VIDI digitizer

A video digitizer for the Amstrad CPC from Rombo Productions.

Scanning Modes

The software supports 3 modes (at hardware side, there are only 2 modes):

• Mode 2 - 640x200x1 - true hardware mode
• Mode 1 - 320x200x4 - true hardware mode
• Mode 0 - 160x192x16 - special software mode: the software performs sixteen Mode 2 scans (with different brightness settings in each pass), and combines them to a 16-color image. Obviously, this method works only with still images (camcorder aimed at still image, or VCR with "freeze picture" mode). Moreover, the CPC with CTM640/CTM644 colour monitor can't display 16 grayscales so the picture will look like crap, however, it will look pretty much perfect on a GT64/GT65 green monitor. The software scans only 192 lines in this mode (not 200 lines), but this is just due to lazy programming (the programmer didn't handle the region "under" the OSD menu at the bottom of the screen), aside from that, it'd be certainly possible to scan all 200 lines even in Mode 0.

Pictures

• 
  The VIDI video digitizer
• 
  Intern VIDI
• 
  Vidi Disc
• 
  Example of VIDI digitizing
• 
  Example of VIDI digitizing
• 
  Example of VIDI digitizing
• 
  Mode 0 on GT65
• 
  Mode 0 on CTM644

Publicity

• Vidi
• 
  Advert 1
• 
  Advert 2

Reviews

• ACU Issue 12, 1986, page 49, 50
• Amstradbladet 1987, Issue 4 page 8-11 (Danish)
• Amstrad Action, Issue 115, 1995 page 19

Manual

• VIDI Manual (pdf)
• VIDI Manual (txt)

Download

• Rombo Video Digitiser.zip (DSK for Emulators)

Software was available on cassette, disc, and (as an upgrade option) on ROM. The latter one requires an external ROM BOX to be of any use (the Vidi board doesn't include a ROM socket).

See also =

• ARA Video Digitizer - another video digitizer (Jagot & Leon)