XRGB-mini Framemeister

[Braca862]

So I set the SYNC_TIMER to 100. So close. The PS1's boot screen appeared only for two seconds before it went black again.

Another benefit I just realized about the framemeister is that it can display PAL games properly by changing the input to 50p. In order to get the game actually working, I had to use the PS-X-Change 2 disc. The results was amazing. Before I got the framemeister, the image appeared all warped and discolored. The only PAL PS1 game I have is Hugo. I bought this game since it brings me back memories of playing it when I was in Argentina. Everything's all well, except for one thing: there is no music playing, except for the cutscenes and one level. I though this problem was common only in burned copies of PS1 games.

I tested the game on a PS1 emulator once and the music did play.

Also, I don't know how it happened, but it appears when I changed the SCREEN_SET to standard, all of the dithering disappeared.

[hipstir]

This is my first post but long time lurker and I want to thank you al for all the great posts and the invaluable amount of sharing. I bought my xrgb mini just last month and love it.

Thanks you FBX for the profiles as I really didn't know where to begin and your profiles essentially made it plug and play.

A friend of mine stopped by the other day and we played Streets of Rage (4 in 1 SCD) and he was blown away on the clarity of the image and sound.

He stated I haven't played this game in 20+ years and don't remember the Genesis ever looking this good!!!

Anyway for the real reason I'm posting.... has anyone considered contacting micom_support@micomsoft.co.jp directly and report the few issues found thus far?

Maybe a well known forum contributer could be made the point of contact as a representative of shumps.system11.org and reference this thread within the email conversation stating the issues found and obviously the large following of individuals that exists in this thread?

[Fudoh]

has anyone considered contacting micom_support@micomsoft.co.jp directly and report the few issues found thus far?

as far as I can tell there are no new bugs. Micomsoft got an extensive bug report (translated into japanese) quite some time ago.

But, hey, if somebody is using the FM on a daily basis with A LOT of different sources, feel free to get in touch via PM. We could work through the bug list, see what's resolved and possibly create an updated list to re-submitted. I'll share the list once it's been updated - just don't want all those old (and resolved) bugs out there in a listing.

[austin532]

So I set the SYNC_TIMER to 100. So close. The PS1's boot screen appeared only for two seconds before it went black again.

Also, I don't know how it happened, but it appears when I changed the SCREEN_SET to standard, all of the dithering disappeared.

There is nothing you can do about the screen turning black. Trust me we all tried. All the Sync Time does is delay when that happens.

Are you so you don't mean Image Mode? All of those options have LPF except for Movie and Picture which effect the screen.

[FBX]

All the Sync Time does is delay when that happens.

I also discovered it causes frame sync to drop to skipping. Took me quite a while to narrow down what was causing it, but when I dropped that setting back down to 3, auto-sync started working properly again. Probably just more shoddy coding on Micomsoft's part.

[IrishNinja]

hey all - been messing a bit with profiles, but i'm still on FW 2.0 - i see there's a recent beta, what all does the current/stable update bring?

[Braca862]

I have a Vizio soundbar and whenever I use the soundbar's remote control, it seems to be randomly changing the xrgb mini's settings such as SCREEN_SET and AV_MUTING. How can I fix this?

[rtw]

I have a Vizio soundbar and whenever I use the soundbar's remote control, it seems to be randomly changing the xrgb mini's settings such as SCREEN_SET and AV_MUTING. How can I fix this?

My FM remote affects my HDMI selector, the protocol is too standard, you would need to shield the IR receiver on the FM.

[Strider77]

I have a Vizio soundbar

That would be the bigger issue.

[Guspaz]

Why? Their soundbars are very highly rated and are widely regarded as being the best reasonably priced soundbars on the market.

[AndysSeveredHead]

Hi, everybody. Maybe I'm losing my mind here, but I've been trying to set up scanlines in 720p and 1080p, constantly jumping through menus, and it seems to me than whenever I change the HDMI Output resolution, the Visual_Set and Scanline settings randomly change themselves. Does this happen to anyone else, or am I just losing track? Thanks.

[Fudoh]

720p output and 1080p output use different methods of rendering scanlines, so you cannot use the same settings for both.

[AndysSeveredHead]

720p output and 1080p output use different methods of rendering scanlines, so you cannot use the same settings for both.

I can understand the same settings having different outcomes depending on the resolution. It's when I save a particular set of savings to a profile, change only the resolution, and see those changes....err, change....without any input on my part than confuses me. Although I suppose there's still plenty of aspects of the Framemeister that I still don't understand.

[Braca862]

Why is it that the N64 is weak when using the framemeister? I found that the PS1 via SCART to the framemesiter produces a crisp and sharp image than the N64. Even when using the recommended settings, I do not get any good results.

[FBX]

Why is it that the N64 is weak when using the framemeister? I found that the PS1 via SCART to the framemesiter produces a crisp and sharp image than the N64. Even when using the recommended settings, I do not get any good results.

Even the older RGB mod for the N64 doesn't really produce sharp results for most games. This is because of some sort of internal filter the N64 uses. One rare example where the game actually turns off this filter is Quake II when using the RAM expansion pak. Quake II's resolution stays the same in expansion mode, but the filter being turned off makes pixels nice and sharp.

The newer UltraHDMI mod can reverse the filter effect (or perhaps circumvents it, I'm not sure which). So that's the mod you'll need if you want sharp results (and doesn't require a Framemeister or SCART cable).

