Framemeister XRGB Mini

Those who follow the Skooter Blog know that I started in the world of RGB classic consoles in mid- 2013, with the acquisition of SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI (SCART + HDMI to HDMI Video Converter – Black) and the my first SCART cable, standard which until then was somewhat unclear to me.

The SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI is a relatively inexpensive solution that does a good job of picking up the RGB video console and do upscale to 1080p. Latency is low and the image has good quality, although there is no filter options or anything. It is a huge leap for someone used to use the composite video or RF. And SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI just helping me for a long time.

Last year, ended up getting also a Component Video Converter (YPbPr), S-Video, Composed Video (CVBS) and Stereo Audio to HDMI (YPbPr + CVBS + S-video to HDMI Video Converter – Black (100~ 240V) for use with my Atari 2600 US VCS with S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio and Pause, but he ended up not working with the signal provided by Atari 2600, perhaps a little out of standard.

That's when I decided it was time to upgrade on my upscaler. The Framemeister XRGB Mini the Japanese company Micomsoft it is acclaimed as the best upscaler signals to 240p and 480i we have today in the market. These are the resolutions used by virtually all the islands from the first to the fifth generation, which includes Atari 2600, the Mega Drive, the Super Nintendo, and the Playstation One, which are the ones I have.

The SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI is every sign as if 480i (480 Resolution lines, interlaced), but most of the fourth generation and previous consoles often work with 240p (240 Resolution lines, progressive). This is where shines Framemeister XRGB Mini, that correctly identifies such signs and takes this into consideration when making the upscale to. Furthermore, he has a series of filters, settings and options to adjust the image to the taste of the customer and the console being used.

For those who like scanlines, side effect of some older TVs, the Framemeister XRGB Mini also have the option to simulate them, just as do many emulators. In this case it is better to use the output resolution at 720p instead of 1080p (Full HD), since scanlines not look great at 1080p. Even the rounded edges of the older TVs can be simulated. The appearance can also be adjusted, in other words, nothing classic console running on 16:9 with stretched image.

In search of Framemeister XRGB Mini in Amazon and no eBay, found the prices a bit high. I just then finding Solaris Japan, sends bone Framemeister directly from their homeland, Japan, with 3 cargo types to choose from, “invoice friendly”, and prices somewhat lower than that found in another store. Then there was even made my purchase. I opted for the regular shipping, which is the intermediate. Note that the DHL package is only one package, DHL had nothing to do with the delivery.

There is option with or without the Cape D-Terminal Adapter for Component Video. For those who will use any console with component video output is essential purchase the adapter, because the component video input Framemeister uses this standard D-Terminal instead of the three jacks RCA as is common here. I have no console that uses component video, but either way I acquired the adapter to be guaranteed if you buy a console that uses component video, because the adapter must be very difficult to find outside of Japan, and buy it later on Solaris mean pay another shipping and wait a few more weeks.

Before buying I researched quite, read more reviews, watch videos, etc. So already bought two accessories that are also almost essential, which came before and have been presented here in Skooter Blog, they are:

• EuroSCART Converter for Framemeister XRGB Mini
• Adhesive with translation to English for the Remote Control Mini XRGB Framemeister

The EuroSCART Converter for Framemeister XRGB Mini is very useful because the Framemeister XRGB Mini has SCART input. He receives the RGB signals by a plug mini DIN 8 pins, which apparently is not a standard and should have been used just to keep the small size of the equipment, since the SCART plug is quite large. Along with Framemeister comes an adapter 8 pins for JP-21, but note that the JP-21, While using the same plug SCART, is not a compatible standard. Internal connections are different. Most SCART cables sellers, like retrogamingcables and to retro_console_accessories, also make cables in PG-21 standard for those who prefer. Who will that route not need to buy EuroSCART Converter for Framemeister XRGB Mini, But if the switches SCART are already hard to find, the switches JP-21 are almost impossible, so I think more advantage you have the SCART which is a little less unusual, the benefit of using switches.

