AV Splitting and Switching Recommendations

2017-04-07 09:16:15 pm

The Dork Knight himself.

I've been looking for a multi-console recording solution, and I've hit a bit of a wall and was hoping somebody has a good recommendation for what I need.

Consoles: NES (composite), Genesis (composite), SNES (s-video), Wii (s-video)
The s-video cables for the SNES/Wii are official Nintendo brand with a clean signal and no interference. The downside is they do not have composite out alongside the s-video.

TV: Philips CRT, 1 x composite in (front), 1 x composite/s-video in (rear), 1 x composite out (rear)
Capture: Dazzle DVC100 (composite + s-video)

The setup I'm looking for is to hook all 4 consoles up into an AV selector, send it to a distribution amp (1 in 2 out preferably) and then into both the TV and the Dazzle. Technically the distribution amp isn't required since my TV does have composite out already and the s-video can go from the AV selector directly into the Dazzle. The problem I'm having is finding a good selector that isn't going to introduce signal issues.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DSQMVKU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's the unit I currently have. It may be cheap, but it handles everything I need............except for the video quality. There's enough crosstalk between s-video and composite to introduce light checkerboarding. I tried mixing up the output options, but anything I do that has the selector in the loop causes checkerboarding.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009QZPO6?tag=thcibrbl-20
UraniumAnchor pointed me to this distribution amp, but it would only allow a clean signal for 1 console at a time. If I have to settle for this setup than I will, but if anybody knows of a good solution I'd appreciate the help. Pretty sure others know the pain of constantly swapping out consoles.

Thread title:

I've been looking for a multi-console recording solution, and I've hit a bit of a wall and was hoping somebody has a good recommendation for what I need.

Consoles: NES (composite), Genesis (composite), SNES (s-video), Wii (s-video)
The s-video cables for the SNES/Wii are official Nintendo brand with a clean signal and no interference. The downside is they do not have composite out alongside the s-video.

TV: Philips CRT, 1 x composite in (front), 1 x composite/s-video in (rear), 1 x composite out (rear)
Capture: Dazzle DVC100 (composite + s-video)

The setup I'm looking for is to hook all 4 consoles up into an AV selector, send it to a distribution amp (1 in 2 out preferably) and then into both the TV and the Dazzle. Technically the distribution amp isn't required since my TV does have composite out already and the s-video can go from the AV selector directly into the Dazzle. The problem I'm having is finding a good selector that isn't going to introduce signal issues.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DSQMVKU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's the unit I currently have. It may be cheap, but it handles everything I need............except for the video quality. There's enough crosstalk between s-video and composite to introduce light checkerboarding. I tried mixing up the output options, but anything I do that has the selector in the loop causes checkerboarding.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009QZPO6?tag=thcibrbl-20
UraniumAnchor pointed me to this distribution amp, but it would only allow a clean signal for 1 console at a time. If I have to settle for this setup than I will, but if anybody knows of a good solution I'd appreciate the help. Pretty sure others know the pain of constantly swapping out consoles.

CardsOfTheHeart

2017-04-09 12:43:07 am

may use a few too many Kappas

I was looking for something like this a while back and decided that the Shinybow SB-5450 would be best for my budget. I have had no complaints, but it was hard even finding anything to compare it to.

In fact, now that I look at it, there's hardly anything else near that price point. I mean, there is this thing, I guess, but it's not powered so I couldn't trust it. Shinybow does also make a 5450M that seems to support more resolutions for a slightly higher price point and a 5425 that appears to be weaker and has no remote control like the other Shinybox brands do.

The pickings seem slim unless you really want to empty your wallet.

honorableJay

2017-04-09 07:28:02 am

The Dork Knight himself.

Man I wish I found those earlier. I'll bite the bullet on the 5450M and see how that turns out. Thanks for the help.

honorableJay

2017-04-12 05:38:28 pm

The Dork Knight himself.

So it came in, I hooked it up and................still not perfect. I'm thinking it might be an issue I just can't avoid if I'm gonna be splitting the signal, powered or not. Thanks for the recommendation though, other than the slight video issues the unit works perfect.