Questions that do not deserve a thread

[Fudoh]

but the XRGB-3 does not accept 480p RGsB. It only accepts 480p YPbPr on the front JP21 input.

[Jademalo]

Quick and easy question - Is there a simple device that can convert YPbPr into RGB? Do any of the Extron RGBs do that?
Essentially, something that will allow me to input a Wii's 480p YPbPr into an Extron RGB. It's not essential, but it could prove useful.

Thanks!

[Fudoh]

These are called transcoders. Audio Authority, Crescendo Systems, Micomsoft, Kramer, Neoya make these.

But it's just for your Wii, you're better off with a VGA cable (cable with integrated transcoder chip). It's usually cheaper.

[Jademalo]

Oh, that would be absolutely perfect, thank you!
Considering the only two consoles I can think of that I would be using that don't support vga are the Wii and the PS2, I have a feeling this cable might be perfect.

Is there any significant loss in quality using something like this, or is it worth going for a separate transcoder box?

[Fudoh]

transcoding is lossless, but I really don't know if that cable is any good.

[Jademalo]

It's probably not, lol.
I've been having a look at tidy YPrPb to VGA converters for the last half an hour or so, would you have any spesific recommendations? The Lenkeng one seems fairly cheap and would be more than sufficient for my uses, anything else I'm seeing is a lot more expensive and does way more than I need it to do.

[Fudoh]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RGB-Audio-Autho ... 2a3b9f6295

Is the Lenkeng a true transcoder without any scaling options ?

[Jademalo]

Oh, I had a google for the audio authority one and everything was coming back as VGA to Component. That one is still cheaper than the Lenkeng one, even though the shipping is higher than the cost of the actual unit, lol. As far as I can tell from the info, the Lenkeng one is a true transcoder. There doesn't seem to be anything on changing the resolution through it, so I'm assuming it doesn't. Normally that's an advertised feature.

Right, that unit should solve my problem perfectly. Between that and the emotia, I shouldn't have any issues whatsoever getting most of my 480i/p stuff looking gorgeous. The ability to pass 480i through should be massively useful too. Thanks for the help!

[bobrocks95]

I have the retro-bit and the picture quality is great. The connection to the dreamcast can be finicky, so you have to make sure it's pushed in hard. I bought the dreamcast used though so that might not be the retro-bit's fault.

Thanks for the recommendation, the retro-bit definitely looks better than the other cable I had (still a little bit of streaking, but at this point I just need a better VGA cable).

A big problem I'm having though is that the sound is incredibly muffled from the 3.5mm speaker port. It sounds okay from the RCA outputs (I didn't think those would be active even when it's in VGA mode? Is this normal?), though it may still be a bit muffled, I haven't tested. Did I get a stinker in the sound department?

[kel]

Is it just me or does the PS3 mess up the aspect ratio when upscaling PS1 and PS2 games?

It looks perfect with the scaler turned off at 480p but it looks slightly wider than it should be when scaled to 720p or 1080p.

It's been bugging me for a while. Just wanted to see if anyone else had noticed it or if I was missing something.

[Fudoh]

sure, I started a thread about that back in 2008. http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=21372

The weirdest thing about it is (or was) that CD-based PS1 games give you the correct AR, while PSN-based ones don't.

[kel]

Thanks for confirming it for me. I was starting to wonder if it was just me.

You mentioned on that thread that it made the AR narrower but I noticed it made it a bit wider although there has been quite a few firmware updates since then so maybe something has changed?

I never thought of trying a CD-based game. Thanks for the tip I'll give it a try.

[Fudoh]

Maybe that changed that. If you happen to try a CD-based game, let us know the results. I haven't used a PS3 in quite some time...

[kel]

I tried a CD-based game and unfortunately the results were the same. I'm starting to wonder if it has something to do with it being a PAL PS3 and the fact that I have only tried NTSC PS1 and PS2 games on it. Maybe the scaler settings are region specific and it is scaling the image as if it were 288p or 576i?

Strangely enough though for some reason I decided to turn on smoothing this time and it fixed the AR problem for me but only when smoothing is used which unfortunately makes games look blurry.

So at the moment it is a choice of either 480p output, 720p/1080p output with wrong AR or 720p/1080p output with correct AR but blurry smoothing.

