Is there a way to correct the bad signal in the NES side when S-Video is used?
Is there a way to correct the bad signal in the NES side when S-Video is used?
The RetroGen adapter for the Retro Duo doesn't pass its video into the RetroDuo, At least not the v2.0. You have to use the supplied A/V cable. Which is garbage. Composite A/V Cables connect to the cart. The RetroGen Adapter seems to pass video only into the RetroDuo Portable. And maybe even in the RetroDuo v3.0, but I can't say for sure. This is unacceptable. There's no way to mix the video out of the converter within the Super NES itself. Are there any Genny adapters that Don't work this way for the Retro Duo?
What are you talking about? NOACs are completely incapable of producing S-video to begin with. The RetroDuo feeds a composite video signal through the S-video line in order to prevent a black screen. How your tv interrupts this varies. Some TVs will produce a black and white image, while others will display it perfectly fine. If you're getting some sort of weird results, that's your TV's fault. Use composite video only then.
*Sigh*. This isn't a fault of the RetroGen. The SNES hardware has no video output pin in the cartridge port. It was never designed to output a video signal from anywhere but its own PPU. The RetroGen doesn't (and can't) use the SNES motherboard for anything other than power and control signal inputs, both which are mapped in the cartridge port.
Clones like the RetroDuo are based on the original hardware. Therefore, no, the RetroGen does not pass video directly through the RetroDuo or any other SNES, clone or otherwise. Only the RetroDuo Portable has been designed to do this in order to display a singal to its internal LCD. How you find this "unacceptable" is baffling - If the video signal were somehow routed through the RD's internal video output, it would degrade, and still not work with S-video.
The RetroGen produces a vivid composite video output that far exceeds the original Genesis hardware. The reason for that IS because it comes with a cable that plugs directly from its outputs maximizes the quality you'd get there is no pathway degradation because the RetroGen AV cable is tapping the source of the signal. It's a brilliant design.
check out my classic gaming review site: http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/
I'm bumping this back
How does the Super 8 Adapter compere to the Retro Duo with the NES Mod??
A new power adapter might fix the video issues? I have not just static strips, but really awful looking video all around in my retro duo 3.0. I can find all sorts of 5V/1A adapters with unknown polarity. I also can find universal adapters, but every single one of those has 4.5V, 6V, but not 5V. For those, polarity is a non-issue because of the switchable tips. Does anyone know if:
1) There is a specific 5V and 600+mA adapter that would have the right (center positive) polarity?
2) 4.5V would be enough to power the RD?
3) If 6V would be too much/damage the console (keeping in mind it doesn't have a voltage regulator)
Thanks.
Edit: Also, does anyone know what the measurement/size of the power connector going into the RD is? I think I might have found my AC adapter.
Edit: I found a replacement AC adapter, and will report back.
Last edited by sageru; 10-26-2012 at 07:36 PM.
Since it keeps coming up in clone threads, from my experience with the Tri Star Super-8, it is a very solid Famicom clone BUT (and it's a big but) since it emulates Famicom controller port hardware, any US NES game that requires player 2 to press start or select is borked since Famicom has no start or select on the 2 player controller.
Seems like it's not a big deal, but there are quite a few games that suffer to a level of incompatibility because of that.
"And the book says: 'We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us.'"
What Games are like that in 2 Player Mode, Got a list?
I don't think there's a list, but if a game is developed by a Japanese developer (such as Capcom, Konami, Nintendo) there isn't a need for player 2 to press start or select ever... as those would have originally been released on the Famicom. Almost all the good NES games fall into this category, except a few. If you see a multiplayer-centric game that was developed/published by a western developer, just look into it. Chances are it doesn't require player 2 to press start, hardly any games do.
Switching the AC adapter is confirmed NOT working for the 3.0 Retro Duo. My Retro Duo is nearly useless after spending $15 extra on a power cord.
These version numbers, do they apply over all regions for Super Mario RPG or just american ntsc usa releases....wondering if other countries like japan and europe had these versions also.....
Just saw a Youtube video that I found something interesting about SMRPG people.....some gal has a video up about SMRPG and running with her FC Twin and she tried two versions of the game and noticed a difference.....the one that says Made in Mexico she guesses was a 1.1 version and not working on her system and the one in Japan was a 1.0 version and working on her FC Twin.....anyone who has tried finding a SMRPG cart and got it to work or not, have they noticed where it was made.....Maybe the early versions were all made in Japan and the revisions made in Mexico.....just a theory though....
JUST READ, This may not necessarily be the case on a thread on here.....oh, well....thought I had something...
Last edited by nj7; 11-02-2012 at 09:42 PM.
One trick which is very timing-sensitive, but does work on (all?) versions of Super Mario RPG that check for a lockout chip is one found by Satoshi_Matrix. The trick involves turning on the RetroDuo with an NES game inserted in the NES slot for 5 seconds, then immediately switching over to the Super NES side. If you get the timing right, this will work every time. What I do for this is to use Life Force; I turn on the RetroDuo with that game inserted in the NES slot, then as soon as the title screen disappears, I turn on the Super NES side.
