cheers,

JaX

I use the TV card in my PC to display the output from my A1200D (I rarely run AGA stuff on my main A1200).

It's a straight connection from the composite out of the A1200 to the composite in of the tv card. Then just tell it to use AV channel.

I did have loan of some SCART to S-Video type thing at one point (which could be used in conjunction with an RGB port -> SCART adaptor) which would ultimately allow an RGB -> S-Video connection (should be better than composite) but I never tried that.

However, the basic composite connection works a treat.

Now, if you have a TV card on your mediator, you can essentially do the same thing, showing your AGA output in SuperTV on your workbench. I believe there are also arexx scripts to run fullscreen AGA software on a mediator/tv-card setup.

[JaXanim]

@Karlos

I've tried the setup you describe, but when I start LightWave, it automatically outputs an native mode and my Voodoo/SVGA screen switches off. Even with the TV system running, there's nothing on the monitor.

The only way I can see the LightWave gui is on a 15KHz monitor attached to the A1200 video port. It's Hi-Res Interlaced and impossible to work with.

If I change screen back to the Voodoo one (LeftAmiga+M), there's nothing on the TV screen and the 15KHz screen switches off at the same time.

As commented above, how does the Amiga generate two different screenmodes at the same time? Or does it? I suppose the composite video output isn't a screenmode as such, but simply a separate additional output? How do I get that onto Voodoo when LightWave switches it off? I'm confused by the whole thing!

However, you've probably helped by involving the PC in all this. I can fit the TV card in the PC and direct the Amiga native video to the Composite In connector. I can see how that should work fine. Just means having both machines on together.

Cheers,

JaX