Sega Genesis - Crappy Video

NoAffinity

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Just picked up a used genesis model 1, from the local retro video game store. Been itching to re-visit some genesis titles from my youth.

The composite video output is pretty poor, specifically the wavy lines that "roll" up the screen. See the captured video here: https://youtu.be/TrCcQKIl4-o I'm curious if this is typical.

To capture, I am routing video through a Anchor Bay video processor, which is scaling it to 480p. It is simultaneously displaying on my 43" plasma, and the video is worse on the plasma. I have also tested it on:
-Sharp 32" monitor, with equally poor results
-Diamond VC500 capture device, with even worse results - lots of noise. In all fairness, though, the VC500 does not like a lot of sources.

Does anybody know if the s-video mod improve the picture significantly?
 
Dont bother with svideo. Go RGB. RGB is outputted natively from the genesis and requires no mod. All you need is to get a SCART cable. It is by far the best picture u can get. I run my model 1 using a SCART cable(for RGB) and it goes to a scart to hdmi converter. Bam. Done. Looks waayyyy better. Better color...sharpness...check out www.retrorgb.com for more info and to get the right cable. Cable may run ya close to 20 US dollars if i remember...but that site is awesome. All classic consoles and how to get the best picture from them. I use SCART for all my classic systems that support it.
 
Dont bother with svideo. Go RGB. RGB is outputted natively from the genesis and requires no mod. All you need is to get a SCART cable. It is by far the best picture u can get. I run my model 1 using a SCART cable(for RGB) and it goes to a scart to hdmi converter. Bam. Done. Looks waayyyy better. Better color...sharpness...check out www.retrorgb.com for more info and to get the right cable. Cable may run ya close to 20 US dollars if i remember...but that site is awesome. All classic consoles and how to get the best picture from them. I use SCART for all my classic systems that support it.

Good info, thank you. The genesis I picked up does not have the "High Definition Graphics" label on the cover. I've been reading up on the genesis, and thought that only the HDG version could do RGB. Hopefully I am mis-understanding, cuz would love to have good native high quality video. Please confirm, will my model 1 do RGB out?
 
Thanks, guys, I appreciate the help! Now I've got more things to consider and probably spend money on. :/
 
Haha np. Trust me. Rgb is the way to go with classic systems. I have a generic scart to hdmi converte and it still looks great....best image converter woudl be a framemeister...but its like 350 bucks...im saving up :p also...i bought a 3 port scart switcher....beware of the switchers. Usually poor quality and degrade the image.
 
I've got an s-video switcher for my dreamcast, sega saturn and ps1. Bought a cheap one at first, and the video was terrible, it output composite video on both the composite outs and s-video outs. I spent the extra money and got one with good reviews, and it is great.

I have my PS2 and Xbox (original) on a YPbPr switcher, and when making this purchase, did the research and made sure I got a good one. No problems there either, except maybe some minor lag/delay compared to either of those consoles via s-video out (but s-video, is of course lacking the quality).

Looks like I will be going down this road again, to dive into the world of RGB. :)
 
Saturn and PS1 do rgb natively too. I have a scart cable for my saturn and ps1. Oh and dreamcast??? Look into a vga box for dreamcast. It outputs 480p. Looks so much better. I have a vga box and a vga to hdmi converter for my dreamcast. Absolutely awesome looking. Makes the dreamcast look so much cleaner on an hdtv. Check that out too. Very much worth it
 
Saturn and PS1 do rgb natively too. I have a scart cable for my saturn and ps1. Oh and dreamcast??? Look into a vga box for dreamcast. It outputs 480p. Looks so much better. I have a vga box and a vga to hdmi converter for my dreamcast. Absolutely awesome looking. Makes the dreamcast look so much cleaner on an hdtv. Check that out too. Very much worth it

I do have the VGA box for my DC, and the "control center" unit on my old plasma has a VGA input. :) As you probably know, some DC games aren't compatible with the VGA out, so I also keep a dedicated space on my s-video switcher for it.
 
Your video shows a normal Sega Genesis image. Times have changed, my friend.

I never even watched the video, but yeah... after looking, I see nothing wrong. I don't see any wavy lines during actual gameplay.

Pretty much how the hardware behaved, you just don't see it anywhere near as much on a CRT especially during gameplay. Going pure RGB will cure it, as the issue lies in the composite conversion.
 
Thanks, guys. I just completed the s-video mod, cuz I had already ordered the kit before getting the feedback on this thread. The picture looked better...behind all the noise. The noise and rolling, wavy "static" in the image was even worse via s-video.

So, i removed it. Nothing to be gained from s-video as far as I can see.

So, looks like I will be in the market for RGB components soon.
 
"Soon" just became "now", as I'm itching for better video from this genny. Ordered a SCART to HDMI converter (720p/1080p).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121649366404?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Now, I'm looking at Sega SCART cables. Is this one a good one? The only thing throwing me off is "EURO" in the product description.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Mega-d...400680?hash=item28215c7aa8:g:254AAOSw6EhUPlOp

If that one is not good, please provide some links to good ones on ebay or elsewhere.
 
Just a quick follow up here. Got the SCART cable yesterday and HDMI converter today. Got it all hooked up and working in less than 5 minutes, and I couldn't be happier. Got some video of the new output. It looks even better on the plasma, but even in this captured video, is leaps and bounds better than the composite or s-video output. Yes, I know it's not true 720p, but I'm happy with it just as it is.

https://youtu.be/NqRl7KEYH6Q

Thanks again for all the help, guys!
 
Not including the s-video kit I bought, installed, and deleted once I determined it was no useful improvement:

$28.80 for SCART-to-HDMI converter + $18.50 for SCART+stereo cable = $47.30.

There were some cheaper SCART cables, including ones without audio, but this looked like a good seller and I'm not disappointed. The links to the ebay auctions are above.
 
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