S-Video N64 & SNES 2

[mariocaseman]

Hey guys, I am trying to get the best picture possible out of my SNES 2 and N64.  If I'm not mistaken, the N64 is good to go without any modding for S-Video, correct?  My SNES 2 would need a Mod?  If so, why does my SNES 2 say "Multi-Out" on the back?  Doesn't "Multi" mean multiple, as in multiple options; Composite or S-video? 

Also, since I have never used an S-Video cord, what exactly am I plugging in?  I know the Red and white is audio, but do I plug in BOTH the yellow video cable AND the black s-video thing?  Or just the black s-video thing?

How much better of a picture will s-video give me as compared to composite?

[irvgotti452]

Dont plug the yellow. It's just an option. Picture is sharper and cleaner.

[mariocaseman]

Dont plug the yellow. It's just an option. Picture is sharper and cleaner.

Damn...  My N64 looks a lot better!  Do any of these systems have s-video WITHOUT needing a mod?

Sega 32X (plugged into a Genesis 2 with a Sega CD 2)
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PSOne (mini)

[wiggy]

Dont plug the yellow. It's just an option. Picture is sharper and cleaner.

Damn...  My N64 looks a lot better!  Do any of these systems have s-video WITHOUT needing a mod?

Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PSOne (mini)

No mod for any of those 3 (although, I'm not 100% sure on the PSone).  If you're still interested in the SNES mini mod, I can get you a parts list and how-to.  It's not too bad at all if you know how to solder.  I'd say it's like a 2 on a scal of 1-10.

[irvgotti452]

Damn...  My N64 looks a lot better!  Do any of these systems have s-video WITHOUT needing a mod?

Sega 32X (plugged into a Genesis 2 with a Sega CD 2)
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PSOne (mini)

All of these except the 32x have an svideo cable you can buy. Not really sure if there is a svid cable for the 32 but positive on the others.

[mariocaseman]

Damn...  My N64 looks a lot better!  Do any of these systems have s-video WITHOUT needing a mod?

Sega 32X (plugged into a Genesis 2 with a Sega CD 2)
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PSOne (mini)

All of these except the 32x have an svideo cable you can buy. Not really sure if there is a svid cable for the 32 but positive on the others.

So then NO on just the Genesis model 2 and Sega Cd model 2 as well?  Because the video out is the same type, right?

[zakurowrath]

Damn...  My N64 looks a lot better!  Do any of these systems have s-video WITHOUT needing a mod?

Sega 32X (plugged into a Genesis 2 with a Sega CD 2)
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PSOne (mini)

All of these except the 32x have an svideo cable you can buy. Not really sure if there is a svid cable for the 32 but positive on the others.

So then NO on just the Genesis model 2 and Sega Cd model 2 as well?  Because the video out is the same type, right?

Right without a mod the Genesis only outputs RF, Composite & RGB. The 32x uses the Genesis RGB signal to produce it's picture and outputs the exact same signals. S-Video for the 32x is a nightmare to mod & create so RGB is easier and the better option since it's the best video signal you can get in the first place.

That being said, if you live in the states you either have to convert it to YUV component video (which has to be upscaled) or to a higher resolution RGB (VGA) signal since modern TV's don't know what to do with such a low resolution signal. Of course if you have a CRT that can accept low res YUV signals then it's no problem at all.

[Arseen]

Which produces better video.

RGB-scart or RGB converted to VGA.

As European I have both on my TV.

I wanna know which looks better on 47" Full HD TV.

Oh and just bought RGB-scart to HDMI converter (or act5ually 1080P upscaler), haven't just tryed it yet, might give better image or screw it totally.
For the US folk here still using S-video this is best option (or RGB converted to VGA).

[zakurowrath]

Which produces better video.

RGB-scart or RGB converted to VGA.

As European I have both on my TV.

I wanna know which looks better on 47" Full HD TV.

Oh and just bought RGB-scart to HDMI converter (or act5ually 1080P upscaler), haven't just tryed it yet, might give better image or screw it totally.
For the US folk here still using S-video this is best option (or RGB converted to VGA).

Would you happen to know the make and model number of the TV so I can do a small bit of research on it Arseen?

That's actually kind of hard to say being that I've never used a modern European TV before. The big question is if connected to your RGB SCART input does the TV keep the native low resolution (RGB at 15hz) and display it, or does it upscale it internally then display it.

Using the VGA port, if your TV is capable of 640x480 then that would be a really nice resolution for classic games since it's usually the lowest most modern TV can produce and it's closest to the low native resolution of classic consoles.

Now I have seen a variety of SCART to HDMI upscalers, and usually the picture is adequate. Although the cheaper ones usually soften the picture where as RGB is supposed to be pixel sharp in the first place.  

I'd go with RGB SCART since your TV has the input. It's the option with the least processing of the signal.

RGB SCART: Best

RGB VGA: Better

RGB to HDMI: Great

S-Video: Good

Composite: Adequate

RF: Sucks to be you 

Or you can experiment with all three and see which one you like the best. From a technical standpoint keeping an analogue signal analogue is the best option.

Wish we had it over here in the states, makes me want to import a European TV, but then I have to worry about the whole 50hz PAL vs 60hz NTSC thing. Voltage converters wouldn't be that much of a hassle.

Pain in the ass yes, but anything is better than composite on modern TV's.

[Arseen]

I'm at work now so I can't check the exact model but it's 47" LG Full HD TV from few years back.

PAL /NTSC is not a problem with HDTVs as they understand all PAL/NTSC/SECAM signals.

[Arseen]

Model is LG 47LF65

[zakurowrath]

Model is LG 47LF65

I checked the manual and looked online. It says nothing about the SCART sockets being able to do RGB, so your next best option would be a VGA scalier.

You could try a RGB SCART cable and see if you get a picture, thing about SCART cables thou is the fact it has all the signals bundled into the same wire, so you would need a RGB only SCART cable to see if that method would work at all. Who knows you may get lucky and the TV produces a beautiful RGB SCART image.

And it's nice to know modern TV's can accept a variety of analogue signals  

[Arseen]

I'll have to check but I'm pretty sure that at least one of the two SCART sockets does RGB.

I just recieved RGB Scart for the Mega Drive.

On side note: I also have old model US N64 and French N64, both can be modded to output true RGB!