SFC, RGB SCART & recording question(s)

2014-08-31 07:00:59 pm

Ive been wanting to use my rgb scart cable for a while now only problem is I have/had no clue how to record my gameplay with it without spending a lot of money on a new cap card&converters. I put this together and Im wondering if this type of setup(pictures below) would allow me to record my gameplay and hopefully keep most of the quality. I dont know if a powered splitter is a necessity.

For now Im just trying to get RGB on my CRT and keep most of my current equipment, possibly to upgrade later on.

Current equipment/setup:
SFC->split audio into tv&dazzle. Japanese 3rd party cable that has decent svideo+composite, so composite into my tv and svideo into the dazzle currently.

My question:
Would this work? (pictures)

If yes, would a powered scart splitter make a lot more sense than unpowered ones? and would the scart to svideo/rca even work in this kind of a setup?

Thread title:

jeffsledge

2014-08-31 07:57:03 pm

Those types of cables aren't meant for rgb. Scart is able to deliver all sorts of video types and has plenty of pins to allocate to each one. If you want to actually use the rgb video in the cable for conversion, you need to find a device that specifically takes rgb from scart and converts it to the format you desire.
You won't be able to keep most of the quality since it would be going through a conversion similar to what a console does internally to output composite/s-video, etc.
If your console is something like the SNES, you might be able to pull off outputting both s-video for capture and rgb for your TV, but I have no idea if that would work.
The best choice for capturing at decent quality after splitting the rgb would be getting an actual rgb capture card such as the PEXHDCAP, or converting it to component.

presjpolk

Edit history:

presjpolk: 2014-08-31 08:08:55 pm

presjpolk: 2014-08-31 08:08:42 pm

2014-08-31 08:07:12 pm

HELLO!

You've got two basic ways to capture and record RGB.

One is to run the RGB through something like an XSYNC-1 http://solarisjapan.com/collections/micomsoft/products/xsync-1-21-pin-rgb-multi-c-sync-separator and then capture with something the PEXHDCAP/SC 500N1 or the SC 512 N1 L.

The other is to run the RGB through a video processor like the DVDO iScan VP30, get component or HDMI, then use one of the many component or HDMI capture options.

If you want to use a Dazzle you're better off just getting an S-Video cable instead of using an RGB cable for your SFC.

Also make sure to confirm whether your RGB cable is EuroSCART or RGB21. Using the wrong one with the wrong equipment can cause hardware damage.

blizzz

2014-08-31 08:30:08 pm

If you find someone who is capable of making a high quality SCART cable and is willing to do this: You can get a cable that delivers both RGB SCART and S-Video at the same time from a Super Famicom. That would allow you to play in RGB on your TV and capture S-Video. You wouldn't even need a splitter for the video, only for audio. The only problem is that you'd have to get it custom made.

Omnigamer

2014-08-31 08:44:37 pm

All the things

Quote from blizzz:

If you find someone who is capable of making a high quality SCART cable and is willing to do this: You can get a cable that delivers both RGB SCART and S-Video at the same time from a Super Famicom. That would allow you to play in RGB on your TV and capture S-Video. You wouldn't even need a splitter for the video, only for audio. The only problem is that you'd have to get it custom made.

Regarding this: I have asked for this exact service from http://www.retrogamingcables.com/ not too long ago. They are still looking into what it will take them, but it is possible, and they are willing to give it a try. I will let you know when they get back to me with more details.

Alko

2014-09-01 11:38:24 am

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

Wow, wait, a lo~t of information is going all over the place here =O
Let me get stuff straight:

1st, you need to get yourself a Scart cable for the SFC with composite breakout—something like this one. (Yes, Gamecube cables will work, because Nintendo used the same A/V output for SNES, N64 and Gamecube).

2nd, you will need no further splitter if you intend to capture a composite video signal with your dazzle. Simply plug the RCA cables into the breakout thing and connect to your dazzle.

3rd, the technical specifications of Scart do not allow for simultaneously carrying S-video and RGB signals.
In more detail: S-video are two signals (luminance and chrominance, labelled Y and C). A standard composite video signal is one. RGB uses three: red, green and blue, hence three signals. The scart specification explicitly accounted for RGB by reserving the pins 7, 11 and 15 for blue, green and red, respectively, while an additional composite signal runs along pins 19 and 20 (bidirectional). When running S-video through Scart, the pins 19 (out) and 20 (in) will now take over the luminance Y, while the chrominance C will be put onto pin 15—the one used for red. Audio (pins 1, 2, 3 and 6) will run the same, regardless.
This above, of course, does not apply for self-manufactured cables that use non-standard pin assignments.

Wow, wait, a [i]lo~t[/i] of information is going all over the place here =O
Let me get stuff straight:

1st, you need to get yourself a [b]Scart cable for the SFC with composite breakout[/b]—something like [url=http://www.amazon.de/BigBen-GameCube-AV-Kabel-RGB/dp/B000060MT9/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1409592249&sr=8-7&keywords=super+nintendo+rgb]this one[/url]. (Yes, Gamecube cables will work, because Nintendo used the same A/V output for SNES, N64 and Gamecube).

2nd, you will need [b]no further splitter[/b] if you intend to capture a composite video signal with your dazzle. Simply plug the RCA cables into the breakout thing and connect to your dazzle.

3rd, the technical specifications of Scart [b]do not allow[/b] for simultaneously carrying S-video and RGB signals.
In more detail: S-video are two signals (luminance and chrominance, labelled Y and C). A standard composite video signal is one. RGB uses three: red, green and blue, hence three signals. The scart specification explicitly accounted for RGB by reserving the pins 7, 11 and 15 for blue, green and red, respectively, while an additional composite signal runs along pins 19 and 20 (bidirectional). When running S-video through Scart, the pins 19 (out) and 20 (in) will now take over the luminance Y, while the chrominance C will be put onto pin 15—the one used for red. Audio (pins 1, 2, 3 and 6) will run the same, regardless. 
This above, of course, does not apply for self-manufactured cables that use non-standard pin assignments.

blizzz

2014-09-01 11:44:01 am

You wouldn't put RGB and S-Video on the SCART plug with a custom cable. You would make a normal SCART end with RGB and composite video or composite sync and a separate cable with S-Video end from the same plug. Like a Y cable.

If you're happy with composite capture then the cable Alko linked would be all you need.

Alko

2014-09-01 11:44:56 am

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

Quote from blizzz:

You wouldn't put RGB and S-Video on the SCART plug with a custom cable. You would make a normal SCART end with RGB and composite video or composite sync and a separate cable with S-Video end from the same plug. Like a Y cable.

If you're happy with composite capture then the cable Alko linked would be all you need.

Oh, so that was what you meant ^^ That totally would work and makes sense ^^

Edenal

2014-09-08 01:57:31 am

Hockey enthusiast

I'd be interested in creating such a cable.

Got spare SCART and S-video cables laying around. Just need to get get the caps and the resistor!

Edenal

2014-10-23 04:27:55 pm

Hockey enthusiast

Here's a stupid bump.

I decided to try it out. Works just great.

http://i.imgur.com/e8APhF3.jpg

It's not pretty, the RGB cable I had was busted anyways. Will look better when I add some heat shrink to it. No checkerboard pattern visible.

Omnigamer

2014-10-23 04:40:36 pm

All the things

For what it's worth, I now have 4 of such cables made by retrogamingcables.com . My original purpose in getting a lot didn't pan out though, so I'll probably put them up for sale shortly. They seem to be very high quality connectors and have a separate breakout for audio.