That means anyone looking to connect their MiSTer directly to an RGB monitor only needs a cheap DAC and either a *VGA-to-BNC cable, or a standard MiSTer SCART cable, which should have a resistor on the SCART line as mentioned above. That should be compatible with PVM’s and BVM’s (always check your service manual!), but if you’re connecting to SCART equipment, a 470ohm resistor will be required or you can destroy your equipment. I’d still recommend using the HD15-2-SCART connectior mentioned above, both for cost and ease-of-use, but you can use it in either mode and it’ll be perfectly safe.īEWARE OF VOLTAGE!!: I need to take a moment to remind everyone that the sync voltage of these adapters will be TLL-level. Using Direct Video with an HDMI to VGA adapter will allow you to send a 15KHz signal – But there’s more! Adding the second change noted above (composite_sync=1) will convert the output to be compatible with RGBs (not just RGBHV)! I’m not going to pretend to know how this is done, but I tested three different HDMI to VGA DAC’s with *VGA to BNC cables and all worked perfectly connected directly to my Sony PVM RGB monitor, no sync combiner required. I demonstrated this in my CPSHDMI video (which also offers a super resolution option) at 8:54: RGB Output:
#Mister retro software
If you split the HDMI output before converting it to analog, you should be able to capture the signal, but it will be stretched horizontally No problem, just use your capture software to re-size to an integer of the original resolution and it’ll look perfect. Not all digital-to-analog converters (DAC’s) or HDMI splitters can understand this signal, but if you find one that does (the ones linked above should work), the image will look exactly like the original console resolution. You’ll also want to set “ composite_sync=1“, assuming the goal is RGBs (more info below). To enable this mode, Simply add “ direct_video=1” to your MiSTer.ini and this mode will be enabled. This is done with zero lag added and you can potentially even use light guns via a SNAC adapter. The CRT doesn’t know the difference, the same way it doesn’t know the difference between horizontal resolutions of a console like the PlayStation As long as the vertical signal is correct, the entire horizontal signal is drawn. How does it work?ĭirect Video is a way of sending “super resolution” 240p: A trick that sends a horizontal signal wide enough for most HDMI chips to understand, while sending a vertical signal that a standard 15KHz CRT can read (something like 1174×253). Keep in mind that if you’re using this feature along with Direct Video mode, you’ll want to power on your CRT after you’ve booted and switched modes. This is handy for implementing the changes required for Direct Video, as well as adding things like the custom modelines atrac17 has been working on. When you power the MiSTer off and back on, it will default to the original MiSTer.ini, however soft-resetting to the main menu retains the alternative.
#Mister retro tv
It still might be easiest to change it “blind” with the button combo, so you can power on your MiSTer first, set it to the alt file that enables Direct Mode, then power on your TV or monitor. To switch between modes, simply hold the following button combo’s after it boots:ĮDIT 2: If you’ve updated your MiSTer, you can now select the alternate files by entering the menu, pressing left and choosing from each of the options listed there. Then, every time you power on MiSTer, it will boot to the main MiSTer.ini file, but allow you the option to swap between the main and alternative ini’s! Enabling Direct Video will require a change to the MiSTer.ini…but what if you want to swap between flat panels and CRT’s without editing the ini file each time? Simply create a copy of the MiSTer.ini file with whatever changes you want and rename the second version “MiSTer_alt_1.ini”. See, much of the MiSTer’s video configuration data is stored in the “MiSTer.ini” file located in the root of the main MiSTer storage.
HD15-2-SCART for use with above converters: ĭirect Video Details: Quick Swap between ini filesīefore I get into Direct Video, I need to sidetrack for a moment to describe another feature that most people will want to implement along with this one: Alternate. ini file and the most basic MiSTer setup. This allows you to connect the DE-10’s HDMI port to a CRT, without the use of an I/O port! All that’s needed is cheap DAC, a change to the. While I’ll soon have a video (or series) covering everything it can do, I wanted to take the time to highlight one specific feature in this post: Direct Video. The MiSTer FPGA project has been one of the most exciting things in retro gaming.