Gameboy Advance RGB NTSC

[Einzelherz]

Silly questions:

Will this work just the same over s-video?

Would a PAL GCN output [email protected]?

[bobrocks95]

Sweet. How long is shipping to East Coast US from Code Junkies? Are they UK only?

Took about 10 days for me to get mine, they have a US site (make sure you get the disc for NTSC Gamecubes), but ship from the UK.

But the earlier 240p Swiss solution needed the disc still in the drive, didn't it? And it still had the stutter every few seconds, while this doesn't in the "ultra-low latency" mode? Really seems a nice improvement then, hopefully they can work out the sound issues.

Now you can set the SD Media Launcher to auto-boot the Gameboy Player Interface DOL so you don't have to lift a finger. Before you'd have to load Swiss then disc-swap the GBP boot disc in and load it.

Silly questions:

Will this work just the same over s-video?

Would a PAL GCN output [email protected]?

It should work perfectly fine through S-Video, but I'll be testing it in a minute if you want a full confirmation. There's absolutely no reason it shouldn't.
Not sure about PAL, but again, it should be able to. I know the program works on PAL systems.

[BazookaBen]

(make sure you get the disc for NTSC Gamecubes)

I just ordered this: http://us.codejunkies.com/products/gcnw ... 00589.aspx

it says it comes with a software CD, doesn't mention what region. It's from the US website, so I should be good to go, right?

[bobrocks95]

I just ordered this: http://us.codejunkies.com/products/gcnw ... 00589.aspx

it says it comes with a software CD, doesn't mention what region. It's from the US website, so I should be good to go, right?

Yeah, you're good. I remember e-mailing them for confirmation on the topic when I ordered mine.

EDIT: @Einzelherz- unfortunately, the ultra-low lag configuration doesn't like S-Video; it outputs a black and white image. Not sure why chroma isn't getting though, though it might have been simply overlooked. I'll probably post over on gc-forever to let Extrems know in case he hasn't tested S-Video. The low-lag configuration does work though.

Having tested it out now, the low-lag config is amazing. Compared to the original GBP disc at 240p, the GBI has:
1) Richer colors. This has something to do with the color gamut mapping mentioned on gc-forever, though I don't exactly understand the details. I don't know if they're more accurate, but they look much nicer to me.
2) Better scrolling. Objects no longer blur into a trail of 2 or more after-images. The GBP disc and the non-low lag version of the GBI both suffer from this, more so on the GBP disc. Scrolling seems pretty smooth, I didn't notice any tearing specifically.
3) No stuttering. This is just compared to the GBP disc and people already knew it was fixed, but it's still very nice.

Disadvantages would mainly be on the audio end, since there's some crackling as mentioned earlier in the thread. Also you miss out on the GBP extras like borders and game-specific things like rumble in Superstar Saga (the game doesn't think it's connected to the GBP- maybe that's fixable somehow?).

[BazookaBen]

Hmmm, do you think the audio crackling is coming from a sample rate mismatch? Like maybe the audio sample rate is getting slowed alongside the video refresh rate?

[bobrocks95]

Hmmm, do you think the audio crackling is coming from a sample rate mismatch? Like maybe the audio sample rate is getting slowed alongside the video refresh rate?

Would a sample rate mismatch have a very consistent error? The crackles seemingly happened at random, though I'd want to listen more to verify that. May sit down and just count the interval tomorrow to see if it's consistent. It's certainly very spaced out.

[BONKERS]

I would imagine the audio would be like in emulation of certain consoles/systems.

To get sync'd and smooth video they have to sacrifice the audio?

I think some allow the audio to be slight sped up or slowed down as a trade off as well.

[bobrocks95]

I would imagine the audio would be like in emulation of certain consoles/systems.

To get sync'd and smooth video they have to sacrifice the audio?

I think some allow the audio to be slight sped up or slowed down as a trade off as well.

Extrems' reply to me on gc-forever makes it sound like it's just a bug. The refresh rate is changed to actually match the refresh rate of the GBA (or at least get closer), so I'd think that would sync the audio better anyway?

[BazookaBen]

The refresh rate is changed to actually match the refresh rate of the GBA (or at least get closer), so I'd think that would sync the audio better anyway?

Yeah, that's what I would think too. But maybe this new video mode inadvertently changed the audio speed as well.

[Einzelherz]

I just ordered this: http://us.codejunkies.com/products/gcnw ... 00589.aspx

it says it comes with a software CD, doesn't mention what region. It's from the US website, so I should be good to go, right?

