Reference Guide - IanSB/RGBtoHDMI GitHub Wiki
:warning: Under Construction
Main Menu
This is the initial menu displayed when the menu button is pressed and can be used to setup RGBtoHDMI for first use and to select all the other menu options
Info Menu
This menu allows various information to be displayed and also allows rebooting.
Source Summary
Displays technical information about the video source and the Pi's frame buffer.
images/reference/info_source_summary.png
System Summary
Displays technical information about the system including CPLD version and Pi clocks etc. images/reference/info_firmware_version.png
Calibration Summary
Displays current calibration summary
images/reference/info_cal_summary.png
Calibration Detail
Displays current calibration detail if available
images/reference/info_cal_details.png
Calibration Raw
Displays current calibration raw data if available
images/reference/info_cal_raw.png
Credits
Displays credits
images/reference/info_credits.png
Reboot
Selecting will reboot the Pi.
Useful if the hat is plugged into a Pi which doesn't have the reset header fitted or available
Palette Menu
Sets palette preferences
Palette
Selects which palette is use to display the current computer e.g RGB RGBI RrGgBb etc.
Output Colour
Values: Normal / Monochrome / Green / Amber
Changes the output to simulate a monochrome, green or amber monitor.
Output Invert
Values: Normal / RGB/YUV / G/Y
Inverts either all three RGB/YUV video signals or just the Green/Y signal.
Border Colour
Values: 0-255
Changes the border colour (the area of the screen not being written to by the capture code).
Values of 128-255 fill the whole screen and this is used for the colour test profile.
Brightness
Contrast
Gamma
Saturation
Tint
All the above allow the output image to be adjusted
Palette Control
Values: Off / In Band Commands / CGA NTSC Artifact / Mono NTSC Artifact / Auto NTSC Artifact / Commodore 64 YUV / Atari GTIA YUV / 4 Bit Lumacode / 6/8 Bit Lumacode / 8 Bit Lumacode
In Band Commands allows the computer to reprogram the palette by sending special pixel combinations.
NTSC Artifacting simulates the false colour effects used on NTSC systems to generate colour from a monochrome source.
The Auto option detects the colour burst to turn artifacting on and off.
Commodore 64 YUV - For c0pperdragon's C64 YUV converter and also supports PAL artifacts
Atari GTIA - decodes 256 Atari colours from c0pperdragons's YUV converter
4 Bit Lumacode / 6/8 Bit Lumacode / 8 Bit Lumacode supports c0pperdragon's lumacode protocol for getting bit perfect digital data out of computers that only generate composite colour video in their video chips.
4 Bit Lumacode also supports PAL Artifacts
Artifact Colour
Values: On / Off
Manually turns NTSC or PAL artifacting on and off
NTSC Phase
Values: 0 / 90 / 180 / 270
Selects which NTSC quadrant the artifact colours use. This should be adjusted until the artifact colours look correct.
NTSC Type
Values: New CGA (Zero2W) / New CGA (Zero2W) / Apple (Zero2W) / Simple (Old Code)
Selects the NTSC artifact emulation type when used on a Zero2W.
NTSC Quality
Values: Soft / Normal / Sharp
Selects the artifact quality: Adjust for personal preference.
PAL Odd Line
Values: Off / Blended Colours / All Colours
Simulates the Odd line offset for PAL artifacts on the Commodore 64.
PAL Odd Line Level
Values: -180 to 180
Phase shift for the Odd line offset for PAL artifacts on the Commodore 64.
Preferences Menu
Sets user preferences
images/reference/preferences.png
Scanlines
Values: Off / On
Turns scanlines on and off.
NOTE Scanlines will not be visible when the menu is on screen.
Scanline Level
Sets the intensity of the scanlines.
0 = black, 15 = very slightly dimmed compared to the non-scanlines.
Values: 0-15
Swap Aspect 625<>525
Values: Off / On
When enabled changes the output aspect ratio of 625 to look like 525 and vice versa (depending on the source) This will only work with some profiles such as Apple II, Amiga, Atari and Commodore 64
Crop Border (Zoom)
Values: 0% to 100%
Crops the border size of the capture area.
0% = no cropping 100% = crop to the minimum size from the geometry menu
With "Integer" scaling, this simply crops off the excessive border but leaves the scaling unchanged.
With "Interpolated" scaling, the border area is cropped off and the new cropped area is scaled to fill the screen so it acts like a zoom function.
