VIC-II-dizer

Name: VIC-II-dizer
SKU: 30286
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.77 (13 reviews)

(13 Reviews)

Small add-on board to get a digital video signal from a C64 home computer.

Designed by c0pperdragon in Austria

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Small add-on board to get a digital video signal from a C64 home computer.

US SHIPPING ONLY For tax reasons, I can not use Tindie for sales to anywhere else than the USA. Please use my dedicated shop for worldwide shipping. What is it? This board is inserted between the VIC…

US SHIPPING ONLY

For tax reasons, I can not use Tindie for sales to anywhere else than the USA. Please use my dedicated shop for worldwide shipping.

What is it?

This board is inserted between the VIC-II chip and its socket in the C64 home computer. The FPGA on the board listens to the digital communication between the VIC-II and the rest of the system and re-generates the video output in a near-digital form. This output signal (we call it 'lumacode') can then be flawlessly upscaled to a pixel-perfect HDMI signal using an RGBtoHDMI device or something with equal capabilities.

Why did you make it?

The original video output of homecomputers of the 1980th is of pretty low quality. Using a modern TV to display this signal normally does not make this any better. In fact it normally just exaggerates the visible noise. Also there is basically no way to improve the analog signal because of the random nature of the noise.

With my digital-only approach, the monitor picture is absolutely perfect without any noise or ghosting.

What makes it special?

Contrary to my previous solution (C64 Video Enhancement) this is now much smaller and the installation does not require soldering.

Compatibility

The board can autodetect the type of the VIC-II chip and adjusts its operation accordingly. This works with one exception: The very early and rare revision 6567R56A has slightly different timings than the other NTSC variants and will not work with the autodetection. In such a case, you need to specifically request a specialized firmware to be programmed into the board. You can do that using the comment box of the Tindie order. Starting with 20.5.2024 all boards will ship with the newest firmware 2.5 which adds compatibility with the newly invented FLESCOS effect.

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Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (4.54)

Shipping: (4.77)

Communication: (4.77)

Ugo | June 21, 2024

The best picture quality ever seen on C64

This little marvel, just like TMSdigitizer I also bought for my MSX, just 100% emulate the original chip by sniffing the original socket and output it digitally.

I tested it with dozen of demos and games I have, and it's just like the original VIC-II chip, just with better picture quality (btw, it's easy to spot as you can use both the digital output and the CVBS origian output of the original fitted chip).

Thanks for the many many many many many many man-hours you invested in these products. Best wishes!

Christopher | May 14, 2024

VIC-II-dizer makes the C64 usable with modern LCD screens

Great product. Just works as described. Creates an even more brilliant picture quality when paired with the RGB2HDMI option.

Joshua | April 29, 2024

It's Magic

What lumacode achieves with this VIC-II digitizer and a single RCA jack is simply amazing. I stuck this in my PAL C64C for crisp HDMI to my Retrotink4K and the picture is flawless, without sacrificing anything but the useless RF signal.

Instalation is simple, however I did need to put in an extra 40pin socket for better contact. No components were in the way, only that the digitizer's legs are just a bit short for the stock socket.

Mark | March 28, 2024

Awesome device with fantastic output through RGBtoHDMI

I bought this because of all of my vintage computers, the C64 has by far the worst video out, actually thats not exactly true, they're all terrible but most of the machines I have can be run through the awesome RGBtoHDMI. Now my c64 can too and I can enjoy it as much as all of the others. Mounting it into the C64 was really really easy, easier than the RGBtoHDMI out for the amiga (which was a similar process). Re-using the obsolete RF output is pure genius and saves modifying the case. The only problem I had was making the cable to the RGBtoHDMI. It took a little research and logical deductions to realise that the Green line and the Sync line were both needed to be connected to the centre pin of the composite out. Maybe I missed something.

All in all, what a product! Simply could not be better. Utterly fantastic.

Terry | March 23, 2024

Highly recommended.

Brilliant device. Easy to install. Working on my original 1982 C64 with ceramic VICII. Absolutely fantastic image, it's hard to believe this is coming from my C64. I love this. Don't hesitate, buy one!

