Cabling with a RGB-modded N64

Hey there, this is my first post here, I hope I got everything right
So, I'm planning on modding a french N64 to get RGB output like this:

(Sorry for stealing that pic from another thread, but it makes clear what I'm about to do)

But that is not my problem. I'm confused with the cabling outside the N64. I know I need a original SNES RGB cable. But these only have SCART output. Since I want to connect all consoles to my AVR (which has no SCART input) I need to convert the SCART output to component (RGB + 2 Cinch for sound). I planned to get a converter for that, but now I'm confused by the syncing methods which can be used. So, I want to use the csync signal shown in the pic above. But can the converter use this signal? Is the position to solder the csync to right and what position on the SCART plug does it correspond to? And will the syncing matter after all?

EDIT: Also, it might be helpful to know, if you were in a similar situation, with which setup you ended up.

 

Hello
If you want to do the best RGB mod for NUS-001(FRA), so you should do the "Official" mod :
https://web.archive.org/web/2013050.../docteur-switch-en-direct-de-latelier-le.html

but i donn't know more about your AVR...

 

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I've seen these instructions. And as far as I understand, there is no need for extra amps inside the console because the first french version of the N64 has native support of RGB but just unfinished circuits.
To sum up my initial post, my problem can be reduced to converting the RGBs signal to YPbPr starting from this specific mod.

 

C-Sync will work with the converter. Also, that wiring is incorrect. C-Sync goes to pin 3 of the multi-out, which is labeled sync/12V. Sending it to the composite video pin isn't a good idea. Just make sure that pin isn't outputting 12V. If it is, then you will have to cut the trace leading to the pin then wire C-Sync to it. You will need to use an NTSC SNES RGB SCART cable wired for C-Sync (sometimes labeled as pure sync/raw sync).

 

Ok, I was considering pin 9 because of that post: http://assemblergames.com/l/threads...what-cable-do-i-need.41394/page-4#post-613945
Also can you recommend converters? Which ones will work with the NTSC SCART cable? Remeber, I'm living in PAL environment.

 

The cable will work fine as long as you don't use it on a PAL SNES or a PAL GameCube. Should the image be overly bright, try adding 75 ohm resistors to ground on the RGB lines in the console.

You could go for the awesome XRGB-3 or XRGB Mini Framemeister upscalers but they are really expensive. You can get a RGB SCART to YPbPr Component converter off eBay for about USD $40. If you do that then your AVR must support 240p/288p to use it. There are also some good SCART to HDMI converters for USD $60.

You could avoid the external stuff and install Tim Worthington's RGBS to component board inside the console. A user on here by the name of OzOnE is working on a universal HDMI mod board that works in the N64. Should be out in a couple months and it will provide a better picture than RGB.

 

I made that diagram, and that's how I ended up wiring my N64 based on the advice of people much more knowledgable than myself. I seem to recall there was a specific reason they said to wire up C-sync to the composite sync pin, but I can't remember what it was.

No need for a special cable, I used both a official PAL SCART cable (modded to bring it to NTSC levels of course) as well as a custom NTSC SNES SCART cable. Both work fine! I also used this console on a cheap RGB SCART to component converter box as well as the XRGB Mini. Both worked!

 

The reason I said not to wire c-sync to it is because you end up sending two sync signals to the same pin. You have to cut the trace for composite video if you are going to do that. The reason I say use the NTSC cables with c-sync wired up is because you don't have to modify a cable to use it as pin 3 for NTSC systems is c-sync.

Of course you can avoid all of these sync issues by using a sync stripper on the composite video line externally will give you c-sync without having to wire up c-sync in the console. At that point you can use a PAL SNES or PAL GameCube RGB SCART cable.

 

Ok, I wanted to avoid using such an expensive converter with scaling just to get the best out of my old consoles. But since I cannot find any information if my AVR is able to process 288p resolution (it's a Yamaha RX-V773) I maybe have to stick to it. Is there a way I could test the input of my AVR before I start to mod my N64? Also which cheap converter box you got @FireAza ? I guess it comes without a scaler?

 

There is clearly a cut on the picture in the first post to disable composite video.

 

Hum, i was thinking about something.
Once you've modded a N64 in RGB, you can use an officiel SNES SCART cable.
There is this product :
http://www.hdretrovision.com/
that can output YUV from a genuine SNES.
I don't know exactly how it works, but could it be possible that it take standard R, G and B signals to convert them in YUV ? If yes, it could work on modded N64 too.

 

Yeah I found this cable too. But it seems it's just a prototype yet as you can't order it. Also I want a single solution for several RGB consoles via a SCART switch or something like that.

 

Ah my bad, I didn't see it before.

 

Well, I'm still a little confused regarding NTSC and PAL. For example if I have two consoles, like a PAL SNES with an unmodified PAL SCART cable and the modded N64 with csync soldered to pin 3 and a csync wired NTSC SNES SCART cable and I plug both to a SCART switch which then is connected to a RGB SCART to YPbPr converter box an then connected AVR. And let's say my AVR supports the 240/288p resolution, will that work? How does the converter differentiate between NTSC and PAL?

 

There is no color encoding with RGB. PAL and NTSC isn't a factor here. If your AVR supports 240/288p from one system it should with the other one as well.

 

In other words it will work the way I described it? Then I'm going to test with the RGB SCART to component converter and if my AVR isn't capable of handling that I get scaler with HDMI output or something. Thanks for you replies!