OSSC (DIY video digitizer & scandoubler)

[fafangus]

Okay just tested the ossc with my 21' Eizo crt (with a hdfury nano gx) the result is even better than with the CII + samsung led : smoother than ever, sharp & crystal clear
Tested line triple with ntsc sfc 1chip2
Now I'm waiting my New Net City to test the 29" Toshiba with the ossc
^-^

[kardus]

Does the new batch have the digital audio option? When will the boards for the first set of boards be available?

Also had a question regarding the display. It seems to work fine but the backlight works intermittently. If I apply a slight pressure to the left side of it at a certain angle the light seems to work. Would this fix just involve reseating one contact? I assume it's not one of the ones in the middle behind the screen.

[marqs]

Also had a question regarding the display. It seems to work fine but the backlight works intermittently. If I apply a slight pressure to the left side of it at a certain angle the light seems to work. Would this fix just involve reseating one contact? I assume it's not one of the ones in the middle behind the screen.

Sounds like one of the 2 thick contacts near display sides doesn't have a good connection to respective pad on top side of PCB. Easy to fix by heating up the solder blob that makes the connection, and possibly adding some solder.

[CobraKing]

@marqs, any chance of improving line triple compatibility with Sony displays? The 480P looks great but it would be nice to see what the 720p looks like.

[neorichieb1971]

Any reason why this won't work on a Dell U2414?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

[h1ghju1ce]

Are you're thinking of buying the DELL, or if you have one already?

Its rare/hard to find concrete info in what certain monitors accept as input ranges/tolerance etc

Your best bet is to check the compat list that is being added to.


If you want a 24" monitor, with VGA/DVI/HDMI, a stand with 90 degree rotation, then I can vouch for this model, which works with
the OSSC line x3 input

BenQ BL2405HT
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EQ0P7K8/

[neorichieb1971]

Already own 2 Dell's on my tower PC. One rarely gets used as its exclusively for video editing. I was thinking of using the left one for this OSSC via consoles and using the right one for PC.

The U2414H has more options on it than any other monitor I've used. It locks to 50hz.


I noticed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST3B83kvtM4

The guy is using a 4K TV and it looks amazing. So perhaps when I upgrade I will take the OSSC to the store with me and try out a few TV's. At least that way I can guarantee what I am getting.

[marqs]

@marqs, any chance of improving line triple compatibility with Sony displays? The 480P looks great but it would be nice to see what the 720p looks like.

Unfortunately wider linetriple compatibility is not possible with current HW.

Any reason why this won't work on a Dell U2414?

Most monitors should work fine linetriple / customized modes - generally it's just TVs that have issues. The plan is to update wiki soon with a page that lists optimized timings for various consoles, each supplemented with a modeline that can be used to test respective mode with any display using PC.

[Fudoh]

Unfortunately wider linetriple compatibility is not possible with current HW.

Don't know if it was mentioned before, but wildchild22 used a HDF Integral to combine the OSSC's video output with an audio input and all of a sudden his plasma set - previously incompatible with the OSSC's 720p output - worked fine in linetripling mode.

I'm burning to find out what causes this behaviour. I'll order an Integral soon and give it a try on my Sonys as well.

[neorichieb1971]

Unfortunately wider linetriple compatibility is not possible with current HW.

Don't know if it was mentioned before, but wildchild22 used a HDF Integral to combine the OSSC's video output with an audio input and all of a sudden his plasma set - previously incompatible with the OSSC's 720p output - worked fine in linetripling mode.

I'm burning to find out what causes this behaviour. I'll order an Integral soon and give it a try on my Sonys as well.

Its voodoo magic in a box.

[CobraKing]

Unfortunately wider linetriple compatibility is not possible with current HW.

Don't know if it was mentioned before, but wildchild22 used a HDF Integral to combine the OSSC's video output with an audio input and all of a sudden his plasma set - previously incompatible with the OSSC's 720p output - worked fine in linetripling mode.

I'm burning to find out what causes this behaviour. I'll order an Integral soon and give it a try on my Sonys as well.

@Fudoh, that HDF Integral device is about $200+, might be better off getting a XRGB Mini in that case.

[Guspaz]

If nothing else, it's adding EDID data that wasn't there before, and probably reclocking. If the EDID data is causing it to work, then a cheaper device like the HDMI Doctor may be able to serve the same purpose (not for audio, just getting line triple working).

