Laseractive Questions

[Blanka789]

I just recently lost an auction for one of these(sniper), but I am still intersted in geting one, and was hoping someone could answer a few questions for me.

1. Is it equipped with S-Video and/or RGB? If not, is it an easy mod?

2. How good of a Laserdisc player is it? Would I need to have a separate player just for movies?

3. How well does it play VCD's?

4. What is the 4th add-on for? I know that it's Japan only, and it has something to do with a computer, but that's about it.

5. Are there any compatability issues with the Sega/NEC control packs?

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere else, but I searched a few times and couldn't find anything.

[sisko]

1) Yes, it has S-video. It also has optical out.

2) Average. I recommend getting a run of the mill LD player for just your movies. It is a lot of wear and tear on a device that will be difficult to repair or replace.

3) Average, but the VCDs I tried were also pirated. Again, I recommend using something else. Most DVD players nowadays support VCD.

4) I can't remember.

5) Depending of which unit you have, you can only play certain region games (there are a few topics on this already....just do a search).

[FABombjoy]

Whoa... are you sure you're talking about the same machine Sisko?

The Pioneer Laseractive CLD-A100 has:

No s-video and no easy mod for s-video or RGB.

As a LD player, it's adequate, but video output is not as good as newer players.

No MPEG hardware for Video CD playback (but, support for CD-Video, something different altogether)

The 4th addon (I believe) allows you to use the LA as a CD-ROM device for a computer. Google should provide a more solid answer.

Sega and NEC modules have the same territory issues that their respective consoles have.

More good info:

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/laserdisc_archive/pioneer/pioneer_cld-a100/pioneer_cld-a100.htm

[sisko]

Whoa... are you sure you're talking about the same machine Sisko?

Whoops! No I'm not LOL

I got my CDi mixed up with the Laseractive (both nearly the same size and stacked on top of each other).

While the Laseractive does not, the CDi has S-video and plays VCDs :D

[smokehouse]

I thought mine was pretty decent as a LD player, not as good as my other Pioneer player but decent all the same. Audio from the optical out is top-notch and is far better than my newer LD player.

[Blanka789]

What is CD Video? I did a google search , but didn't really find much on the computer module. Can you play Super CD-Roms using the NEC PAC-N1? Also would an American control pack work in a japanese machine and vice versa?

[FABombjoy]

CD-Video is basically a CD-sized Laserdisc.

Good info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD_Video

All region encoding is at the control pack level - the CLDA100 doesn't care where the pack comes from. So, a US Sega module will only play CD games from it's region. A PC-Engine pack won't play US Hucards. Unsure if the NEC packs are SuperCD capable, but probably (I'd sure hope so for the original asking price of $400.)

For the PC interface module, it's called the PAC-PC1. That should net a few more results.

[vincewy]

See my collection(s) here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic3.jpg) and here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic.jpg), my collection is actually larger now, but no much time to rearrange pics.

I DO NOT recommend putting any pirated CD, LD, on any LaserActive unit, you're just wearing this thing out sooner.

[norkusa]

See my collection(s) here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic3.jpg) and here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic.jpg), my collection is actually larger now, but no much time to rearrange pics.

I've seen these pics before. Don't you run the LaserActive Yahoo group?

Amazing collection BTW. That pic with all the games spread out on the floor is one of the things that inspired me to start collecting LaserActive. Serious. After only 3 months, I've got exactly half of the US collection (all with obi strips, of course :P) and hope to complete it within the next couple years.

Vincewy, how hard was it for your to track down those Japanese titles? I see some pop up every once in a while on Ebay but usually they are the same 5-6 titles.

[Zing]

I just recently lost an auction for one of these(sniper), but I am still intersted in geting one

I can't believe people still blame "snipers" for lost auctions.

Anyway... damn, I wanted one of these so bad back then. I was a laserdisc aficionado and loved the whole idea of a LD based game system. The modular approach made me jizz.

[howdoin]

the CLD-A100 can EASILY be modded for S-video however:

- S-video only works for laserdiscs, not for games
- S-video picture is not really much better than composite on newer TVs as they have built in video-processor that "clean up" the image.

