Console A/V through a PC to HDTV?

[Teh Lurv]

My current retro-gaming setup has my various consoles all going to a composite switch to the composite input on my HDTV. Awhile back I looked into getting something like a Framemeister, but I can't justify the cost. I do, however, have my PC hooked up to the HDTV for HTPC duties. That got me thinking if I could run the A/V of my consoles through my PC to HDTV, could there be some video player out there that could do the same job as a Framemeister?

I'm wondering if anyone knows if such a setup works or has tried it?

[Hobie-wan]

Just remember that adding things in the chain like that might add lag to the proceedings that throw things off a bit.

[sonic2041]

VLC has been the best thing I have found to play consoles plugged into a computer. I don't know if it has all the features you are looking for. Most programs that interface TV cards are terrible because they add delay for the DVR capabilities, and usually cannot be turned off. I used VLC for a while, but I just connect things to my TV when I want to play on my TV. You could look into it though, because it does have a lot of options for video processing.

EDIT: I currently have my TV connected to my computer, I would just have to connect a console to my computer to test it. If there are certain capabilities you are looking for I could test some things out. Keep in mind my TV card only has composite/S-video support, and I may not be as sensitive to delay as you are, but I should be able to tell if its terrible.

[Anapan]

I used to hook my consoles up to my PC using this method. I was using Virtual VCR in fullscreen preview mode, and a good AX system filter for deinterlacing. The delay wasn't terribly bad, but certainly noticeable. Any time I was playing a shmup or platformer I'd have the component input hooked into my CRT TV. Especially important for recording gameplay - S-video to the capture card, and component to the TV.
I have made it possible to do a lot of postprocessing using FFDShow in raw mode as a filter in Virtual VCR, but in reguard to making it good and instantaneous it is not possible with that method, even with a really good CPU and RAM the hardware cannot substitute a realtime hardware scaler.
There was some talk of it here before:
PC TV Tuner Recommendations - Specifically for Games
Never actually reading the followups at the time, it sounds like you would like a GameBridge...
Actually tho it won't be anywhere near what a XRGB/Framemeister does. There's a reason they cost that much.

[Teh Lurv]

Thanks Anapan for that link.

Borrowed a K-World USB capture device from a friend to try out. I ran my NES through my PC to the TV over VLC & MPC-HC playing Guardian Legend. I didn't notice any additional lag, but the video/audio quality took a noticeable hit.

[jinxmitchell]

Are you looking for a way to record your game play, or just a way for your picture to look better?
I use one of these guys for my setup, and it looks really good.
http://dromstruction.com/8-bit-and-16-b ... vo-monitor
If you want to record and can't figure out a way to do it without lag (and don't want to use an emulator), then you can just use a splitter and have the signal go to the TV and the PC at the same time.