Wanting Better N64 Video: No S-Video Port

[dtrack]

What does cause it I wonder?[/quote]

Me too. I have no idea. Even if the svideo-to-scart adapter irons out the issue that is more of a confusion than a clarification to me.
I found the picture can vary depending on the shielding (usually the fatter cable the better) and possibly the quality of parts used in it, this is mostly apply for the PAL territory since ntsc cables are "empty". The most common when diagonal scrolling lines appear on the whole screen and this is hand in hand with the bad audio quality - the brighter the scene the louder the noise. But it's still nothing to do with the checkboard.

[Jamisonia]

Just ignore the BS about the combo cables. It has nothing to do with the checkboard effect.

I have heard this before that combo composite/s-video cables don't send actual s-video. I've never chopped up one to know for sure though. One surefire way to avoid this is just install an s-video jack yourself. I have always used the Monster ones though, and they work fine. I have never come across official Nintendo s-video cables, and I would expect to have to pay quite a bit for one.

The checkerboard effect spoken of here looks similar to dot crawl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot_crawl

That is a result of composite. This should not exist with s-video.

[CRTGAMER]

Just ignore the BS about the combo cables. It has nothing to do with the checkboard effect.

I have heard this before that combo composite/s-video cables don't send actual s-video. I've never chopped up one to know for sure though. One surefire way to avoid this is just install an s-video jack yourself. I have always used the Monster ones though, and they work fine. I have never come across official Nintendo s-video cables, and I would expect to have to pay quite a bit for one.

The checkerboard effect spoken of here looks similar to dot crawl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot_crawl

That is a result of composite. This should not exist with s-video.

The sample pics are shown on a widescreen, likely a LCD. This is from the upscale stretch and not the fault of a combo SVideo/Composite cable. I prefer just a dedicated Composite or even better a dedicated SVideo cable, but it is not the issue here.

The Composite and SVideo connection are separate pinouts of a given system.

[dtrack]

Dot crawl effect is different.

I have proof that they send s-video cos i chopped 2-3 ntsc cables since there are no premodded PAL cables (actually there are but AVIOD the Consolegoods "brand").

As for the Nintendo cables - I have an official RGB cable for the Gamecube. The build quality is as superb as the AV quality. After that, unbranded ones looked like RF.

[Jamisonia]

Dot crawl effect is different.

I have proof that they send s-video cos i chopped 2-3 ntsc cables since there are no premodded PAL cables (actually there are but AVIOD the Consolegoods "brand").

As for the Nintendo cables - I have an official RGB cable for the Gamecube. The build quality is as superb as the AV quality. After that, unbranded ones looked like RF.

Probably due to improper cable shielding then. The ultimate solution would be to install an s-video jack and run a quality s-video cable. That should outperform even the Nintendo made cables. S-video cables aren't very good to begin with anyway. As CRTGamer has mention many times on these forums, its too bad they didn't go with the dual RCA jack design like the Commodore. The MiniDin isn't a very good video connector. In fact all of these multi-AV ports are really pretty bad for maintaining video quality.

[Ziggy]

Probably due to improper cable shielding then. The ultimate solution would be to install an s-video jack and run a quality s-video cable. That should outperform even the Nintendo made cables. S-video cables aren't very good to begin with anyway. As CRTGamer has mention many times on these forums, its too bad they didn't go with the dual RCA jack design like the Commodore. The MiniDin isn't a very good video connector. In fact all of these multi-AV ports are really pretty bad for maintaining video quality.

If you really wanted to, you could use RCA to output S-Video. Just mount two RCA jacks for Y and C, and then take an S-Video cable, cut off one end, and splice on an RCA male plug for Y and C. Of course, IDK what good that'll do being that you'll have to end up with the mini DIN on the TV side of the cable (assuming no body wants to mod the S-Video input on their TV to accept RCA).

The multi-AV ports are bad, apparently. I don't know how much audio can mess with video, but I know having the video signals so close to the audio signals will mess them up slightly. And then poorly shielded cables from the console to the TV don't help.

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.

Ummm, from what I've read the RGB signals should be amplified. This is apparently the best one yet...

http://www.gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:n64rgb-amp

[Jamisonia]

If you really wanted to, you could use RCA to output S-Video. Just mount two RCA jacks for Y and C, and then take an S-Video cable, cut off one end, and splice on an RCA male plug for Y and C. Of course, IDK what good that'll do being that you'll have to end up with the mini DIN on the TV side of the cable (assuming no body wants to mod the S-Video input on their TV to accept RCA).

From reading Blue Jeans Cable:

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/svideo/index.htm

This only becomes necessary during long runs. 50 feet+ But one can wire it however they please.

The multi-AV ports are bad, apparently. I don't know how much audio can mess with video, but I know having the video signals so close to the audio signals will mess them up slightly. And then poorly shielded cables from the console to the TV don't help.

I think the biggest problem with MulltiAV Outputs are that its impossible to stuff enough shielding into the cables to properly shield each signal from themselves, and from the outside world. The BJC link I posted above comments on this issue with stuffing coax cable into a MiniDin 4 (s-video) plug, but it applies to getting it into a MultiAV output as well.

[Ziggy]

Well if you're talking about crosstalk between Y and C in an S-Video cable, or just any standard AV cable or whatnot, than the collection of terminals at the multi AV port is just as bad of a situation. Maybe worse, considering there's NO shielding between them like there would be in a cable.

[AppleQueso]

Just ignore the BS about the combo cables. It has nothing to do with the checkboard effect.

I have heard this before that combo composite/s-video cables don't send actual s-video. I've never chopped up one to know for sure though. One surefire way to avoid this is just install an s-video jack yourself. I have always used the Monster ones though, and they work fine. I have never come across official Nintendo s-video cables, and I would expect to have to pay quite a bit for one.

The checkerboard effect spoken of here looks similar to dot crawl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot_crawl

That is a result of composite. This should not exist with s-video.

The sample pics are shown on a widescreen, likely a LCD. This is from the upscale stretch and not the fault of a combo SVideo/Composite cable. I prefer just a dedicated Composite or even better a dedicated SVideo cable, but it is not the issue here.

The Composite and SVideo connection are separate pinouts of a given system.

I find it extremely unlikely that the checkerboard pattern is from an LCD scaling the image.

[nielse16]

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.

Ugh, I didn't realize it changed the original aspect ratio. Sorry.