Ask general Genesis/MD/Sega CD/32X questions here (for new members)

[executioner]

Hello all, have a sega cd model 2 with problems reading original games and audio discs. Bought it used and when I tried it the first times it worked great, didn't use it for a while and now it takes a lot of time to read disc and when it does finish checking the disc then when you press start it gets stuck reading and when using an audio cd it gets stucked on the audio player. This seems to me that its clearly a lens problem so took a cotton swab and some alcohol, cleaned the lens carefully several times and hasn't improved one bit.

Its a silver spindle unit and been told to get "Samsung SOH-04T" lens, should I buy the replacement? Whats the best place to get it, found none on ebay just on electronix? Hope you can give some good advice.

[nick3092]

I have 4 Genesis consoles, and I'm looking to mod them for S-Video, and possibly to clean up the sound. But I guess I'm not sure which one of the 4 I should work on. I was hoping to get some advice from you guys.

From what I've read, the model 1's seem to be of a bit higher quality to begin with. And i have a powerbase converter I would like to use. But I really hate having to get stereo sound from the headphone jacks.

The model 2's are nice because they output stereo through the A/V jacks, and you don't have to mess around with a mixing cord on the CD drive. But I've heard the quality is lower in these. And I can't use my powerbase.

The model 1's are almost identical, but just a little different. One says High Definition Graphics on the top and has the Ext. port. The other lacks both. But inside the hardware looks identical (except for the Ext port, and the IC mfg's). There appears to be no revision marking on the PCB, both just say IC BDM5 USA.

The model 2's are completely different inside. One is a revision VA1.8 which lacks the YM2612 (I'm assuming it is built into some other chip), and uses a MB3514 video encoder. The other is a VA2 which has a YM2612, has some extra IC on a daughter board glued to the main PCB, and and uses a Sony CXA1645M video encoder.

My understanding is that the audio mod by TmEE only works on the 1.8 without the YM2612. Both video encoders can directly output s-video, so that's not an issue. But I'm curious about the sound quality on these two. Especially compared to my model 1's.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[retrospiel]

One says High Definition Graphics on the top and has the Ext. port.

Treat this one nicely. It's a real gem with the best possible sound you will ever get from any unmodded hardware.

[nick3092]

Treat this one nicely. It's a real gem with the best possible sound you will ever get from any unmodded hardware.

Ok, so I won't mod that one.

On a separate note, I finally revived a dead model 1 CD drive that had been driving me crazy. I had a blown fuse, a broken hinge, a loose belt, and a faulty ribbon cable. Every time I thought I had it fixed, I ran into another problem. But she's running good now.

[TmEE]

From what I've read, the model 1's seem to be of a bit higher quality to begin with. And i have a powerbase converter I would like to use. But I really hate having to get stereo sound from the headphone jacks.

You could modify the AV out and the AV cable... I did this to my MD1, Stereo sound, RGBs/Composhit... all needed right there.

The model 2's are nice because they output stereo through the A/V jacks, and you don't have to mess around with a mixing cord on the CD drive. But I've heard the quality is lower in these. And I can't use my powerbase.

For MD2, you need some other kind of Powerbase unless you want to make some surgery on it to make it fit in MD2...

The model 1's are almost identical, but just a little different. One says High Definition Graphics on the top and has the Ext. port. The other lacks both. But inside the hardware looks identical (except for the Ext port, and the IC mfg's). There appears to be no revision marking on the PCB, both just say IC BDM5 USA.

This unit has TMSS screen ? Then its either a VA5 or VA6. There's a small print which tells which it is, depending on one big chip near cartslot.

The model 2's are completely different inside. One is a revision VA1.8 which lacks the YM2612 (I'm assuming it is built into some other chip), and uses a MB3514 video encoder. The other is a VA2 which has a YM2612, has some extra IC on a daughter board glued to the main PCB, and and uses a Sony CXA1645M video encoder.

My understanding is that the audio mod by TmEE only works on the 1.8 without the YM2612. Both video encoders can directly output s-video, so that's not an issue. But I'm curious about the sound quality on these two. Especially compared to my model 1's.

