A couple weeks ago I released another DSUB dongle, this time for the Dreamcast (called the PlayBaby). I thought I'd share some details with the shmups community.
DreamBaby is a compact and efficient Sega Dreamcast AV Multi-out to DSUB (with 3.5mm audio-output) adapter to output 15Khz (240p) and 31Khz (480p) video. It is unique in that it can output both RGBHV, and RGBs, by using a sync combiner circuit. The Hsync and Vsync are taken directly off the Dreamcast GPU with Csync generated from these signals. This results in being able to use 15Khz or 31Khz in both RGBHV mode and RGBs mode; which is not otherwise possible on the Dreamcast!
Purists will note that Dreamcast does output Csync on the AV Multi-out on pin 10; however, this specific CSync signal is generated from an encoder (and not via the GPU) resulting in a poorer image, compared to that from a sync combiner. Also this specific Csync signal is actually disabled in 31Khz mode!
Some features of this product:
- No external power required
- Change between 15Khz and 31Khz output via jumpers
- Change between RGBHV and RGBs via jumpers
- Female D-Sub (15-pin) video output
- 3.5mm audio jack output
- Premium Kemet 220uF caps and passive components
- Premium sync-combiner transistor (300Mhz)
- High quality PCB, ENIG plated; in matte black finish
Feel free to share some ideas for other systems you may want to see, as I've done the core systems I'm personally interested in.
Obligatory photos....