Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;-) )

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fafangus
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Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;-) )

Post by fafangus »

Hi all 8)
Recently I've reached to get my hands on a marvelous PMS Crystalio 2 VPS 3300 (rewieved here by Fudoh : http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/ (best site ever by the way))
The possibilities of this scaler are fantastic, so I may need some help in configuring it (!!)

So first of all I will introduce my setup : (let's take some time to understand the way I hook this all up)

- A Gamecube, PS2, X360, PS3 (anything outputting at least 480p)
- A Xselect-D4 (To connect / convert my jap D-terminal cable into YUV or DB15)
- An Extron RGB interface (the 203rxi for this instance)
- The CII VPS 3300
- My screen a IIyama B2712HDS

So It will goes like this :

480P > Xselect > ExtronRGB > CII 3300

My settings are those :
Image

Video settings :

Brightness : -5
Contrast : 0
Color : 3
Sharpness : 3
Hue : 0

Gamma

Type standard : -12

NR : VXP : Med or Low or Off

Smooth Scaling : 3
And it give something like that : (Captured in 720p60 cause my LGP can't handle 1080p60 > but played in 1080p60)

Fzero GX : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK95YUNcn8M

SW Rogue Squadron 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcI7AGnNdZ4

I have some kind of grain (very tiny), so playing with the noise reducer help me control it, but it make the picture a little too smooth...
Does the colours are allright ? Gamma ?

So if you have some idea in helping me getting the best of this beast it will be a greatfull help :mrgreen:

It's up to you, thanks !!! :wink:
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Fudoh
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by Fudoh »

A CII on a 27" display is true dedication :mrgreen:

I wouldn't use the noise reduction on the CII. To make sure you get neutral color and brightness offsets, I would bypass both the XSelect and the RGB interface - at least for a moment.

Do you transcode component to RGB ? If so, you definitely have to do a recalibration of your signal.

You got two ED/HD inputs on the CII, so in the long run you want to run YPbPr sources to one and RGB sources to the other. You can use the 203rxi as a breakout switch for the RGBHV port. On the other ED/HD input I would use a component switch. You can even use the XSELECT, but you should then use a D-Terminal to RCA connection, so you're not transcoding any longer.

There aren't too many active CII users here. Mine's in storage right now. Phil and Anthony both have running setups.
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fafangus
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by fafangus »

Thanks for your response :wink:

Yup the 27" is amazing with the CII, but I think I am going to a bigger size in a few month :mrgreen:

So

I'll test that : connect roughtly my dterminal switch (not the Xselect a basic dterminal switch, with dterminal to yuv cable) to my CII (on the component 1 HD input) and see what's going on...

Now I've got an Extron RGBS Matrix, do you think it will split the YPbPr signal ? (I've got an another Extron matrix who's handling rgbhv (16*16) on the way to my house, now it is in plane from japan...) so I could both connect my xrgb's and my dvs304 and the CII (lol so much upscaler) ?

So it could go like this :

480P(YPbPr) > Extron Matrix > CII or FM
480P(RGBHV) > Xselect > 203rxi > CII or FM
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fafangus
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by fafangus »

Ok
Just tested !! Everything works
Going D-terminal to yuv to the matix (rgbs) it goes to the C2 and simultany to the FM, but in component signal :-)
The noise is gone, and the color are more vibrant than ever !!
I have just forgot that my Gamecube & other doesn't output RGBHV but YPbPr, but the DC output RGBHV
Many thanks !!
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slk486
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by slk486 »

I don't really fiddle with mine anymore - it's pretty much set up as I want it. A bit annoying that only one input supports both 480i and 480p, but the presets help with that. I don't use noise reduction on mine, but maybe just a hint of sharpening for those nice pixel edges.

My CII does seem to have a problem with GameCube all white screens, which makes it resync. Skies of Arcadia is a good example - after combat afair. Have you noticed such behavior on yours?
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

Fudoh wrote:Phil and Anthony both have running setups.
Anthony here... :)

I'm still getting acclimated with it as well. I'll definitely chime back in soon, but also am experiencing what you're describing with the slight noise in the image. I'm currently running a PS2, Xbox, Wii and DC. The DC is using a Hanzo, which is output to component 2 on the CSII. With the rest, I'm using a Zektor Component switch and outputting to component 1.

Again, I'll come back to this once I have more concrete testing. So far for me, I have the DC looking the best and the rest with some slight noise and brightness/gamma issues.

Fudoh - Is it preferable to change the PS2 to RGB color space? Does it matter? I guess it would be good if so since I'd like to also run it to my PVM via SCART cable.

@slk486 - mine does the same thing with flashing white screens. Fudoh suggested that it's likely signal or sync levels. I haven't been able to properly test yet though.


**EDIT - so, I wrote this, then read the rest of the thread. Interesting...I'm not sure I follow completely why that made a difference, but I'll re-read and test soon.
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Fudoh
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by Fudoh »

Is it preferable to change the PS2 to RGB color space? Does it matter?
yes, RGB from the PS2 has less noise than the component signal. Then again your Zektor has a pretty good low-pass-filter, so it's probably about the same. Also in RGB the PS2 switches from RGBs with 15khz signals to RGBsB for 31khz ones, which would require you to manually switch between sync types on the CII's input.
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

Based on the previous posts, am I hitting the best inputs on the CSII? PS2, Xbox and Wii are at Comp1 and DC on Comp2.
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fafangus
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by fafangus »

Hi guys !!

