Re: RGB monitor/capture options for the //e with RGB card.

[Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Egan Ford <datajerk@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 23, 9:53 am, Michael J. Mahon <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
>> Egan Ford <dataj...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Aug 22, 6:09 pm, Michael J. Mahon <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
>>>> Egan Ford <dataj...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> I've search and found a number of discussions about incompatibilities
>>>>> between //e RGB, IIgs, and Mac RGB output with various monitors and
>>>>> v.v..  Is there a list of the recommend Apple monitors for use with
>>>>> the //e RGB card?  The docs have none listed.  I am looking for an
>>>>> Apple RGB monitor that can handle all of the //e RGB capabilities AND
>>>>> look like it belongs with the //e.
>> 
>>>> I think you're looking for an AppleColor 100.
>>>> It's a digital RGB monitor for the //e.
>> 
>>> Yep.  And after an evening of searching, it appears to be my only
>>> option.
>> 
>> Unfortunately, they are hard to find.
>> 
>>>>> 2nd question.  I'd like to capture the RGB output, "crystal clear" if
>>>>> possible.  I already have a VGA capture setup, so an RGB to VGA device
>>>>> would work.  What are you all using for RGB to VGA?  Will a IIgs or
>>>>> Mac solution for RGB to VGA work equally as well with the //e RGB?
>> 
>>>> Many, myself included, use an emulator and host screen capture software.
>>>> The results are as good as the RGB emulation of the emulator.
>> 
>>> I do the same with Virtual ][, however there are those times where
>>> something cannot be emulated and it would be nice to get the highest
>>> quality output.
>> 
>> Several emulators now do quite well even with high-speed synchronized
>> page/mode flipping, so most programs' displays are faithfully emulated. If
>> you have a program that does not emulate well, the first thing (and the
>> cheapest thing) to try is a newer emulator.
>> 
>> If you describe your program(s) and emulator, I'd bet that someone here
>> could suggest a solution. Or, perhaps, even a bug-fix for an emulator!
> 
> Cards that are not emulated.  E.g. modems, the Applicard, etc...

Ah. CP/M emulation, at least, is available.  But I can understand the
difficulty with specific hardware.

>>> I found some docs on how to convert //e RGB to CGA.  And there are
>>> many CGA to VGA devices/boards.  I'll give that a shot.
>> 
>> I think you may find that approach disappointing, for many of the same
>> reasons that composite-to-VGA converters disappoint when used with Apple
>> II's.
> 
> You are probably right, but 1/2 of the fun is figuring that out.  //e
> RGB to CGA is digital-to-digital and CGA to VGA actually looks pretty
> good.  I may get lucky.  50/50.
> 
> BTW, composite-to-VGA is not that bad, it is not a monitor, but it is
> very usable and does make OK videos.  Below is an example of a cheap
> $25 composite-to-VGA adapter connect to my Mac via a VGA-to-USB device
> (captured at 800x600, 1024x768 looked a bit better):
> 
> http://xmission.com/~egan/iie_to_comp2vga_to_vgacapture.png
> 
> I think if I record at 1024x768, find a way to add fake scan lines,
> and publish at 720p it may look convincing.  A project for another
> time.

Although Apple RGB to CGA is easy for an analog CGA monitor, digital
(pixellated) monitors have a harder time because Apple video is decidedly
not CGA-standard in dot clock. The same issue plagues X-to-VGA converters. 

Good luck, and report your results!

-michael - NadaNet 3.1 and AppleCrate II: http://home.comcast.net/~mjmahon