EDIT: @Einzelherz- unfortunately, the ultra-low lag configuration doesn't like S-Video; it outputs a black and white image. Not sure why chroma isn't getting though, though it might have been simply overlooked. I'll probably post over on gc-forever to let Extrems know in case he hasn't tested S-Video. The low-lag configuration does work though.

Thanks for checking and the followup. My GCN looks pretty decent through S-Video on my PVM so being able to play it through S-Video and not spending monies on a new cable or programmer for the cloned chip would be nice.

[bobrocks95]

For reference, Extrems said:

[Chroma] is there, you just can't decode it, due to the longer horizontal period breaking things.

I guess something to do with horizontal blanking? Active pixels, front/back porches, one of those technical terms? I've never heard of chroma not being decodable, but then again I've never fed such an odd refresh rate/resolution to a TV before.

[Einzelherz]

For reference, Extrems said:

[Chroma] is there, you just can't decode it, due to the longer horizontal period breaking things.

I guess something to do with horizontal blanking? Active pixels, front/back porches, one of those technical terms? I've never heard of chroma not being decodable, but then again I've never fed such an odd refresh rate/resolution to a TV before.

So I guess that means it's a "can't work" rather than "doesn't work"?

[korpse413]

I'm running my Gameboy Player via a modified GC component cable, which is switchable between YUV and VGA

How!? Where!? Awesome!

To help on the possible revisions of the Player I can take a photo of what board I have in mine; unless there is already a place listing every possible model somewhere..

[bobrocks95]

So I guess that means it's a "can't work" rather than "doesn't work"?

Sounds like it... :\
Guess it's component or bust then.

I'm running my Gameboy Player via a modified GC component cable, which is switchable between YUV and VGA

How!? Where!? Awesome!

To help on the possible revisions of the Player I can take a photo of what board I have in mine; unless there is already a place listing every possible model somewhere..

Refresh my memory, why did we want board revisions for the GBP again?

[BazookaBen]

Hey Bobrocks, I'm not really trying to join another forum, so can you ask Extrems why he thinks the sound is bugged in the low-lag modes? I want to know if I can get my hopes up or not.

[Xan]

I'd like to know about that as well, and maybe a confirmation whether the sound is still coming from the original circuit.

[BazookaBen]

Got the SD Launcher in the mail today, loaded the Ultra-low latency player, and wow, does it look good!



The GBA refresh rate works fine on the PVM, and the PVM's overscan mode lets me blow up the picture to take up most of the screen. Definitely the best looking way to play GBA games.

Tried Mega Man Zero and Gradius Galaxies to test the lag, and they felt great. Just like playing a good SNES game. This will probably be the only way I'll ever beat Gradius Galaxies, since the bullets can be harder to see on the GBA's, and the D-Pads are a little too stiff.

As far as the audio goes, I thought the program had been patched or something, because I couldn't hear any crackling. It wasn't until I paused Gradius Galaxies that I heard some periodic pops in the silence. So yeah, I could totally live with those glitches, they're really hard to hear when you're actually playing the game.

[Ed Oscuro]

loaded the Ultra-low latency player

What's this? New software for the GB Player? Is it bundled on the disc?

[BazookaBen]

No you download it here then launch it from the SD Media Launcher.

http://www.gc-forever.com/forums/viewto ... =37&t=2782

bobrocks, do you know how to add the "arguments" Extrems mentioned? I'd like to test ULL mode in 480p too.

[bobrocks95]

Yeah, you launch the DOL through Swiss and tell it to force 480p. I believe that works, but I don't have component cables so I can't test it.

[opt2not]

Do you need to burn any discs for this, or the SD Media Launcher is the only device you need (aside from the component cable)?

[Ed Oscuro]

Wow, that's pretty cool stuff. 1000Hz polling rate, even!

Yeah, I'm wondering exactly what the install process is but I guess you load Swiss stuff on your SD card, put Datel's disc in the GC, and start it up. Seems also to be what this thread says (search "Swiss"). I feel bad asking for basic tech support on this since it's probably all completely intuitive when you actually have the hardware ~

So the PVM works for 240p RGB and reports something like 59.73fps (or, at least, doesn't drop frames / hiccup during playback like the GB Player)?

[BazookaBen]

Yeah, you launch the DOL through Swiss and tell it to force 480p. I believe that works, but I don't have component cables so I can't test it.

