OSSC (DIY video digitizer & scandoubler)

[Xer Xian]

[copy]

You can actually use the Framemeister to 'condition' the output of the OSSC into a signal that picky TVs handle no problem.

...

Audio: The weird timing of the optimal SNES profile I made doesn't seem to function properly when converted by the Framemeister to my A/V receiver. In this case, users would want to use audio breakout cables and hook those up to the rear RCA jacks on the FM, and then set the HDMI audio to "D" input on the FM.

I briefly experimented with SNES > OSSC > Framemeister when I got my new TV recently (Sony X900E), and I found similar results. The FM stabilized the video very nicely, but the sound didn't come through.

I didn't even think of bypassing the audio around the OSSC -- that's brilliant! I'm going to try that tonight.

[Xyga]

@Xer Xian: Lol, never fall for brand fidelity though. You know it's like when Sony did the fantastic Full-HD W series of 2013~2014, well, such good alchemy never really happened again.

Manufacturers are way too random for consistently maintaining the 'just right' quality they sometimes produce almost by chance.
And always keep in mind the other models in a same series if they are not properly review-tested, could perform differently (hence my mise en garde for the WQHD model)
Still it's true that Viewsonic have been on a roll lately, the XG2703-GS for instance is the best PC gaming monitor.

I might buy a second VX3211-mh in January if there's still some around and discounted a bit.

Because.

[Bobster]

Those screenshots look amazing FBX! I'm eagerly awaiting your eventual tutorial on all this.

[FBX]

I didn't even think of bypassing the audio around the OSSC -- that's brilliant! I'm going to try that tonight.

In my case, both my SNES 1CHIP consoles have the digital audio output mod, so I just run a fiber optic cable directly to my receiver, but yeah, a budget trick would just be to get a SCART audio breakout adapter (or SCART RGB cables custom made with audio RCA breakouts).

[Thomago]

I might buy a second VX3211-mh in January if there's still some around and discounted a bit.

Because.

If just the packaging wasn't so fucking huuuuge...!

[Galdelico]

@Thom and Xyga: wow, you never stop learining, guys.
I believe my Asus monitors have a crap scaling engine, then, since both introduce a visible and aggressive horizontal 'pattern' to fake scanlines, in Line4x and 5x. At 100% it becomes awfully blatant, but it's noticeable straight from 15% on. The only way I managed to get rid of it - with my GBI Line4x profile, for example - was by increasing V. Active Lenght up to the point the effect completely disappeared (and scanlines got back to their correct, even spacing), and then tweaking the Horizontal samplerate accordingly.

I mean, I still wouldn't trade my VG275 with anything else, since it's perfectly multipurpose and super convenient for my specific needs (+/-90° pivot, immune to flicker retention, fast and responsive, compatible with pretty much every OSSC video mode, supports 50 and 60hz, is capable of correct 4:3 handling...), but it's good to know why it gives me uneven scanlines right off the bat. Thanks for the clarification, I was under the wrong impression it totally depended on the screen resolution alone.

Too bad it's an IPS panel - so, not for me, unfortunately - but your VS monitor seems pretty fantastic, guys. Awesome catch once again!

[Xyga]

I was under the wrong impression it totally depended on the screen resolution alone.

Resolution and multiples are fine and all, but if the display's built-in scaling hardware and algorithms are shit - or simply not designed with accuracy in mind - we'll see shit...
And since reviewers don't bother with doing scaling tests us retropeasants can really work with, it's all a gamble when buying. The majority are shit, that's why this Viewsonic here is a rare thing, I'm really, really curious about the other monitors in the series, there's a WQHD but also a 4K...

PS: playing without scalines is fine too, depending on what you have to smooth out the picture a bit.

[copy]

In my case, both my SNES 1CHIP consoles have the digital audio output mod, so I just run a fiber optic cable directly to my receiver, but yeah, a budget trick would just be to get a SCART audio breakout adapter (or SCART RGB cables custom made with audio RCA breakouts).

Yes indeed, I have a SCART audio breakout box on hand. Can't wait to test this setup.

[Xer Xian]

I wish that 1:1 pixel mapping was still widespread like it used to be. Even if Line2x480p isn't always a sensible choice, it would still be nice to have the option along with 1:1 for a perfectly sharp 480p upscaling (with relatively small bars on a 1080p monitor).

I might buy a second VX3211-mh in January if there's still some around and discounted a bit.

http://www.rueducommerce.fr/produit/vie ... 6-29651000

Well looks like you've got no excuses now..

[FBX]

Here are my instructions for getting the OSSC's 2x 480p scale of Dreamcast VGA Toro Box converted by the Framemeister into a 1920x1080p signal:

First, enter my OSSC settings as instructed in my text file:

http://www.firebrandx.com/downloads/Dre ... %20VGA.txt

Next, create a default 1080p profile in the Framemeister for HDMI-1 input and turn off pass-through mode.

Make sure the image is set to "picture".

Go to the Visual_Set options and set V_Size to a value of 29, then turn Auto_Scaler OFF, set H. Scaler to 5, V. Scaler to 6.

Now go to the ZOOM menu and turn ZOOM to "ON". Then set the ZOOM_SIZE to 100 and the ZOOM_OVERSCAN to 89.

This will properly scale the incoming OSSC image to fit a perfect 2x plot on the 1920x1080p FM 'canvas'.

Edit: One other important thing I almost forgot: You'll need to set the FM's A/D value really low, like down to around 68. The incoming Dreamcast VGA image will be way too bright at 128.

