Help with scanline generator

The place for all discussion on gaming hardware
Post Reply
jugu
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:59 am
Location: San Jose

Help with scanline generator

Post by jugu »

Howdy! I tried both an orginal SLG 3000 and a mini SLG, but I end up with thick vertical jail-like bars:
https://app.box.com/s/m6sn70qx9axka70lijpiiba61ch36nyv

My setup is:
Taito Type X2 --> DVI/VGA adaptor --> VGA Cable --> SLG --> VGA Cable --> Monitor

I've tried the following to eliminate or minize these bars:
  • Set monitor resolution from 1366 --> 1280 --> 680
    Set monitor from Widescreen to Full
    Set Taito Type X2 to 640x480 via #2 Dip switch
    On the SLG3000, alternated between even and odd scanlines
How can I get rid of these bars?

Thank you!
User avatar
Fudoh
Posts: 13044
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by Fudoh »

The orientation of the scanlines is right. The reason for the uneven distribution is the rescaling of your monitor. You apply the scanlines to a 480p signal from your source and your display has to rescale this to 768 lines. This is almost always a problem on 768p screens. Hence the usual recommendation only to use SLG devices on 1080p screens (and even some of these fail with the rescaling).

Since you obviously want to stick to the monitor, your only solution would be to add a capable scaling device between the SLG unit and the monitor.
jugu
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:59 am
Location: San Jose

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by jugu »

Ah thank you Fudoh! I have an XPC-4 that I can try to see if it improves things.

Thanks again!
User avatar
Fudoh
Posts: 13044
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by Fudoh »

probably not.
jugu
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:59 am
Location: San Jose

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by jugu »

Fudoh wrote:probably not.
You were right, it did nothing for the scanlines. I guess I need 1080p monitors... :(
User avatar
Fudoh
Posts: 13044
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by Fudoh »

If you can't easily switch the display, it might make sense to look into a proper scaler instead. There are scalers which are able to output nicely looking scanlines at 768p.
jugu
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:59 am
Location: San Jose

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by jugu »

Hi Fudoh,
Thank you again for your help. What do you consider a proper scaler? Any recommendations? I have a DVDO Edge that isn't getting much use, so I can try that.
Last edited by jugu on Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Fudoh
Posts: 13044
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Help with scanline generator

Post by Fudoh »

You could try that. Processing a signal that's been running through a SLG unit can be tough. I've seen scanlines disappear, brightness pumping and all other kinds of weird behaviour. To connect a VGA input to the Edge you need a breakout cable with 5 RCA connectors (or 5x BNC plus the matching adapter plugs).

If you just want to test the Edge's capacity of upscaling scanlined images, I would try something with integrated scanlines. Futari or Raiden Fighters on the 360 or any of the Sega Ages 2500 titles on the PS2.

If you find the Edge to be working, but have troubles with the SLG in the chain, the OSSC would ultimately solve this problem, since it adds the scanlines on a digital level without any trickery on the analogue RGB lines. A bit pricey JUST to use it for adding scanlines, but after all the ultimate solution.
Post Reply