Teletext Deinterlace
Values:
- None
- Simple Bob
- Simple Motion 1
- Simple Motion 2
- Simple Motion 3
- Simple Motion 4
- Advanced Motion
Determines the algorithm used to deinterlace teletext displays such as the BBC micro's mode 7.
Simple Bob used the "bob" algorithm which introduces vertical shimmer.
Simple Motion uses 25Hz motion detection and the level determines the tradeoff between weaving and fizzing artifacts
(1 = most "weave", least "fizz", 4 = least weave, most "fizz").
Advanced Motion should be used for best results and has no weave at all with minimal "fizz". The other options are only required for earlier CPLD versions prior to v3.0.
Normal Deinterlace
Values: None (Weave) / Simple BoB
Selects the deinterlacing technique for non-teletext interlaced sources
Teletext Scaling
Values: Even / Uneven (3:2>>4:3)
Converts a 3:2 teletext image to 4:3.
When using integer scaling, the BBC's mode 0 will normally fit on the screen with a 4:3 image but due to the different (12Mhz) pixel clock of teletext it will fit onto the screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
Enabling the "Uneven (3:2>>4:3)" will squash the horizontal resolution of teletext so that it has a 4:3 aspect ratio to match the other modes.
When using "Integer/sharp" scaling this can result in some unevenness in teletext characters.
Normal Scaling
Values: Even / Uneven (3:2>>4:3)
Converts a 3:2 progressive image to 4:3
Same as Teletext Scaling but for non-teletext modes.
This option will only have an effect on 3:2 screens and is generally only useful for the Camputers lynx and Oric which have 6 Mhz pixel clocks.
Drop Frame (25/30Hz)
Values: Off / On
Enables or disables alternate frame dropping for a "film" effect
ScreenCap Size
Values: Normal / Full Screen / 4:3 Crop / Full 4:3 Crop
The Pi can capture a frame of the displayed video and write it to the SD card as a PNG file and this setting controls the size and shape of the screencap:
Normal - captures with screen aspect ratio usually at half size
Full Screen - captures with screen aspect ratio at full screen size
4:3 Crop - captures with 4:3 aspect ratio usually at half size
Full 4:3 Crop - captures with 4:3 aspect ratio at full screen size
YUV Pixel Double
Values: Off / On
Enables or disables alternate pixel doubling which can make dotted fonts like the Ohio Superboard into solid fonts
Integer Aspect
Values: Normal / Maximise
When set to Maximise, Integer scaling will try to fill the screen and not be contrained by the pixel aspect ratio settings in the geometry menu
Powerup Message
Values: Off / On
Enables or disables the power up message that shows the current resolution, refresh, interface, scaling and profile
Settings Menu
Adjusts setting that are generally left unchanged images/reference/settings.png
Font Size
Values: Always 8x8 / Auto 12x20 4bpp / Auto 12x20 8bpp
There are two fonts used by the software, a small 8x8 and a larger 12x20.
Always 8x8 will always use the 8x8 font.
Auto 12x20 4bpp will use the 12x20 font in 4bits per pixel modes but switch to the 8x8 font if the text won't fit on the screen. In 8 bits per pixel mode the 8x8 font is always used.
Auto 12x20 8bpp will use the 12x20 font in both 4 and 8 bits per pixel modes but switch to the 8x8 font if the text won't fit on the screen.
V Sync Indicator
Values: Off / On
Turns on a red bar which shows the phase relationship between the input video signal and the Pi's video output. If the bar is not moving it means the two are locked together.
Genlock Mode
Values: On (Locked) / Off (Unlocked)
On (Locked) means the Pi's video output is locked to the source video. This is the normal mode of operation and is used to keep the video in sync and prevent tearing or glitching of the video signal. It also means the lag (delay between input and output) can be kept to around 4 milliseconds because once genlocked, the phase relationship is arranged so that the Pi reads the video out of the frame buffer almost immediately after it has been written by the capture code.
Off (Unlocked) means the Pi runs independantly of the video source. This will result in tearing unless the number of buffers is increased to 3 or more which will significanly increase lag.
The led next to SW1 on the board indicates the genlock state:
Off = Unlocked
Flashing = Locking in progress
On = Locked
Periodically the Pi will need to re-lock to the source and this is indicated by brief flashing of the led.
If the led continues flashing it means the Pi can't lock to the source which is usually due to the input frame rate not being the same as the Pi's output frame rate.
