Recording gameplay off a bvm-20f1u

[Koop]

Hey guys, new to the forums here- you guys really know your stuff so I figured this was the absolute best place to ask.

I recently got a bvm-20f1u, and it is awesome- first time I've ever owned a RGB monitor. I'd really like to capture footage off of it for recording, steaming, etc but I am unsure the best way to do so. I know on my BVM I have input and output... Is there a way I can output and record RGB directly, or would I absolutely need to convert it to component or VGA? As for a capture device I own a SC-512N1-L/DVI.

I do have a BKM21-D in my BVM, which I believe I can use to input RGB or component. Would be at all possible to input RGB but output component? I'm assuming probably not but I figured it was worth asking.

If I do have to go the route of converting RGB to component for my capture device what would be the best way to do so? Since I am coming out of the PVM via BNC connections will I need to convert back to scart to then convert to component? Or is there something I can use to go from RGB BNC connections -> Component?

Thanks to anyone who can help point me in the right direction.

[FinalBaton]

Plug your console into the BKM21D's input. Connect the BKM21D's output into your capture card via the dvi-vga adapter.
RGB in - RGB out

done

[Koop]

Plug your console into the BKM21D's input. Connect the BKM21D's output into your capture card via the dvi-vga adapter.
RGB in - RGB out

done

I would need a cable to accept RGB-S into my SC-512N1-L/DVI.... Is there such a thing? I have not found anything like that.

[FinalBaton]

I would need a cable to accept RGB-S into my SC-512N1-L/DVI.... Is there such a thing? I have not found anything like that.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=566

[Koop]

I would need a cable to accept RGB-S into my SC-512N1-L/DVI.... Is there such a thing? I have not found anything like that.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=566

Thanks, in the description of the cable it says 5 Internal Coax Lines (R, G, B, H, V) -- is that horizontal and vertical sync? How can/should I connect that to my sync out on my PVM?

[beatsgo]

IIRC C-Sync needs to be connected to the H-Sync line and should work on the SC-512N1-L/DVI or PEXHDCAP.
Source

[Koop]

I would need a cable to accept RGB-S into my SC-512N1-L/DVI.... Is there such a thing? I have not found anything like that.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=566

So I got this cable in today and they don't seem to work. Try to configure it every which way in AmerecTV but never saw anything to capture. After some more searching I found this on Amarecth's site:



Says here the X-SYNC is required for what I am trying to do. Is this really the case? Is there something I'm missing? A little bummed if these cables I bought are useless.

[FinalBaton]

Did you go in Amarec's menu : Config => Graph1 (Device) => Device Setting
and select "VGA" under Video Input?

[Koop]

Did you go in Amarec's menu : Config => Graph1 (Device) => Device Setting
and select "VGA" under Video Input?

Should I do that while on the config page it is set to (None) or DVI-D? I've tried to do it both ways but don't seem to get anything. If I have DVI-D selected under input of the main page and then select VGA in the video input and apply it reverts back to DVI-D.

Mind you in Amarec while doing this I seem to just be getting a black screen as opposed to 'No Signal' if that means much.

Thanks for the assistance.

[FinalBaton]

Did you go in Amarec's menu : Config => Graph1 (Device) => Device Setting
and select "VGA" under Video Input?

Should I do that while on the config page it is set to (None) or DVI-D? I've tried to do it both ways but don't seem to get anything. If I have DVI-D selected under input of the main page and then select VGA in the video input and apply it reverts back to DVI-D.

Mind you in Amarec while doing this I seem to just be getting a black screen as opposed to 'No Signal' if that means much.

Thanks for the assistance.

the black screen while no console is on is normal
There's nothing written in the "input" box, of the "Graph 1(Device)" tab here. FWIW.

Under "Device Settings" I select "VGA", with both boxes unchecked and it works.

[Koop]

Did you go in Amarec's menu : Config => Graph1 (Device) => Device Setting
and select "VGA" under Video Input?

Should I do that while on the config page it is set to (None) or DVI-D? I've tried to do it both ways but don't seem to get anything. If I have DVI-D selected under input of the main page and then select VGA in the video input and apply it reverts back to DVI-D.

Mind you in Amarec while doing this I seem to just be getting a black screen as opposed to 'No Signal' if that means much.

Thanks for the assistance.

the black screen while no console is on is normal
There's nothing written in the "input" box, of the "Graph 1(Device)" tab here. FWIW.

Under "Device Settings" I select "VGA", with both boxes unchecked and it works.

Well, that's the thing, my console is on haha. This is what I have:





What is the model monitor you're using?

The AmarecTV version I'm using is 3.10 is that makes a different as well.