Already Adhesive with translation to English for the Remote Control Mini XRGB Framemeister is excellent for those who, I like, knows nothing of Japanese and want to easily identify the buttons on the remote control. Without it would be much more complicated to use Framemeister. With all the adhesive is simpler.

The Framemeister came well packed, with all accessories, support to put it standing, etc. The manual is in Japanese. The menu itself is in Japanese, but you can change to English. Recommended Reading this wiki to learn the basic settings.

The source is 100V, but I had no problems using it with 127V. Those who live in regions that use only 220V will need a power adapter or other power adapter, using the same type of plug and is able to provide DC 5V and 2,3a. The plug is Type A, which is the standard in Japan (and US), then one is necessary adapter to turn it into the sockets of the new Brazilian standard. I used my Chinese strip.

The Cape D-Terminal Adapter for Component Video and the converter to JP-21 also came in the box, but still did not use them. The remote control operates on two AAA batteries, included.

After adesivar the remote control, connect Framemeister on the switch, and audio cables and S-Video Atari 2600, and update the firmware to the latest version through a mini-SD card, it's time to test the Framemeister with my consoles.

The Sega Genesis to SCART RGB cable for Mega Drive 1 / Sega Genesis 1 / Mega Drive 2 by Tec Toy with Stereo Audio (Pack-a-Punched!) was the first to be tested. I made the recommended configuration by wiki signals to 240p and got picture and sound quality excellent. But not everything is perfect. The Framemeister unfortunately does not recognize the 480i signal Mega Drive. I only know of two games that use this mode: “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” and “Battle Cars”. Both use only in 480i mode 2 players with split screen. When the Mega Drive switches to 480i scrambles to screen each and you can not see anything. This is already a known problem Framemeister and that does not have solution. Point to SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI which does not have this problem, despite considering all image as 480i. But, in 240p test suite is worth highlighting the transparency test, that works perfectly in Framemeister, but failure SCART Video Converter + HDMI to HDMI he did not have real support 240p.

The first Video Sega Genesis on the Framemeister was done filming the TV, then can appear some artifacts introduced by the TV and especially by the camera, addition of ambient noise, including the rain that was falling. 🙂

But these two videos have been recorded after the arrival of my Elgato – Game Capture HD60, then the image and sound you see is exactly what the Framemeister, except for any artifacts introduced by Elgato, the compression process, by Youtube own, by your monitor, etc. Be sure to zoom in and watch in 1080p.

The Playstation One to Playstation SCART RGB cable 1/2 with Audio and Guncon output (RGB Cable with Audio and Guncon output) worked without problems. 2D games are very beautiful, while 3D games suffer a bit due to the exposure of serrated that are usually balanced by the bad image of the composite video, but not beyond RGB sharpness. The Framemeister supports both the 240p mode as the mode 480i Playstation One. The only problem is that some games are switching between modes. In general 480i using the cutscenes and 240p in fact game. The Framemeister takes a while to detect the signal change and with it the screen is dark for a 2 seconds, which can disrupt in some cases. Furthermore, as the ideal settings for each mode are different, you must configure only one of them and leave the other way with a sub-optimal image when used.

Again, we have two videos, a shot of the series and another shot with the Elgato. The second presents desynchronization between the audio and the video Playstation One, but is due to the capture, it does not happen on TV.

The Atari 2600 worked well. The image via S-Video through the Framemeister is clearly better than the composite video. Both composite video through the own Framemeister as composite video on direct TV offer images considerably worse. With the RF then you can not even compare, S-Video image via Framemeister is much better. Just noticed that, a few times, as soon as you turn on the console appear some artifacts in the image, but just turn off and on again to shove off. It seems to be a rare problem that hardly appears. Also found that the colors were a little out, pulling a lot for the green. Decreases colon in control of hue and got better, in my view. Video recorded filming the screen with the level of tint in the original, and captured with Elgato – Game Capture HD60 are already fit I did after. I noticed that a single game presented sync problems: the “Condor Attack”. In this case the solution is to change the SYNC MODE option Framemeister AUTO to OFF. If you do not remember correctly, Condor Attack also had some timing problems in CRT TVs, must be a defect in the same game.