If you have to use a monitor that can't run at the source's frame rate then switching Genlock to off will stop the flashing
Genlock Line
Values: 35-140
This sets the position of the red bar and this should generally be towards the top of the screen to minimise lag.
Genlock Speed
Values: Slow (333PPM) / Medium (1000PPM) / Fast (2000PPM)
Controls the rate at which the Pi locks to the video source.
If your monitor blanks briefly during genlocking (when the led is flashing) then try reducing the genlock speed.
Genlock Adjust
Values: -5% to +5% / Full Range
Controls the maximum adjustment of the Pi's video output when genlocking.
-5% to +5% limits the adjustment range to those values.
e.g. if the Pi is set to 50hz output it will only adjust between 47.5Hz and 52.5Hz so if the source is 60Hz it will never lock and you will get a warning on the menu status line.
(In such a case the Pi's video output should be switched to 60Hz)
Full Range allows the Pi to lock to any frequency so it would change the 50Hz to 60Hz. This option is not normally recommended as it can result in very non-standard video outputs that the monitor will be unable to display.
Num Buffers
Values: 1 to 4
Controls the number of frame buffers used to buffer the video signal. Settings 2 to 4 add 1 to 3 frames of lag respectively to the output.
The default is 1 and it is only useful to use other options to prevent tearing if genlock is disabled.
HDMI Mode Detect
Values: Auto / Manual
Enables or Disables Auto detection of DVI or HDMI monitors
Manual Mode
Values: DVI Compatible / HDMI (Auto RGB/YUV) / HDMI (RGB Limited) / HDMI (RGB Full) / HDMI (YUV Limited) / HDMI (YUV Full)
Selects the type of DVI or HDMI output when HDMI Mode Detect set to manual
HDMI Grey Standby
Values: Off / On
Turns off the HDMI output if the computer is displaying a grey screen with RGB values 0xAAA This only works in 12 bit per pixel modes and can be used with the Amiga Vampire and a priority HDMI switcher to automatically switch between the two HDMI sources.
Return Position
Values: Start / End
Sets the position of the Return menu option to the start or end of each menu.
TODO: We should drop this from the OSD, as it gets save per-profile wich is very confusing
Overclock CPU
Overclocks the CPU in Mhz
Overclock Core
Overclocks the Core in Mhz (This is the only setting that usually makes any difference as it speeds up GPIO reads)
Overclock SDRAM
Overclocks the SDRAM in Mhz
Debug
Switches on vertical lines in the video capture area, used to check alignment.
Update CPLD Menu
Allows manual reprogramming of the CPLD although this is now mainly done automatically via the Select Profile Menu.
Geometry Menu
Sets the capture area sampling size, clock and sync etc.
images/reference/geometry.png
Setup Mode
Values: Normal / Set Min/Offset / Set Maximum / Set Clock/Line / Fine Set Clock
This setting makes it easier to setup the associated values below.
When setting the offset and minimum values, select "Set Min/Offset" which reduces the capture area to the minimum values and you can adjust these 4 values so that exactly the screen output of the source is captured.
Similarly select "Set Maximum" before adjusting the maximum values as this forces the capture area to the maximum values
Select "Set Clock/Line" when setting the clock and line values as this disables the clock tolerance which is required when making clock and line adjustments. The clock is adjusted in 1000Hz increments
Finally "Fine Set Clock" changes the clock increment to 1
This setting is automatically returned to "Normal" when you leave the geometry menu.
H Offset
Values: 0-512
Controls the horizontal position of the capture area
V Offset
Values: 0-512
Controls the vertical position of the capture area
Min H Width
Values: 100-1920
Sets the minimum number of horizontal pixels to capture.
This is normally set to the number of pixels output by the source computer at it's highest resolution.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be 640.
Min V Height
Values: 100-1200
Sets the minimum number of vertical pixels to capture.
This is normally set to the number of pixels output by the source computer at it's highest resolution.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be 256.
Max H Width
Values: 150-1920
Sets the maximum number of horizontal pixels to capture.
This is normally set to a larger value that covers the border area and that usually results in a 4:3 ratio with the max vertical height for square pixels or 8:3 ratio with 1:2 pixels like the BBC micro.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be 768.
Max V Height
Values: 150-1200
Sets the maximum number of vertical pixels to capture.