[CobraKing]

@Guspaz, is there any additional lag added by the HDMI Dr?

@Fudoh, do you also think you could also order a HDMI Dr as well as the Integral?

[Guspaz]

No, it doesn't add any lag since it's not processing the image. I'm just speculating, though, no idea if it would have any impact at all.

[Avrel]

Interesting. I wonder if the feature "Keep source’s HDMI/DVI-D output active" could also help with the 240p/480i transition, by not loosing the sync during the transition ?

[ZellSF]

There are two things that are annoying me with the OSSC at the moment. First when I don't manually exit the menus, I have no status display. Maybe some sort of timeout option for the menus before automatically going back to the status display would be nice?

Second, I want the LCD backlight off, but not when I'm actually using the thing. Maybe temporarily enable the backlight on recognized IR codes?

Obviously both small unimportant things, but it would be more convenient with some options for that.

[BuckoA51]

Interesting. I wonder if the feature "Keep source’s HDMI/DVI-D output active" could also help with the 240p/480i transition, by not loosing the sync during the transition ?

Unlikely, this usually occurs because the refresh rate has changed slightly.

[neorichieb1971]

I want a device I can hide once its setup.

I don't want the need to twiddle with anything. It does matter how good the image quality is but I want plug'n'play action. I don't want to keep press buttons to get it just right.


You have to remember that these consoles were plug and play when they came out. Your TV just displayed wha was thrown at it.

I know people like playing with settings, but I'm not one of them. If I cannot just switch on the console and play the games I don't care how good "it can look".

[CobraKing]

I want a device I can hide once its setup.

I don't want the need to twiddle with anything. It does matter how good the image quality is but I want plug'n'play action. I don't want to keep press buttons to get it just right.


You have to remember that these consoles were plug and play when they came out. Your TV just displayed wha was thrown at it.

I know people like playing with settings, but I'm not one of them. If I cannot just switch on the console and play the games I don't care how good "it can look".

FWIW, I just plug my N64 & Genesis to the OSSC via SCART, select the AV1 input and enable scanlines (via a single button press on the remote), that's it. I'm a casual gamer and on my 40" Sony that can only handle the OSSC's 480p output the games look stunning, far better than what I remembered.

Not a whole lot of effort in my humble opinion. I do like that that the tweaking options exist for those that want them though. But for simple plug and play setup, the OSSC is great for that too.

[orange808]

I want a device I can hide once its setup.

I don't want the need to twiddle with anything. It does matter how good the image quality is but I want plug'n'play action. I don't want to keep press buttons to get it just right.


You have to remember that these consoles were plug and play when they came out. Your TV just displayed wha was thrown at it.

I know people like playing with settings, but I'm not one of them. If I cannot just switch on the console and play the games I don't care how good "it can look".

You need HDMI modded consoles or a CRT.

[neorichieb1971]

Glad to hear the machine does the foot work for you for the most part. I don't mind setting up the thing at startup for a simple "select scan lines" option or something like that. But I don't want to mess around for more than 30 seconds before I can start a game and be comfortable playing it.

Too many people here wanting the holy grail of RGB and staring at it and taking screenshots for forums, but I often wonder what actual percentage are playing games using these devices.

[CobraKing]

Glad to hear the machine does the foot work for you for the most part. I don't mind setting up the thing at startup for a simple "select scan lines" option or something like that. But I don't want to mess around for more than 30 seconds before I can start a game and be comfortable playing it.

Too many people here wanting the holy grail of RGB and staring at it and taking screenshots for forums, but I often wonder what actual percentage are playing games using these devices.

I assume that you don't have an OSSC yet but if you're signed up on the mailing list. You should be able to get one of the latest batch. More than half of the people on the mailing list tend to flake when it comes to actually purchasing the device. Based on my mailing list position I was supposed to be on the upcoming third batch but I ended up with one of the second batch units.

I think there are 2 camps as far as retro gaming setups go; those that just want to play the damn games that they already own and those that want the finest possible image for their massive gaming collections. To each their own and there's hardware/options for both types.

[Chocograph]

Watching closely for a second version of this thing...1080p? Who knows....I'd like that.

[Guspaz]

That seems very unlikely, at least in the near to medium future.

