How to deinterlace SNES video for PC play/capture?
I have an original SNES. I'm trying to output video to my pc, using the component output. I'm using a Diamond VC500. I got the latest drivers ("VC500 Complete Package" from that page). Main issue: the video is showing up weirdly interlaced:
As a side point, I'm not sure what software to use to view the capture stream. If I use VLC, there's a noticeable input delay I can't figure out how to fix. If I use the EZ Grabber software that comes with the capture card, there's no video shown but the screenshot tool works (how I captured the above image):
If I use OBS, I can't get the audio to work.
Anyways, the main question is: How can I capture SNES video to PC without the weird interlacing?
Windows 10 Home, GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
edit: I found this related question, so I'm assuming my question is appropriate for this SE: How can I play a SNES through a VGA monitor?
Best Answer
Your SNES footage is natively progressive scan, outside of occasional 480i title screens and such. The combing you're seeing means something is interpreting 240p (or 224p or whatever) as an interlaced signal. The most likely culprit is your capture card.
I suggest getting something like a RetroTink 2X to line double the 240p signal to 480p, which modern devices are much more comfortable with. It will look a lot better than even the screenshot in your self-reply. Your capture card will need to be able to accept HDMI inputs. Another cheaper option that's not as good is to get an old DVD recorder and pass the signal through that, as it will also act as a line doubler. I've used both methods and they get the job done.
Also, unless you desperately need to save space or bandwidth, please record at 59.4fps. SNES games look awful at half refresh rate. Not only are they choppy just in normal motion, but the 60hz flicker they often employ for faux transparency or to indicate damage is screwed up and you'll either see a solid sprite or nothing at all. The SNES is over 30 years old now; there's no reason modern captures of it should look objectively worse than what we saw on our CRTs in the '90s.
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