This is normally set to a larger value that covers the border area and that usually results in a 4:3 ratio with the max horizontal width for square pixels or 8:3 ratio with 1:2 pixels like the BBC micro.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be 288 (768x288 = 8:3).
H Pixel Aspect
Values: 0-8
Sets the horizontal pixel aspect ratio (not the screen aspect ratio)
This is used to determine the integer scaling ratio. If it is set to 0, integer scaling will try to fill as much of the screen as possible without maintaining a fixed aspect ratio.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be set to 1 (1:2 aspect pixels)
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
V Pixel Aspect
Values: 0-8
Sets the vertical pixel aspect ratio (not the screen aspect ratio)
This is used to determine the integer scaling ratio. If it is set to 0, integer scaling will try to fill as much of the screen as possible without maintaining a fixed aspect ratio.
e.g. for a BBC micro this would be set to 2 (1:2 aspect pixels)
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
FB Size
Values: Normal / Double Height / Double Width / Double Width+Height
The frame buffer is normally set to a value between the minimum and maximum values above but sometimes it is useful to double the size of the frame buffer vertically, horizontally or both as that can improve the quality of the scaled output. Setting this option doubles the size of the buffer in the appropriate direction.
e.g the BBC micro with 640x256 uses the double height option for a frame buffer of 640x512. Smaller resolutions like the Atom or Spectrum should used both.
Also if you want to use scanlines then Double Height must always be enabled.
FB Bits/Pixel
Values: 4 / 8 / 16
Sets the frame buffer to use 4, 8 or 16 bits per pixel. If you are capturing 12 bits per pixel this should be set to either 8 or 16 bits per pixel. If you are capturing 6 bits per pixel this should always be set to 8 bits per pixel. If you are capturing 3 bits per pixel this can be set to 4 or 8 bits per pixel.
Clock Frequency
Values: 1000000 - 40000000
i.e. 1MHz to 40MHz
Sets the pixel clock frequency used to sample the incoming video.
Starting to adjust this value automatically sets the setup mode to "Set Clock/Line"
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
Line Length
Values: 100-5000
Sets the number of clock cycles per video line on the incoming video.
Starting to adjust this value automatically sets the setup mode to "Set Clock/Line"
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
Clock Tolerance
Values: 0-100000
Sets the range of adjustment in PPM of the above clock frequency when locking to the incoming video.
If the adjusted clock is outside this range then the previous frequency or default frequency is used. This allows software that creates non-standard video timings to work.
Normally in the range 4500 - 25000 depending on the source.
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
Lines per Frame
Values: 250-1200
Sets the number of lines per field/frame of the incoming source.
e.g. 312 for PAL 50 Hz sources
When you adjust this value some helper info is displayed on the status line
Sync Type
Values: -H-V / +H-V / -H+V / +H+V / Composite / Inverted
Sets the sync type and polarity of the incoming video source
Vsync Type
Values: Auto / Interlaced / Interlaced 160uS Vsync / Non Interlaced / Flywheel
Sets the vertical sync type used by the source.
Auto will switch between the two interlaced types
The Flywheel setting should be used when vertical sync pulses are generated by RC time constants.
e.g. UK101, Superboard, TRS80
Video Type
Values: Progressive / Interlaced / Interlaced Teletext
Sets the type of video used by the source. Most sources are progressive except for teletext which uses interlaced video.
Pixel Sampling
(OLD CPLDs ONLY) Values: Normal / Odd / Even / Half Odd / Half Even
This option is not shown in the menu with latest CPLDs and is used by old CPLDs to sample lower resolution sources like the Atom
Sampling Menu (3 BIT & 6 BIT TTL digital inputs)
This menu varies when used with a BBC micro depending on the video mode.
In mode 7 the following options are available:
images/reference/sampling_ttl_mode7.png
In other BBC modes and with all other supported computers the following options are displayed:
images/reference/sampling_ttl.png
Setup Mode
Values: Normal / Set Delay
This setting makes it easier to setup the Delay value.
Selecting "Set Delay" reduces the capture area to the minimum values and you can adjust the delay value so that the video exactly lines up with the capture area.
This setting is automatically returned to "Normal" when you leave the sampling menu.
Sampling Phase
Values: 0-X
This adjusts the video sampling point and it can be changed to eliminate any noise in the video signal. This value is automatically set by using the "Auto Calibrate Video Sampling" option in the main menu or using the shortcut calibration on the one of the buttons. The range depends on the Clock Multiplier setting below.
