OSSC vs Extron for video

[shmupsrocks]

I'm using a Faroudja scaler to upscale the signal from a VCR to 1080p for my TV. The Faroudja outputs VGA and my TV needs HDMI so I need something to convert the VGA signal to HDMI. I'm trying to see how much I can squeeze out of a VCR into 1080p so I'm looking for high performance. Are an OSSC or Extron the best choices for this?

I may also try to find a TV with VGA input. Is that likely to produce the best result?

[orange808]

Did you consider using a Silicon Optix Image Anyplace as a single solution to get 480p output over DVI? You could probably feed your capture card a 480p recording and do scaling in post. That would give you the ever popular Faroudja deinterlacing. You could either use an HDMI audio embedder or just merge audio in post.

I think you could also use the DVDO iScan HD+ and get digital 480i output. That way, you could deinterlace and scale in post.

[kitty666cats]

Stick with using an OSSC for video games... you can use any ol’ ~$15 VGA to HDMI for the conversion after the Faroudja. The Monoprice one (model number starts with LK) is good. Probably could have asked this in a different thread

[kitty666cats]

I think you could also use the DVDO iScan HD+ and get digital 480i output. That way, you could deinterlace and scale in post.

Key Digital KD-VP8 is another cheap option for getting 480i HDMI (if one is having trouble finding a nice DVR with HDMI out) for scaling in post... and post is always gonna be the best option for scaling VHS captures

Can find the KD-VP8 on eBay for under $50 if you are patient. Though you could also probably find a DVR with 480i HDMI for under $10 if you go to thrift stores often! Be warned that the Key Digital KD-VP6 and VP8 have weird power supplies with a unique pinout, so if you have exhausted other avenues and go that route, get one with the PSU!

[orange808]

I wouldn't get a cheap chinese thing.

[kitty666cats]

I wouldn't get a cheap chinese thing.

I meant for their A->D conversion with their current gear, not a standalone Monoprice scaler heh. The non scaling Monoprice VGA to HDMI has nice IQ

[orange808]

Key Digital machines don't have frame lock, so I'm not sure the interlaced output would be good. It might end up with artifacts.

[kitty666cats]

I used to have the KD-VP8 and I can only vouch for its digital component output, I never captured with the HDMI - the component output in both 480i and 480p was definitely satisfactory for me, but I’m really just offering a more “budget“ solution with KD-VP8.

DigitalFAQ and VideoHelp are the go-to forums for this stuff, those guys have tried it ALL heh

[fernan1234]

Looking into the KD-DV8, it can only do interlaced/progressive conversion via the component output, whereas HDMI outputs the same as the input, so 480i in will be 480i out via HDMI, which is pretty interesting though will defeat the purpose for most people that want the deinterlacing.

BTW, do these Key Digital converters "break" 240p into 480i output? Although that's what most people here want to avoid, I'm actually looking for a device that will do precisely this, though preserving picture quality otherwise.

[orange808]

Looking into the KD-DV8, it can only do interlaced/progressive conversion via the component output, whereas HDMI outputs the same as the input, so 480i in will be 480i out via HDMI, which is pretty interesting though will defeat the purpose for most people that want the deinterlacing.

BTW, do these Key Digital converters "break" 240p into 480i output? Although that's what most people here want to avoid, I'm actually looking for a device that will do precisely this, though preserving picture quality otherwise.

I would use the OSSC, an HDFury Nano, and an Extron VSC 300, 500, 700, or 900. Line double with the OSSC and use the Extron scan converter to fine tune your 480i.

[shmupsrocks]

I don't totally follow the recommendations here. Don't I just need an ADC? Scaling and deinterlacing is already handled by the Faroudja and I'm not recording. Am I missing something?

Is this the good Monoprice ADC?

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-6191-V ... B008CR0S50

[kitty666cats]

The Key Digital units won’t display a stable image with a 240p source, whether on passthrough or line double mode.

And yeah that’s the Monoprice, but definitely don’t spend $49 on it! Can be found on eBay for $20 or less

Also, if you already have a OSSC then that’s a great choice for simple analog to digital, unscaled - I forget if they accept 1080p as an input signal though

[orange808]

I don't totally follow the recommendations here. Don't I just need an ADC? Scaling and deinterlacing is already handled by the Faroudja and I'm not recording. Am I missing something?

Is this the good Monoprice ADC?

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-6191-V ... B008CR0S50

My apologies. For "best" results, I would feed the video to a capture card. That would give you access to a lot of tools.

If you just need an ADC and you already have an OSSC, I'd just use the OSSC.

If you want a second machine for scaling to 1080p and outputting HDMI, the Extron DSC 301 HD will do nicely.

[shmupsrocks]

The Faroudja will deinterlace and scale but would IQ be better if I only deinterlace with the Faroudja and then scale+ADC with an Extron?

If I do scale with the Faroudja, will an Extron do ADC better than the Monoprice?

[orange808]

The Faroudja will deinterlace and scale but would IQ be better if I only deinterlace with the Faroudja and then scale+ADC with an Extron?