[FinalBaton]

Maybe you need to select "720x240" under format in Amarec? IDK

I have Amarec 3.0 but I doubt that your version is the problem, I haven't seen people claim that it is broken.

Maybe your capture card driver is the problem? but again I would check this as a last resort

Or maybe there's something you need to select on your monitor for it to output a signal? I don't think this is the case, but maybe someone who own this monitor can chime in.

[korpse413]

Koop, on your Graph 1 tab, under input you have (none) selected, select DVI-A.

I am outputting from my BVM as well, although my model is a D20. Not sure what the outputs are like on your model, but I only have 4 possible BNC in and out, Red, Blue, Green, and Sync. My BNC-to-VGA cable must have H and V Sync merged as one for lack of redundancy so I wouldn't need a T-connector. Like I said, I don't own your model BVM so maybe it has 5 BNC outputs.

EDIT: Just realized your BVM model should be pretty similar to mine.. I can take photos if need be

[Koop]

Koop, on your Graph 1 tab, under input you have (none) selected, select DVI-A.

I am outputting from my BVM as well, although my model is a D20. Not sure what the outputs are like on your model, but I only have 4 possible BNC in and out, Red, Blue, Green, and Sync. My BNC-to-VGA cable must have H and V Sync merged as one for lack of redundancy so I wouldn't need a T-connector. Like I said, I don't own your model BVM so maybe it has 5 BNC outputs.

EDIT: Just realized your BVM model should be pretty similar to mine.. I can take photos if need be

Yeah it sounds like you have the same as me, I only have one sync, not separate Horizontal and Vertical. Could you share with me how you have your configurations both physically and in Amarec? What capture card/device are you using? Trying to figure out all the variables.

I also have this cable which I've been testing with without any positive results:
http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=1 ... 1&format=2

Perhaps this one is like yours Korpse? Appreciate the help.

Also I tried DVI-A but didn't get anything.

Maybe you need to select "720x240" under format in Amarec? IDK

I have Amarec 3.0 but I doubt that your version is the problem, I haven't seen people claim that it is broken.

Maybe your capture card driver is the problem? but again I would check this as a last resort

Or maybe there's something you need to select on your monitor for it to output a signal? I don't think this is the case, but maybe someone who own this monitor can chime in.

Hmm I did not think about that. I assumed it's just always outputting because if you don't have 75ohm terminators on the output the picture gets crazy bright/overloaded on the monitor but I could be missing something there.

"720x240" setting yields a 'no signal' from amarec. Most of the default resolution options just give a black screen. I think anything I select that isn't set to RGB colorspace gives a no signal- which I guess makes sense?
edit: I actually tried this with the cable unplugged and got the same results. So I guess this doesn't mean anything.

Either way thanks to both of you, appreciate the help so far.

[korpse413]

No worries man, I am still new to the game myself believe me. I've been meaning to update some old threads that I created/asked questions on with my results anyway. Check out this album here for my amarec settings and whatnot. Like FinalBaton is mentioning, try 720x240, as you can see that is what I have selected also. The pictures of my actual setup isn't really necessary, but I posted one anyway, I own that exact monoprice cable you linked with the single sync. All its going from there is to my PEXHDCAP60L via a VGA to DVI adapter of course, which might be the exact same thing as the sc512dvi just minus the passthru? I always forget what micomsoft version it is, frankly its all a mess since Startech is just planting their name on it for sale in the West, idfk lol.

Anyway, always run amarec in administrator mode of course. And I'm not sure if you know of the awful 100% cpu bug or not, TheThrillness has a fantastic blog where he's documented a workaround. As such myself and others are locked into using Windows 8 for streaming atm, at least until Yuan drivers sort out some bugs. Hope this helps

[FinalBaton]

with wich consoles are you doing your testing, Koop?

[Koop]

with wich consoles are you doing your testing, Koop?

You know what, this just narrowed things down greatly for me. Using Korp's config above I hooked up my SNES instead and low and behold it works!

Before I was trying to use my AV Famicom (which is modded with NESRGB).

I wonder why the SNES works but the AV Famicom doesn't? I have a custom cable made for the SNES which works for the SNES and N64 no problem, but for some reason the NESRGB Famicom never liked the cable- but worked fine with the custom cable provided with the modded console.

Any ideas?

Also my picture quality doesn't seem all that great lol is it configuration perhaps or just the nature of capturing something at this resolution?

[beatsgo]

A general rule when doing video capture is match the resolution of the video output being captured (720P video output should be recorded as a 720P video). In this case, you should be capturing at 320x240 60fps. You can also adjust the picture settings by going to video proc amp tab of the capture card settings.