A-F Phase
Values 0-7
These offsets are available in BBC mode 7 teletext only and can be used to fine adjust the sampling when used with the non-symmetrical 12 Mhz pixel clock used in that mode.
Half Pixel Shift
Values: Off / On
This setting adds an additional sampling delay of half a pixel. It is set as required during Mode 7 auto calibration if the optimal sampling point is at one extreme of the range. For example, if the sampling point is 0-1 or 6-7, then this setting will be enabled to shift the sampling point to 2-5 (i.e. in the middle of the range). This gives scope for incremental adjustment of the individial A-F sampling offsets, without any risk of them reaching the limits.
Clock Multiplier
With the BBC CPLD:
Values: x6, x8, x12, x16
With the RGB CPLD:
Values: x3, x4, x6, x8, x10, x12, x14, x16
With the YUV CPLD the multiplier is fixed at x8
The pixel clock is multipled by the above values to set the master sampling clock.
This also changes the range of the sampling phase which will be from 0 to one less than the multiplier value.
Increasing the multiplier increases the sampling accuracy and reduces jitter but setting it to too high a value will overclock the CPLD and cause it to malfunction. Generally the the value of the pixel clock times the multiplier value should be kept below around 150Mhz.
Pixel H Offset
Values: 0 to 15
Adjusts the fine horizontal position of the capture area that has been set in the Geometry menu.
When used with a BBC micro this value is set automatically as part of the "Auto Calibrate Video Sampling" option.
Sync Edge
Trailing / Leading / Leading with delay
Selects which Edge of the sync pulse to trigger sampling
Trailing = Trailing edge of the hsync pulse
Leading = Leading edge of the hsync pulse
Leading + Delay = trigger off the leading edge of the hsync pulse plus a delay. This option is only available in 3bpp mode and is used when Hsync pulses are wider than the blanking and start / end in active video. This happens with some built in monitors which use separate H and V syncs such as the CRTC PETs and the Apple Lisa.
Sync on G/V
In the 6-12 BIT board when set to on, sync is sourced from the Vsync input rather than the normal sync input. This is primarily to support sync on green with the analog board.
Sample Mode
Values: 3 Bits Per Pixel / 6 Bits Per Pixel / 9 Bits (V sync) / 9 Bits (Bits 0-2) / 9 Bits (Bits 1-3) / 12 Bits per pixel / 6x2 Mux (12BPP) / 6 Bits (4 Level) / 1 Bit Per Pixel
Changes the type of sampling:
3 Bits Per Pixel = 3 Bit sampling.
6 Bits Per Pixel = 6 Bit sampling.
9 Bits (V sync) = 9 Bit sampling but the ninth bit uses the Vsync input so only requires the standard 8 bit header
9 Bits (Bits 0-2) = 9 bit sampling using bits 0-2 with bit 3 unused for each of RGB
9 Bits (Bits 1-3) = 9 bit sampling using bits 1-3 with bit 0 unused for each of RGB
12 Bits per pixel = 12 bit sampling
9 Bits 0-2 Blanked = 9 bit sampling using bits 0-2 with blanking on B3
6 Bits (4 level) = use 3 line to 2 bit encoders on the analog card to increase the number of analog levels detected.
1 Bit per pixel = 1 bit sampling
1 Bit On Vsync = 1 bit sampling on the Vsync input
Input Mux
Values: Off / On
In the 3 BIT board when set to on, a TTL buffer chip is switched into the RGB input path to change the logic thresholds from CMOS to TTL which improves logic level detection with some computers such as the Electron although it is not essential.
Sampling Menu (6 BIT RGB analog inputs)
When the analog addon board is fitted, the following additional "DAC" menu options are displayed: images/reference/sampling_analog_rgb.png The DACs are used to set the thresholds for comparators which allow 3 levels of RGB to be discriminated
75R Termination
Values: Off / On
Switches 75 Ohm termination off or on
G Coupling:
Values DC / AC With Clamp
Changes the way the analog input is handled:
DC = the G signal is DC coupled.
AC With Clamp = the G signal is AC coupled via a capacitor and clamp circuit.
Note the R and B signals are always DC coupled.
Generally, only the DC modes should be used with RGB signals as the AC option is primarily for use with YUV sources.
If AC coupling is selected, the DAC-G setting will have to be adjusted appropriately.