MB3514 and CXA1645 have both S-vid, CXA1645 has slightly better quality. The YM2612 is built into the big chip in VA1.8, and is superior to all discrete YM2612 chips.
The audio mod works for VA0, VA1 and VA3 MD2s, VA4 can work, but I don't have the system. VA7 MD1 and Nomad can have the mod too. X'eye and Wondermega can have a modified version of the mod, because they are built differently, though use same "core" parts which make the mod compatible with them. Other variations of MDs which don't have discrete YM2612 can possibly be CCAMed.

[nick3092]

This unit has TMSS screen ? Then its either a VA5 or VA6. There's a small print which tells which it is, depending on one big chip near cartslot.

Thanks for all the info! I'm not sure what you mean about the TMSS screen. I did notice the indications printed on the PCB that said VA5 and VA6, but wasn't sure what it meant. Now that you told me about the chip near the cartslot, I took a closer look and it's referencing the part number on there. Both my model 1's are 315-5433 which means they are both VA6. So even though one of them has the High Definition Graphics notation on the lid, I'm assuming it's no different that the other one?

Assuming that is the case, I may mod both a model 1 and a model 2. I don't want to hack up my powerbase. And I prefer the model 2 for CD, since it can pass the stero sound through the expansion port.

For the model 1, it sounds like it wouldn't matter. With the exception of the Ext. port, both seem to be the exact same hardware.

For the model 2, I have two options. I can either just do the s-vid mod on the VA1.8 (with better sound, but not as good video encoder) or do both the audio and s-video mod to the VA2 (with discreet YM2612 and better video encoder).

Decisions, decisions.

[TmEE]

VA2 cannot have the audio mod due to discrete YM2612...

[nick3092]

VA2 cannot have the audio mod due to discrete YM2612...

Oops. your right. I had that backwards in my mind.

[Afcs46]

Ok, so I won't mod that one.

I have several MD1 versions, but I've only modded my non-TMSS (in the avatar) with Overclock, region mod, C-sync fix (TmEE method) and grabbed the audio from op amp. I use RGB instead S-video. So, this is the best you can do so far with an MD1.

[bcfczulu]

how you doing people,

ive just started to get back in to my mega drive after years so im new to it all again,

ive just brought a mega cd ,ive hooked it up and it plays fine i played the classics collection and the sound effects and music are fine, so i tried sol fearce and cobra command and i get the sound affects but no music ive got the megadrive hooked up with a scart lead with the mixer cable between the md and cd and ive also got the red and white ends connected between the cd and tv. can anyone give me any advice cus its driving me mad.

sorry if its something stupid but ive never had the cd before

thanks

[omp]

I have modified both type of MD1's (with and without the EXT socket). Modified fairly simply with S-video, AV, 50/60Hz and region switches. I can't really tell a difference between the 2 types in regards to video and sound. The non EXT version was better/neater to modify as the flat panel next to the RF socket is perfect for the AV sockets once the RF module is removed and thrown as far as possible. The empty RF hole is then great for the S-video socket. With the other one I put the AV sockets as far as possible to the other end of the console to allow for the type 1 Powerbase converter. Oh I do have to thank TMEE for help/advice with the video encoder frequency ciruit.

[nick3092]

I performed the s-video mod from gamesx on my model 1 this past weekend. It looks good, except anywhere there is an area of solid color, I can see lines in the picture. They appear to be evenly spaced, not any kind of ghosting that I can tell. I disconnected the chroma, and I could still see the lines in black and white, so I'm assuming it's in the luma circuit.

Has anyone else run across this, or have any ideas how to fix it?

[TmEE]

These are the so called "Sega lines" which you cannot remove really... RGB is the way out.

[Afcs46]

Tipically the Sega lines... TmEE's C-sync mod and RGB cable make the best image possible on that version, no doubts...

[bcfczulu]

how you doing people,

ive got a ntsc-j md so it should run in 60hz?,ihavent got any jap games to play on it so ive used my pal games ive noticed i still get the shitty letterbox effect.

is this cus im using pal games?

also ive hooked my md and neo geo up to a smaller tv and i also get the letter box effect on that even thaough my neo has been modded to run at 60hz,but when i hook up my ps2 i can get it at 60hz full screen.

any help would be appreciated thanks