Converting TV signal from Amiga to HDMI?

[Lurch]

I have the A500+ using an Indi ECS, no issues. The picture is a lot sharper than when I had a SCART setup.

For quality from bad to worse SCART -> Svideo adapter from Amigamaniac -> Indi ECS. If I had to choose the cheapest and best option it was the Svideo adapter + Svideo to HDMI adapter.

Best solution not including price, Indi ECS.

Same situation for the A1200 which I can also use the Svideo adapter. Love the 1080p WB screen with the Indi Mkii.

As for other consoles, my DC has a VGA adapter box. The Master system has been modded with onboard component and other interesting mods etc etc....

[TCMSLP]

Sorry all - I wasn't trying to be a smart arse.  I just question the sanity of trying multiple RGB/SVHS->HDMI converters at ~$50 each when an Indivision is only ~$100 or so and provides proper digital DVI/HDMI out.

I do agree it's an expensive solution if you run multiple Amigas but after running an Indi I think I'd have difficulty adjusting to something converted from SCART again.

Not that the Indi is perfect, I believe some models have issues with scan rates causing jerky scrolling in games (perhaps just a PAL issue?).  I rarely play games so it's a non-issue for me.

[djos]

I have the A500+ using an Indi ECS, no issues. The picture is a lot sharper than when I had a SCART setup.

For quality from bad to worse SCART -> Svideo adapter from Amigamaniac -> Indi ECS. If I had to choose the cheapest and best option it was the Svideo adapter + Svideo to HDMI adapter.

Best solution not including price, Indi ECS.

Same situation for the A1200 which I can also use the Svideo adapter. Love the 1080p WB screen with the Indi Mkii.

As for other consoles, my DC has a VGA adapter box. The Master system has been modded with onboard component and other interesting mods etc etc....

I've got Kipper2k's S-Video/Composite adapter and the picture from that on my TV's is fantastic ... but then my Pioneer and Sony TV's do have very good video processing electronics in them. I would say that the PQ is only about 5-10% less than using my RGB-YUV converter.

The benchmark for me is my 800 line 14" Sony PVM-14M4A Professional CRT Broadcast monitor which natively supports the Amiga's RGBs signal ... the RGB-YUV converter produces a picture so close to this it's not funny, in-fact on my 50" Professional Pioneer plasma Monitor I'd say it's damn near perfect in every respect. My Plasma also supports the Amiga RGBs via it's VGA port so I can compare the 2 and despite being a PQ Nazi I have trouble telling the difference.

Btw, it's worth noting that the conversion from RGBs to YUV is a relatively simple mathematical conversion and doesnt require scaling or any other processing.

[mindprober]

And that is what has me thinking the SCART to Component converter will be my best option now. With nothing fancy going on, it will leave my LCD to handle all the processing. Indications so far show none of the annoying side effects.

Btw, it's worth noting that the conversion from RGBs to YUV is a relatively simple mathematical conversion and doesnt require scaling or any other processing.

[danbeaver]

I hate to throw fuel on the fire, but a thread on EAB. (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=76349) about the Framemeister (http://solarisjapan.com/products/xrgb-mini-framemeister-compact-up-scaler-unit) May do this.  Big Dogs with deep pockets ($300 USD) need only apply.

[djos]

I hate to throw fuel on the fire, but a thread on EAB. (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=76349) about the Framemeister (http://solarisjapan.com/products/xrgb-mini-framemeister-compact-up-scaler-unit) May do this.  Big Dogs with deep pockets ($300 USD) need only apply.

You can buy a DVDO Edge or VP30 for less than that.

[danbeaver]

Those were not discussed in the thread.

[djos]

Those were not discussed in the thread.

You can read about almost every Video Processor ever made and it's retro performance here:

http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/

[danbeaver]

I'm sorry but have you checked prices & availability (DVDO Edge is discontinued and only for sale on eBay beginning at $202 USD used or $500 new) and the DVDO VP30 is $2000 USD (or used on eBay for $185 X1 vs $230 USD).

[mark_k]

In addition to that, however, I found another problem I find more offensive. Take a look at the attached image. Why the zipper-like pattern? I am using overscan on my Workbench screen to maximize the display, but since it shows up on games as well, I have no control over those.

This happens on NTSC signals only (what I will be using most of the time). PAL signals do not show this.

That's normal for NTSC video; alternate lines are longer/shorter. You see the same thing if you e.g. connect an Amiga 3000's VGA output to a monitor and reduce the image width. The zipper pattern isn't usually visible on 4:3 monitors since it's normally past the right edge of the screen. With a 16:9 screen however, unless the TV and/or converter blanks the extreme right edge of the image, you see the effect.

A couple of workarounds for Workbench use: run a border-blanking program to set the border to black. Or force interlace mode (run Lacer 1). That way the zipper pattern should alternate on successive frames, which may or may not be less annoying.

[mindprober]

Thank you very much for the info. This explains why I have seen this in the past with my A3000.

So the reason I do not see this when I send my LCD display a native 15KHz signal is probably due to the display chopping it off internally?

This gives me hope again for the SCART to component adapter. I have already tested the mono output to the LCD's GREEN component input, and besides the lack of color, there were none of the other problems I mentioned.

In the mean time, I will hunt down the border blanking program.

That's normal for NTSC video; alternate lines are longer/shorter. You see the same thing if you e.g. connect an Amiga 3000's VGA output to a monitor and reduce the image width. The zipper pattern isn't usually visible on 4:3 monitors since it's normally past the right edge of the screen. With a 16:9 screen however, unless the TV and/or converter blanks the extreme right edge of the image, you see the effect.

A couple of workarounds for Workbench use: run a border-blanking program to set the border to black. Or force interlace mode (run Lacer 0). That way the zipper pattern should alternate on successive frames, which may or may not be less annoying.

[djos]

I'm sorry but have you checked prices & availability (DVDO Edge is discontinued and only for sale on eBay beginning at $202 USD used or $500 new) and the DVDO VP30 is $2000 USD (or used on eBay for $185 X1 vs $230 USD).

I've seen them second hand on eBay for less then the $350 USD of the FM on a regular basis. Setting as they are a proper home theatre Video processor they are imo a much better value purchase.

[danbeaver]

The FM sells for $292 USD plus shipping (3 options) via Solaris and is new sans eBay BS.

[mindprober]

Sigh. I received my SCART to component adapter, plugged in my same RGB to SCART cable I have used successfully with my other converter box, but no picture! I tried it on my TV's component video input also. Still nothing. It acts like it is trying to synch but nada....

Could it just be a bad unit? I have read about other people having to pop open the case and make adjustments but I'm not getting anything to adjust.

[danbeaver]

Well if it arrived dead and you open it, then you void your warranty.

[mindprober]

Not sure if this thingy even qualifies to have a warranty. The seller does have a return policy, however. I have already contacted them. Waiting for a reply.

Well if it arrived dead and you open it, then you void your warranty.