DAC-A: G Hi
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the highest green level above black
DAC-B: G Lo
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the lowest green level above black
DAC-C: RB Hi
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the highest red and blue levels above black
DAC-D: RB Lo
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the lowest red and blue levels above black
DAC-E: Sync
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage threshold of the sync input
DAC-F: G/V Sync
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the Vsync input which is also connected to the green signal.
If Sync on G/V is set to "on" (see above) this can be used to detect sync on green.
DAC-G: G Clamp
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
The G input is clamped using sync tip clamping in AC coupling mode and this sets the clamping voltage level.
For RGB inputs, this is normally set to 0
Unused DAC levels should be set to Disabled
Sampling Menu (6 BIT YUV analog inputs)
When the the CPLD reprogrammed to the YUV version, the following menu options are displayed:
images/reference/sampling_yuv.png The DACs below are used to set the thresholds for comparators which allow 3 levels of YUV to be discriminated.
Setup Mode
Values: Normal / Set Delay
This setting makes it easier to setup the Delay value.
Selecting "Set Delay" reduces the capture area to the minimum values and you can adjust the delay value so that the video exactly lines up with the capture area.
This setting is automatically returned to "Normal" when you leave the sampling menu.
Sampling Phase
Values: 0-15
This adjusts the video sampling point and it can be changed to eliminate any noise in the video signal. This value is automatically set by using the "Auto Calibrate Video Sampling" option in the main menu or using the shortcut calibration on the one of the buttons.
Pixel H Offset
Values: 0 to 15
Adjusts the fine horizontal position of the capture area that has been set in the Geometry menu.
Filter Y
Values: Off /On
Enables noise filtering in the Y channel
Subsample UV
Values: Off / On
Halves the sample rate on the U and V channels (Used on 6847 sources)
Pal Switch
Values: Off / On
Inverts the V (R-Y) signal on alternate lines (Required by 48K Spectrum input)
Sync Edge
Values Trailing / Leading
Sets whether sync timing is taken from the Trailing or Leading edge of the sync pulse This should normally be set to "Trailing" and only set to "Leading" if there is a problem with the trailing edge of the sync pulse. "Leading" is currently only used by UK101, Superboard and Spectrum 48K
Clamp Type
Values Sync Tip / Back Porch Short / Back Porch Medium / Back Porch Long / Back Porch Auto
Switches the type of clamping from sync tip to back porch.
Sync Tip Clamping clamps the incoming Y signal to the bottom of the sync pulse
Back Porch Clamping clamps the incoming Y signal to the back porch level.
The Auto option automatically selects the right length of back porch for the current sample clock.
Sync on Y/V
Values: Off / On
Used to change the behaviour of the DAC-E: Y/V Sync setting (see below)
Sample Mode
Values: 6 Bits Per Pixel / 6 Bits (4 Level)
Changes the type of sampling:
6 Bits Per Pixel = 6 Bit sampling.
6 Bits (4 level) = use 3 line to 2 bit encoders on the analog card to increase the number of analog levels detected.
75R Termination
Values: Off / On
Switches 75 Ohm termination off or on
Y Coupling:
Values DC / AC With Clamp
Changes the way the analog input is handled:
DC = the Y signal is DC coupled.
AC With Clamp = the Y signal is AC coupled via a capacitor and clamp circuit.
Note the U and V signals are always DC coupled.
If AC coupling is selected, the Clamp type and DAC-G settings will have to be adjusted appropriately.
DAC-A: Y Hi
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the highest Y level above black
DAC-B: Y Lo
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the lowest Y level above black
DAC-C: UV Hi
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the highest U and V levels
DAC-D: UV Lo
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the lowest U and V levels
DAC-E: Sync
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage threshold of the sync input
DAC-F: Y/V Sync
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
Sets the voltage of the Vsync input which is also connected to the Y signal.
When Sync on Y/V is set to off, this is used to discriminate the Vsync signal on 6847 sources.
When Sync on Y/V is set to on, sync is detected from the Y input
DAC-G: Y Clamp
Values: 0 to 255 / Disabled
The Y input is clamped using sync tip clamping or back porch clamping in AC coupling mode and this sets the clamping voltage level
Unused DAC levels should be set to Disabled
Sampling Menu (Atom)
images/reference/sampling_atom.png
Offset
Values: 0-15
This adjusts the video sampling point and it can be changed to eliminate any noise in the video signal. This value is automatically set by using the "Auto Calibrate Video Sampling" option in the main menu or using the shortcut calibration on the one of the buttons.
