Video Capture Devices and the Mega Drive/Genesis

Does anyone know which capture devices work properly with the Mega Drive/Genesis video output? It seems like almost every one I try has some sort of issue:

-Hauppauge PVR 150: weird faded image (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xhifvJ6RBM)
-Adaptec Gamebridge: image bending, flashing colors
-Hauppauge HVR-950Q: one of the better ones I've used, but still randomly flickers gray and is not very cooperative with Flash Media Encoder
-Dazzle DVC 80: doesn't pick up a picture

The issues seem to happen regardless of what kind of video output I use, although granted I'm only using RF and Composite with a Model 1 Genesis. I'm guessing it has something to do with the resolution, but I honestly have no clue.

I have heard from someone else who had a good capture of the Genesis on YouTube that the DVC 100 (Pinnacle DVD) works fine, but this device is not as cheap as some of the other USB alternatives so I was wondering if there were any other options. However, they did mention it worked great with Flash Media Encoder so that is a definite plus.

Thanks for any help or suggestions, I would love to be able to capture from my Genesis and stream through Flash Media Encoder.

I use an ADS Tech TV capture device to record gameplay videos off my Genesis consoles, and it works perfectly fine with my Genesis hardware(I've used a High Definition Graphics Model 1, a VA2 Model 2 and a CDX on that capture device). If you want, I'll take a picture of it.

Sure thing, I'd love to see it. Is it the Mini TV USB (http://www.amazon.com/ADS-Tech-Mini-.../dp/B000EIUD96) or something else? Do you know if it works well with Flash Media Encoder?

I'd prefer USB just for portability but if there's a good cheap PCI capture card that will work with the Genesis and FME I'd go for it.

This is the capture device I have, which is the ADS Tech VideoXpress: http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuima...34-main-sp.jpg

Works wonders on all Sega hardware except the Saturn(loses the video feed every 30 seconds or so). My TurboGrafx, PlayStation(both the white PSone and original gray one), GN Twin, RetroDuo and SuperGrafx absolutely HATE this tuner and suffer from the consistent loss of video feed like with the Sega Saturn. I'd like to get another one for the consoles that have trouble with the VideoXpress. But for the Genesis, it'll do the job.

By the way, what software were you using to capture the video using the other tuners? The one thing I'd like is a capture device that records at 60 frames per second because many games I recorded for my Ace's Gaming Session series of videos on YouTube that have sprites which flicker quickly either don't show up or show the sprite without even a hint of a transparency.

My ATi 650 does the job but there is a small amount of "jiggle" in the bottom 1/8th of the screen. Check out my Aladdin review for an example of what you get. I had a Gamebridge before and that was out of the question it was totally scrabbled and had no color.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYSH...e=channel_page

Thank you Ace for letting me know, I'll need to look for that one. :)

I have only been streaming at 29.97 FPS (sometimes 15 FPS even) over Justin.TV with my capture devices for the most part, I have not tried to capture anything at 60 FPS. Is there a way to get a 60 FPS output from the Genesis (I thought the NTSC standard was 29.97)? If you can and your device is capable then I imagine you could do it with DScaler. Have you tried that program already?

And thank you MN12BIRD for that video example, it looks very capable and the jiggle is much less annoying than anything I've encountered. I'll have to see if I can run into either of these capture devices you guys have recommended at a local store.

I get that jittering around the top 3/4 of the screen when trying to record something on my GN Twin and RetroDuo(my Super NES, Super NES Mini and Super Famicom do the same thing, but the problem fixes itself with a little fiddling with the capture tool). I've tried DScaler, but I can't get the damn thing to record anything. If anything, I don't know where it saves the video.

I believe by default it's in the program directory (C:\Program Files\DScaler in most cases but that would change based on your system root) with filenames like ds000.avi and ds001.avi.

Under Actions -> Recording -> Options you can check the location or change it. To record you pick a source, configure your recording options through the same menu option I just mention, and then hit Shift + R or pick "Record" through the Actions -> Recording menu. Let me know if you have other problems and I'll try to help with those.

All I can say is that my Bt879 based capture card has some colors on the image in weird funky colors when recording... but it had no issues with Dreamcast nor Saturn last time I tried.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MN12BIRD

My ATi 650 does the job but there is a small amount of "jiggle" in the bottom 1/8th of the screen. Check out my Aladdin review for an example of what you get. I had a Gamebridge before and that was out of the question it was totally scrabbled and had no color.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYSH...e=channel_page

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Have you tried any old Atari stuff yet? (Jaguar was fine, but I think you mentioned the 2600 video wouldn't work, and I don't remember you trying the 7800)

I use a Sony DVMC-DA1 which converts video into the DV NTSC codec@ 25mbps and sends it into my computer via firewire. The colors are usually extremely oversaturated for some reason when trying to capture Genesis footage when using composite, though I was able to make some cool videos on Youtube with it with s-video (the Sega-CD scaling video, for example). Other systems seem to capture fine. I need a stand-alone capture card.

I'm still having trouble finding a good capture device, mainly because of the limited way I desire to use it (streaming through Flash Media Encoder at a low resolution). Most of the devices that seem to work are HD devices or just have trouble downscaling to 320x240, which usually means a choppier broadcast, although increased CPU power alleviates that in some cases.

For anyone who has a device that works well: do you think you could start up a stream through FME on a site like Justin.TV or Ustream at a low resolution like 320x240? I'm really interested to see if there's something out there that won't freak out with the Genesis and maintains a solid framerate. Justin.TV keeps comprehensive archives of all broadcasts by default (I think Ustream might as well but I'm not as familiar with it) so you don't have to be giving me a live example.

Once again, thank you for your previous suggestions and discussion, I'll definitely be looking into trying some of the devices mentioned as soon as I can get my hands on them.

...and seems Bt879 based card has no issues with MD if you use S-video... I may prepare a small test video or something, I am adding YM2413 into my MD2... ;)

Last time I captured anything from my Genesis, I used an old 3DFX Voodoo TV 200, which has a Conexant BT878 on it. I captured with both Dscaler and Virtualdub and never had a problem.

Edit: Good luck finding one anywhere, though. Maybe the 878 handled it better than the 879 does so you could just look for that chip?

Thanks TmEE, I'll be interested to see that sample. And 0x15e that sounds like it might be perfect. I'll try to see if I can find any BT878 cards.