Just so you know, this copy of Super Mario RPG is a Japanese Super Famicom version. Works fine on original hardware, but has a very hard time running on Super Famiclones (conclusion: it checks for a lockout chip).
Later today, I will share my experience with the RetroDuo v3.0 since I acquired one after having been bitterly disappointed with the RetroN2 (I pretty much think of this thing as an overpriced FC Twin with NES controller ports and S-Video because compatibility is no better than the FC Twin, though you can use NES controllers without needing a controller adapter, you have S-Video which works very badly and might explain why the RetroN2 doesn't even come with an S-Video cable, and the NES video is better, but the rest is either the same or worse than the FC Twin).
I got the same issue you describe as a static line going down from the top of the tv to the bottom, mostly noticeable on a black background.....all I did was adjust the contrast on my tv and it faded to where you really don't notice it, I don't know if this is a bug with the retro duo's hardware or what, tried S-video and composite, they both do the same, tried a different cable....same....
It appears to be a power supply issue causing the lines. I swapped out my RetroDuo v2.0's power supply for a modified DC 5V power supply my LG external DVD drive came with and the lines disappeared. My RetroDuo v3.0's power supply doesn't cause lines, either, but it does make a very obnoxious squealing noise whenever the console is powered on.
Here is my compatibility list for a stock RetroDuo 3.0 mascot edition, I know it's not much right now but just collecting carts to test at a nice steady rate....will update this post when I get something new to add, pretty much if there is no note it works perfectly, if there is any issues will be put into ()....
NES
Nintendo (NTSC-USA)
Baseball
Double Dribble
Dr. Mario (audio unbalanced, slightly off)
Dragon Warrior
Golf
John Elway's Quarterback
Kings of the Beach - Professional Beach Volleyball (sound issues)
Legacy of the Wizard
NES Play Action Football
Pinball
R.C. Pro-Am
Rad Racer
Super Mario Bros. (sound issues)
Top Gun
SNES
Super Nintendo (NTSC-USA)
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2 - Diddy's Kong Quest
F-Zero
Sim City
Star Fox
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario World
Super Famicom (NTSC-JAPAN)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden
Also picked up a Retro Entertainment System for comparison and here is the compatibility for that....
NES
Nintendo (NTSC-USA)
Baseball
Double Dribble (sound issues)
Dr. Mario
Dragon Warrior
Golf
John Elway's Quarterback
Kings of the Beach - Professional Beach Volleyball
Legacy of the Wizard
NES Play Action Football (sound issues)
Pinball
R.C. Pro-Am
Rad Racer
Super Mario Bros. (pallet issue, purple sky)
Top Gun
Last edited by nj7; 11-27-2012 at 01:19 PM. Reason: New NES Games Tested and Also On Another NES Clone System
I been testing NES Controllers on the Retro Duo
Super 8/Retro Duo NES to SNES Adaptor compatibility list
incompatible
Doom
Robocop vs Terminator
Donkey Kong Country Series
Mega Man X Series
F-Zero - Could selete your car, But can't go anywhere
Super Street Fighter 2
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Super Game Boy
Super Mario All Stars - Works, But when you try to start a game it will boot you back to the Main Title Screen - It won't matter if you start the game with a SNES Pad then go to the Adapter
Tetris & Dr. Mario - Device Screen pops up
NBA Jam T.E - Device Screen pops up
compatible
Super Mario World - Works Mario is running except waking
Zelda A Link to the Past - Missing the X Button for the Map
Space Invaders - Plug in a SNES Pad to add credits - take it out and plug the adapter in
Super Mario Kart
Street Fighter 2/Street Fighter 2 Turbo - Try to play this on Hard with only 2 buttons
A note to those of you who want to attempt the NES audio fix on the RetroDuo v3.0: its NES board is 99.9% unchanged (the only difference is it's colored blue instead of green), so you would have to apply the same 2.2Kohm resistor and 0.1uF capacitor at the same points you would on a RetroDuo v2.0.
Even the Super NES board has hardly changed. The only really big difference is the presence of the updated reduced-size TCT-970 series Super NES clone chipset. However, the S-Video circuit appears to be a little different as the video is a lot brighter than it was on the RetroDuo v2.0.
One thing, though: RetroBit should change the op-amp used on the Super NES audio amp as it does induce a light hiss on loud games. There's an LM358 dual op-amp on the audio circuit which really should be replaced by a TL072 or any op-amp with a greater unity-gain bandwidth than 1MHz. That's the unity-gain bandwidth of the LM358, which is not quite adequate for the audio out of the clone SPC700.
Last edited by Ace; 01-19-2013 at 12:01 PM.