Filter Y
Values: Off / On
Enables noise filtering in the Y channel
Filter UV
Values: Off / On
Enables noise filtering in the U & V channels
Create Custom Profile
Simplifies the creation of custom profiles.
This menu can only be entered if valid syncs are detected
images/reference/custom.png
Analyse Timing
Should be selected when first trying to create a profile to make some initial adjustments
Pixel Width
Set to the number of pixels used by the source computer
Pixel Height
Set to the number of pixels used by the source computer
Clock Frequency
Set to the pixel clock frequency used by the source computer (if known) Adjusting this value will auto set the Line Length based on the sync timing
Line Length
Set to the number of clock cycles per vide line used by the source computer (if known) Adjusting this value will auto set the Clock Frequency based on the sync timing
H Offset
Adjust to centre the image
V Offset
Adjust to centre the image
Auto Calibrate Video Sampling
Use to select the correct sampling phase once the above values are correct
Custom Profile Num
Values 0 - 9
Used to set the index number for Save and Delete Custom Profile
See also the help menus
Analog board theory of operation
The interface is a collection of comparators and a set of Digital to Analog voltage outputs which are used to set the reference levels for those comparators. Together these effectively form a set of 1 bit Analog to Digital converters which are used to "level slice" the incoming video.
A normal A to D would take an analog input and output a stream of numbers representing the video voltage level as it changes and that would also include any noise in the signal. The comparators in the above 1 bit converters output a logic high or low depending if the incoming voltage is above or below the level set by the DAC connected to each associated comparator.
If you consider the simplest source which is monochrome composite video such as the Ohio Superboard, TRS80 Model I or Apple II the video output on those only has 3 levels: sync level, black level and white level. To extract this information, you set the voltage references on two comparators, one to detect the difference between sync and video and one to detect the difference between black and white and these are then output at TTL levels to feed into the TTL input of RGBtoHDMI in the same way as CGA or EGA signals.
In a normal 1v peak to peak mono video signal the sync is between approx 0v and 0.3v and the video is between 0.3v and 1v so you would set the sync DAC voltage to approx 0.15v and the video (Y) DAC voltage to 0.65v. For the DAC settings, 0 = 0v and 255 = 3.3v and you could calculate the initial values from that although in practice it is easier to vary the values up & down until the input breaks and then set the level half way between those extremes. Unused DACs should be set to Disabled.
For YUV, there are extra comparators for the U & V channels and RGBS mode is also implemented similarly but there is an additional DAC & comparator for the separate sync. In fact there are two comparators for each of the YUV / RGB channels (Lo & Hi) so that they can detect up to 3 levels each and that is enough to discriminate the three video levels on each of the RGB signals on the Spectrum +2A & +3, the Amstrad CPC 464, 664 & 6128 (not 6128 plus) and any system that uses the Motorola 6847 video chip which has 3 levels each of YUV such as Tandy Color Computer, Dragon & Atom. It effectively turns the analog outputs of those sources into a TTL EGA style signal although the TTL levels represent different colours to the EGA standard so you have to select a different palette in the palette menu. (The video is stored in an 8 bit per pixel frame buffer which uses a colour look up table to set the final RGB output colours and those tables are set from the palette menu)
This approach results in a completely noise free output as the signal has effectively been re-quantised to just a few levels and it works extremely well when there is enough difference between the voltage levels of the video source but it won't work at all if the voltage levels are too close together so they can't be reliably separated due to noise or variation between machines.
There is also an optional clamp circuit for any sources that are AC coupled via a capacitor and an additional comparator chip (U7) can be fitted on the back of the analog board which increases the number of detectable levels from 3 to 4 and this can be used to get it working with the TI99/4a and other systems based on the same TI video chip like MSX1 & Colecovision but performance is marginal with those due to the video levels being a bit too close together. Note I think this only works with the PAL version of the TI99/4a which has YUV out as the NTSC version has composite colour video directly out of the video chip.
There is a possibility that the DAC levels might have to be manually tweaked on a per machine basis if there is too much variation in output voltage levels from machine to machine (of the same type) but this would only have to be done once during initial setup similar to the auto calibration of the sampling phase but there haven't been enough different machines tested so far to determine that.
When everything is setup correctly and combined with the pixel accurate sampling of the RGBtoHDMI converter it results in a completely noise free perfectly sampled signal which in most cases is going to be indistinguishable from the output of an emulator.