Link Your Atari Computer to an LCD Screen (30-60 minutes). Composite to S-Video Comparison

Task: Connect Your Atari Computer to an LCD Screen

Recommended: LCD display, connectors

Introduction

I adore my Sakata SC-100 monitor that I prefer with my machines that are 8-bit. We continue to have the exact same one I utilized straight back into the time with my Atari 800. As much as Everyone loves this monitor i am aware it won’t final forever. There may come a time once i need certainly to find an alternate. We have started preparing for that eventuality through getting the things I have to link my Atari computer systems up to a monitor that is modern television. There are lots of different alternatives to explore in this room. We will concentrate right right right here on a single of those and anime amino app conserve others for future articles.

First a little bit of back ground about Atari computer video that is 8-bit. Most of the Atari 8-bit computer systems have monitor port that outputs a video signal that is composite. This really is a single-channel analog video clip sign this is certainly attached to a monitor or television by way of a yellowish connector that is frequently discovered included in an RCA connector which also includes red and white sound connectors for stereo noise. The solitary channel of video clip is called composite given that it creates a linear mix of the luminance (luma) that holds the brightness for the video combined with chrominance (chroma) that holds the colour. That is quite simple and lets you link any Atari computer that is 8-bit the composite out to a television or monitor utilizing the composite (yellow) in. Lots of monitors and TVs through the 1990s and early 2000s have actually composite in as they are nevertheless relatively simple to locate.

Even though composite sign is simple you may get far better quality video clip by continuing to keep the luma and chroma signals separate and feeding the two-channel sign to A s-video connector. When I will show below when you look at the guidelines, these connectors for the Atari are plentiful. To begin to see the difference between quality, we have actually included below screenshots of composite for a monitor that is crtmy Sakata SC-100), composite on an LCD monitor, and S-Video for an LCD monitor. Note the remarkably higher quality regarding the S-Video image. They were all three taken underneath the exact exact exact same illumination conditions during the time that is same. The LCD monitor is just a Dell 2001FP monitor that is 20-inch ended up being extremely popular during the early 2000s. The video clip ports with this monitor are shown below.

Composite to S-Video Comparison

S-Video is actually the real approach to take. Unfortuitously, just the Atari 800, 65XE, and 130XE provide both the chroma and luma signals needed by S-Video. This might be issue since many Atari 8-bit enthusiasts make use of an 800XL that just includes the luma sign. The chroma ability will there be it absolutely was simply never ever attached to the monitor slot within the 600XL, 800XL, and 1200XL. You will find directions online for just how to result in the connection to enable S-Video. We haven’t tried this yet but want to do a post that is future this. Listed here is an Atari Age thread with this.

Dell 2001FP Video Ports

The issue that is final sound. Many LCD monitors don’t have actually sound ability. This implies you’ll want to link the red and white RCA connectors with a speakers. I experienced a very hard time finding tiny speakers for the desktop that accepted RCA noise input. Happily, there is certainly a Y connector that converts the RCA noise up to a 3.5 mm audio connector found of all speakers. Details below within the directions.

Directions

Obtain a Dell 2001FP LCD monitor or comparable. These can be readily available on e-bay for around $50 to $100. You may have the ability to see them locally for less costly since there are plenty still around.

buy a composite to S-Video connector. They are often available on e-bay. I purchased mine from 8-Bit Classics. Be prepared to spend about ten dollars to $25 for those.

Purchase an RCA audio to 3.5 mm sound converter. The main one i purchased i discovered on Amazon for around $10.

Remarks

I have discovered Atari that is getting video modern monitors and TVs become one of the most confusing subjects. This might be partly due to the fact resources on Atari Age along with other sources are inconsistent and sometimes assume the reader has more information about the side that is technical of than they most likely do. The thing I described above is fairly simple and S-Video rocks ! when you have an 800 or XE system. Getting these systems that are old HDMI is a tale for the next time.