Vectrex Monitor Audio In ?
Bardsey
Im new here so please excuse my first post.
I have a couple of vectrex units and have been reading about the
monitor. It says that the monitor is driven by a digital to analog
converter. Does this mean that the monitor receives an analog signal ?
If that is the case, does anyone knowhow this may be driven by audio ?
I have very little electronics know how but have used oscilloscopes in
a similar way and read about vector scopes. What is the nature of the
analog signal, how many channels would it use ? apologies if this is a
little vague but im looking to use audio signals to create images on
the vectrex screen. If anyone out there can help me i would really
appreciate it, you are very welcome to email me off list. many thanks
for your time.
Bardsey
VectrexMad!
I don't know off hand what the min/max voltages can be.
I keep a database of Vectrex webpages so I have a link to pretty much
everything concerning the vectrex :)
This link might be useful to you (it shows where the X/Y cable is):
http://www.zektor.com/zvg/downloads/vectrex.pdf
If you have very little electronics experience please be aware poking
around inside the vectrex as with all CRTs could lead to electric
shock even with the Vectrex unplugged. Be especially wary of the
suction cap that plugs into the tube. You need to check on the net to
find out how to safely discharge everything. If you don't know what
you are doing I wouldn't dabble in the back of the Vectrex.
regards
VectrexMad!
www.vectrex.co.uk
Bardsey
many thanks for the reply and info.
Ive been in the back of a vectrex (MB) before to repair it. it was
edge of the seat stuff but i resurrected it and got it working
perfectly.
If anyone has an oscilloscope or any knowledge of the min/max voltage
that would be great :)
Im also really interested in what kind of waveforms the signals carry
to display the images.
the zector box looks real good, but out of my price range at the
moment...
thanks again .
The vectrex always continues to interest me.. back to minestorm ;)
Roberto Nerici
> Hello group,
> Im new here so please excuse my first post.
Hello! :-)
I can't help with your question, hopefully the link VectrexMad has
posted will be helpful, or someone else knows something useful. However
I'm interested in the idea so do let us know if you get anywhere with this.
On a not very related topic, I've been wondering what it would take to
make a device which could process audio in to get the kind of data that
music visualisations are based on. Then we could have a Vib Ribbon-type
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vib-Ribbon) game on the Vectrex :-)
Roberto/.
VectrexMad!
> If anyone has an oscilloscope or any knowledge of the min/max voltage
> that would be great :)
> Im also really interested in what kind of waveforms the signals carry
> to display the images.
There might be more details in the Vectrex Service manual or Vectrex
Trouble Shooting guide.
Have you read these? You can get it on www.vectrex.nl under the
documentation tab.
> the zector box looks real good, but out of my price range at the
> moment...
I think they stopped making the zector card.
One day I will look into this because I want to drive a Vector monitor
from my Vectrex. My first opportunity would be just to put a scope on
the X/Y cable and take some measurements. Unfortunately I've got too
many other things to do this year, but you never know.
But if you or someone else does this I would be very interested to
know.
regards
VectrexMad!
www.vectrex.co.uk
dunx
hey Bardsey,
just stumbled on your post. i've done a bunch of stuff on the vectrex
screen using sound signals (if you want you can look under videos at
http://www.duncanmalashock.com), and i thought i'd write to tell you
that a regular line level signal was totally enough voltage to make it
work for me, so i don't think you'll need an amplifier if that's what
you're wondering. i used the vectrex cable that zektor makes (costs
about 20 bucks, but maybe you could make your own for cheaper?) and
soldered it to a 3-in-1 video cable (i think it's called a composite
video cable) and it works fine for modulating x/y, and brightness
also.
the vectrex screen is nice and big, with a white trace, and the
results can be really cool, but there's one kinda disappointing thing
about it that might be a deal breaker, depending on what you want to
do and how you're going to do it: the vectrex has one of these
annoying screen-protection circuits that turns off the beam and
reduces the deflection output (am i saying this right?) when the x/y
input drops below a certain frequency. this is supposed to keep the
screen from burning a spot in the middle when the beam isn't moving,
but the result is that it's a hassle to try to make it work like an
oscilloscope at audio frequencies.
i've taken it to an electronics guy and he told me the protection
circuit is this weird network of transistors that he can't untangle.
i don't really know about this stuff, and if anyone here knows what
i'm talking about and has any experience or ideas on how to get past
this circuit, i would really appreciate it.
hope this helps, and good luck.
Duncan