Edit: Here's an example of the difference in Quake II with filter on:

Spoiler

And filter off:

Spoiler

[bacardi]

I dug up my old Samsung 17" LCD that has a native res of 1280x1024 - I remember it can run at 1280x960 as well over DVI/VGA. Would I be able to set 1280x960 mode in the Framemeister and have scanlines that are not messed up using 240p and 480i content? The scanlines are pretty much the biggest factor for me before I purchase. Cheers.

[Thomago]

Yep, Scanlines work perfectly in 1280x960.

EDIT: Just took a picture.

[bacardi]

Thanks Thomago!

[Braca862]

However, there are some N64 games that do look good. Super Mario 64, Battletanx, and I think Paper Mario are the ones so far that I noticed excellent quality.

[Pasky]

Anyone have any idea why S-video with all my Genesis models look like this through the XRGB mini? It's as if the mini isn't terminating the chroma signal:



I then put a 75 to ground on the chroma pin and it was still way off:



No idea why this is. The picture looks fine straight to my TV's with S-video and even directly through the capture card:



That's basically what it looks like on my TV's as well.

What's up with the XRGB mini acting goofy with S-video?

[Coryoon]

I think I forgot to post here earlier, but the issues I have been having regarding synch appear to have been 99% resolved thanks to the last (mainly) firmware update. More synch options are a godsend.

Shame I don't use my XRGB any more (bought a PVM ... sorry but good as the XRGB is, it won't beat a Pro Crt).

[Fudoh]

sorry but good as the XRGB is, it won't beat a Pro Crt

as long as size doesn't matter. This said, I can't wait to upgrade to 75".

[Guspaz]

My 80" projection screen would love to agree with you, but sadly the 33ms input lag (in any mode) on my projector (PowerLite 8345) is not as good as a CRT, and there are very few projectors on the market that do any better (including the successor model of my projector, which is much worse).

Some of these devices I don't even know how they can have so much more lag. I can see justifications for maybe three frames of lag: one framebuffer to accept input, one framebuffer to store the image before processing is applied, one framebuffer to store the result of the postprocessing to be displayed. So how do they even manage six frames of lag?

[elmalloc]

Hi,

I'm new. Within the last month or so I've purchased

• Hi-Def NES (from Jason @ Gametech)
• SNES Mini modded with RGB
• XRGB-Mini Framemesiter
• Gold N64 NTSC-J
• New OEM controllers

I'm on 2 installer's lists to get the Ultra HDMi installed for the N64, very soon. I'm awaiting SCART cables for the SNES from retro gaming cables UK, it's a very slow process.

Anyway, I think I have the virus that everyone else here has - lol. I picked up some new Gamecube controllers on ebay and have been researching the following.

With my Plasma TV, what's the best way to connect the original Gamecube?

1. Is there a specific Gamecube version that's better than another?
2. Do all gamecube games output 480p?
3. I read the Framemeister is not that good at component inputs, so we should let the TV do upconversion?
4. I read another thread in this forum that there may be a version of the Nintendo Wii that equals the Gamecube component output. Is this true to anyone else? The GC component cables are $200-250 right now.

Lastly to reply to the above comment, I own an Epson 8350 projector I game on for new systems. It has roughly 1 frame of lag (18.5ms). I think in the projector world, it still stands near the top. For some reason Epson's newer models went down in number (8345). I still highly regard the 8350 for gaming and considered plugging all my retro console habit into it, but I like the closeness a TV provides with wired controllers and oldschool feel.

Thanks!

[Fudoh]

So how do they even manage six frames of lag?

vector calculations for interframe creation.

[Guspaz]

AFAIK the new PowerLite 3000/3500/3600 are all 60Hz projectors (they don't accept more than 60Hz input, anyhow), so there shouldn't be any interframe creation to explain the 104ms latency.

[Fudoh]

wow then On projectors adaptive lenses can require a certain buffer, but I don't know if that's the case here.

[CkRtech]

I think those projectors use 3LCD technology - so it could be that there is some buffer time for all of them (3 separate chips for RGB) to get their image processing done and sync up for convergence and projection? <shrug> 100% guess.

[Guspaz]

The 3000 series (from late 2014) is 3LCD, but so is my 8345/8350 (from 2010) with its 33ms of latency. Which isn't great, but isn't as bad as 104ms.

Now, the 3000 series can go into a "game" mode and drop that down to 46ms, but reviews state image quality suffers for that, and my 8345 is 33ms on all modes, including cinema.

I was all excited when the 3000 series came out, because it's the successor to my projector, and is reported to be better in every way... except for latency.

[elmalloc]

I don't believe that to be true, but I could be wrong.

The Epson 8350 clocks in at 17-18ms lag in most reviews for gaming/input lag. I think ProjectorCentral has them at 33-34ms. Most reviews I also read the 8345 clocked in at 33ms. The 8350 is a 3 chip LCD, as is the 8345 I believe. For whatever reason Epson decided to make the successor a lower model number, it's possible to think they degraded some of the performance in the process (strange?).

The 3000 series were junk at first. I owned a few versions and Epson fell on its face with 3D with a lot of crosstalk/latency. I tried an early version Optoma (HD33) and its 3D was damn near perfect. Although it exhibited a bit of input lag, so it was not suitable for gaming: