60Hz RGB DVD Recording Facility - Which model?

[buzz909]

Hi - I just bought a Pioneer DVR-720H-s (DVD Recorder). I bought it to record footage from my consoles - especially my Dreamcast and PS2 + original XBOX.
Anyhow - now I've got it set up I've found that although it can record in 60Hz - the option to record with RGB isn't available in 60Hz (it is in 50Hz). This is bad - especially because the Dreamcast only outputs RGB via its SCART lead. I also would like the best quality - and I understand RGB is the best quality.
I think I will have to sell this player. Can anyone recommend a player that will do this job? (record at 60Hz (NTSC?) in RGB via scart lead). I don't have any high def consoles or HD TV so just a normal one with a harddrive would be good. Mind you I would be interested if a High Def one would do the job.

Thank you very much

[Red_Breast]

I know the best quality output for a DC is VGA. Before hi-def was all the thing consumer capture cards used composite or s-video. VGA capture equipment does exist. It's what magazines would use for screenshots, and regularly posed the question "how do they get a capture like that?" but some versions of the equipment could also capture video. If you're prepared to google for a few hours you might come up with something.

As for PS2 I don't know. I seem to remember hearing some games would do 480p and I'm sure there is an official component cable although component also supports interlaced. Does the DVD recorder have component inputs? I don't think there was an official DC component cable.

The product in the link was really popular, again, before hi-def. was the thing. It will capture interlaced 480 (NTSC typically) and 576 (PAL) signals in RGB SCART or component with the use of the included breakout cable.
It's a PCI card you have to put into a spare PCI slot in your PC. You can use an old PC as it's not PCI express and the PC only needs a 1Ghz CPU.
It says you need a AGP video card so if you have a newer PCI express card video card and are interested I suggest you ask them first. Maybe it's OK but they just haven't updated the web page. It comes with DScaler which is pretty good.

http://www.pixelmagicsystems.com/products/pdi/pdi_deluxe.htm

First off check the DVD recorder for component inputs.

You can buy the card from this web site. However as with all things don't rush into it and try to get a few opinions.

http://www.pluggedin.tv/store/SweetSpot_Video_Processor.html

[buzz909]

No it doesn't have component inputs. It has S-Video and a composite Video Jack and audio inputs. I like the sound of the PC card - DO you know if you would be able to watch what you are recording on the TV at the same time as you are recording it? (I presume you would be able to output to the TV at the same time).
I would still be interested to hear if anyone knows of any DVD players which can record via RGB SCART at 60Hz(Ntsc)

Thank you

[Red_Breast]

The main reason the card became popular was because people were unhappy with how standard def. looked on their new hi-def TVs. It might be better now but a few years back because of using cheap chips to process the video it usually looked worse on your new TV than the one you'd just replaced.
So the output to your TV is provided by the video card/chip inside the PC. Typically VGA, DVI, HDMI and S-video/composite. I'm not sure if you mean you want 2 displays (the display usually linked to your PC and a second to your TV) or what.
Let's say you want the 2 displays. You would have to check the documentation for the video card/chip. The configurations can vary. I don't think you can have dual displays with just a chip and with a card even though some have 1 VGA/1 DVI or 2 DVI for dual display some don't allow dual display where you have 1 VGA or DVI and the other 1 s-video/composite. You really would need to check this.
If you wanted just one display. The PC straight to your TV then if it's a standard def. TV you'd have to use a video card's s-video/composite port. You wouldn't be able to use it as a marker for what you were recording (if using the pixelmagic card) as you would record in RGB SCART but you'd monitor it in s-video/composite.
If it's a HDTV then you could use any of the other ports on the video card with the right cables. DVI and HDMI use component but VGA is RGB. Nearer to SCART.
I bet you're starting to think "it's never easy is it." This is why most videos of games from the standard def. era are in composite or s-video.
I know there are some people here who know a lot more than me about all this. Don't know if they have any suggestions. The UK AVforum might be a good place to ask. Get the question out and give it a few days.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php

[buzz909]

Yes - I wanted two displays - on the PC and one on the TV. I thought this would be cool so I could record onto DVD on the PC and also play the game on the PC - though I can see now that I really only need the one on the TV .
I will try the AVforums too. Thank you Red Breast for all of your kind help.