Using a 32X with S-video: Possible?

[Melf]

I just got my 32X (yay!) but soon found a problem. My Genesis uses S-video out, and it looks like I'll have to sacrifice this to play 32X games.

My question is this: Is there any way to get the 32X to use the S-video out on my Genny, or do I have to connect standard composite cables and downgrade to play it?

[Melf]

No one knows? :(

On a side note, I've found that the you can play PAL and Japanese imports through the 32X connected to a switch-modded Genesis without any trouble.

[danielscheil]

if i understand allright you search a cable to play the 32x x games in SCART ? quality ?

is that so ?

then you can use the mega drive 2 !
SCART with the 32x that works great

But Note the most Cabels on E-Bay are mono

[danielscheil]

http://cgi.ebay.de/Sega-Megadrive-2-Mega-Drive-2-AV-SCART-LEAD-new-not-RF_W0QQitemZ8212077636QQcategoryZ3642QQssPageNameZ WD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

this is the cable you need it cames in the 32x.

[lordofduct]

danielscheil: hrmm, well first that ebay auction is for a composite to SCART lead connector. Not S-video.

See SCART leads are a wonderful thing as it is an all in one connector allowing pins for every connection. Just not all SCART leads make use of all the pins. Some put out just composite, some svid, some RGB, some all of the above. 2nd problem is that Each kind of SCART lead is hard to distinguish from eachother.

Anyways, that SCART lead there will get melf here the same vid quality as the regular RCA cables he already has... he want S-vid. Also Melf lives in Puerto Rico where SCART is not used. SCART is used over in Europe and in Aussie... we don't get the pleasure of such a nice contraption as SCART. Shit it is VERY rare to find tvs that even support RGB. (there is a reason for this, its a long reason... but short and simple, we use a different standard for TV then y'all do.

The 32x, just like the genny, does not natively put out svid. there are numerous amounts of ways about going around this. One is splicing off the video chip in the system (used for the genny 3 and used along with some other minor modification for some versions of the genny2). Problem is I haven't seen anything out there about doing this with the 32x... and I haven't bothered to sit down and figure it out either as Im to lazy to tear a 32x apart, locate the chip, research the chip then see if it needs further optimization other then just soldering some wires to it. SO, no there are no guides for doing it at this moment.

Other outlets: taking the RGB and sync connections and making a Svid connection out of it... better yet a component connection if your gonna spend the money doing this. This will probably cost you 20-40 dollars if you do it yourself, but can be used for all your consoles that put out RGB (sorry, the NES doesn't put out RGB... I don't remember any others at this moment but gamesx.com have a list of every console and if they put out RGB or not).

So sorry Melf, at this moment it is unknown.

[lordofduct]

this does give me a lil' ambition... Ill take one apart and look at the chip. Possibly it has a chroma pin and luma pin on it. If it does, with a lil' tweaking I can give you a little guide on how to do it... but don't take this as a guarantee, there probably is a reason no one has figured it out yet, possibly because it can't be done. But then its also not a well loved console... only one way to find out.

[lordofduct]

OK... I checked it out and I "think" i've come to the conclusion why no mod has been made for this.

See the video comesinto the 32x from the genny and is then buffered onto the video out (why I will explain). The video is continued onto a video chip which then sends it into the main workings of the 32x. This then of course passes back down to the genny and the video is sourced back out through the genny's video chip and up to the 32x so that way the buffered connection that I spoke of earlier is sent out in very high 32x quality and color.

To modify this would take a lot! You would have to mod the genny to have svid (and most genny's don't have it natively either so it wouldn't work on it unless you have one of the genny's that has the chip that does do it... that would be some of the model 2's) then source that into the video chip on the 32x. then send that back out to the workings of the 32x (HARD) and then you'd have to buffer out the signal back between the genny and 32x chip somewhere.

Yeah. Hard. And as it would only work with some genny's it is gonna have low success rate OR very low quality in signal... on top of that who knows if the 32x video processor is gonna except the signal. Sega may have expected not having analog chroma or luminance signals and just ignored them all together.


SO, the only route you have is an RGB to Svid converter... or installing yet another video chip into the 32x right after its final cut from the system which well would be expensive and tedious. Best to go with the RGB to Svid converter which is also kinda expensive unless you build it yourself. (still running approx. 30 bones like I said before and takes some math skills and ability to read or even write your own schematics)

[lordofduct]

to do it you would need 2 adder chips... one like the MAX4451ESA dual wideband op amps.

Then you'd take the Red Green and Blue and send them into this... that'd give you your luminance. Then you'd have to subtract the Luminance from each of the Red Green and Blue (do this by inverting the Luminance... sending the + out and the - back to the original RGB signal). THEN add the new R-Y G-Y and B-Y signals together in the adder chip again.

Wow am I getting on a tangent about this... it'd be easier to make an RGB to component converter. Which I am in the process of building at this moment but due to moving and lack of funds due to moving I am taking my time at it.

[EDIT]HOLY SHIT am I a freakin' dummy! durrrrrrrrrrrr

I figured out a REALLY easy way to fix all this... I am so fucking retarded. All right this is simple, it takes one chip, and a bunch of 75 ohm resistors.

This chip:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3861855695&category=4663
yep that is the CXA1645M... the same chip found in the genesis 3. If you take the RGB and sync and put them into this chip it will do all the work for you and output beautiful Svid, composite, component, RGB sync on hand, and all for like 22 dollars in a really SMALL case. AND you can make it so that you can use the TINY little box to convert any RGB (low frequency that is.... not computer, basically your video game consoles) signal into all those freaking signals all in one easy step! OMG... why didn't I think of this before, why am I sitting down writing schematics and trying to think of cheaper ways to build a freaking smaller box when all I need is a measily 1/2 cm by 1 1/2 cm damn chip and a couple resistors. I hope it works... im gonna test it out and I'll let you know!!!!

[Melf]

Well, what happened!! Tell me!!!!

[lordofduct]

Haven't done it yet... that project I'm working on has been on hold for 2 weeks now and will be until september. I am in the process of moving right now and have spent something like $6000 (maybe more?) this month on moving costs, bills, and tuition. When I am done I'll be doing it.

[Joe Redifer]

The RGB to Component/S-video device is exactly what I need. However I do not have the tech skills to build one myself. How does one go about getting someone to build it for them, cable and all? Money isn't really an issue, I just want the option of s-video and component on my old systems, especially the Genesis/SegaCD/32X combo!

[lordofduct]

if money isn't a question then buy a professional one.

I won't be building anything anytime soon as I am a busy son of a bitch. I really don't even play my vid games anymore.

That project of mine just won't ever be done.

[Joe Redifer]

I'd love to buy one. Where would I be able to find such an item? Google searches don't lead to any worthwhile results.

[Joe Redifer]

Does ANYBODY know where I might find a professionally built external unit or who might be able to build one?

[Joe Redifer]

Click here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8253338196&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT) for a Genesis 2/32X/CDX/whatever S-video adapter (creates S-video from RGB). Not cheap, but all in one and self-contained. There is a model 1 unit that is $10 more. I purchased one of the model 2 ones to use with my 32X without a box for about half the price (that box must REALLY be special). I should get it some time this week.

Here are some pics:

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/rgb1.jpg

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/rgb2.jpg

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/rgb3.jpg
These are outputs?

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/rgb5.jpg
Towns mode?

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/rgb4.jpg

[David J.]

How's the Video quality?

[gearguy]

This post use to contain information, but I edited it because I realized someone already posted it