Scanline converter and Sony CRT TV

[Mark H]

Hi All,

I wanted some advice please as I still want to use my 21" Sony Trinitron CRT TV (in TATE mode) and see how I can use it will my Xbox 360 to get scanlines. The TV has a scart input so if I buy the following will it result in scanlines and provide more of a 240p arcade look. I'm looking for a cost effective solution please.

- a scart to VGA cable (out the back of my TV)

- a scanline convertor (VGA input and output)

- a VGA to HDMI cable (from the scanline converter into my Xbox 360)

Thanks

MarK

 

[big10p]

I don't know how to connect an Xbox 360 to a scart TV, but why would you need an SLG in the mix, when the TV is CRT and already has scanlines?

 

[Velyks]

I know the original xbox 360 can support native RBG 240p/480i output via SCART. I've used it to play SF2 Remix on my PVM. You just need the right cable.

I think it depends on the game too.

 

[jinq-sea]

XBOX 360 did RGB out if you had the correct cable - if I remember correctly, one of these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363218498103

 

[ZedEx48K]

Yeah, just get something like this, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-RGB-Scart-Cable-for-XBOX-360-3-Metre-Shielded-Audio-Output-MADRICS/191603187382?epid=1939734313&hash=item2c9c709eb6:g:Gn8AAOSweW5Vf0fi

 

[John Bennett]

These low-res games are all rendered in 480i horribleness though, aren’t they?
Same as a lot of the PS2 retro collections

A 480p signal into 4:3 VGA display (LCD or CRT) and analogue scanline converter would’ve been my first thought, but that obviously isn’t using the telly.

 

[Mark H]

Thanks all. I have an official Microsoft scart lead but this gives a great RGB picture via my Sony TV but no scanlines.

 

[Sandinista]

All games using SCART on Xbox 360 output 480i . There is no 240p = no scanline .
Option 1 get 480p ( via vga cable ) find a downscaler to 240p . I think Extron emotia does this , but expensive and rare
Option 2 as John says above , get a vga crt and an slg

I've toyed with this for a while and even got an slg and 4:3 LCD to try it out ... not over impressed and prefer the interlaced picture on a crt . Need to make room for a vga crt eventually .

Have a look at this video Mark

https://youtu.be/amAQ7za6KFo

 

[Mark H]

Thanks Gary. Having a think now !

 

[Lardonate]

people often use extron emotias to take it down from 480i to 240p. I bought one with the intention of doing this but sadly mine doesn't appear to work anymore. They appear to be very expensive when they do pop up now as the RGB nutters lust after them greatly.

 

[John Bennett]

You've got to be careful of what the objective is. If you attain scanlines through something that buffers or reprocesses the image, it's going to end up lagged or rescaled.

I need to get it right in my head what an ideal (non existent?) analogue scanline converter could ever do to a 480i image.

You've got odd lines, then even lines, alternating at 60Hz.

These are theoretically identical pixel streams if it's just a 240p game doubled up.

So maybe you could blank out either the odd or even lines to get a scanline effect, but it would only be a 30fps frame rate as you've lost half the image updates. I think, anyway.

As I mentioned, it's frustrating with the PS2 as there's quite a few old-game packs that are only 480i.

Some stuff like Galaxy Force and Space Harrier support 240p and it's great though.

https://www.ukvac.com/forum/data/uploads/2675/galaxyforce.jpg

John Bennett2020-12-23 19:24:06

 

[Sandinista]

Yeah , you can end up chasing your tail .I've been looking at this for a while and there's no simple solution . Adding lag is a worry as the cave shmups ( I love these , and I know Mark does too ) already have a frame or 2 lag over the pcb . So visuals over control ? It's a trade off .I've decided at the minute to just enjoy the games as they come on a trinitron tated tv , they still look good and play great .
.

The 480p vga/slg/pc crt is the most consistent and guaranteed method , though then it's fake scanlines at 31khz....looks good on the video link I posted mind

 

[trev1976]

I've done both on a Sony CRT and to be honest the sony has such a great interlaced picture it's not really worth downscaling to 240p from 480p via a Extron.