If I do scale with the Faroudja, will an Extron do ADC better than the Monoprice?

I think the Extron is going to be very reliable for both upscaling 480p and ADC with audio. It's a really nice machine. (Just don't use Extron deinterlacing.)

[Fudoh]

So which Faroudja are you using ? Maybe I missed that.

Most of the Faroudja units were a bit limited when it came to "free" scaling, so getting a scaler that can do that (overscan or aspect ratio correction) might be a plus. The Extron 301 is bargain for it's performance.

The SOIA unfortunately doesn't do 1080p out via DVI and some TVs are limited to what they can do with higher VESA resolutions (that the SOIA will output).

[shmupsrocks]

I'm using the Faroudja 5000.

I was just reading that the Extron DSC 301 HD does not have a passthrough non-scaling mode. I'd like to try with the Faroudja scaling and with the Extron scaling to see which I like better.

Also having trouble finding one with a power supply and I need to be able to configure without connecting a computer and not sure the 301 HD can do that.

Is there a better Extron given these factors?

[fernan1234]

I was just reading that the Extron DSC 301 HD does not have a passthrough non-scaling mode.

It indeed doesn't, which is a shame for me also. If anyone in this topic knows of another device that has similar input & output options but can do non-scaling simple ADC passthrough, please share your knowledge.

The Key Digital converter mentioned above can do this, except it doesn't take RGB which is a big downside.

[orange808]

The Key Digital converter mentioned above can do this, except it doesn't take RGB which is a big downside.

It's not really passthrough, is it? The KD machine still processes the input.

Without frame lock, I wouldn't trust the Key Digital to sample, process, and output video signals without introducing some artifacts.

For 480i, I also worry the Key Digital will always deinterlace 480i internally--and re-interlace before output.

[Fudoh]

I was just reading that the Extron DSC 301 HD does not have a passthrough non-scaling mode. I'd like to try with the Faroudja scaling and with the Extron scaling to see which I like better.

not automatic, but you can set the output resolution to match the input, so the Extron doesn't do anything but a A/D conversion. The Extron uses any 12V power supply with a matching 2-pin connector.

[fernan1234]

not automatic, but you can set the output resolution to match the input, so the Extron doesn't do anything but a A/D conversion.

In my experience it doesn't work this way. For instance with 1080i input and 1080i set as the output, the output clearly has ugly artifacts that are not present when the 1080i source is connected directly.

[Fudoh]

that's right. Output to interlaced formats always runs through a progressive stage first. That's true for almost any video processor.

BUT the OP is running a VCR through a Faroudja. Where would he touch 1080i here?

[shmupsrocks]

Can I control the 301 without connecting a computer?

[fernan1234]

that's right. Output to interlaced formats always runs through a progressive stage first. That's true for almost any video processor.

BUT the OP is running a VCR through a Faroudja. Where would he touch 1080i here?

That's what I thought. And TC won't be affected then, I just mentioned it as an example of the 301 not doing simple A/D conversion for all cases where input and output matches.

Would love a device that can be put into passthrough (other than the OSSC).

Can I control the 301 without connecting a computer?

Sure, can't think of what you'd need to configure that can't be done with the OSD menu.

[orange808]

Would love a device that can be put into passthrough (other than the OSSC).

This may be the best pure ADC I have tried. They are expensive new and very rare used. The OSSC costs less and it's much easier to find.

https://www.extron.com/product/dvcrgbhda

[shmupsrocks]

Nice one. That DVC RGB-HD A looks very cool. I need to decide between a simple ADC like that or one with scaling capabilities like the 301. Should I expect an Extron to upscale a VCR signal better than a Faroudja 5000?

Could the HDCP compliance on the 301 get in the way? I don't think any other components in my chain are HDCP compliant but I'm not sure. Everything works fine with the OSSC functioning as ADC and I don't want to introduce a problem. Not sure how that works.

Any quality choice for a compatible power supply with an on/off switch or button?

[strayan]

See also https://www.aten.com/au/en/products/pro ... ers/vc180/

[fernan1234]

Would love a device that can be put into passthrough (other than the OSSC).

This may be the best pure ADC I have tried. They are expensive new and very rare used. The OSSC costs less and it's much easier to find.

https://www.extron.com/product/dvcrgbhda

According to the info there it only accepts RGBHV, which is an inconvenience but I could work with by using an Rxi to take RGBS and output RGBHV. It mentions 640x480 as the lowest resolution input it takes, but on the specs it says it does 15khz to 145khz, hopefully the latter is accurate..

See also https://www.aten.com/au/en/products/pro ... ers/vc180/

This one doesn't list the horizontal frequency range that it takes. Would be nice if it can go as low as 15khz. Even better if it could take RGBS.

[strayan]

According to the info there it only accepts RGBHV, which is an inconvenience

Why is this an inconvenience for the OP?

[Fudoh]

This may be the best pure ADC I have tried. They are expensive new and very rare used.
https://www.extron.com/product/dvcrgbhda

actually available for $60 new (+ shipping) on ebay.com right now. 4 pcs available as of this posting.