OSSC (DIY video digitizer & scandoubler)

[donluca]

I've been looking for a long time for streamers which play the Saturn version of SOTN. Do you mind sharing a link to your stream?

Why, the Saturn version is the worst?

The Saturn version actually has some differences with the other ones, plus I always loved those small extras like the extra zone and boss.

[Guspaz]

The Saturn version adds a new playable character, new areas, new enemies, and new boss fights. Unfortunately, the new additions are generally considered to be poorly done, and the port is plagued by performance issues despite the Saturn having more powerful 2D hardware than the Playstation. As such, it's a bit of a black sheep.

[Chacranajxy]

So, is the flashing when going into the Chrono Cross menu representative of what to expect? Not sure if that's the capture card or the device itself. If it is there, it doesn't seem too bad. Definitely a lot better than the XRGB.

[Fudoh]

So, is the flashing when going into the Chrono Cross menu representative of what to expect?

I would expect a tiny dropout, but how long or how exactly it will look will completely depend on your TV, monitor or capture device.

[lev11]

Great review Fudoh.
Would adding scanlines to a 480p signal whilst maintaining 480p output be discarding half the video data?

[ryu]

Great review Fudoh.
Would adding scanlines to a 480p signal whilst maintaining 480p output be discarding half the video data?

If the source is a pure 480p and not upscaled, you'll lose video data depending on scanline strength since you're essentially darkening every second line.

[Das Muel]

Really eager to get my hands on this now. One box to rule them all. I can put the cheap XRGB2 I just picked up in Kowloon on eBay too. Did you test the 384p linedoubling personally?

[Fudoh]

no, but marqs had a 24khz source in his compatibility list already.

[BONKERS]

The Saturn version adds a new playable character, new areas, new enemies, and new boss fights. Unfortunately, the new additions are generally considered to be poorly done, and the port is plagued by performance issues despite the Saturn having more powerful 2D hardware than the Playstation. As such, it's a bit of a black sheep.

I wouldn't call it a black sheep, but it's definitely not a great port.

The PSP version has a better Maria mode anyway.

[Mantrox]

Just so i can get my "financial arragements" in order, when can we expect the first 50 complete units to start shipping, Marq?

When can we start paying you?

[Braintrash]

Thank you Fudoh for the review.
As I am both using Japanese consoles and arcade boards on a LCD, this is of high interest for me.
After a thorough read, I decided to wait, either for the next Micomsoft product or the next Marqs' one.
I really like Marqs' take and I can only bt dream about it updated for 4K, as 4K is a better scaling from 720p than 1080p. I already saw some results on 4K TVs which were stunning, but I may have been blinded by the novelty.

[BONKERS]

most TV sets don't support 4:4:4 color input without converting it to 4:2:2 right away

This just isn't true. A vast majority of TVs out there support native 4:4:4 input without processing. You just have to enable it.

480p Scaling is more variable though. One of my TVs has terrible 480p scaling, even from a 4:4:4 DVI signal.

[Fudoh]

A vast majority of TVs out there support native 4:4:4 input without processing. You just have to enable it.

there are some, right. The problem is that you actually have to divide the TVs into three groups. 444 display support for native resolutions, 422 conversion once scaling is applied and 422 applied to all inputs. Unfortunately reviews usually only test for the first option, but neglect the second.

[Xyga]

^ The Sonys again seem to win that category don't they ? supporting 4:4:4 up to 4k@60Hz, at least according to Rting's reviews...

[Fudoh]

On some Sony 4K sets this was added with some firmware update. I don't think that the 1080p sets support 4:4:4.

[bobrocks95]

I thought you said in your W6 review that in game mode it uses 4:4:4? Did that change for the later models or are you talking about when they're upscaling?

[Xyga]

That's what the reviews say too (hdtvtest), in game and graphics modes. or there's something we're missing. (?)

[Fudoh]

yes, sorry, I meant when upscaling is involved. On the other hand, overscan settings probably don't cause chroma downsampling, so let's not jump to any conclusions...

[ZellSF]

Full 4:4:4 processing is just for RGB signals right? Isn't component 4:2:2?

[blizzz]

Digital component (YCbCr) is usually 4:2:2 or less, although 4:4:4 is also possible. I don't see a reason to not process analog component (YPbPr) in 4:4:4 though.

[Yohanov]

Don't you guys have a PSP with component cables to test and add in the compatibility chart ?

[Fudoh]

Don't you guys have a PSP with component cables to test and add in the compatibility chart ?

PSP w/ component cables does already output 480p. What exactly do you want tested ?

[Xan]

A zoom option for the PSP would be really nice.

[BuckoA51]

Not going to happen on a device like this, you'd need a frame buffer.

[Unseen]

Not going to happen on a device like this, you'd need a frame buffer.

You could output a signal that has a huge blanking area instead of the black frame around the PSP's picture. If the display accepts it, it would see a small (and non-standard-resolution) picture without black borders that it could then scale up to the full screen. Such a signal would be so far out of the spec's territory that I wouldn't even want to guess if it would work with any given display or not.

[BuckoA51]

Such a signal would be so far out of the spec's territory that I wouldn't even want to guess if it would work with any given display or not.

I'm leaning towards "no" for most displays Still you never know I guess.

[Xer Xian]

I was just thinking about buying an xrgb-mini, when I stumble into this new device (and Fudoh's excellent review).
I much prefer the OSSC's concept of perfect zero-lag converting and perfect almost-anything-to-everything-else transcoding over the xrgb-mini approach.

I'll throw a couple of questions (thanks in advance to anyone replying):
1) About digitizing a 480p signal into dvi/hdmi. Does it happen with absolutely zero lag?
2) I second the one who said that line doubling a 480p signal would be a dream. Just in theory, could it happen someday via firmware update?

[Fudoh]

Just a short update on the DVDO compatibility: 480p into the 50Pro is fine of course, so the OSSC already makes a perfect 240p add-on for the VPxx series (and the Edge). 720p line tripling mode only works with an unlocked output refresh rate right now (meaning the DVDO will add more lag than neccessary). I'll spend more time on this in the future.

[Thomago]

Given the OSSC's limitations, are there any devices that are able to take the OSSCs output (ideally including non-standard output modes like the linetripled 720p mode), upscale it and apply arbitrary zoom / aspect ratio settings (all while not losing sync when mode changes happen)?

I really have no clue what modern AV-Receivers or scalers like the DVDO can do, so excuse me if the question sounds stupid.

[Fudoh]

That's what the DVDOs are for. There are only very few other processors that might be able to do that (some of the Lumagens, the CII maybe).

AV receivers don't give you flexible AR, overscan or even indepent zoom options for both vertical and horizontal sizing.