DCTV and CD32/SX32 ......What the heck?

[leirbag28]

Woohoo!   well......sort of............................

I'm kind of happy as I just recieved my DCTV, but also upset because it doesn't seem to work on the CD32 with an SX32 pro............I have heard that its possible the RGB port on the SX32 isnt exactly like that of an A600 or A500.

I had problems with stuff before such as the G-LOCK from GVP and the RocTec Slim CDTV disk drive.

It cant be that I dont have enough power, as I have a PC PSU attached.

Anyone know what gives?  and how can I fix this?


Also what software can I use to convert images into DCTV ones?

[amigadave]

You have an SX32Pro!  Does it have the 030/50mHz in it?  In what way is your DCTV not working?  What is it doing?

I used to have DiskMaster2 setup to convert Amiga IFF files to DCTV format with just one click on a custom command button, but have not used it in ages.  I'll see if I can find it on an old hard drive or floppy somewhere in the maze that my collection has become.

I think DCTV was one of the most amazing products for the Amiga of its time.  To think of the quality images and animations you could do with just a 68000 at 7mHz, I am surprised that more was not done with the DCTV format and Amiga games that displayed 24bit composite output.

[leirbag28]

Yeah, if you can find that Diskmaster2 Setup, that would be cool.

The more I test this DCTV the better it seems.
But I really wish it would function on my SX32 Pro....And YES! it is 030 50Mhz and 50Mhz FPU with 128Mb RAM and 40 Gigabyte HD and MASPlayer Hardware MP3 Decoder.............I just cut a  hole into my A600 for an internal Slimline CDROM drive and will do the same on the CD32. The CDROM is inside my A600 right now and it fits perfectly with Floppy and Hardrive and Clockport adaptor still inside.  I think All Amiga 1200's and 600's should be sold this way from now on.........with the hole already cut.

The DCTV is showing Scrambled images in black and white when I plug it into the CD32.....but it is fine when I plug it into the A600.............and Yes I tried calibrating it already............also tried it on the Genlock (doesnt work at all)

Maybe if I get the RGB adaptor?  Anyone got this and willing to sell it?

[balrogsoft]

I want one of those!!, i recieved my cd32 yesterday, a plain cd32, my cd32 pads don't work very nice, but i finally got it. I received with the cd32 a cdrom of cd32 gamer mag with the program that you say (DiskMaster2).

[mr_a500]

Also what software can I use to convert images into DCTV ones?

I use JPEGonDCTV (with button on ABCdir) to quickly display JPG. This doesn't work with progressive JPGs. So to quickly convert progressive->regular jpg, I use jpegtool (another ABCdir button). JPEGonDCTV will scale large images to fit on the screen.

ImageFX is awesome because you can load any image format and render directly to DCTV - then save rendered image as ILBM (DCTV format). Remember: DCTV is only in Hires and Hires Laced, so for huge JPGs you should crop or resize to this size before rendering. If you don't crop, I think ImageFX will render the Hires Laced size starting at the top left and crop the rest.

With GIFs, you'll have to change colour format to RGB before rendering.

[beller]

The CD32 has the AGA chipset.  I think this is the problem, especially since the unit works on the A600.  This was out way before AGA so, no surprise, it doesn't know how to handle the signal.

DCTV blew me away the first time I saw it....then I had to write the manual!

Best,
Bob

[leirbag28]

@beller

Wow!  Bob Eller in the Flesh! How are you doing?  THis is a fine manula you made by the way :-)

I have 2 versions.

About the AGA chipset.I dont think that is the Problem..........as an aquaintance said he used it for years on the A1200 which also has the AGA chipset.

it must be the SX32 RGB port which probably isnt a full blown Amiga compatible port...........can anyone confirm this?  anyone here use DCTV with the CD32 with the SX32 attached?

I suspect it works with the SX-1


P.S. This unit is pretty amazing for its time..........this can make a Plain A600 better than an iPod Photo :-)


@mr-a500
can you tell me exact steps how to convert the Images to DCTV on imageFX?   is there a way or a program that can batch convert a bunch of files in one go?  I want to convert animation frames, then recompile the animation as a DCTV one. I dont want to have to convert each individual frame by hand to a DCTV frame.

[leirbag28]

Anyone else have a DCTV connected to their CD32/SX32 ?

theres got to be someone?

Or at least  someone with a DCTV connnected to an A1200 or A4000?

[beller]

leirbag28 wrote:

Anyone else have a DCTV connected to their CD32/SX32 ?

theres got to be someone?

Or at least  someone with a DCTV connnected to an A1200 or A4000?

I have a DCTV I grabbed from Boogiegail last year, but I've never tried it on the 1200 I just bought.  Give me till the weekend and I'll hook it up and see what I get.

Bob

[mr_a500]

is there a way or a program that can batch convert a bunch of files in one go? I want to convert animation frames, then recompile the animation as a DCTV one. I dont want to have to convert each individual frame by hand to a DCTV frame.

I'm sure there's a way, but I haven't figured it out yet. I wanted to convert some 24-bit animations to DCTV too. I couldn't find the batch convert and gave up trying to convert because frame by frame is very tedious.

I'd like to know because DCTV animations would be much faster than 24-bit IFF animations - each DCTV IFF is around 90K while 24-bit IFF is around 700K.

If you make any nice DCTV animations, let me know.