Old Consoles + Modern LCDs? Testing Cheap Composite to HDMI / VGA -Converters 

Hey guys. Would have liked to cover even more in this video, but it was all I could possibly manage. After catching a bad cold last week, I had some bad chicken two days ago and I am hence also suffering from a bad salmonella infection now :( . I could hardly leave my bed this week so please don't be to hard on me right now. I wish all of you a nice weekend!

you should totally do a teardown of the first two almost identical boxes (black and white ones)

The best video about conversion signal to old consoles on RU-vid! Thank You!

Thank you for this video, really. I wanted to know about this from quite some time

If you have many of these converters, it would be funny and interesting to see how many can be connected in series and still produce a half way decent picture, even though it's ben converted multiple times (i.e. Composite->HDMI->VGA->Composite->HDMI or something like that), just for the fun of it! Like a totally ridiculous bunch of converters in a looong, hillarious chain.

The garbled color is because these converter devices cannot handle the slightly off-standard video signal that the SNES and other consoles of that era put out: 288p (240p for NTSC) instead of 576i. Whereas the Raspberry Pi puts out plain standard 576i and therefore works as intended in color.

Excellent information and super helpful. I will always prefer CRT though. If they released a modern CRT today it would run circles around even the best LCDs

Thank you for this video. Your review just saved me so much time and effort. Next time I'm in Germany I'd like to buy you a beer. If you're not available, I shall have two in your honor.

Fascinating. Well done.

Thank you very much for your video. Your thorough explanation and comparison are exactly what I need badly. Too bad that I have come across your video too late, as I have already wasted money and so much time hoping to connect my SNES to my HDTV by using the first converter (yes, exactly the same one) but unsuccess. My case is even worse, as the HDTV just display "No signal", not even any distorted images! Adding VGA to the whole connection is a great idea, and I thank you very much for proofing it works, though not completely.

Wie immer ein super Video von Dir!

Have you tried using S-Video? S-Video keeps the color separate so you may not have color problems.

i have the first white square Composite to HDMI converter and have tested it in my setup with fine results on xbox and PS2 composite signals in both PAL and NTSC (British so PAL being my standard too). Setup for reference: Input Source > HDMI Splitter (HDCP Stripping) > X19W 1440x900@75hz monitor with HDMI to DVI cable. so plugging in said composite converter works absolutely fine on all the stuff i have tested with thus far. I do also have a component to HDMI converter as well that i use for component cables and the only time i run into issues with it is with nonstandard HDMI output from the converter into my monitor (Connecting my Game Capture HD60 standardises the output though so that passes through fine). oh and the fact that the monitor hates 60hz interlaced signals (tested with direct connection to my laptop via HDMI and Nvidia drivers/custom res and 75hz interlaced signals working fine). TL;DR: Results may vary depending on manufacturer of said generic box or something.

Thanks for testing these convertors and posting the results. Do you still have a link to the videos about the High Quality RGB Video Output you mentioned at 1:50?

what if you used the s-video on the devices that support it? I'm pretty sure the SNES had an s-video cable

Wish you all the best and get well soon! So, if I'm not mistaken, the Akale one seems to be the best one, am I correct? Do you have any other consoles to test this with? NES, N64 and so on? Certainly an interesting video, thanks for sharing your findings! =)

Just to make sure: would the composite to VGA adapter have a similar colouring problem if I were to hook up a newer console, like a Wii or PS2? I already have the audio solution worked out, but I wanted to know before buying one whether I would have that problem.

4:11 … Did you try the switch? Maybe it's labelled wrong and it's not switching between 720p/1080p but PAL/NTSC?

I have one of those VGA converters, and for anyone wondering, the s-video has a bunch of vertical rainbow bars sort of overlaid on the picture.. it's only noticable when certain colors are on the screen (light blue is one I remember being pretty bad). The composite is better, but, it's still composite so... It's a tradeoff. I've only tried it with a NTSC PS1 and PS2 though

Hello, may I ask what video editing program or app you use please? Your uploads are very well done and concise. Thank you Keith

How about old Amiga video connectors? I've been wondering how to use them with newer monitors. I have the old TV modulator still somewhere though :D

Thanks. Finally I can use Super Retro Trio with HDTV.

I have a box like the black one in the beginning. It works fine with every old system except the Sega Genesis. It even works with the nes. Do you know what it could be?

didn't you recognize any half framerate or deinterlace issues? especially with the ligawo thing? for me a no go. jerky framerates result.

Just to chip in, even if you have an modern lcd television that have composite input, getting a converter is a good idea because the internal upscaler of those tvs is generally awful for gaming because they add lot of delay to the input, because they try to "embeleze" the picture (more specifically deinterlace it), and this process requires a lot of the previous frames to reconstruct the picture etc..

