Question about video signal scaling or scan converting

What do you want to do ? Record 240p videogames on a unit like a HD-PVR ?

Your problem is not only the resolution (240p vs. 480i), but also that most old video game systems don't exactly output NTSC refresh rates. The HD PVR (for example) can't record a SNES or N64, even after being converted to 480i, because the refresh rate is slightly off.

Tell us what you want to do and I'll suggest a solution.

I've recommend the following to several people by now and it works fine. It's a bit of an effort though.

First you need to linedouble your N64's NTSC output. Here I usually recommend an iScan Pro. it takes composite, s-video and component and outputs both VGA and component in 480p. If you try to connect the output directly to your HDPVR, it will sync for a moment, but then lose sync due to the non-standard timings. So you need a scan converter after that which takes the 480p VGA and outputs 100% perfect NTSC in 480i. Here you can use something like an Extron VSC 75.

You're looking at about $40-50 for the iScan and $30-40 for the Extron.

You can replace the iScan with another upscaler or linedoubler you can find. Same with the Extron. This way you'll record in 480i.

Instead you can use a video processor which can output in a refresh rate decoupled from the input. If you take an iScan HD for example, you can output 480p with 100% perfect 59.94Hz NTSC timing using component. Here you're looking at about $100-125. And you would record in 480p then. Advantage in using a iScan HD, HD+ or VP30 is that you get RGB inputs as well, so you're not limited to S-Video if you want to record other systems (like SNES) or decide to RGB-mod your N64.

If you want to use another VP, not all of them can decouple the output from the input, especially older linedoublers like the iScan Pro will stricly "double" the signat, so the non-standard refresh rate remains.

depends on the DVD recorder in question. I have a Pioneer one and the signal is not changed when just passed through, so it doesn't work. Might work on other units.

What you can do is use a DVD/HDD recorder and use timeshifted recording. In other words, you hit record on the HDD recorder and press play a few seconds after that. This way the signal get's converted to 480i the way you like.

PAL N64 outputs 288p which doesn't work either.

And I doubt that a VHS deck will work, as it's a pure analogue machine.

The dazzle records in 480i which causes combing effects. You have to do a manual deinterlacing before you can upload something like this to Youtube (Well, don't have to, but you should).
If you record in 480p you don't have this problem.

should work. When buying old gear, I just usually prefer stuff that was once really expensive (like the Extrons at $2,000+) compared to stuff that has always been cheap.

I'm sorry to dig up the topic, but I need help
my english is not so good too (i'm not american) i'm sorry for that too
so, my doubts are
i'm wanting to start one channel, about n64, but only with a n64 Ntsc rgb mod (no rca or s-video, only component)
i wanted to know, if with the iScan pro i'll be able to have the signal in component, or if i'll need the iScan hd to that
and another doubt, with the upscaler and the Extron Vcs 75 i'll be able to do what i need as well ?

There are several approaches.

Eventually it comes down to the question what capture card you'll be using. If you're using a Startech PEXHDCAP you can directly record the RGB signal from your N64 if the RGB mod's done with raw sync. If it's done with composite video for sync instead you need a sync stripper between the N64 and the Startech card.

Other capture cards might require upscaling beforehand, others require a re-timed signal.

So, what capture solution do you want to use and why ??

i'll use one Avermedia Dark crystal hd, because it has one software to pc (Total media extreme 2)
i'll buy one Scart to Yuv converter too (i think it gonna be needed)