-FBX

[Sega90s]

Anyway to fix the aspect ratio on the ossc?Every mode besides line3x stretches the image. There also appears to be a odd warping in top of the screen.
240p (1x mode)

Spoiler

480p (2x mode)

Spoiler

720p (3x mode)

Spoiler

960p (4x mode)

Spoiler

[ZellSF]

Disabling Allow TVP HPLL2x will reduce it (it's a NES specific problem) to the point where overscan on your display should hopefully hide it entirely.

Does your display not have any aspect ratio controls?

[Sega90s]

I will try that setting see if it helps. The tv is a cheap insignia(Best Buy) model NS50D510NA17 which I got for free. The issue with that is it only has one button(power/input) on the panel , and all other adjustments menu , volume , aspect ,etc must be done by remote. That wouldn’t be a problem if the ir receiver on the panel wasn’t broken. I tried contacting the manufacturer to get the part as it’s out of warranty and they dont carry the part any longer( this is still being sold as a current model). As much as that sucks I kind of want to fix it as it takes all ossc modes besides 5x.

[ZellSF]

I will try that setting see if it helps. The tv is a cheap insignia(Best Buy) model NS50D510NA17 which I got for free. The issue with that is it only has one button(power/input) on the panel , and all other adjustments menu , volume , aspect ,etc must be done by remote. That wouldn’t be a problem if the ir receiver on the panel wasn’t broken. I tried contacting the manufacturer to get the part as it’s out of warranty and they dont carry the part any longer( this is still being sold as a current model). As much as that sucks I kind of want to fix it as it takes all ossc modes besides 5x.

Why not just buy a remote from eBay?

Seems to be a lot of them available (ns-rc4na-17 if I'm not mistaken) for pretty cheap (10$-ish). Sure it would be cheaper if you could get one for free from the manufacturer, but I think it would be too much work to be worth it.

[Kez]

Why not just buy a remote from eBay?

I think the it's the TV's receiver that is broken.

[Seraphic]

Would something like this work for better cable management without signal disruption?
Although, now that I think of it, it would block the 3.5mm input jack. Too bad the HDMI isn't rear facing.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4859

[Sega90s]

I may buy another remote to rule it out , but I’m pretty sure it’s the receiver on the tv not the remote. I’ve had 4 remotes including an original that worked and now none do.

[ZellSF]

Why not just buy a remote from eBay?

I think the it's the TV's receiver that is broken.

Oops, sorry, reading comprehension failure. That sucks

[TestType]

I may buy another remote to rule it out , but I’m pretty sure it’s the receiver on the tv not the remote. I’ve had 4 remotes including an original that worked and now none do.

You can check to see if an IR remote is sending commands by looking at it through a camera. The camera will show the infrared light that your eyes cannot see.

[marqs]

The RGB color is clean all the way up the image, even when I lower the gain such that the peak output is below 255. So this means it might actually be what Marqs thought it was concerning the coupling caps to the LPF chip.

It might help if the caps were swapped with even bigger ones (e.g. 4.7uF or 10uF) - I'll have to try that at some point.

Speaking of exact PS2 timings, I've used this document to calculate assumed H.samplerate for different modes with following formula: (2*(HSVS+HS))/SPML. Unfortunately the list does not include default register values for 256/512 column modes.

[muggsy]

Here are my instructions for getting the OSSC's 2x 480p scale of Dreamcast VGA Toro Box converted by the Framemeister into a 1920x1080p signal:

First, enter my OSSC settings as instructed in my text file:

http://www.firebrandx.com/downloads/Dre ... %20VGA.txt


-FBX

Any idea what would be the ideal settings for the DC games that can be forced into 240p?

[TooBeaucoup]

FBX, I didn't use your exact settings, because I just wanted to try it out quickly, but I did run my OSSC and Dreamcast VGA from Toro into the Framemeister at the OSSC's 2x mode and Good God, it sure does look good. Now we just need custom Framemesiter profiles for every console using OSSC into the Framemeister. LOL!

[FBX]

FBX, I didn't use your exact settings, because I just wanted to try it out quickly, but I did run my OSSC and Dreamcast VGA from Toro into the Framemeister at the OSSC's 2x mode and Good God, it sure does look good. Now we just need custom Framemesiter profiles for every console using OSSC into the Framemeister. LOL!

Indeed. It would seem I could start all over again and make OSSC into FM profiles. I would have to list the settings on the OSSC as well. Speaking of, why doesn't the OSSC have the ability to dump profiles to the microSD card? Seems like all the tools are there to make it happen.

[RaphM]

Speaking of, why doesn't the OSSC have the ability to dump profiles to the microSD card? Seems like all the tools are there to make it happen.

That's a great suggestion, currently I also only have "manual" backups (which means textfiles listing all changed values ) of my OSSC profiles.

[Harrumph]

Marqs has suggested that this would most easily be done by a PC application, see further here: https://www.videogameperfection.com/for ... -micro-sd/

[RGB0b]

In my opinion, having FBX profiles on the OSSC would be a game changer. Marqs, is there anything we could do to help? Would you need scripts written? Any specific OS required?

[EnragedWhale]

Doesn’t running the OSSC into the framemeister introduce the usual 2ish frames of lag that the FM puts into analogue sources?

[Kez]

Doesn’t running the OSSC into the framemeister introduce the usual 2ish frames of lag that the FM puts into analogue sources?

Yes it does but for many people that delay is unnoticeable, especially with a low latency TV/monitor.

[Bobster]

Doesn’t running the OSSC into the framemeister introduce the usual 2ish frames of lag that the FM puts into analogue sources?

Yes it does but for many people that delay is unnoticeable, especially with a low latency TV/monitor.

I second this. My W series Sony that is regarded as great for gaming simply doesn't have the compatibility with the OSSC's higher modes. With this method, I can have the best of both worlds! If FBX can make it as easy to use as he did for the Framemeister, that's a game changer for me.