Does the Laser Active by Pioneer do SCART RGB out?

[Rock Man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgtiRDZF3zI

After seeing the laser active in action, I'm struck by this baby, it had such versatility. In addition to having PC Engine Duo and Genesis games, it will play Laserdisc movies and it'll do it's own type of games as well. I do wonder though for the high price is it capable of RGB out? Moreover does anybody on here have the thing and if so how much did you pay for the Turbo Grafix 16 / PC Engine Duo add-on?

[Fudoh]

The modules do RGB internally, so you can mod the whole LA unit to give you RGB when playing card or CD based games. Once you play a Mega LD or PCE LD title though this won't work, since the LD's native composite signal doesn't get mixed into the RGB stream.

[segasonicfan]

Yep, you just have to tap the internal RGB inside that the PACs output. Laserdiscs output Composite natively, but there is a mode for S-video (which works, I've done it).
Wonderful system, I used to own 3 of them. The guts inside the Genesis PAC are a marvel to look at too. Really high quality stuff. Also, it is a FULL genesis. I hacked mine years ago to run a 32X (note, this is a difficult hack though).

The Laserdiscs are great too. I love how they are anaolg encoded, not digital. One of my favorite ways to watch old movies.

-Segasonicfan

[CkRtech]

Laserdiscs output Composite natively, but there is a mode for S-video (which works, I've done it).

I suppose it also depends on where your higher quality comb filter is located - Inside a given Laserdisc player or inside the TV set paired with it.

[segasonicfan]

Laserdiscs output Composite natively, but there is a mode for S-video (which works, I've done it).

I suppose it also depends on where your higher quality comb filter is located - Inside a given Laserdisc player or inside the TV set paired with it.

You mean because laserdisc is encoded in Composite video? I'm not sure it is exactly, can anyone confirm this? I will say that the Laserdisc comb filter is TOP notch, much better than almost any TV (unless you have a PVM or something).

-Segasonicfan

[Ed Oscuro]

laserdisc is encoded in Composite video? I'm not sure it is exactly, can anyone confirm this?

It uses a trick to do this. It's a little bit different than other analog recordings in the technology. Overall, it's probably best described as offering high-quality composite video. Audio and other information, however, can be stored in a digital format. As far as I can tell, laserdiscs use analog video due to there being no practical way to offer compression schemes back in the '70s when laserdisc was finalized as a consumer product.

I will say that the Laserdisc comb filter is TOP notch, much better than almost any TV (unless you have a PVM or something).

You mean the LaserActive's comb filter, right? CkRtech has given a hint, here. Comb filtering is a process done on the video output.

[segasonicfan]

You mean the LaserActive's comb filter, right? CkRtech has given a hint, here. Comb filtering is a process done on the video output.

yeah, just mistyped. It has a nice chip for it in there IIRC.

[SuperDeadite]

I have RGB tapped my LA, it's a fairly easy mod as there is a ton of space inside. A PCE-style amp is highly recommended. Note, RGB mods will only work for standard games, meaning MD/MCD/PCE/PCECD. The actual LD games can't be viewed via RGB, you are stuck with composite when playing those.

The S-Video mod is only for LD videos, useless for games, and in general not recommended. If you want to view LD movies you can get a much better LD video player for far cheaper then an LA.

Also be aware that LA PACs are notorious for leaking capacitors. The Sega PACs especially are dropping like flies these days. If you get a system, change the caps ASAP.

[segasonicfan]

I have RGB tapped my LA, it's a fairly easy mod as there is a ton of space inside. A PCE-style amp is highly recommended. Note, RGB mods will only work for standard games, meaning MD/MCD/PCE/PCECD. The actual LD games can't be viewed via RGB, you are stuck with composite when playing those.

The S-Video mod is only for LD videos, useless for games, and in general not recommended. If you want to view LD movies you can get a much better LD video player for far cheaper then an LA.

Also be aware that LA PACs are notorious for leaking capacitors. The Sega PACs especially are dropping like flies these days. If you get a system, change the caps ASAP.

thats surprising, they had some nice looking caps when I opened em up 7ish years ago. That's too bad, seems like all the systems I love are dying capacitor deaths.

-Segasonicfan