[Koop]

A general rule when doing video capture is match the resolution of the video output being captured (720P video output should be recorded as a 720P video). In this case, you should be capturing at 320x240 60fps. You can also adjust the picture settings by going to video proc amp tab of the capture card settings.

Yeah makes sense. I've messed with the resolution, but something I don't get- shouldn't my colorspace be RGB? Why is it when I set it as such I get this lol




Do I need some sort of sync stripper in general to be able to use RGB colorspace maybe?

[beatsgo]

Based on the screenshot: I know it sounds stupid, but you have to press okay for the changes to be made on the config window. Apply doesn't do anything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Also the coloring is telling me it's not a sync problem it's a color space problem. Definitely want to adjust that. Also be sure to check your connections to be sure a wire is not disconnected.

[Koop]

Based on the screenshot: I know it sounds stupid, but you have to press okay for the changes to be made on the config window. Apply doesn't do anything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Also the coloring is telling me it's not a sync problem it's a color space problem. Definitely want to adjust that. Also be sure to check your connections to be sure a wire is not disconnected.

Oh you caught me there. lol. Here is another couple screenshots of what I am seeing. See the relevant color info at the bottom:

Something to note, the top half of the screen, although not all the time, is flickering crazily.

[beatsgo]

Try going back to the settings you had before going to 320x240, seemed to work decently for the SNES.

[Koop]

Try going back to the settings you had before going to 320x240, seemed to work decently for the SNES.

Yeah I mean, it seems to work fine if I set the color space to 'fcc=YUY2' but trying to do 'fcc=RGB' anywhere seems to cause a green mess.

Don't you think it'd have to be some sort of sync issue? Or no?

[FinalBaton]

If you plan to upload on youtube, than YUY2 is plenty fine since Youtube will apply at least as much color compression as the YUY2 colorspace will.
In other words : even if you record your footage in RGB, once you upload it on Youtube it won't look better than YUY2, so you better select YUY2 in the first place.
Don't let Youtube do the color compression! Do it yourself

And regarding your Puyo Puyo screenshot : yes it's normal that it looks like this.
However, there's something you can do to enhance it afterward : upscale it in VirtualDub.
That's what I do. I capture my 240p consoles in 720x240 YUY2 (your vid will still be of a 360x240 size), then once my capture is done I load my .avi file in VirtualDub and upscale it (Video ­­=> Filters ­­=> Add ­­=> Resize).

[Koop]

If you plan to upload on youtube, than YUY2 is plenty fine since Youtube will apply at least as much color compression as the YUY2 colorspace will.
In other words : even if you record your footage in RGB, once you upload it on Youtube it won't look better than YUY2, so you better select YUY2 in the first place.
Don't let Youtube do the color compression! Do it yourself

And regarding your Puyo Puyo screenshot : yes it's normal that it looks like this.
However, there's something you can do to enhance it afterward : upscale it in VirtualDub.
That's what I do. I capture my 240p consoles in 720x240 YUY2 (your vid will still be of a 360x240 size), then once my capture is done I load my .avi file in VirtualDub and upscale it (Video ­­=> Filters ­­=> Add ­­=> Resize).

Well, sure, but my goal is to be able to record raw RGB footage, not necessarily for youtube. Right now yeah this works (well, for SNES, have not tested Genesis and such yet) but it's not actually capturing the RGB correct? I'm just trying to understand at a technical level what is actually going on and why straight RGB doesn't work but YUY2 does. I am under the assumption right now it's because I need some sort of sync stripper like a sync strike if I want to actually record the RGB colorspace. Does that make sense?

That is a cool idea to use VirtualDub. I was honestly considering just getting a framemeister at this point though. Then I could at least emulate scanlines, etc and get it as close to how it appears on my monitor. Could also use framemeister in the living room, which is the real reason I want it haha.

[korpse413]

Ok, now I have some questions of my own - I want to master Amarec and you guys have more experience with it then I do. I was curious when looking at Koops screenshot of his working Amarec with the same settings as mine (see here last picture) that on the bottom of the window there are a few statistics that Amarec is telling us. Mine for some reason is listed as 562x422, no mention of the color space that I have selected or anything (I have it set for 720x240..) - yet on all of Koops screenshots it tells the exact resolution that he is selecting in Graph 1, along with the color space he is using? Why are our Amarecs so different? Is this listing of statistics specific to capture cards and its just the fact that ours are a tad different somehow? I would love to master this software so I am all ears.

[FinalBaton]

Well, sure, but my goal is to be able to record raw RGB footage, not necessarily for youtube. Right now yeah this works (well, for SNES, have not tested Genesis and such yet) but it's not actually capturing the RGB correct? I'm just trying to understand at a technical level what is actually going on and why straight RGB doesn't work but YUY2 does. I am under the assumption right now it's because I need some sort of sync stripper like a sync strike if I want to actually record the RGB colorspace. Does that make sense?