So swiss gives you the ability to add command lines? Talking specifically about the arguments in the first post with stuff like "--offset=x:y"

Yeah, I'm wondering exactly what the install process is but I guess you load Swiss stuff on your SD card, put Datel's disc in the GC, and start it up. Seems also to be what this thread says (search "Swiss"). I feel bad asking for basic tech support on this since it's probably all completely intuitive when you actually have the hardware ~

I haven't even downloaded Swiss yet. The Ultra low latency DOL file automatically boots in 240p when you select it from the SD Media loader menu. When you have the Action Replay disc and SD card adapter in the Gamecube, it automatically goes to the SD loader menu.

So the PVM works for 240p RGB and reports something like 59.73fps (or, at least, doesn't drop frames / hiccup during playback like the GB Player)?

My PVM just says "NTSC", but I'm getting instantaneous response and zero duplicated frames. Smooth as butter. I'm using component YPbPr, but I guess it would work in RGB too.

[bobrocks95]

Do you need to burn any discs for this, or the SD Media Launcher is the only device you need (aside from the component cable)?

No, just the SD Media Launcher is needed. You can use the low-lag version if you don't have a component cable and it looks just as nice, but it has 1 or 2 frames of lag, not that I could tell on a CRT.

Wow, that's pretty cool stuff. 1000Hz polling rate, even!

Yeah, I'm wondering exactly what the install process is but I guess you load Swiss stuff on your SD card, put Datel's disc in the GC, and start it up. Seems also to be what this thread says (search "Swiss"). I feel bad asking for basic tech support on this since it's probably all completely intuitive when you actually have the hardware ~

So the PVM works for 240p RGB and reports something like 59.73fps (or, at least, doesn't drop frames / hiccup during playback like the GB Player)?

It's okay, it took a while for me to figure all this stuff out and I felt pretty silly too. And that's with the hardware.

The ultra low lag version will feed almost the GBA's exact refresh rate (0.0001 Hz off), and Extrems mentioned it has less than 1 frame of lag. So frames shouldn't drop, or at least not frequently enough to ever be noticeable. No hiccuping is noticeable on my black-and-white S-video image.

Yeah, you launch the DOL through Swiss and tell it to force 480p. I believe that works, but I don't have component cables so I can't test it.

So swiss gives you the ability to add command lines? Talking specifically about the arguments in the first post with stuff like "--offset=x:y"

Not exactly, since it's missing the more specific commands, but I know you can do the video mode and I think the video offset through Swiss.

According to Extrems: "The only loader that supports arguments on GameCube is [Extrems' Gameboy Interface] itself through wiiload, using a Broadband Adapter." So it's kind of overkill to use the true command line arguments, but you should be able to accomplish most of what you want to do through Swiss.

I haven't even downloaded Swiss yet. The Ultra low latency DOL file automatically boots in 240p when you select it from the SD Media loader menu. When you have the Action Replay disc and SD card adapter in the Gamecube, it automatically goes to the SD loader menu.

As a further tip, I believe if you rename a DOL to autoexec.dol it will autoboot without you having to select it on the menu.

[Einzelherz]

Got the SD Launcher in the mail today, loaded the Ultra-low latency player, and wow, does it look good!



The GBA refresh rate works fine on the PVM, and the PVM's overscan mode lets me blow up the picture to take up most of the screen. Definitely the best looking way to play GBA games.

Tried Mega Man Zero and Gradius Galaxies to test the lag, and they felt great. Just like playing a good SNES game. This will probably be the only way I'll ever beat Gradius Galaxies, since the bullets can be harder to see on the GBA's, and the D-Pads are a little too stiff.

As far as the audio goes, I thought the program had been patched or something, because I couldn't hear any crackling. It wasn't until I paused Gradius Galaxies that I heard some periodic pops in the silence. So yeah, I could totally live with those glitches, they're really hard to hear when you're actually playing the game.

Component or PAL RGB?

[BazookaBen]

Component or PAL RGB?

I'm using component YPbPr, but I guess it would work in RGB too.

[Ed Oscuro]

I only "only" have a GC component and an NTSC/U region GameCube - but this should work too, right?

[BazookaBen]

I only "only" have a GC component and an NTSC/U region GameCube - but this should work too, right?

That's exactly what I have, so yeah. Whether it works will depend on the monitor you're using. I still need to test with my consumer Trinitron

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh lol, I totally misread your answer. Yeah, I'd hope this works with PAL-land people and their fancy RGBs!

Consumer TV will be an interesting test - I'm hopeful it will work; cheap PVMs aren't really that complicated inside.

[BONKERS]

Ugh, man. I wish the GCN Component cable wasn't like 300$ on Ebay right now.