More info on the mod: http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/laseractive.htm

[Blanka789]

See my collection(s) here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic3.jpg) and here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic.jpg), my collection is actually larger now, but no much time to rearrange pics.

I DO NOT recommend putting any pirated CD, LD, on any LaserActive unit, you're just wearing this thing out sooner.

Is it even possible to burn Laserdiscs?

[Blanka789]

Sorry double post.

[Zing]

There were Laserdisc recorders that could create discs on the fly (as opposed to pressing them). I don't think any were intended or even remotely affordable for consumers. Pioneer and other companies used them when a publisher wanted very low quantities of discs and didn't care about the quality, since they tended to not last for very long.

[vincewy]

See my collection(s) here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic3.jpg) and here (http://www.neo-geo.com/gallery/collections/vincewy/Pic.jpg), my collection is actually larger now, but no much time to rearrange pics.

I've seen these pics before. Don't you run the LaserActive Yahoo group?

Amazing collection BTW. That pic with all the games spread out on the floor is one of the things that inspired me to start collecting LaserActive. Serious. After only 3 months, I've got exactly half of the US collection (all with obi strips, of course :P) and hope to complete it within the next couple years.

Vincewy, how hard was it for your to track down those Japanese titles? I see some pop up every once in a while on Ebay but usually they are the same 5-6 titles.


Yup, I set up the Yahoo Group, actually my only unique missing game is Time Gal.

In terms of how hard it is (or was), I got most of them in 2000-2002, it's much harder now, plus I had my own Yahoo Japan account and someone in Japan completing transactions for me, instead of rippoff Rinkya or MOJ.

Rarities of those titles/accessories, I'd say:

impossible-

3D Virtual Australia (came out twice during my 4 year search, last official LaserActive game)

Goku - LD-Rom2 version (Japan only)

PAC-PC1 - computer accessory

near impossible-

Vajra 2 (unfortunately it's IMO the best game for LaserActive)

Blue Chicago Blues - LD-Rom2 version

Time Gal - surfaces once a while if you're willing to put down serious $$$$

very hard to find -

Goku MegaLD

Road Blastors

Back to Edo

Don Quixote

The rest are much easier to find but still pretty hard compared to other systems.

[kattkatt]

You seem to know alot. Please take a look at my topic:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71059

[vincewy]

You seem to know alot. Please take a look at my topic:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71059

Sorry, I don't have that disc so I can't tell you, but it might be the same demo disc as US one, when it first came out in US, you get a demo disc, not the full size, but 7 inch LD showing you how to put the disc and modules in/out, pretty basic.

[kattkatt]

Ok. This one is full size. Well, I guess I'll have to open it...

/C

[Blanka789]

Ok. This one is full size. Well, I guess I'll have to open it.../C


I don't leave anything sealed uness it's a double, enjoy what you have!

[vincewy]

Couple more comments, if you're interested in getting LaserActive and games, I only recommend getting those came out in US plus Vajra 2, Time Gal, and maybe Angel Mate (strip poker). The rest of games just plain suck, besides my Yahoo group, feel free to check out Hans Reuter's site

http://www.cyberroach.com/new_laseractive_pics/default.htm

You get to know about most of the games with pics. If you're into NEC module, I only recommend PC-Engine PAC-N1, not TurboGrafx PAC-N10, as PAC-N1 plays all LD-Rom2 games as well as all Japanese PCE games, and all US CD games, as well as been cheaper and easier to get.

[kattkatt]

Yes, Timegal is soo cool. I love it!

/C

[chadtower]

I have a very nice LaserActive, with Sega pac and remote, I'm selling right now for $200. Any takers?

[Blanka789]

Just confirmed that the NEC control pack will play Super CD-roms, but I still haven't figured out what the PAC PC1 is for. By the way, how does the memory work on this thing? With the Sega CD, it has the screen where you can manage memory. Is this so on the Laseractive? Also, are the extra memory carts compatible?

[The Manimal]

for any north american unit, you're better off using the composite output than the s-video anyways.. ld's were recorded composite i believe, and a built in comb filter in just about all players are outdated/inferior to those in tvs right now.