Sega Genesis; AV HookUp

[Alex Kidd]

Ever since I've seen the difference of quality when hooking up a PS1 with the AV cables, or an RF unit, I always wanted to hook up my Sega Genesis and Master System with AV cables. I notice that one the back of the systems the AV port is like a big DIN connector.

And last night my RF unit finally gave out... all I get are squiggly lines like when you pull an Atari 2600 cart out without turning off the power.

Could I find AV cables like that in electronics stores? or are they way outdated now, I would think they are...
and if they are hard to find (hard to find cheap anyway) are they easy to make?

Alex Kidd

[Raedon]

The AV cable for the Master system works on the Genesis model 1.. it's mono. There are lots of ebay auctions for Genesis AV cables but just know that many are mono cables and there are two diffient AV cables as the Genesis 1 and 2 have different ports. You can't get a stereo AV cable for the Genesis 1.. only Mono. Sega expected you to pook up the headphone port to your tv/stereo.

[Eternal Champion]

Hey Alex Kidd--

I've been having the same problem--the RF modulator on my Genny 1 is dying...dammit, and I just got Streets of Rage 3! Oh well, the old warhorse is 13...a teenager!!
So I've been looking for an A/V cable...it is pretty available, less so for Gen 1, but it's out there on the web. The Genesis actually outputted RGB component video for the best video picture possible, but there are no cables for that, and you need a modern TV with component inputs or an old analog RGB monitor. I digress.
Just search around, you'll find it. Just make sure it's for the right model of Genesis! The Genesis 1 AND Master System had a unique 8-pin din (you are exactly right! It is NOT mini) output plug. So an A/V cable for the MS would work for the Genny 1. The Genesis 2 is 9-pin din.
http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/genesisav.htm
Redmond Cable makes custom game console cables, including A/V and RGB for various monitors for Genesis 1 and 2:
http://www.connectworld.net/rcc/pages/game.html
BUT it is difficult to reach a live person!

I said Genesis is not S-video compatible (unlike the SNES), but there are RCA composite video to s-video (and vice versa) adaptors:
http://www.trianglecables.com/1insvidsvhst.html
I'll be honest, I don't know how well they work. I suppose in theory they would give a very good picture with little dot crawl! I would love to try. I don't have a modern-enough TV with A/V, s-video or component video inputs. But if you're RF is dying and you don't have A/V inputs on your telly, you could get the A/V cable and plug into you're VCR, even though it would send it to the TV via coaxial...
Yes, the Genny 1 only outputs mono, because of the stereo headphone jack...I use Advent speakers intended for a computer sound system. I don't have a stereo anyway.

[Alex Kidd]

I just got a mono SMS/Genesis compatible AV cable on ebay for 6 bucks with BIN and 3 bucks shipping, not a bad price in my books.

I noticed as I was looking thru they had an AV cable for stereo sound; it plugged into the back of the Genny AND the front, and then forked together and became the standard reb/white/yellow plugs on the end! I thought that was rather cool, but the bidding was going up on that one, and I'm not a stickler about stereo/mono sound... and if I ever wan't stereo, it's not impossible to hook up.

And am I the only one that thinks having the rings ding in opposite channels as you pick em up in Sonic games just a WEE bit annoying?

Alex Kidd

[Eternal Champion]

Not a bad price at all!! Let us know how it works out--do you have A/V inputs on your TV? I'm interested to see if it gives a noticeably better picture than RF.
Yeah, I've seen that funky stereo cable for Genny 1--as I use computer multimedia speakers, the hell with it. Or I'll just throw on headphones, for the best Genny gaming experience!
(10 years ago I did that a lot--fun with Revenge of Shinobi and Thunder Force III--you can really hear Yuzo Koshiro's instrumentation--quite a composer, he is. Word has it that he had a Genesis sound chip hooked up to his rig)

[Bratwurst]

I just made mention of a similar cable to be found at All Electronics on SMS Power- I ordered two recently, and they work.

Composite Cables (http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=CB-64&type=store)

Granted, after shipping and all, I figure you'd still pay about the same price, but for 1.75, you can't beat getting several. Red plug serves as audio, yellow for video. Works on SMS and the Genny 1.

In my opinion, composite DOES make a difference.

[Eternal Champion]

Thanks Bratwurst--just to be sure, the cable you're talking about is Male 5 pin DIN plug to 4 RCA plugs? What is the 4th RCA for? (I imagine 2 for audio, one for video...)

