VGA to HDMI converters: what works? What doesn't?

[TomXP411]

This topic is to discuss VGA to HDMI converters. I have an OSSC (Open Source Scan Converter), and have had good luck so far.

However, the X16 isn't perfectly VGA compliant, I have made some minor changes to get things to fit properly:

The image was a bit dark, so with the SMPTE test screen up (MENU, then T), I adjusted the gain to get a little more brightness and make the dark parts of the test pattern visible:
Video in proc
Pre-ADC Gain: 10
Clamp/ALC offset: -3
(everything else is default)

Also, the left side of the screen is cut off. You can adjust the horizontal position by changing the H. synclen and H. backporch:
Sampling Opt
Adv. Timing
640x480
H. synclen: 91 (adjust until the left edge of the letters are visible)
H. backporch: 48 (increase until left side of the screen starts getting cut off, then back off until the letters on left are fully visible)

So far, everything else seems to work fine with the defaults.

Finally, don't forget to save the preset. I use #3, since that's the VGA input button on my remote:
Settings Opt -> Save Profile -> 3
Initial input: AV3_RGBHV

If you have tested the X16 with other converters or devices, post your results here. I'm particularly interested in seeing if anyone has come across a scaler that will convert VGA to 1920x1080 video, so I can use it with my broadcast switcher.

[mortarm]

Don't know about converting, but "broadcast switcher" caught my eye. What kind of switcher are you using? Video is a bit of a hobby of mine.

[TomXP411]

Don't know about converting, but "broadcast switcher" caught my eye. What kind of switcher are you using? Video is a bit of a hobby of mine.

I am using a BlackMagic ATEM Mini. I actually have two of them, a Pro ISO with 8 inputs, and a smaller unit with 4 inputs.

I also have two OSSC (Open Source Scan Converter) units. The first one I bought appears to have been defective, and it has some "smearing" artifacts. The second one works perfectly, and it shows a really good display on my LCD monitor. However, the display isn't any better than the VGA input on my display, so the OSSC is kind of wasted. It also, unfortunately, does not put out a signal that's compatible with the ATEM Mini.

So at this point, if I want to capture video, I've got to go back to using the cheap HDMI to USB converter. For a $25 purchase, that thing has turned to be amazingly versatile, compared to some other, much more expensive equipment. About the only real problem with these HDMI converters is that they don't actually produce stereo audio. Instead, they produce some sort of weird double-sample-rate mono signal. (From what I understand, it's a driver problem. Regardless, the solution is to use a different device for capturing audio. Which is no problem, since I have several audio interfaces.)

I also really like the Decimator scaler for making things suitable for the broadcast switcher. I have not tried it with the output from my OSSC yet, but it seems to handle about everything else I can throw at it (at least everything that uses HDMI or SDI.)

[NickMilner]

In my experience, this works:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08 ... UTF8&psc=1

This doesn't:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08 ... UTF8&psc=1

[voidstar]

This one works for me (and under $20 for the 1.8M cable, about 6ft):

FOINNEX VGA to HDMI Adapter/Converter Cable with Audio,1080P,Convert VGA Source (PC) in HDMI Connector of Monitor,TV. Active Male VGA-HDMI Out Lead Video Adattatore Cord for Computer,Laptop,Projector

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071SHJ1S3


The audio plug goes right into the X16, easy. You might need an extension for the USB plug, or you can connect the USB to the picoPSU using something like this (remember on the Molex connector, RED is the 5V side and yellow is the 12V side):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374806020555

I've ordered about 4 different picoPSUs (70-90W) and they all come with little SATA and/or Molex adapter outputs for power. I've used these to power 12V monitors, the speakers, and things like the IEC disk drive adapter, so the system just needs one main power connector to AC outlet.

power_connectors.jpg (137.49 KiB) Viewed 7468 times

NOTE: for reference
https://github.com/voidstar78/X16_MANUA ... T_REV7.pdf
Still draft, but I should be able to finish it when my Laser3D case finally shows up later this week.

[ahenry3068]

I'm on the opposite end of the Spectrum here. I just ordered a VGA to S-Video convertor to capture X16 Videos on my old Sony VIAO 635g. I know the X16 can output S-video natively but some of the software changes to VGA. Thus the convertor. The Sony is only a P4 but it has a hardware capture card with builtin MPEG compression

[epasveer]

I'll add this tidbit, solely because I think the solution is to move to a VGA/hdmi adapter.

Besides the left side of the screen being chopped off, my VGA screen is horizontally "wavey". The image is not stable. Perhaps a bad VGA cable, but I used it elsewhere without problems.

Hopefully this adapter will work.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GZ159FJ?re ... tails&th=1

[moon]

These adapters work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C8HM3DJL
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GZ159FJ?th=1

However there is a slight but annoying "ripple" through the pictures. The picture is not distorted, it's more like fading. It's tolerable.

I also have tried a RetroTink 5x-Pro with VGA-to-SCART adapter, and it DOES NOT work. There are a lot of options on the RetroTink so it may be possible with some fiddling, but I wasn't able to get it to work. It may also be a limitation of the scart adapter only supporting 31khz or something. Again, I can't test it.

[Wavicle]

Somewhat related: I've been working on this module which uses the SiI9022ACNU, attaches to my VERA X5 boards, and provides a digital input to "HDMI compatible" output path.

MIDH-Bean-Panels.jpg (278.84 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

Unfortunately it doesn't fit so well in the system:

MIDH-Bean-OtterX.jpg (259.67 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

And not every TV wants to pillarbox the image:

MIDH-Bean-Mario.jpg (135.89 KiB) Viewed 2058 times

It's still a work in progress which I'm not certain will ultimately be successful. I'm still trying to learn enough about HDMI to validate everything that I'm doing. I set the AVI InfoFrame to tell it that the image is 4:3 and should be pillarboxed, but it didn't seem to help.

[Maxlide]

Just want to give feedback on this subject.

I bought this VGA to HDMI converter:
DIGITUS VGA - HDMI Converter DA-70473 (+ audio)
https://de.assmann.shop/en/Video-and-Au ... erter.html
and it works perfect. No ripples or distortions.
Cost about 16-17 bucks here atm.



I tried S-Video + RetroTink 2X-Pro before and picture quality wasn't nice + ripples.
(the RetroTink 2X-Pro when used with C64 Composite Video creates an 1a picture, so it seems like S-Video isn't your first choice).