Michael | March 21, 2024

Klare Kaufempfehlung!

Ich habe mir mittlerweile einen zweiten VICII dizer zugelegt. Das Projekt liefert das beste Bild welches ich je gesehen habe. Quasi 4K für den C64!!!
Wenn es günstiger wäre, würde ich noch mehr kaufen und den Rest meiner "RETROFLOTTE" umrüsten.
Top Job ! - Vielleicht gibt es ja mal eine "Happy Hour" :-)

Emanuele | March 19, 2024

Amazing quality

The mod is amazing, the quality of the video is simply perfect, never saw a C64 so clear.
The only thing that can be improved is the documentation, especially how to set the RGBtoHDMI, I spent a bit of time finding the correct setup with the YUV Commodore 64 profile. I know that it is not strictly related to VIC-II-dizer but as a matter of fact it is the most common combination to hook it to the RGBtoHDMI, so it could have been explained in the github repository.

Anyway, great work, thanks for this very useful board.

Frederic | March 14, 2024

Perfect picture on HDMI

Amazing little device, absolutely love it. Works beautifully on my Atari 2600 and my C64.
Almost unreal, most think I am running an emulator but it's the original hardware.

If you ever consider a pricedrop, I will buy it for all my Atari's and C64's. It's THAT good !!!

Christopher | Nov. 27, 2023

It's a little miracle for your old console!

Look, not everybody wants to have the absolute "pure" nostalgic experience just to re-live the glory days of the 8-bit era. Not everybody needs the whole kit and kaboodle to have fun again. I don't need the old fragile floppies and slow, decrepit drive. I'm not going to waste time fretting over keeping the internal components period-correct, not when some of the biggest downsides can be eliminated and fixed with modern tech. I certainly don't need to limit myself to the small, old-school CRT tubes anymore, not with this awesome little miracle worker doing its thing inside! My C64 has one of those early VIC-II chips that requires the special snowflake firmware treatment (6567R56A), and wow does it ever make things better! I don't even have the RGBtoHDMI portion of the magic spell yet, but I am in awe of what this thing is doing already!

Mike | Nov. 19, 2023

Great product

Perfect picture and perfect scrolling. This is a great way to use a C64 with a modern HDMI display.

Ronny | Oct. 27, 2023

glasklares Bild dank VIC-II-dizer

Nach langer Suche fand ich diese einfache, zu installierende Möglichkeit.
Den VIC-II-dizer, den RGBtoHDMI (Mono & LumaCode) für den Raspberry Pi Zero WH sowie das Gehäuse für den RGBtoHDMI mit dem Pi Zero WH
Die Installation ist sehr gut beschrieben.
So ist es auch für den Laien nachvollziehbar und einfach auszuführen.
Vielen Dank für diese preiswerte, kaum sichtbare und einfach zu installierende Möglichkeit, um
endlich ein 1A Bild mit einem originalen Commodore 64 und neueren Standardmonitor zu bekommen.

EINFACH PERFEKT UND MUSS UNBEDINGT WEITER EMPFOHLEN WERDEN!!!

Thomas | Oct. 5, 2023

Ein perfektes Bild durch den VIC-II-dizer

Versand (innerhalb Österreich) ist ultra schnell.
Die Doku ist tadellos und gut nachvollziehbar.

Der VIC-II-dizer läßt sich kinderleicht installieren.

So ein gutes, klares Bild hatte ich noch nie bei einem C64!
Es funktioniert einfach perfekt!
Danke, danke, danke!!!
Ich bin total begeistert!

Das schönste ist das Konzept:
- ein kleiner unauffälliger Zwischensockel im Retro Computer
- außen nur EIN Adapter zum HDMI Anschluss des TV Gerät für alle Geräte

Perfekt!!

Nils | Aug. 19, 2023

Absolutely amazing!

I just received the VIC-II-dizer and installed it immediately. The outcome is just amazing. I've never seen a crispier picture from a c64 aside from a Ultimate64.

Very recommended!!

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