[Bratwurst]

Yes, that's the one. Unfortunately I have no idea what the white and black plugs are for- they aren't used by the Genesis 1, I just leave 'em unplugged. In fact if you try to use them in the other audio channel they disrupt the signal. Another note: They're short, only 3 feet, but shouldn't be a problem if you don't keep your console on the other side of the room as your television. :D

[Eternal Champion]

Thanks! I'm gonna order one! My RF goes from OK to staticky, so it's time. This just makes me want to rant about video signals in North America...NTSC vs. PAL...PAL is far superior and Europe has long had the option for higher quality video signals (even component) in their TVs. And don't get me started on Beta vs. VHS...anyway... :grumble:

[Bratwurst]

My RF module DIED on me a long time ago, so I've already made the switch to composite years ago. =)

[Raedon]

That is the exact same thing as a Commodore 64 monitor cable. It also works on a Vic 20. Pinout info here http://www.ntrautanen.fi/computers/hardware/misc/vic_video.htm[/url]

[Eternal Champion]

Here is the solution for outputting stereo audio on Genesis 1:
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=CB-63&type=store
It's a cable with a headphone-style plug to 2-channel RCA audio. Le voila.

[Alex Kidd]

Thanks Bratwurst--just to be sure, the cable you're talking about is Male 5 pin DIN plug to 4 RCA plugs? What is the 4th RCA for? (I imagine 2 for audio, one for video...)

Red = Audio Channel 1
White = Audio Channel 2
Yellow = Video
Black = Ground

However that is VERY strange... the only time I see RCA plugs with a ground wire is on Phonographs...

Alex Kidd

[Bratwurst]

Red = Audio Channel 1
White = Audio Channel 2
Yellow = Video
Black = Ground


You're not going to get any audio out of that white cable when you try to use it on a Genny 1. =)

[Alex Kidd]

Of course not, the 5 pin DIN connector send ALL the audio thru the red wire.

if you DID get sound thru the white wire, then you'd be missing out on stereo sound when you hook it up normally.

IE
My TV has only 2 ports on the back. Yellow & Red
If I were to hook up a Genny 2 I'd have to leave out the white wire, and then when I play Sonic games I'd only hear everyother ring I pick up, cause the rings switch channels everytime you pick one up.

But the big DIN connector designed for the Genny 1 KNOWS it's only gonna go thru ONE wire so it sends it ALLl thru the one wire.

Alex Kidd

But that still doesn't answer the question WHY they're there... I was just stating what the 4 colors usually mean

[Eternal Champion]

Hey--

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=AVM-6

These cables are video and audio mono "dubbing" cables--would they work on the Genesis 1 cable we're talking about--I mean, using an RCA coupler on the Audio Channel 1 and Video, then using this, to extend it? Also, would this work on the NES (as it's video and one channel audio)? Am I making sense?

[Bratwurst]

Yeah, I imagine it would, but just forgo the coupler and get a set with female plugs on one end. It would work with an NES too.

[Eternal Champion]

Thanks! I gotta say, Thanks for allelectronics.com!
But searching their site is tricky--I can't find mono female to male a/v cables, maybe audio and vid by themselves...

[Bratwurst]

They'll include a catalogue with their shipment when you order, it's much easier to look through than their website (Which I strictly use to order from).

[Tom61]

RF modulator on my Genny 1 is dying...

FYI, you can use the RF modulator from NES/SNES with the Genesis 1. That's what I'm using with my basement TV for my Genesis 1/Sega CD 2 console.

More FYI: Component and RGB are not the same thing. I don't know why people on this forum tend to think that, other than the fact that the cables happen to be color coded Red, Blue, and Green.

Even more FYI: ;) If your TV has both RF and A/V in, all consoles will look better using A/V.

[Eternal Champion]

Tom61--thanks for reiterating that what is referred to as "component" video is NOT RGB!!! I've made the same mistake!
It's confusing because RGB is sometimes called "component RGB", because the signal is broken down to its, well, components! "Component" video should be called COLOUR DIFFERENCE!! It is entirely bloody different! DVD players output their video this way. It's actually closer to s-video!
I've read articles on the web about video signals and the same mistake is made!
I think GamesX.com's video primer does a good job of explaining it all:
http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/
I wish this was all basic knowledge, but, well, I also wish we could just go out and buy analog RGB monitors with cables for our game consoles...oh well...