2013/11/15

Example : Beatmania IIDX 20 Tricoro by KONAMI

This article is acknowledged by @TMCH_EZ2DX and staff of game center where they are from Japan. Thanks so much.


 Let's discussion about to capture and broadcast the Beatmania IIDX 20 Tricoro. Currently, most of IIDX monitor has been fixed as 1280x720 HD resolution mode, so I will focused on HD mode.


1. Specification of new IIDX 20 Tricoro machine PCB
 - Resolution : 1280x720 60Hz
 - DVI-I output 1 : This is for main monitor.
 - DVI-I output 2 : It must be connected from PCB to capture card during before power on the IIDX
 - DVI-D output : Not confirmed for use (No ouput signal has been through by DVI-D))
 - 3.5 stereo output : It has connected to machine's amplifier. To use this, it should be needed the Y jack.

2. Devices for capture.
 - Capture device : "Full HD resolution" capable any kinds of device include DVI or HDMI input
 - DVI/HDMI cable or HDMI cable with DVI-to-HDMI adapter
 - 3.5 stereo audio cable or 3.5-RCA stereo cable
 - 3.5 Y jack for split the audio signal

 In this work, there is no used display splitter to prevent for EDID/DDC problem, instead of that used by IIDX PC DVI-I output 2. Sometimes, the game occur the lag during its powered on continuously by this method, at own risk if you do.

3. The devices those are for this article
 - Avermedia Live Gamer Portable C875
 - HDMI―DVI cable
 - RCA 3.5 stereo audio split jack
 - 3.5-RCA stereo cable

4. Connecting the cable
 - Connect the DVI-HDMI cable from IIDX to C875 as corresponding to below picture.
 - Split the audio signal by Y jack, then connect to C875 audio input
 - Power on the C875, then power on the IIDX machine
 - Capture it

Connect from IIDX DVI-I output 2 to C875 HDMI input



5. Result and problem
 - The screen has been captured very clearly however, in some cases you can see "force scaled" screen as below screenshot.
(Also this problem has been confirmed by other cards.)
Micomsoft SC-500N1/DVI (Startech PEXHDCAP), DVI ouput to HDMI input case.
Avermedia AVT-C127, DVI ouput to HDMI input case.

 - in the case of C875, the color range of capture has fixed YUV422 8bit 0-255、so that the screen would be occured cut the range of black and white color that would be quiet different than orignal. Change the color range from 0-255 to 16-235 using AviUtl filter could be fixed this problem (actually NOT permanently restore).


ex) The screen has force scaled.
(confirmed by C875 or C127, IIDX DVI-I output 2 to capture HDMI input)

ex) Well captured screen (SC-500N1/DVI, IIDX DVI-I 2 output to capture DSUB(DVI) input)

i.e.) This problem is confirmed that occured by capture source's spec. We can evade this by change the setting by NVIDIA control panel or AMD/ATI catalyst property that set to "No scaling". However the arcade machine's OS are typically "Windows Embedded". In addition, to change the setting even if we connect keyboard/mouse, there are no response, instead of that we had changed the setting it restored back the setting over next power on :D. To evade the force scaled, use the EDID emulator and connect it between IIDX and capture card then it can be permanently capture the screen.

I've found pther case that has no logner to see the "force-scaled" used by different monitor and HDMI splitter in one of game center in South Korea. I'm not sure whether both monitor and splitter has been change since where the game center had used other ones. I guess the successed result of "no-force-scaled" is by monitor. In fact, the splitter has split function, just copy digital signal "as is", that would not be affect the scale effect. 

Updated 2015.10.20
New display mode "HD*" has released without notice. It would be captured as perfect pixel matched, no more need to EDID/DDC emulator. Just change HD to HD* in dip switch setting(tell to machine operator/owner).


ex) Permanently 1:1 pixel captured screen with EDID emulator
(SC-500N1/DVI, IIDX DVI-I 2 to capture DVI or HDMI)





6. Summary
 - Connect the cable from IIDX DVI2 output to C875 HDMI input  - Split the audio signal from IIDX 3.5 stereo output and connect to C875 audio input
 - Power on the C875  - Power on the IIDX machine  - Insert the SD card to C875  - Push the C875 record button then start the record.  - After record, fix the color range using AviUtl (Not must, just If you want)