I have something like this set up, but the only complaint I have is that the converter box also needs power, bringing the number of sockets to above what one wall normally has. Might just have to mount the box onto the screen and run the power into the TV's power converter. EDIT: For the SNES, my solution was to use an S-Video cable meant for the device. Of course, this means sound has to be plugged into a separate audio setup entirely, but all colors worked very well.

The HDMI to DVI cables will work fine. They will not provide any sound though. You just have to plug the audio cables into the monitor (probably using an RCA to 1/8" headphone adapter).

thank so much !!!

Thanks a lot for your video pal! You save me from buy one of those cheap converters, I guess I'll have to save for a better alternative

I'm working on a RGB (from SCART) to VGA converter, it should be rather easy and give good results without any lag.

Thanks a lot.

How does the image quality compare to emulation on LCD? Is it closer to the good old CRT?

do you think a raspberry pi zero could be capable of taking in a composite signal and outputting over hdmi or would it be to many samples per second and if it was a mater of not enough processing can you gang them up in parallel

When are you going to upload the video of the remote controlled car you built?

Thanks

I know this is an old video but I happen to come across this video as I am a retro gamer myself. Could it be the cheap white convertor does not convert PAL60 (PAL 60Hz) signal from your SNES?

hi, your videos are great! new to the channel as of yesterday but fascinated with this type of stuff. my favorite is the car mods like the power converter and Bluetooth sterio mods. do you have any suggestions for books I could read as a beginner? I am 36yrs old an have a fast learner. sont want to waste time filtering through garbage books. life is short! thanks.

there are some analog tv boxes for monitors that have composite in for aux devices, theese devices are sold cheap now because there are no analog channels to display but they are great at displaying composite signals

The linked product AKALE is no longer available by Amazon. Can you recommend another product for 240 to 1080?

Ich habe mir das letzte teil gekauft gehabt um mein C64 an den PC Monitor (VGA) anzuschießen. Das klappt prima. I Buy this last peace to put my commodore C64 on an VGA-computer monitor. works well.

If the SNES video cable is meant to support RGB, it’s likely that the composite video output has been nerfed in some way, and that you won’t have success with conversion to VGA in that way. Perhaps you could locate/create a SNES component cable and try converting that to VGA?

thanks man

The RF works just as fine on modern Tv:s as on the old ones! Så no worries there. ;)

Hey I have a dell monitor & im using a hdmi to vga converter with a power source to try and play on my PS4. When I start it up after going into the settings of my PlayStation & turning on the PS4 the monitor responds but doesn't show the picture. The monitor flashes but doesn't come on. Can you please help

After some research I came to the same conclusion about having to use HDMI to VGA converter. I'd love to use my old CRT monitor for my Sega, nice to know those VGA converters wont work. Is there no way to convert the RGB to VGA? To my understanding the composite squashes all the signal together and that's why it could be displaying in black and white.

I have a Roland S-50 sampling keyboard with Digital RGB output and monochrome composite black and white output; Can I at least view the B&W composite signal on a VGA display?

I had a Medion TFT panel in 16:10 aspect that always scaled. None of these devices account for that. In the end I sold off my stupid Medion panel. I have second-hand HP LP2475w now.

My new 4K 64" display still has composite and component input.

You said in the video that you'd put links in the description leading to videos about component video but forgot to do so.

I got one that looks like your white one. It shows up blue when the console is off. Theres no 720p selector I believe it's automatically 1080 haven't tried it on a non 1080 screen. But it works perfectly no color issues like on yours.

The 2nd converter showed good results, it can be considered for people who don't want to spend a lot of money to solve this problem.

9:50 Solution : use old CRT no more than 14" cause signal of old consoles about for 240p - 420p or LCD TV with AV instead of monitor

With a DELL 2007FP I have no problems whatsoever to connect just about anything old. Never did lol. But since I have a bunch of DVD players/ ancient game consoles and some CRT`s it would be interesting to compare them. Too bad I don`t have a decent camera.

try a different cable for your input if you have one there was a huge break at the head

I definitely want to try that hdmi to vga adaptor sothat i can try it out on my frame meister,because i don't want to spend another $300 for a pc capture device to do that no. But the only thing am worry about is input lag because of reconverting the signal,but since it's all digital,it should be not a problem since my vga monitor is analogue, Am really curiouse about this.

I wonder if it is possible to add composite input into a VGA monitor?

I have unic uc 46+ projector which have only hdmi, vga port. I want to use my video game in projector so what should I need to play.... hdmi to RCA converter or hdmi to RCA cable?? I'm totally confused.

