Using SCART as an American

[ulera]

I've read on several retro forums that using scart is the way to get the absolute best picture out of retro consoles that I own like the SNES and genesis, but as an American no TV's here support it. searching on ebay I've noticed a couple of scart to componant adapters that would work perfectly on my TV, unfortunatly none carry both the video and audio signals, just the video. Other adapters carry both the S-video and audio.

So what would be the best solution for me? So far I've figured it would be for me to hook up one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Way-Scart-Cable-Splitter-extension-adapter-box-Joiner-/400169908921?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item5d2bfc3ab9

to the consoles scart cable, then attatch one of http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-RGB-Scart-to-Composite-3RCA-S-Video-Audio-Switch-TV-Adapter-Converter-Top-/220874374804?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d237e94 for the audio to the switcher

and one of these of the video:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RGB-SCART-to-Composite-COMPONENT-VIDEO-AV-TV-ADAPTER-HD-/220833672632?pt=US_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item336ab66db8

Although it just seems silly to use three different adapters just to get a picture with sound.

[MasterDisk]

well if you use a scart to component adapter, it is component signal 

Also the Splitter would not fit with the adaptater as they are both male plugs.

[io]

The best way is not really SCART but rather RGB. Ok, it's true that RGB is wired in SCART plug on European TV for instance, but you could find a CRT monitor which handles RGB without SCART, like Amstrad CPC monitors.
I think that in USA you can find some Atari ST monitor which should accept RGB input (they do here like SC1425). And for the audio, you will have to use an Hi-Fi system or something similar.

[ulera]

Hmm... where would I get genesis and snes rgb cables? All im seeing is scart.

[io]

The best solution is to build your cables or make them built by someone else.

Find an RGB monitor and it's pinout.
Then use the pinout of your consoles http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/gamescart/gamescart.htm to build your cables.

For the Genesis, the DIN plug is standard. But for the SNES, you'll have to buy a RGB cable (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-24-49-fr-70-64-4-6.html) tp modify.

Sorry if this option doesn't sound great, but it's hard to think as if I were in your shoes because I really don't know which options you have in USA, I mean, for example, if it's easy or not to find some RGB capable monitors.

[Lum]

It's easiest to focus on the European wiring in USA. Japanese cables are expensive and less variety of adapters/selectors/etc available from sellers who ship here.

SNES you'll probably want a SCART that's made for the NTSC console's hardware. Third parties do make them.

Genesis most important is to figure out whether you need the large DIN (Genesis 1 or Master System 1) or small DIN (Genesis 2, 32X, Nomad, CDX, etc).

[ulera]

The best solution is to build your cables or make them built by someone else.

Find an RGB monitor and it's pinout.
Then use the pinout of your consoles http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/gamescart/gamescart.htm to build your cables.

For the Genesis, the DIN plug is standard. But for the SNES, you'll have to buy a RGB cable (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-24-49-fr-70-64-4-6.html) tp modify.

Sorry if this option doesn't sound great, but it's hard to think as if I were in your shoes because I really don't know which options you have in USA, I mean, for example, if it's easy or not to find some RGB capable monitors.

Too complicated.  I found some scart cables that are more expensive but separate the audio into rca audio jacks. So the adapter that gets me rgb with no audio will work fine

[Lum]

Try something like this. If it passes audio out while leaving RGB intact, you may not need each console's scart cable to have its own rca jacks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200581819388?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[ulera]

I found several just like that except it doesn't get me audio. So ill just buy the cables that separate the audio and call it good.

[Frank_fjs]

Don't waste your money, those adapters won't work, they do not convert the signal they merely pass it through.

You need to get an encoder to convert from RGB SCART to Component: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SCART-RGB-to-YPbPr-Component-Video-Converter-Scaler-/220698773457?pt=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3362ac07d1

^ This is mandatory, not optional, and cannot be substituted for one of those cheap adapters which DO NOT convert the signal.

To handle audio, you can buy RGB SCART cables with separate audio connections or for a better no fuss solution, grab one of these breakout boxes:



It's a nifty device that sits between the SCART cable of your console and connects directly to the encoder. It provides RCA audio outputs as well as a composite video output. http://www.retro-access.com sell them however she doesn't appear to have any listed, perhaps send her an email.

[ulera]

What's wrong with passing through the signal... I thought componant WAS just RGB?

[133MHz]

It's not, there's a mathematical difference between YPbPr (what we know as component video) and RGB.
In the end it boils down to semantics - component refers to the fact that the components that make up the video are transmitted separately, so YPbPr and RGB are both component video formats but they're not compatible with each other.

RGB SCART carries RGB video with CVBS (composite video) as sync (0.3Vpp composite, with or without video information), usually locked to 480i or 576i.
VGA also carries RGB video, but with separate TTL level horizontal & vertical syncs, at much higher frequencies and thus a whole lot of resolutions.
YPbPr carries luminance+sync (Y) and two color difference signals (B-Y, R-Y) (simplified) at several SD and HD resolutions.

In order to convert SCART to Component video you need a transcoder to mathematically and electrically transform RGB into YPbPr.

[Frank_fjs]

As above!

For a less technical version: Those cheap adapters will not work with what you want to do. As mentioned, you need to convert the signal first.

Grab the encoder that I linked to in my previous post or something similar (there's a few versions of them around) and combine with a breakout box for audio and you will be set. If you can't get hold of the breakout box, just grab a SNES and Genesis cable with separated audio connections.

E.g.

SNES: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Super-Nintendo-stereo-RGB-SCART-lead-RCA-out-US-model-SNES-/200674617903?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2eb923aa2f#ht_2061wt_1110

Genesis: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sega-Megadrive-1-RGB-AV-Scart-cable-RCA-Sound-/110697660750?pt=UK_VideoGames_VideoGameAccessories_VideoGameAccessories_JN&hash=item19c618414e#ht_2162wt_1110

I have a SCART TV but I also use a CSY-2100 encoder (SCART to YUV) to play on a modern plasma TV with component input and it looks gorgeous:



^ My SEGA Master System running on a plasma TV via component.

[ulera]

That does look awesome. Why do the cheap adapters even exist if they don't work though?

[Frank_fjs]

They're designed for a different purpose. They do work, they just don't do any converting/encoding of signals. E.g. the component adapter is expecting a component signal etc. I actually use them with my SCART TV which only has SCART inputs and nothing else, this way I can easily hook up non RGB consoles via composite/s-video etc.