Wanting Better N64 Video: No S-Video Port

[AppleQueso]

Product ID: 7111
Composite and S-Video to HDMI® Converter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

I would not get the above mentioned item because it stretches all 4:3 material to 16:9. If the change between composite and s-video bothers you, stretching the picture horizontally ought to bother you more.

Most tvs should let you switch the aspect ratio. Mine can do it easily.

[Spirit242]

Another important question is if you know how to solder. If so, then you can modify your consoles and possibly build your own transcoders. If not, and you're not looking to spend a lot of money, than your options are much more limited.

Assuming you cannot solder, then you'll have to buy something that'll adapt S-Video to either YPbPr or HDMI.

This is a device I found on eBay that'll convert either composite or S-Video into component. It claims to clean up the input signal to display it better of component. The description doesn't really give any technical details, but I assume the signal passes through a comb filter or something. Kind of a steep price, if you ask me.

As for S-Video to HDMI, that always scares me. There's a ton of them on eBay from China, but who knows how good (or bad) they actually are? I found this one on Amazon, and it got good reviews. A lot of the reviews are actually from people trying to play retro consoles on HDTVs, so I suggest you read through them. But just know, you don't NEED to upscale since your TV can display 240 over component. I just wanted to list this as another option for you.

A third option would be an older professional grade transcoder that you can find used on eBay or Craigslist or something. Like I said in my last post, I recently scored one for cheap, but I haven't gotten it in the mail yet. You might wanna hold off until you hear my results, because it'll probably be better than anything you can buy in the price range.

edit: If you DO know how to solder, or have a buddy that can, then you might be able to modify your N64 to output RGB and then convert that to component. RGB as a source is gonna give you MUCH better quality than S-Video. So long as your RGB to component transcoder doesn't suck. There's this one that you can buy, again, read the reviews.

Also note that with the exception of the HDMI one, none of these adapters deal with audio. If you know how to solder, you can solve that problem easily. Otherwise, you might have to grab something like this, depending on your setup. But if you RGB mod your N64 and use that SCART-YPbPr adapter, than you'll have to break out audio some how.

I have no idea how to solder, but I wish I did so that I could add some mod chips to my other consoles. Knowing me I would probably mess everything up terribly. But that S-CART to Component box looks like that it would be really good for my Saturn, since it naturally supports RGB. So I think I'll buy that some time when I'm in the mood to play some Saturn games.

For my N64, I will purchase the second product that you linked me to. The reviews make it seem like it performs pretty well, and it's for a pretty good price. If I end up not liking it I could always just sell it.

Thank you everyone for helping me out. ^^ I really appreciate it. This is a really great community.

Edit: I was looking online for an s-video cable and stumbled upon this s-video cable on eBay. Is there a justifiable reason why it is $95 with 850 sold? o.0 Am I missing something? xD

[theclaw]

s-video is overrated next to rgb, but sellers know the market is cornered. most americans aren't going to go through the trouble.

[Ziggy]

For my N64, I will purchase the second product that you linked me to. The reviews make it seem like it performs pretty well, and it's for a pretty good price. If I end up not liking it I could always just sell it.

If/when you get it, be sure to tell us about it! A small write up with half a dozen screenshot pics would be nice.

edit: Your username is incredibly close to the AIM screen name of a former friend of mine. Weird.

[pierrot]

But that S-CART to Component box looks like that it would be really good for my Saturn, since it naturally supports RGB. So I think I'll buy that some time when I'm in the mood to play some Saturn games.

I have my Saturn hooked up with an RGB scart lead through a scart to component converter box, and it looks really outstanding. I also do the same with my JP Mega Drive, Genesis trio, and now, my SMS. They all natively output RGB through an RGB scart lead (gotta love Sega) and look extra tasty. You'll need a breakout box, or a scart cable modified with rca mono/stereo cables in order to get sound with the Saturn / Model 2 GEN / SMS (model 1?), though.

I have two N64s sitting around that I've been meaning to RGB mod. If those went well, I wouldn't mind modding yours for RGB if you were looking for that in the future.

[ninjainspandex]

to be honest my N64 looks better on my LCD tv with composite than it does with s-video, when i use s-video it has this horrible checkerboard pattern all over the screen.

[Ziggy]

I have two N64s sitting around that I've been meaning to RGB mod. If those went well, I wouldn't mind modding yours for RGB if you were looking for that in the future.

So which RGB amp were you looking to use? I'm planning on eventually adding RGB to one or two of my N64s as well.

to be honest my N64 looks better on my LCD tv with composite than it does with s-video, when i use s-video it has this horrible checkerboard pattern all over the screen.

Hmm, that checkerboard pattern could be caused by interference. There could be a number of things going on, but S-Video should always look better than composite.

[pierrot]

This Game SX guide was what I was going by. Just planning on running from the chip to the multi-out.

http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm

Was gonna use some kylar wire, for it, but I just haven't picked any up yet.

[Jamisonia]

Product ID: 7111
Composite and S-Video to HDMI® Converter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

I would not get the above mentioned item because it stretches all 4:3 material to 16:9. If the change between composite and s-video bothers you, stretching the picture horizontally ought to bother you more.

Most tvs should let you switch the aspect ratio. Mine can do it easily.

Can you make 16:9 content 4:3? Few TVs do that. I'm saying when the signal comes into the TV its already stretched, and the TV looks at it as though it was 16:9 content. Usually only higher end TVs can fix this problem.

to be honest my N64 looks better on my LCD tv with composite than it does with s-video, when i use s-video it has this horrible checkerboard pattern all over the screen.

This is probably due to the composite tricks the developers used. The checkerboard is what is actually in the game. Composite blurs those patterns together to make a transparency. Funny, I didn't know N64 did that though. I know that was quite common on the Saturn though. So what you're actually seeing is a more accurate representation of the game, for better or for worse.

[AppleQueso]

Can you make 16:9 content 4:3? Few TVs do that. I'm saying when the signal comes into the TV its already stretched, and the TV looks at it as though it was 16:9 content. Usually only higher end TVs can fix this problem.

Sure, I can squeeze ps3 games and blu rays down to 4:3 if I really want. Not that I'd want to of course. My TV is hardly high end, it's just a standard consumer model Samsung LCD.

to be honest my N64 looks better on my LCD tv with composite than it does with s-video, when i use s-video it has this horrible checkerboard pattern all over the screen.

This is probably due to the composite tricks the developers used. The checkerboard is what is actually in the game. Composite blurs those patterns together to make a transparency. Funny, I didn't know N64 did that though. I know that was quite common on the Saturn though. So what you're actually seeing is a more accurate representation of the game, for better or for worse.

N64 doesn't really make much use of those sorts of effects. I think what he's describing is just plain interference. I've never seen anything like on n64 that at least.