Get well soon PAI

Do you happen to know if this method will work on hdtv's that do not natively support the 240p signal?

You mention using an HDMI to DVI converter cable, but that you were not certain that it would work. As the HDMI and DVI format signals are pretty much identical (except DVI doesn't support audio) there should be no issues using such a cable. In fact, it's likely that the construction of the cable uses direct plug to plug connections without the need for any other components.

Hi there Maybe you can help me out - I recently tried connecting my SNES to an Acer X1273 projector (2 VGA, 1 Composite, 1 S-Video) The composit only features a black and white picture - I would like to fix this. Could I just use a regular Composite -> VGA-adapter? What would you suggest? Thanks in advance

Sir I sure could use your help. How can I record off my computer onto vhs I dont own a video game system and their has to be a affordable way. Its kinda important

What ever happened to the home built tube tester?

if your monitor has VGA, you would be better off looking for SCART to VGA. because SCART is almost entirely a PAL reigon standard, such a convreter will be better suited to work with the PAL colour standard. also, such a converter would only be translating the sync signals, since VGA and SCART both use RGB, so you would have a nice crisp picture. note that most of the colour issues will not happen for people in NTSC reigons, as colour is encoded slightly differently between the two standards.

I have the Mini HDMI ADV as seen in this video (white) for use with my N64. It plugs in and finds SOMETHING on the HDMI channel as the screen goes blue, but still says no signal. :( Would anyone have a clue how to get it to find the signal. :(

Hi! I have a Acer LCD Monitor (AL1702W) which has a vga input only. I want to connect chromecast 2 to it. Can you please help me if I can use converter Neon 1080P Hdmi To Vga Video Converter?

I'm hoping to use a computer monitor to play the original Xbox console. Any advice on what type of adapter to get ?

The only thing worth using are RGB Scart to HDMI adapters. Genesis and old SNES do it well, Master System goes well. But RGB not Composite.

Try ebay before amazon. Lots of amazon products are marked up loads from their direct from china versions. If you can stand waiting a while that is.

Do those gloves you wear do something?

All the LCD TVs in my house have composite inputs as well as VGA and HDMI. Do newer ones not?

So it's not perfect,I've been planning on that method because I have a old monitor VGA input,I want to use my old game console to it,PS1,PS2,GameCube,Generic NES with built in games.And cable TV from a Cable converter.Maybe the problem on your SNES is PAL,The your using NTSC composite to VGA converter?

what game is that?

Was wäre die beste Methode mit einer Ps2 und Xbox Classic Progressive Scan am LCD oder CRT Monitor auszugeben

Like! for the Illusion of Gaia!!

1:40 RGB and Component are not the same :(

Sorry to hear your ill :-(, it sounds very nasty, i hope you get well soon, horrible being ill :-(. Its possible that the colour content isnt spot on frequency, old computers were often slightly off or the colour burst was rough, old tv sets were quite forgiving with slight colour sub carrier frequency or slight errors, but i dont think digital converters are too flexible. The uk sub carrier is 4.433619mhz pal system and i think the american ntsc colour is 3.579mhz, not sure about german standards. There used to be a trimmer capacitor connected to the crystal in the tv colour decoder to tweak it, i would be supprised if those converter boxes had similar.

Video is available in digital form as a ttl signal inside

Does a VCR work with this adapter?

i like your head music and can you give me download link?

Xrgb-mini Framemeister is the only way to go man

It looks like the first converter is configured for NTSC or just can use NTSC. Or wrong PAL format.

Du hast Terranigma 😍

Are you the same guy from GreatScott

if it connent rca to hdmi then hdmi to vga....will it work

Ich verwandelte mich instant in einen Hulk, als ich das Video erspäht habe. >:D

Is there any loss/enhancement of video quality?

But there are even modern 48" flat panel televisions which come with an old SCART connector.

Composite, VGA and DVI-A are all analog signals, so the conversion should theoretically be much easier to do than with a digital input like HDMI or DVI-D. But here's a question: Is there any way to see whether a DVI connector supports digital or analog or both signals? Other than trying it out, I mean.

you haven't mentioned, HDCP which can also cause issues.

Is your monitor running at 60hz, is the PAL format fucking with it?

Any progress?

retro consoles ---framemeister --- TV. jobs a goodun

sony ps1 will work through the converter?

if i dont have a monitor with audio, what can i do?

Which snes is that? It looks like a super famicom yet says super Nintendo.

what game are you playing?

hdmi and dvi are electrically identical minus the audio

You can get RGB for cheap. Just buy a generic SCART-to-HDMI converter.

may as well buy a high end old format Panasonic tv which is clear