That is a cool idea to use VirtualDub. I was honestly considering just getting a framemeister at this point though. Then I could at least emulate scanlines, etc and get it as close to how it appears on my monitor. Could also use framemeister in the living room, which is the real reason I want it haha.

I honestly don't know why your RGB capture is greenish. Hopefully someone else can tell you if sync has anything to do with it, or if something else is the problem.

If I were you, I would forget about the idea of capturing scanlines. This barely ever work right and is gonna be a time consuming thing that will leave you dissatisfied. My 2 cents.

Also, forgot to say on my previous post, regarding the quality of your Puyo Puyo capture : what Codec do you use? This can make a big difference in quality

[FinalBaton]

Ok, now I have some questions of my own - I want to master Amarec and you guys have more experience with it then I do. I was curious when looking at Koops screenshot of his working Amarec with the same settings as mine (see here last picture) that on the bottom of the window there are a few statistics that Amarec is telling us. Mine for some reason is listed as 562x422, no mention of the color space that I have selected or anything (I have it set for 720x240..) - yet on all of Koops screenshots it tells the exact resolution that he is selecting in Graph 1, along with the color space he is using? Why are our Amarecs so different? Is this listing of statistics specific to capture cards and its just the fact that ours are a tad different somehow? I would love to master this software so I am all ears.

To be honest I'm just starting to be comfortable with capture. I'm no expert! A month ago I was asking basic questions in here to just get started
Regarding the info at the bottom : that's strange, I don't know why you don't see the info. I have 3.10 and I see these infos as well. And before that I had the latest Amarec v2 (2.4 I think?) and also had these infos.

[korpse413]

Welp, found out the answer to my question earlier on my own... basically the window was not maximized /Facepalm. "View" with the random 562x422 was the resolution that my Amarec window happened to be at the time. So yeah...


PICTURE HERE


Koop, I've gotten the same green sync results while tinkering with different configurations in the past, it usually involved a squished image with a big green bar-o-sync on the bottom; I eventually just stuck with these settings. I was going to try to recreate the same thing to show you, but for some reason in Graph 1 I no longer have the option to select fcc=RGB? All of my options are YUY2... weird. I don't THINK we need a sync strike - I have gathered some members requiring them for their monitors but I BELIEVE it is due to the fact that their monitors are not taking clean sync or csync from the get-go, whereas we are from the start. Again, this is what I believe to be true, don't take it as fact, I would love to be wrong just for the learning experience.

This whole color space thing is strange to me, if my Graph 1 is set to 720x240 with YUY2, and I select AmarecTV in OBS, RGB is my only option to select. No YUY2. BUT if I just remove Amarec from the equation and select my capture card in OBS, YUY2 appears...

EDIT: I embedded photo originally and changed to a link due to it being HUGE.. sorry

[Koop]

Koop, I've gotten the same green sync results while tinkering with different configurations in the past, it usually involved a squished image with a big green bar-o-sync on the bottom; I eventually just stuck with these settings. I was going to try to recreate the same thing to show you, but for some reason in Graph 1 I no longer have the option to select fcc=RGB? All of my options are YUY2... weird. I don't THINK we need a sync strike - I have gathered some members requiring them for their monitors but I BELIEVE it is due to the fact that their monitors are not taking clean sync or csync from the get-go, whereas we are from the start. Again, this is what I believe to be true, don't take it as fact, I would love to be wrong just for the learning experience.

This whole color space thing is strange to me, if my Graph 1 is set to 720x240 with YUY2, and I select AmarecTV in OBS, RGB is my only option to select. No YUY2. BUT if I just remove Amarec from the equation and select my capture card in OBS, YUY2 appears...

EDIT: I embedded photo originally and changed to a link due to it being HUGE.. sorry

From what I've need hearing now (from SDA peeps), just stick with YUY2 and that RGB is not actually 'RGB' when setting the colorspace in AmarecTV.

I am obviously super nub to all this, but when AmarecTV's config guide for the SC-512N1-L/DVI specifically states that 'X-SYNC is required.' for RGB 240p@60 it kinda sticks in my mind that something like that must be used from the BVM output- either the X-SYNC or Sync Strike.

I've come to the conclusion that either way it'll probably still kinda looks like poop so I decided to just buy a framemeister to upscale my picture anyway- figure that'll get me the nicest results. I also wanted to play some old consoles on my HDTV, the weather is nice and I want to spend more time in the living room.

Oh well problem solved? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lol ez way out via XRGB-mini, gg no re.