So I’m trying to get a small videosynth setup going (Syntonie VU003B and CBV001, LZX Castles and ESG3 with a Tip Top Zeus Studio Bus), but it’s been a real pain to run digital videos from my Macbook Pro M1 into the analog domain. I’ve tried a couple of Blackmagic converters(Micro HDMI to SDI, Mini HDMI to SDI, SDI to analog), with no success, until I found a cheap HDMI to component EASYCEL that could send HDMI from my laptop into a Sony Trinitron. Finally something that works… until I try to get the HDMI out into VU003B-ESG3. I think I get the video in the wrong speed, because it scrolls to the right. The converter reads “IN 1920 x 1080 P59, OUT 720 x 480 I59”. Maybe it’s something related to the change between progressive and interlaced? I tried changing resolution on the easycel, syncing the VU003B to the ESG3 with the sync RCA jack on the back, changing the output setting on the dip switches of ESG3 and using an Extron DVS 304 scaler with no success. One thing that was funny is that when I put the VU003B on a different case(4ms Pod) the scroll goes faster! I’d appreciate any insight into this situation.
I don’t have any HDMI converter experience, so I can’t help with that aspect but just to be clear, your sync should be going from the VU003B to the ESG3. Additionally, the settings on the ESG3 should be set to whatever the input format is, since the ESG3 doesn’t convert between timings. Is that how you have it set up?
Did you build your VU003b yourself? I know there were changes (mods) to the output resistors, I think 499r 1/4W to 75r 1/2W resistors. The converter I’m using goes from HDMI to component and I don’t have issues but when plugging composite straight in, which should yield luma only I think, I get the scrolling. I haven’t had time to mod my unit and see if that scratches the itch.
It’s fixed! I tried syncing the VU003B to the ESG3 with a different cable, and it worked. It kind of felt like it was the sync since the start, but couldn’t figure it out.
I built it myself, with the mod. It works!
The series output resistor change only affects the clarity of the picture in HD timings, it shouldn’t mess with any kind of sync issue.
There was another change though to a resistor involved in the sync extraction circuit to optimize it for HD sync. It went from 100R to 47R. I only had very sparse HD syncing issues with my VU003B DIY prior to modding but I did see it happen. It just took replugging the input video source to fix it but I did see it occur. Worth it if you’re going to mod it for the HD output clarity, anyway.
Mods are explained here: