MiSTer FPGA IO Analog Pro Board Review and Guide! Better Analog Video is Here

The inclusion of the usb-c port is tempting me, but, if there is no benefits if you're an hdmi user, is it still worth to switch for the pro model?

I was under the impression the original analog out board was as good as we were going to get lol. I don't wanna have to rip the thing apart again and spend more money.

Kinda meh for me
this is only for 2 cores.
Direct video works fine. Don't see the point

is there a Saturn DIN to VGA cable?
would this be an improvement versus using the standard HDMI output to a RetroTink 4K?

Could you do a color comparison? How much of a difference is 24 bit color?

Is there a quality difference over direct video mode with no IO board? I have read that direct video can also support 24 bit color.

hnnnnng!

Not gonna lie I would buy this for the power button alone haha.

A huge PSA for everybody is that someone has made pulse with modulation cores for Saturn, PlayStation and N64. These cores give you the exact same 24-bit result out of the analogue board, but it works on the V1 analogue board so no new purchase required.

Think I'm just gonna build a second MiSTer build, so I have one for my desk setup and one for my TV setup, the second one I can build with the I/O direct & BliSTer, plus dual V3.2 SDRAM modules, plus a i2s waveblaster header for installing an internal original 90s Yamaha MIDI GS/XG module and a CM6631A DAC for those phat analogue oscillators, I'd love to install a CMSLPT TSR as well, which has dual Philips SAA1099P sound chips for that beautiful rich sounding real-time chip tune audio (PSG), would love to install a OPL3 as well, but not sure if there would be enough I/O left to do so, but if I could, I would have the trifecta of synth hardware (PSG/FM/MIDI), I could also just spend a bit extra (£140) and get the DREAMBLASTER X16GS, which does all synth standards and does them beautifly, it has a Dream/Roland GS Bank (officially licensed, ROM bank), Dream CleanWave Bank (official, Buran Bank, OPL3-FM General MIDI bank, GXSCC Chiptune bank, plus a powerful DSP for multiple efects and what not, it will cover every MiSTer system there is, and systems like the X6800 and Amiga can use multiple audio standards, like Street Fighter 2 on the X6800 has a beautiful chip tune soundtrack mode, nothing beats real chip tune music playing through a real phat analogue oscillator.

Did I see Jack Burton screen printed on the PCB? 😂

Thanks for the review.
Personally, I'm waiting for their other variant, the IO Direct. Seems like a much better option and you only lose double video output which I don't care for.

I think the new board really cleans things up. Between having a connector that handles both video and audio, not needing an extra adapter for s-video, and cleaning up the power situation, I'm sold. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of the circular Saturn DIN, but I think the benefits outweigh the time I will spend figuring out which way is up on the connector.

I'd love to see a comparison between 18 bit and 24 bit color options to see how much better it looks.

The analog out was often useful for monitors where the digital output wouldn’t recognize, as their VGA ports were generally more tolerant of odd signals. This now requires a proprietary adapter for that use case, which is a bit disappointing.

Moreover, I’ve had some pretty significant issues over the years with SEGA’s Mini-DIN video jacks, which has me a bit concerned. They have a habit of getting loose over time, to the degree that the metal indent on the connector housing bends itself out of shape after normal use and has to be bent back with pliers to ensure a proper connection. (If I don’t do that, I lose at least one of the three video color channels over time and have to adjust the position of the cable to get it back.)

I don't buy the importance of color representation. It varied so much from CRT to CRT that "back in the day" you didn't see what the artist wanted so the most accurate reproduction is an inaccurate reproduction

Perfect timing, ordered mine yesterday!
Can't wait for that Degub mode!

The old power connector definitely needed a change, I had it fry a USB board once by bumping the connectors into the aluminum case without realizing it was flipped on...but jeez this would be an expensive upgrade with all kinds of new cables and a new backplate to match.

Also worth mentioning that it removes the toslink port, so you can only use mini toslink for optical audio. Important for us who use dedicated amps and dacs on our setups.

Sounds interesting.
Would be cool if you test this new board with the clone FP10.

I would have loved to see a comparison between the old analog board and the new one :(. I'm so tempted.