Here are some new catch of the C2

(I've got a problem with my avermedia, it seems that it makes some interference with the C2, so when I plug it on, there are some waves on certain shade of colours like full white or black - so I manage to put the thing down playing with the gamma and the brightness, so the videos are a little darker than I expected... :? )

GC Skies of arcadia : I don't have any flashing screen here - playing for the first time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoG0i2N3-78 (in this one I unplugged the LGP, so it show some black screen at the end and after show ingame... ^^)

&

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYAuS1u7Klg

Dreamcast :

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

For the DC I have to manage with the RGBHV to YUV (my xselect goes to the matrix, but the C2 doesn't recognise the good colours signal (??) so I have to switch my 203rxi to input 2 then 3(the xselect rgbhv source) to force yuv on the C2 > crazy but working way :mrgreen: only the Dc goes me like this

And after recalibrating my cables I don't have anymore grain on the picture :)
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

So are you not seeing the wavyness anymore? I have the same issue, but it is much less pronounced with my setup. I can see some wavyness on white, grey and black backgrounds though.

If you eliminated it, i'm really curious what did it for you.
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fafangus
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by fafangus »

Well before plugging my capture card on the 2sd output of the C2 (hdmi), I was not having waves...and connecting it here there are :?:
So I guess it came from a interferance in my LGP :arrow: I need a Xcapture now :mrgreen:

But in hooking my complex setup to the C2, I once have wavy line with my ps2 very pronounced in blacks , I searched on the net, and someone on an other forum (don't remember wich one) was having the same problem

It come from the stereo RCA L/R; something with the loop ground...

So I am now like this
480P (ps2) > Dterminal switch > Xselect > Extron (RGBS) Matrix > C2 (YUV)

and the sound goes like this :

Determinal switch > multi RCA switch > C2 (or FM or my computer)

And the waves are gones 8)

And for the grain on image I was having it comes from the Extron rgb203rxi who's transcoding yuv to rgbhv (well I guess ??!! lol), and now I've only got the little problem with the DC that I've to switch like I already said...
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

Huh, ok. I'm curious what your settings are. If you'd like to compare, post yours and I'll do the same.

Maybe start with PS2?
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akumajo
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by akumajo »

I'm very pleased with the XSELECT/XRGB3/VPS3300 COMBO :) and to be honest I dont use my XRGB-Mini ...

My Crystalio came with PD firmware. Is there any change VS normal firmware ?
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by akumajo »

also, 1920x1200 (wuxga) works fine with hdmi
I would like to try 1920x1440, is it possible with a custom resolution (customized resolutions up to 150MHz in digital and 165MHz in analog)?
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slk486
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by slk486 »

noonan2678 wrote: @slk486 - mine does the same thing with flashing white screens. Fudoh suggested that it's likely signal or sync levels. I haven't been able to properly test yet though.
Yeah, same discussion I had with Fudoh. Perhaps there is a device that can limit the signal levels, or perhaps some resistors would do the job well enough?
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slk486
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by slk486 »

fafangus wrote: GC Skies of arcadia : I don't have any flashing screen here - playing for the first time
That's weird. Could be a difference between the 3800 and the 3300 I suppose. Which model do you have Anthony?
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akumajo
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by akumajo »

answering to myself (about normal and pd firmware), you need to flash in rescue mode

normal firmware passthrough now works with HDMI1 output
normal firmware HDMI1 colors space and level can be changed (just like hdmi2 output)
also one useless option was removed (specific to projector design)

too bad, the passthrough dont works as expected with my setup
exemple : XRGB3 or DREAMCAST > VPS3300 , it should passthrough 720x480 but for some reason (bug?) it display 1280x720 and a big portion of the right image is lost...
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

slk486 wrote:
fafangus wrote: GC Skies of arcadia : I don't have any flashing screen here - playing for the first time
That's weird. Could be a difference between the 3800 and the 3300 I suppose. Which model do you have Anthony?
I have the 3800, but that wasn't my comment. I'll try with Skies soon though and let you know.
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slk486
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by slk486 »

noonan2678 wrote: I have the 3800, but that wasn't my comment. I'll try with Skies soon though and let you know.
I was asking, because I already know fafangus (who doesn't have the issue) has the 3300 ;)

Looks like it may be a 3800 only issue.
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

Ok - Tried out SoA. Started a new game and played about 45 mins or so. The intro did drop sync a couple of times. Also the first boss did, but only during his magic. Since then, it hasn't again. There was quite a bit of flashing that I saw and it held up. Only seemed to lose it in the extreme examples. I should say that I'm playing on a Wii in forced 480p mode. Still, I did lose it a couple of times.

I'm curious what your settings are though...
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slk486
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by slk486 »

Hmm. Come to think of it, I do have output profile switching based on whether the video signal is 50 or 60, which might reinforce it. Never put a GC disc in my Wii, but I'll try to see if it acts differently.
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noonan2678
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by noonan2678 »

What were you experiencing prior though? Was it worse than what I mentioned?
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fafangus
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Re: Crystalio users (help m getting the best image quality ;

Post by fafangus »

noonan2678 wrote:Maybe start with PS2?
My Ps2 settings are nearly the same, just correct position and overscan, and now that I've got my new led 32" (Samsung Ue32H5000) I've adjusted the gamma to 0 (!!)

The picture is incredible, I've got some problem with my sdcards (GC - Wii) so I couldn't test what I want, but the games tested was impressive :mrgreen:

On the Ps2 I've tested R-type Final (480p forced) and just some scaling effect affect the game but nothing to fear of 8)

See for yourself : https://youtu.be/xSRbJEePHRA

And Wii : https://youtu.be/_WG3DYuo-cY

Capture made on the fly - and the video doesn't give it justice, but picture on the TV is very very great, more than my IIyama 27" (LCD)

As I've got my little son who's starting to walk > 18 month old, I've got eye on him too :) so sorry for the bad gameplay
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