Retrovga 2 Scanline intensity

[deltaspirit]

Hey, was wondering if anyone knows to to get darker scanlines from a retro vga 2? I picked up one using the same design as the one in the link below from ebay.

http://www.brunofreitas.com/node/36

I use the pots to set change the scanline intensity but even at their darkest you can still see some of the picture behind the scanline, it looks a little odd to me so wondering if it's possible to make it 100% black then maybe up the contract for that old school crt look.

[Xyga]

I don't think any of the external scanlines generators available can achieve that, from what I've seen to get really black lines hiding what's 'behind', it must be done internally (from the source or the linedoubler/scaler).

I could achieve that using an XRGB or emulators, never with an SLG3000 for instance.

[deltaspirit]

I don't think any of the external scanlines generators available can achieve that, from what I've seen to get really black lines hiding what's 'behind', it must be done internally (from the source or the linedoubler/scaler).

I could achieve that using an XRGB or emulators, never with an SLG3000 for instance.

Good to hear that it's not just my SLG. Maybe swapping the pots out for something of a different value would yield darker lines

[Xyga]

Maybe swapping the pots out for something of a different value would yield darker lines

No idea, if I recall someone told me the pots only manage the RGB signal intensity on 1/2 lines, but it's impossible to completely suppress it or the whole signal would be cut off, we'd get no picture at all.
I think the XRGB and emulators (with shaders or so) apply actual shades of grey~black over 1/2 lines, or just swapping colors in some cases I don't know, but I believe for the external scanlines 'generators' to be as efficient they would need to do something similar, the design would therefore be quite different (also more complex/expensive).

[Crafty+Mech]

It is definitely possible with the right circuit. I've built a circuit like that on a breadboard, but personally I found the look harsh and not realistic compared to the soft glow of the arcade CRTs I wanted to emulate. That is why the mini SLG ended up using a fixed intensity scanline of 1/3 of normal brightness.

[Xyga]

You remind me I haven't tried the Mini SLG yet. ^^

In my eyes whatever the case even when it's very bright and the shadow/empty area gets more or less squeezed-away on a crt, it remains really black.

The SLG3000's design at best darkens the unused lines down to very dark grey, and the nearby colors of the active 'scanlines' easily bleed/blend on it, if you look at any actual CRT; this does'nt happen.
The XRGB's in comparison can produce black and don't let the other colors 'invade' the darkened line so much, if not at all, even when set to a 50%~75%.

I've said a couple of times before I would take comparative screenshots of actual CRT's lines VS. SLG3000 VS. XRGB, it's kind of a pain to do but I'll try as soon as possible.

The ideal design of an external scanlines 'generator' I believe, would be one like the XRGB-2 Plus's, with something like four steps 100%, 50%, 75%, 25% or so (no potentiometer), each producing the type of more black~ish masking I'm talking about.

No wait, ideally it would even require a switchable, basic/faint/unobstrusive, vertical grid/mask effect.

[Crafty+Mech]

I sell the mini SLG through Paradise Arcade Shop now:
https://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/scan ... i-slg.html

The website says they are out of stock, but I just sent them a new batch so that should change in the next couple days.

[atheistgod1999]

You know what's the best way of getting pure black scanlines?

Buying an RGB CRT

[Xyga]

I sell the mini SLG through Paradise Arcade Shop now:
https://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/scan ... i-slg.html

The website says they are out of stock, but I just sent them a new batch so that should change in the next couple days.

I wasn't aware you were still doing those, sorry ! (imma buy one )

PS: where has the original hardware subforum thread gone by the way ?

[Crafty+Mech]

I sell the mini SLG through Paradise Arcade Shop now:
https://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/scan ... i-slg.html

The website says they are out of stock, but I just sent them a new batch so that should change in the next couple days.

I wasn't aware you were still doing those, sorry ! (imma buy one )

PS: where has the original hardware subforum thread gone by the way ?

Yep, still making and selling them. I passed the 1,000 units shipped mark about a month ago.