I don't see how this is gonna work well with scart? With the old board, I have a VGA to Scart adapter and get Audio with RGB straight to my old CRT without and extra audio connection. Scart was a huge thing in Europe.

So is this new board better than doing direct video through HdMi? I may still get it anyway as the USBC and power button are interesting but I’m wondering how much better would the video quality be?

Thanks for the video, very interesting.
Will the lack of a secondary SD port be a problem for some cores? X68000 needed it last time I checked iirc

Even for cores where you can replace it with a VHD file, I find it a bit annoying.

DEGUB. Pretty funny.

I'm more interested in the USB power supply. There's a problem causing noise on the DE10nano by using just any power supply, is that problem still present for USB power supplies? with the tap to project, external SSD, controller batteries, Wi-Fi and BT the MiSTer power requirements are larger than what the OG PSU can do

Didn't quite understand how light guns will work. No need for a breakout board or a cable with an extra connector with this new board?

I came for the IO analog pro board review. I stayed for cat pen.

Thanks for the review! I ordered mine a few days ago, waiting for that to ship now. Spent way too much on my Mister system(like $550) riiight before Taki Udon announced his clone board, and they were out of the analog systems so I just grabbed a digital dual-RAM system and waited a few months. Really kicking myself for not magically anticipating Taki's clone board, I spent my annual bonus on my Mister, but this board's looking pretty promising. Picked up a SNAX64, a few Guncons(each gen) and a Jogcon for Ridge Racer 4, so I should have a pretty rad setup soon.

Edit: He didn't have the rear panels in stock, btw, hasn't had them in stock for months, so I just plan on having an open butt on my Mister. Not ideal, but I can't keep waiting, I've waited years to use this nice 32" CRT for some real retro gaming.

All the Magic smoke this new board will make. /s I swear all the Mars idiots are at it AGAIN.

Big Trouble is my favorite movie of all time

Love that Escape from New York poster!!

USB C and Saturn AV, thats just perfect. OMG the dual RAM Analog is FINALLY HERE!!!! HELL YEAH! MisterAddons kills it. Stoked!!!!!!

I'm hoping with this analog board I can output accurate composite video without dot crawl or rainbowing effects caused by adapters. I'm not sure if the current native composite cores using an analog board achieve this. If anyone knows please leave a comment.

I currently have a digital only solution and use the the Axunworks converter in my DAC chain to output composite. It has a pot to adjust the dot crawl etc that works great to remove most artifacts (most people don't know it has a pot). Still if a better composite solution can be had from native composite cores I must give it a try.

im curious if retrocastle will do a new board as well. love his stuff.

Is this going to be a significant improvement over the YC Active Encoder Board for S-Video/Composite out or is it probably not worth the price of upgrade if you already have one?

Love getting upgrades like this! Personally as an owner of a digital board using analogue over hdmi to my CRT I wouldn't buy it due to too many dealbreakers : saturn port, single ram, loss of power switch (sync on green should be a setting not a switch). If/when all that is solved (maybe some of it will be solved by Taki's clone) I'll hapilly hand over my hard-earned cash. Also I love the idea of dual video out but that's not available with dual ram.

So, how does the Pro board video quality compare to the original board with VGA port? Honestly the original board with that d-sub to BNC break out cable looks absolutely amazing on a PVM/BVM as it is from years back.

What's the point of the saturn din output? Deal breaker for me, what a shame.

I do think the Saturn DIN is useful in certain situations, but VGA is a MUCH MUCH better port imo. The fact you can screw it in to ensure a connection and don't have to worry about bent pins, it makes it a much better physical connection. I wish he had both options available.

This is a great video. Thank you for doing it!

I’m not gonna lie, I love the VGA port on my mister. It’s so convenient and those old school CRT and LCD monitors are so easy to just hook up and go.

Do the cores require updates to correctly work with the 24-bit video output?

Very interesting.
Is this MisterAddons exclusive, or is this a public design, that could be sold by the other retailers as well?
because shipping over the ocean, plus taxes, is gonna be really expensive.

I don't like the change to the Saturn video port. I realize the advantages, but I already have VGA cables and VGA adapters, so it's an extra proprietary set of cables I need to buy. Honestly, it's a deal breaker for me and a reason to choose a different analog IO board.

Firstest!

First

FIRST!