Dramastic SSL Video XGA converter alternative

[sintech]

The Dramastic box is no longer available, but this got me thinking it must be a re-badged product. Very little info, apart for a few pic on the net.

Anyone with the box can confirm that the back may look like this:

http://www.globalmediapro.com/dp/A01IQ0/Globalmediapro-P-206-SCART-RGB-to-XGA-Converter/

[StefanNowak]

Certainly looks the same Andy!!

Great price, the Dramastic box cost me considerably more than that! 

[marcmozart]

What is this doing? Converting the monitor output of the mix computer to VGA?

[sintech]

What is this doing? Converting the monitor output of the mix computer to VGA?

Hey Marc, the SSL computer is very happy into an old CRT TV, and NEC Multi Sync Monitors, like you see in shop displays (RGB/with sync)

Rescued a Sony Trinitron out of the loft!.. and it's perfect, in both green and colour... but!

This is connecting via RGB and Sync to SCART wired the standard way, see attached pic.

As soon as you plug the SCART in to a modern TV, you'll get no picture.. or maybe at best some flashes, and jumpy image. Connecting the Geen (from RGB feed) into the composite input, gives a  black and White version (via the TR graphics card) of both the green screen action, and the colour Total Recall.

This is due to the sync voltage, going with a box, that normally converts old gaming consoles, and the like.. breaks it out to newer style monitors.

Damastic, found a good box, made the needed cabling, configured every unit, and met a small but needed market.

The box in question is totally discontinued, and have seen it re-badged under 4 different logos.

The link is, I guess is NOS.

[StefanNowak]

Might pick up one as a spare.

You know how much I like having a spare of everything Andy.

[brewery]

hi andy,
i've done several installs, including my own studio, with the scart schematic you posted.
it works just fine on modern (european) tvs, as long as the scart input is rgb compatible.
had good experiences with both samsung and sony lcd tvs.
my avatar is an iphone picture taken off my samsung 46" lcd.

overseas it's a different story, you do need a scaler for ntsc.

[sintech]

My LG TV, isn't compatible via SCART, to suspend a Sony CRT is a step to far! heheh

Looking for a 23" maximum for the studio.. any suggestions on make and spec?

[Showcase]

We also just soldered to a scart, first picked up a Philips lcd but that didnt work 100%
Samsung was our solution, dunno if the dramastics did other conversions too, PAL/NTSC ?

[sintech]

As you suggested, got a 2008 Sony Bravia 32" from eBay this evening, really pleased, as it works great!!! (before some fine tuning) with the SCART diagram wiring.

[marcmozart]

Quick stupid question... the console VDU and the RGB display can both run at the same time, right? Can my computer (without Total Recall Computer/Graphics) also run the RGB screen, like you do now with the Sony Bravia Display?

[sintech]

I’m still new to all of this, but..


Yes, the console VDU has it’s own feed with power to the mini TV from the Computer motherboard. This primary feed appears also as a BNC on the back panel.

This primary BNC can go to the yellow S-Video on the Sony and mirror the small TV

The main monitor auto switches by the Video distribution, effectively routing this primary source to the Green feed of the RGB for automation, and switching to full RGB for Total Recall.

But I think the TR card has to be present.

The video distribution card has two dip swiches for the primary feed, one for White/Green and the other is a screen saver kind of cut off.

So you have two ways into the TV, either via S-Vid or feeding primary to green on the RGB

[sintech]

The correct description from the Computer Service Manual:

[jimlfixit]

Hi all

I'm not a techie, but, from my experience at SSL during the early years, they bought in US made Barco large screen CRT monitors (charging around GB£3-4K at the time!) for use with the SSL computer system.

While the onboard 5" monitor in the console just had an 8 way Bicc cable with 12v and composite video feed (I think) which looked green due to the plastic green screen on the front, the main monitor was, as Andy suggested, wired from the computer rear panel connections via BNC connectors direct to the monitor without using a Scart connector.

I have heard of problems with syncing issues using other screens and seem to remember that this is mainly due to the difference between USA NTSC and European PAL wiring (assuming I have my definitions written down correctly). I think I have seen some circuits diagrams on the Web to correct this but Andy seems to have worked it out to suit a more modern and different screen so, well done to him.

I hope my comments may help in some way and regards from Jim Lassen

[StefanNowak]

Total Recall computer drives the RGB screen.

[jimlfixit]

Good point Stefan so now I remember that you have to have the 89 and 90 cards fitted within the computer cage to drive a separate large screen for the TR functions.

I guess this means having Total Recall fitted on the whole console for this to happen (88 card on the back of the 681 keyboard, 89 and 90 in the cage plus loads of 03 cards and ribbons on the channels)?

One of the two computer cards has mini BNC connectors fitted which are wired to the cage back panel to full sized BNC's which then feed a large monitor.

As there are quite a few BNC's on the computer cage rear panel, I have a feeling that one of the video outputs can feed a separate monitor with the same signal as the onboard console 5" TV but I may be wrong.

Hope my memory serves me right on this as I'm going back 30 years! Regards from Jim Lassen.