PSX Ultimarc Video Adapters

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:06 am

I'm getting this feeling, is the video not amplified? I think I may have asked this before with inconclusive results. My PS2 shows up dark, but still visible. It looks nowhere near as good as an arcade game or PC, whether thru a J-PAC or not.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:10 am

this is normal with the ps2.....just turn the contrast and brightness way up....

also make sure your ps2's video settings are set to RGB

not sure why the ps2 displays darker but neither the xbox or dc adapters from ultimarc have this problem

but in my experience just cranking the contrast and brightness can counter this

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:58 am

Yes, I have a hard time getting the white to be truly white on my EGRET. It's mostly yellow. It's very dark compared to running PCB's.

You also need to remove the jumpers for the 15/24/31kHz modes. And you have to have the new J-Pac.

New:

Old:

Emph

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:28 am

'kay, just wanted to make sure. For my application I don't need a J-PAC, and using one is pointless regardless since the cabinet isn't JAMMA standard (Pop'n Music).

How is the PS2 "Super" converting board from Excellent com? It looks like a well-made board, but you never know. I'm going to be a bit of a perfectionist on this one I think.

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:08 am

Okay. But it's a good thing I thought you did need a J-Pac, because that made me realize I have the old version. *off to Ultmarc to buy a new one*

Emph

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:32 am

you are using the psx adapters tho right?

and the ps2 to monitor cable?

can you explain your setup cuz im kind of confused now

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:13 am

I was originally using it on my Egret thru a J-PAC, but my Pop'n machine isn't JAMMA. The monitor has a VGA plug, so I can just plug the Ultimarc PSX adapter straight into that monitor.

Emph, by okay are you referring to Excellent com's adapter? I haven't been able to get any reviews on it.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:51 pm

crank the brightness and contrast...it should fix the problem.....

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:13 pm

No, I was merely nodding in understanding in your "not needing a J-Pac" for this. More like an "aha". Sorry for any confusion.

Emph

antron · Post by **antron** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:35 pm

you need to get the stand alone video amp from ultimarc

edit: I may be wrong about this. someone in another thread says that ultimarc admits that the PSX video adapter has some problems with the red line with some monitors.

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:41 pm

so it IS a video amp problem with this. That's all I needed to know, I had thought the newer J-PACs had video amps, or all of them, or something. Guess I was wrong.

antron · Post by **antron** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:47 pm

Kenchan wrote:so it IS a video amp problem with this. That's all I needed to know, I had thought the newer J-PACs had video amps, or all of them, or something. Guess I was wrong.

no, the newer J-Pacs have the amp. I thought you said you would not be using a J-Pac. That's why I suggested a stand alone amp.

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:12 pm

Hmm, maybe I'm mistaken on which rev J-PAC I was using. Either way, I'm going out of town for a week or so and by then I should have some answers from Andy at Ultimarc about that and a few other things anyway. I'll probably like the amp for convenience sake. Thanks for all the answers guys! I'll post some results as I get more parts and do some work.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:51 pm

generally in my experience if you email andy during the day you will have a response by days end...

mind you ive been going back and forth with him for a while

but ya....if unsure, ask andy...cuz nobody knows better than him

ckong · Post by **ckong** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:43 pm

Hé guys, sorry to interrupt here, but I happened to stumble over this topic when I did a search job for 240p scan converters.

first, you don't need to buy any euipment from ultimarc. not because Ultimarc quality is bad, on the contrary, in the past I bought some items from them and I was always satisfied. However, you should not buy it because it's very easy to make a console 2 jamma converter yourself. I know, because I did it also. all you need is some soldering skills, reading capabilities (to read the many guides and instructions to be found on the internet) and about $20 of cash. And some controlles you no longer use. Besides, it's much more satisfying to make it yourself (Look what I've made! Isn't it incredable).

Just very recently I made a console2jamma converter with which I am capable to connect a DC, a Saturn, a PSX and a PS2. And all for about a total of $ 20!

I give you a link I mostly used as a guideline (probably already very well known to a lot of you)

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/

with rregard to the problem of the dark picture with a PS2 (and also a PSX), a little mod on the RGB cable is necessary, see http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/psxav.htm for the solution.

another interesting site http://members.optushome.com.au/eviltim ... m#gamecube

If you don't mind I post a few pictures of my homemade converter. I know it doesn't have the looks, but it looks impressive to anyone I know

And more important, it works like a charm.

The actual jamma2console converter (the 3 main parts are the jamma board, a mono amplifier if I want to hook it up to the non-amplified cab speakers (mind you, it can also be connected to an external amplifier set, which rocks) and the homemade composite cync circuit)

The additional equipment for Saturn & Dreamcast (PSX look more or less the same)

PSX bootscreen (photo taken at night without flash)

DC bootscreen (at night)

and finally the Saturn (I didn't stand still enough, so it's blurry))

I hope I inspired some readers to go the homemade route.

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:05 pm

Not bad, this is technically what I'm doing for my Pop'n machine, but for PC/PS2. My intention with the PSX adapter is that I don't have the spare time to afford building my own parts.

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:49 pm

If you have a VGA input in that cab you should use it. If I connect my PS2 to my tri-sync CAB the screen looks much better(brighter) than through the J-Pac(dark).

Emph

ckong · Post by **ckong** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:15 pm

emphatic wrote:If you have a VGA input in that cab you should use it. If I connect my PS2 to my tri-sync CAB the screen looks much better(brighter) than through the J-Pac(dark).

Emph

That's interesting because I just ordered a tri-sync chassis for my New Astro City. I'll convert the Astro to a tri-sync cab in order to easily hook up a Gamecube, DC, Xbox and PS2 and I can't wait to see the result.

I will use the console2jamma converter which I made (see pictures above) for my old 15Khz cab.

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:16 pm

ckong: From where did you order that? Astros use Nanao9, yes? I would like to upgrade my EGRET II (Nanao9 chassi).

Keep in mind though that the VGA recommendation I just made is based on the Ultimarc PSX video cable with D-SUB connector. I can't promise you your Tri-sync will sync correctly to your solution. We'll see.

Emph

ckong · Post by **ckong** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:16 am

emphatic wrote:ckong: From where did you order that? Astros use Nanao9, yes? I would like to upgrade my EGRET II (Nanao9 chassi).

Emph

I ordered the chassis at excellentcom (well, did not order yet, but asked for a quotation). But please read this topic, could be interesting for you.

http://www.arcadeotaku.com/forum/viewto ... ?f=4&t=874

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:44 am

Thanks a lot ckong.
Emph

Kenchan · Post by **Kenchan** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:30 pm

Are PS3 VGA cables compatible with PS2? it seems to be the cheapest way to get a prefabricated cable these days, and it'd plug right into my Sync Converter.