In the case of Atari 2600, the first two videos were made filming the TV screen, and the third is with Elgato. I forgot to put the camera in manual focus, so sometimes it loses focus on the image filmed TV:

The Super Nintendo to RGB SCART Cable for Super Nintendo (SNES), Super Famicom, Gamecube and Nintendo 64 (RGB Cable) was the one who did not work first. To function, synchronization needed to increase the level menu Framemeister. It seems that the synchronization signal along with composite video is somewhat weak for the default configuration of Framemeister, then you need to slightly increase the level. This cable was also with the left and right audio reversed. Recently got a new cable, this time with the retrogamingcables, com Composite Sync (CSYNC), in other words, this new cable the composite video channel is actually just taking the sync signal extracted directly from Super Nintendo. With the new cable must not move in synchronization level. The photos and the recorded video filming the screen with the Play-Asia cable, and videos captured with the Elgato – Game Capture HD60 already are the new cable. The problem of slow to switch between modes 480i and 240p also applies to the Super Nintendo. Fortunately not appear to be many games that alternate between the two modes. The “Syvalion” is one of.

Overall, I think the Framemeister XRGB Mini is a good investment for those who want to extract the best possible image of their classic consoles in a modern TV. At cost, however, I would expect him to be perfect, after all is almost the price of a new generation console in civilization. But I was aware of the problem with the 480i games Mega Drive and the slowness when switching between modes, and it's something I'm willing to tolerate in favor of better image. The Atari 2600 was an unknown, I did not think anything about his possible operation with Framemeister, up because everything also depends on the against which was used. I was happy to see it running smoothly with all the games I tested, although one required an extra set.

Check out the tracking information package, that gave me a scare with “Not located in the postal stream”. But now discovered that this phrase is equivalent to two sentences (two status) different in the new system, and one of them is equivalent to a simple “Object with late delivery”, which in Brazil is pretty much the standard.

Data	Local	Situation
17/12/2014 18:02	CSD [Removed]	Delivery Effected
17/12/2014 09:52	[Removed]	Out for delivery to the recipient
09/12/2014 12:39	CTCI Paraná – Curitiba / PR	Not located in the postal stream
	Please, please contact us by clicking here.
25/11/2014 20:27	CTCI SAO PAULO / GMIMP – Sao Paulo-SP	Routed
	In transit to SITC Paraná – Curitiba / PR
25/11/2014 14:32	UNIT international traffic SAO PAULO – Sao Paulo-SP	Awarded
	Received / Brazil
21/11/2014 13:36	JAPAN	Routed
	In transit to International Treatment Unit – BRAZIL / BR
21/11/2014 01:03	JAPAN	Awarded
	Received the unit export
20/11/2014 19:29	JAPAN	Posted

And the purchase summary table:

Product Name:	Framemeister XRGB Mini
Name Original:	XRGB-mini Framemeister Compact Up Scaler Unit
Store:	Solaris Japan
Value:	¥ 36.790 (R$ 907,91)
Current value:	¥ 38.090 (US$ 320,72)
Payment Method:	PayPal
Shipping Type:	Regular
Shipping Fee:	¥ 2.575
Package Home Country:	Japan
Purchase Data:	13/11/2014
Submission Date:	20/11/2014
Data Delivery:	17/12/2014
Time in Transit:	27 days
Declared content:	Upscan Converter
Type Marked Content:	Gift
Declared Value:	–
Taxed:	Not
Taxable Value:	–
Tax Value:	–

And here I close the article on Framemeister XRGB Mini, with a positive evaluation of the product and the store.

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