N64 video

[Shadow_Zero]

Ok, I just have given up to get a good image with my RGB modded N64 on my JVC HV32P40B telly (which is my main telly, with component input). NTSC games look good, though dark (but I should fix a colorboosted RGB cable for that). PAL looks crappy with a lot of interference and stuff.

So I decided to hook up my PAL N64 with s-video on my main telly so I can connect the RGB modded N64 on my JVC AV29FT1 (4:3, 50Hz), where both PAL and NTSC games look fine. Then I noticed PAL games on my PAL machine have interference as well on my main telly with s-video! Like wtf?!
So I hooked up the Jap machine again. NTSC games look fine, PAL games have interference as well...
The interference is not as severe as with the RGB connection, but it's still horrible.

Anyone any idea why I can't get a good s-video or RGB image with my N64 on my main telly?
It works fine on both my other tv's...


Actually what's weird as well is that my main telly can't quite handle 60Hz over SCART (seen it with SNES, Gamecube, PS2, Wii). So I'm pondering why the N64 NTSC games look good with RGB...

[Shadow_Zero]

Adding to that, s-video on the PAL N64 seems OVERLY bright.
Did they screw up the video output that bad?   O_o
Seems like I should get another NTSC system just for s-video...

[Aeon]

How about reading what people post up and soaking up some of the knowledge?

You can get a perfect RGB image out of an NTSC N64 by lifting the RGB pins off the video chip kindly shown in the GamesX diagram before soldering. When contacting the board there is a 100ohm resistance applied, so just lift the pins off - complete the mod and then remove the capacitors from the RGB lines of your RGB cable.

It's so damn simple.

If you dont want to learn anything about this stuff - stick to composite and S-Video and stop wasting forum topics and people's time.

[Shadow_Zero]

If you read correctly I say I'm going to (try to) fix a RGB boosted cable.

You focus on the fact that the RGB output is dark, but that's not the issue in this case! (else I would have posted in the other topic).
My problems are:

1. I've got a lot of "interference" on my main tv when playing PAL games on the RGB  
   modded jap N64 (bad colors, noise all over the screen).
2. There's some interference when using s-video when playing PAL games on both the  
   EUR and JAP N64 plus NTSC games on the PAL N64 (so it's only good with NTSC  
   games on a NTSC machine).
3. On the PAL N64 s-video looks overly white and not colourful enough.

These problems don't occur on my other tv, so that's what makes it extra weird. And what makes it even weirder is that my main tv makes a mess of 60Hz

Sorry if my description wasn't clear enough, but hopefully it's clear now.
So no need to behave so offensive (especially since you're in error now). I read a lot on this forum and other websites and although my technical knowledge is little, I do try not to make unnecessary posts.

Besides the fact I haven't performed this mod myself nor have I ever opened a N64 (but that's probably a matter of time), I wouldn't want to lift the pins from the board because:
- it can cause interference. Since I already HAVE interference it doesn't seem  
 like a solution
- s-video and composite can't be used after lifting the pins, I don't want that
- colors can be too bright. But perhaps the suggestion of removing the caps fixes
  that, but I'm not sure about that. But in that case it's not an issue

[viletim!]

3. On the PAL N64 s-video looks overly white and not colourful enough.

Make sure you are using a PAL s-video lead, not an NTSC one.

[Shadow_Zero]

That is new to me... There's a difference between the PAL and NTSC s-video lead???
If that's true, how can you see the difference, besides the image quality.
Is there even a PAL N64 s-video cable then? Since I have a few and some are for the Gamecube which didn't make sense that they got sold in Europe...

But then again, the s-video lead works fine on my other tv with the PAL N64 and PAL games, so I do wonder...
I'll try to hook it up to the front instead of the s-video SCART.

[viletim!]

That is new to me... There's a difference between the PAL and NTSC s-video lead???

I don't know. There is a difference between the PAL and NTSC standard A/V lead. The difference being the PAL lead has a 75 ohm resistor (located in the console end of the cable) connected between video and ground. This is the case for the SNES and Gamecube A/V cables too.

When you use an NTSC A/V cable with a PAL Nintendo console the video signal gets to the TV too strong (without a resistor to reduce it) and the picture distorts exactly as you describe. It will vary from TV to TV too because some will compensate for a non-standard signal. When connecting a PAL cable to a NTSC console the picture will be slightly too dark, though most people won't pick it without a side by side comparison.

There is definitely a PAL s-video lead - not all PAL countries are in Europe (SCART land ).

[Shadow_Zero]

But the output video, is that machine (N64) related or videogame related? (or both)

As I state, when I play NTSC games on a NTSC N64 with s-video the image looks good (maybe a bit dark). When I play PAL games on that same NTSC N64 with the same s-video cable, the screen will have interference lines.

And with the PAL N64 and that same s-video cable, the colours are just "dull" and the image is overly bright/white.

I'll see if I can do some testing tonight with the various s-video cables I have and also try to connect it to the front s-video connection of my tv. I do wonder if that makes a difference.

[ido8bit]

Is the S-video input on this TV shared with another input? (eg, you select say AV2 for the S-video input, but there is also a composite input assigned to AV2).  If so, is there anything connected to the related composite input?

I did have problems with one TV where if anything was connected to the composite input shared with the S-video input  there would be interference on in the image when using the S-video input (even when the device connected to the composite was switched off).  However this interfence was present with any device connected to the S-video input, not just the N64.

Running the PAL N64 through the S-video input with no other devices connected to the composite input the picture was fine.  The N64 was connected via an S-video jack soldered directly to the board (I couldn't wait for an nintendo S-video cable to arrive), no 75 ohm resistor.  

[Shadow_Zero]

In my case s-video is plugged into SCART 3 with no composite cable plugged in.
I could give it a shot and unplug all a/v cables from the tv and see if that has any effect.

Still, is there any way to get better s-video output from the PAL N64?
(like said, the colors look a lot better with the same s-video cable on the NTSC N64)

[ido8bit]

I've used an external S-video to RGB decoder (made by JVC, don't remeber the model number, it's in storage at the moment).  It has adjustable saturation and sharpness controls.  Running the S-video output from the N64 into the this decoder and the decoders output into the RGB input of the TV improved the picture somewhat, but your mileage may vary.  It improved the sharpness of the N64 video which is what I was after.  I can't really say for sure on the color issue as almost all of my N64 games are PAL so I have rarely used my NTSC N64.  

[Shadow_Zero]

In any case I can say there's no difference in using s-video over scart or front s-video as well as unplugging all the rest.