Thoughts on Micomsoft/Yuan SC512? Or Sweetspot?

[thetallguy24]

I'm looking at setting up a stream for tournaments for multiple retro consoles (NES, PS2, SNES, N64). They're all RGB capable or modded, so I want an internal capture card that handle all of these easily.

I plan on running the consoles to my PVM that has RGB out and then running out from the PVM to the card using a VGA to DVI adapter.

So console > PVM > internal capture card.

I've read good things about the SC512, but there isn't a whole lot out there on this specific model. Is this is a good choice to go with or is there anything better?

Is there anything additional equipment/accessories I would need if this is the card to go with?

I've also heard some good things about the Sweetspot. Any opinions on that?

[BulletMagnet]

Moving to Hardware section.

[AndehX]

the SC512 is definitely a good card. The only thing you need to be aware of is that the drivers are hit and miss. you need different drivers for different resolutions

[thetallguy24]

the SC512 is definitely a good card. The only thing you need to be aware of is that the drivers are hit and miss. you need different drivers for different resolutions

Which drivers do I need for which resolutions?

[thetallguy24]

bump

[furntree]

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1_download.htm

Check on the patch notes here. Honestly if the SC512 is anything like the XCapture it is such a headache to deal with. The chip inside is basically a video encoder meant for security cameras and the drivers are updated based on what that vendor wants to do. Which generally isn't provide greater support for oddball resolutions.

I've never heard of the Sweetspot card but it seems pretty promising, I would recommend doing some research into compatibility because it is very frustrating to have to make a Windows XP box that only does low-res recordings.

If you have the cash I can HIGHLY recommend the Datapath Vision AV series of capture cards, it is such a lifesaver compared to Micomsoft driver issues.

[Woozle]

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1_download.htm

Check on the patch notes here. Honestly if the SC512 is anything like the XCapture it is such a headache to deal with. The chip inside is basically a video encoder meant for security cameras and the drivers are updated based on what that vendor wants to do. Which generally isn't provide greater support for oddball resolutions.

I've never heard of the Sweetspot card but it seems pretty promising, I would recommend doing some research into compatibility because it is very frustrating to have to make a Windows XP box that only does low-res recordings.

If you have the cash I can HIGHLY recommend the Datapath Vision AV series of capture cards, it is such a lifesaver compared to Micomsoft driver issues.

Do you have any Xcapture drivers that you recommend? I use it to capture 1280x720p hdmi, as well as composite and RGB at 240p.

[thetallguy24]

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1_download.htm

Check on the patch notes here. Honestly if the SC512 is anything like the XCapture it is such a headache to deal with. The chip inside is basically a video encoder meant for security cameras and the drivers are updated based on what that vendor wants to do. Which generally isn't provide greater support for oddball resolutions.

I've never heard of the Sweetspot card but it seems pretty promising, I would recommend doing some research into compatibility because it is very frustrating to have to make a Windows XP box that only does low-res recordings.

If you have the cash I can HIGHLY recommend the Datapath Vision AV series of capture cards, it is such a lifesaver compared to Micomsoft driver issues.

Yuan also makes a quad channel HDMI card. Since this is only for capture, would it make more sense to use VGA to HDMI covnerters? Since I'm running out from the PVM, it wont affect gameplay and I can fun out VGA

[AndehX]

Yuan also makes a quad channel HDMI card. Since this is only for capture, would it make more sense to use VGA to HDMI covnerters? Since I'm running out from the PVM, it wont affect gameplay and I can fun out VGA

don't buy any of the cheap VGA to HDMI converters (anything that costs less than $50) because they will butcher the colors in your video. I've been down that road, there is no good solution, that doesn't cost money.

[furntree]

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1_download.htm

Check on the patch notes here. Honestly if the SC512 is anything like the XCapture it is such a headache to deal with. The chip inside is basically a video encoder meant for security cameras and the drivers are updated based on what that vendor wants to do. Which generally isn't provide greater support for oddball resolutions.

I've never heard of the Sweetspot card but it seems pretty promising, I would recommend doing some research into compatibility because it is very frustrating to have to make a Windows XP box that only does low-res recordings.

If you have the cash I can HIGHLY recommend the Datapath Vision AV series of capture cards, it is such a lifesaver compared to Micomsoft driver issues.

Do you have any Xcapture drivers that you recommend? I use it to capture 1280x720p hdmi, as well as composite and RGB at 240p.

None of them in particular sadly, the new ones don't do 240p and the old ones don't work in Windows 10! You will have a nightmare going back and forth between driver versions depending on your usage. The Sweetspot card looks sick for 240p and SD res video. Beyond that you're in expensive frame capture territory....

In a case like that where you want to do HD and SD content it might be easier to get a scaler (Framemeister or similar) and just get an Elgato HD60 or something.

Keep an eye on ebay for Datapath Vision AV cards, they don't go up often but they do sometimes! Also read the recent pages of the Xcapture thread on this forum, you will understand what I'm getting at.

[NightSprinter]

Unless you're running WinXP 32-bit, the Sweetspot card is a complete no-go. It's based off the VERY old Booktree BT878 chip. That has had no official driver for any recent version of Windows, much less a 64-bit OS. I'd honestly look at getting an older version of a Datapath or Epiphan card as mentioned (for DVI/HDMI/component/RGB), and something like a Hauppauge ImpactVCBe for composite and s-video (which does have Win10 drivers).

[thetallguy24]

http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/sc-512n1_download.htm

Check on the patch notes here. Honestly if the SC512 is anything like the XCapture it is such a headache to deal with. The chip inside is basically a video encoder meant for security cameras and the drivers are updated based on what that vendor wants to do. Which generally isn't provide greater support for oddball resolutions.

I've never heard of the Sweetspot card but it seems pretty promising, I would recommend doing some research into compatibility because it is very frustrating to have to make a Windows XP box that only does low-res recordings.

If you have the cash I can HIGHLY recommend the Datapath Vision AV series of capture cards, it is such a lifesaver compared to Micomsoft driver issues.

Do you have any Xcapture drivers that you recommend? I use it to capture 1280x720p hdmi, as well as composite and RGB at 240p.

None of them in particular sadly, the new ones don't do 240p and the old ones don't work in Windows 10! You will have a nightmare going back and forth between driver versions depending on your usage. The Sweetspot card looks sick for 240p and SD res video. Beyond that you're in expensive frame capture territory....

In a case like that where you want to do HD and SD content it might be easier to get a scaler (Framemeister or similar) and just get an Elgato HD60 or something.

Keep an eye on ebay for Datapath Vision AV cards, they don't go up often but they do sometimes! Also read the recent pages of the Xcapture thread on this forum, you will understand what I'm getting at.

What about the Datapath VisionRGB pro?

[NightSprinter]

Reports on the VOGONS forum were very positive. Only thing is, the card is very expensive. I think at least $900US.

[thetallguy24]

Reports on the VOGONS forum were very positive. Only thing is, the card is very expensive. I think at least $900US.

For which card?

[NightSprinter]

For the Datapath card.