Oh forgot to mention the smoothing AR fix doesn't seem to work with PS2 games though.

[BEEKAY]

Hello everyone, I have a question that does not deserve a thread.

The component inputs on my TV are broken. I used to play my original XBOX on the TV using component cables. I have HDMI inputs and a VGA PC input available.

What's better, a component to HDMI converter or a component to VGA converter? I am looking at the Lenkeng LKV354 and the LKV7600/HDBoxPro.

[Fudoh]

Component to HDMI is better and you can use literally every converter you can find. Doesn't have to be a Lenkeng unit.

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

Do adapters exist that would allow me to use my ps3 stick with my ps1? Failing that, can anyone recommend a good ps1 stick?

[BEEKAY]

Component to HDMI is better and you can use literally every converter you can find. Doesn't have to be a Lenkeng unit.

My budget is sub $100, do you have any recommendations? I'm not looking for anything special, just a replacement for component video with little to no loss in picture quality.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

Do adapters exist that would allow me to use my ps3 stick with my ps1? Failing that, can anyone recommend a good ps1 stick?

Get the Namco stick.

[Fudoh]

My budget is sub $100, do you have any recommendations? I'm not looking for anything special, just a replacement for component video with little to no loss in picture quality.

you can find converters starting at $30 on ebay. Quality should turn out even better than through native component, but keep in mind that 480i from a source CAN (doesn't have to) cause problems. 480p will be fine. VGA on the other hand is strictly 480p with no chance for 480i.

[BEEKAY]

My budget is sub $100, do you have any recommendations? I'm not looking for anything special, just a replacement for component video with little to no loss in picture quality.

you can find converters starting at $30 on ebay. Quality should turn out even better than through native component, but keep in mind that 480i from a source CAN (doesn't have to) cause problems. 480p will be fine. VGA on the other hand is strictly 480p with no chance for 480i.

I believe that pretty much all of the original XBOX games are displayed in 480p, so it shouldn't be a problem. But I've read somewhere on the net that when using a component to HDMI converter, when playing games with very dark areas or black scenes, the picture goes very dark and it's hard to see anything. Do you know anything about this or how to avoid it?

[Fudoh]

That's sometimes a problem when using those converters on PC monitors which can only display full range RGB. The XBox does output limited range component, so the converter will output limited range as well. Hardly a problem on TVs. Don't worry about it.

I use a component to HDMI converter on my XBox as well and it looks way better than directly connected to the TV or even running through any of my upscalers.

[BEEKAY]

That's sometimes a problem when using those converters on PC monitors which can only display full range RGB. The XBox does output limited range component, so the converter will output limited range as well. Hardly a problem on TVs. Don't worry about it.

I use a component to HDMI converter on my XBox as well and it looks way better than directly connected to the TV or even running through any of my upscalers.

Sounds good, thanks a lot for the info and I appreciate your help! I hope you review the 2014 Sony W700B TV's, they're the successor of the 2013 W650s. I plan to pick one up this year as a replacement.

[Fudoh]

they're identical. Really nothing to review. This year Sony just added +100 to the model description and added 2 HDMI ports to their TVs.

[BEEKAY]

Oh okay, either way I missed out on getting last year's model and will for sure pick up the W700B. I think the W700B will atleast be available in Canada.

[emphatic]

Does a HDMI to VGA adapter exist, and does it introduce lag?

[beatsgo]

Does a HDMI to VGA adapter exist, and does it introduce lag?

There is such adapters, something like this does the trick. In terms of latency, it's possible depending on the specifications of the adapter due to a D2A conversion. Of course, that's just me saying I don't know which one is your best bet but gives you an idea what to expect.

Reference
Circuit for HDMI2VGA conversion

[emphatic]

Cool, no audio out though...

[Fudoh]

most of the HDMI to VGA converters offer a 3.5mm audio output. Check out ebay. I've bought much cheaper units in the past which perform just fine.

[emphatic]

most of the HDMI to VGA converters offer a 3.5mm audio output. Check out ebay. I've bought much cheaper units in the past which perform just fine.

Thanks. This is for if/when I get an XBone. It's all in CAVE's hands now.