[neorichieb1971]

Watching closely for a second version of this thing...1080p? Who knows....I'd like that.

It would just be a bigger number on the specifications and from what I can tell add a few problems such as lag.

[neorichieb1971]

Glad to hear the machine does the foot work for you for the most part. I don't mind setting up the thing at startup for a simple "select scan lines" option or something like that. But I don't want to mess around for more than 30 seconds before I can start a game and be comfortable playing it.

Too many people here wanting the holy grail of RGB and staring at it and taking screenshots for forums, but I often wonder what actual percentage are playing games using these devices.

I assume that you don't have an OSSC yet but if you're signed up on the mailing list. You should be able to get one of the latest batch. More than half of the people on the mailing list tend to flake when it comes to actually purchasing the device. Based on my mailing list position I was supposed to be on the upcoming third batch but I ended up with one of the second batch units.

I think there are 2 camps as far as retro gaming setups go; those that just want to play the damn games that they already own and those that want the finest possible image for their massive gaming collections. To each their own and there's hardware/options for both types.

I'm only interested in the device because the TV's do a poor job on their own.


Ideally a TV company should show interest in consolidating this technology into at least one of their TV's. Or at least offer some sort of open source chipset where it can be programmed into it. I am also surprised a company like Nintendo hasn't brought out an official box that does the same thing. Even Pelican or whatever could have come out with a retro switcher with 4 scarts, 4 HDMI's, a composite or two and incorperate this technology into it.

If you look at Youtubes of people that have this OSSC, there are cables all over the place. Even my wife said "you need all those cables to run that thing?" I just laughed.

[KevinDDR]

I'm not sure how you can make a scaler have less "cables" than an input and an output (and power).

[Harrumph]

In my experience, it does work out-of-the-box, but it is likely to vary depending on which consoles you use. Also, scanlines don't need to be turned on every time, you can just save the setting. And in the next (?) firmware there will be profiles, so you can just have separate profile for any "tricky" consoles.

Yeah, maybe the design of inputs could be sleeker, but keep in mind this was a hobby project from the beginning and the small form factor was intentional. I think it's a pretty remarkable little box!

Finally, people seem to forget that it is not and was never degined to be a scaler. It is a line-multiplier.

[Xyga]

Compared to other devices the OSSC doesn't use more cables, the only exception being with the audio maybe, since the digital output can't carry it.

In the area of looks and convenience, well, maybe it would look better in a setup with all the inputs and outputs grouped together in the back ('back' as opposed to the front w/ lcd) and an OSD would propulse it into the fancy home AV category.

Would that make it better or any easier to use in practice ? No. Like all people who've owned many scalers for use in retrogaming I know they're all about cables and/or fiddling with settings, even those originally extremely expensive DVDOs etc are a pain.
Among the worst things is having to move the whole machine to do anything connectivity-related.

The least trouble I've ever had was with the DISPL, because there's nothing to do, it can't do anything besides output a dumb linedoubled image, with thick black lines if you wish. Yet it does it without any trouble in most every situation (as long as we're talking true low res stuff) again without having to touch anything. Really.
But of course there's only one JP21 input in the front, and one VGA output in the back, which means having to use a scart multiplier and today even a transcoder to component or hdmi (= moar cables!)

TVs will never include retro game hardware-friendly built-in electronics, the only thing you can wish for is a flexible input compatibility, good scaling of min. 480p sources, low lag in game mode and a decent panel with good response.
There was the Sony W series ticking almost all the boxes, from 2013~2015 Fudoh and Co. have advertised it, but today the 'legendary' W have been discontinued and many people complain the current offers from all name brands don't tick as many boxes (I'd say some Vizio in the US only are the closest thing) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[neorichieb1971]

I have the W4500 Sony Bravia. Thats what I am using.

Currently it takes 240p and displays as 480i. Its ok, but nothing special and certainly not as good looking as some of the OSSC youtubes i've seen knocking about.

Most of the videos i've seen that show the OSSC are people that have quite messy setups.

If there are profiles there should be a default one for each console. I mean how many different ways can you display the same thing? I know there are peoples preferences but there should also be a sweet spot that 99% of people like for each console without touching anything else.

So I'm all good for switching on, selecting SNES profile and start playing Mariokart, or selecting Genesis and playing TF3.