Tindie

I never saw a C64 with such high quality image, it seems a true digital output for a 40 years old computer!
The only thing that can be improved is the manual of the RGBtoHDMI that is not straightforward and requires a bit of time.
Strongly recommended!

Frederick | July 17, 2024

Excellent video for 8-bit Ataris

For GTIAdigitizer

I used this in a 600XL together with one of c0pperdragon's custom RGBtoHDMI boards. I appreciated not having to construct my own cable adapter to connect to the RGBtoHDMI. Set up was all very painless, done without solder. I am very impressed with the results. It looks pixel perfect.

Frederick | July 17, 2024

Well made and easier than separate boards/adapter.

I've soldered a handful of RGBtoHDMI boards before, but what c0pperdragon has done makes setting up a system significantly easier. I used the board with a GTIAdigitizer in an Atari 600XL. Installation was a painless process, and it can be done without solder. The results of LumaCode are excellent, worlds better than composite or s-video.

Ryan | July 6, 2024

This is amazing

Installed this on my C128DCR and I couldn't believe the output. I used the included cabling and the C128 VIC II "under board" also from c0pperdragon.

Goodbye ugly jailers.

Steven | July 3, 2024

I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company.

Well, not the company. But I did purchase a second one - mainly because I broke the first one. But no one needs to know that part. Please edit that last part out. Thanks!

Steven | July 3, 2024

Doing Gowd's Work

This man is a wizard. Oh and also, shipping across the big pond? Tracking between the postal providers wasn't the best, but delivery only took days!

Yauheni | June 30, 2024

Amazing. Pixel-pefrect picture.

For ULAdigitizer

Amazing. It worked without any problem on my ZX Spectrum 48k (Issue 3B) the first time I soldered and connected it. The picture quality is perfect, much much better then I got it using all other methods.

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!

Ugo | June 21, 2024

Converting a Sanyo MSX1 MPC-100 was a breeze!

For TMSdigitizer

I wanted to get finally a iper-clear picture, but still on my beloved CRT via RGB. I bought TMSdigitizer (was very easy to install to the MPC-100. The original video IC was already socketed, but I preferred to install a more modern socket before installing the TMSdigitizer and back the original IC).
Result? Amazing.

Beni | June 17, 2024

When dreams come true!

I couldn´t believe my eyes when I saw the picturequality. It looks like it´s running in an emulator on a PC/Mac. Super easy to install even with my limited skills. Thinking of buying? Don´t think - just buy! You will not regret it! I also connected it to a HDMI Audio Embedder and it simply works. The best thing I´ve bought for my C128 in 30 years.

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 30, 2024

The perfect companion for old micros

Lumacode is a fantastic option for crystal clear HDMI output, and supports many machines. The implementation is smart and easy to use. I'm so impressed with the results I plan on grabbing a few more digitizers for my other consoles.

Joshua | April 30, 2024

Finally, a noise free image!

For GTIAdigitizer

I've tried to remove my Atari 800XL's video noise forever, and the GTIAdigitizer with Lumacode has achieved just that. I've been happy with the UAV S-Video mod for analog CRTs, but Lumacode is the way to go for digital upscalers. The HDMI out is perfect for my Retrotink4K setup, with crisp pixels and 0 jailbars. As far as I can tell the kit plays nice with the UAV mod too.

Installation is very simple, and I chose to solder directly to the RF jack. My only gripe is the motherboard RF shield won't fit with the kit installed, but it's not a big deal.

Joshua | April 29, 2024

The best it gets!

For VIC20digitizer

The VIC20digitizer is another great product in the Lumacode line. I've modded my NTSC VIC20 with S-Video, but for digital screens there isn't much better than the crisp HDMI output from Lumacode. Running the output to my Retrotink4K produces a flawless picture that I didn't think possible from this machine.

Installation wasn't bad at all, although removing the shielding around the VIC chip will make access much easier.

For tapping the lumcode signals I opted to sever PIN 1 (+6V) of the A/V port and soldered the VIC20digitizer's LUM directly to the back of the DIN jack for a clean install without case modification. As far as I know the +6V is used only for the RF modulator, which belongs in the trash anyways!

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.

Daniele | March 30, 2024

Excellent video quality

For TIAdigitizer

Never seen such a clear picture from an original VCS.

This product works great with my VCS 2600 "Light Sixer", NTSC version produced in March 1980.
Documentation is ok, but could use some more information about configuring the RGBtoHDMI.
I used the analog daughterboard v4, and selected the "Atari 2600 Lumacode" profile (YUV mode).

Minor hardware issues:
- The provided RCA to 6-pin adapter is lose and may cause intermittent picture glitches if cable is moved.
- I had to replace the original TIA weird white cheap socket on the motherboard, as the machined-pins of the TIAdigitizer would not fit. I tried with a huge amount of pressure to no avail. I decided to use a socket for machined-pins, which worked perfectly. Replacing the socket was easy, as tracks and vias are huge on these old boards. More modern VCS systems may have much better sockets already installed.

Feature request:
- It would be great if this board provided also an audio output pin (and RCA cable) for solderless audio out.

Final words:
Super happy. Thank you.

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 !!!

Nils | March 1, 2024

Excellent piece of Hardware

The vicIIdizer128 is just as excellent as the C64 counterpart. It just works and the image quality is perfect.

Christopher | Feb. 14, 2024

Superb add-on for your old Commie!

C0pperdragon, you are a GENIUS! This thing works perfectly, even on that oddball early VICII chip (6567R56A)!

I put this together in two parts (as it's built) to see how each stage of the upgrade affected the output.

The VIC-II-dizer itself produces a black and white image from the RCA port, and does a very good job cleaning up the image in the process. My particular VICII chip (6567856A) is an early model, and due to odd/unique timings, requires a unique version of the firmware by C0pperdragon for the VIC-II-dizer to work (so tell him if you have this model line when ordering!)
The resulting image in my case was still a bit noisy, but a far cry from the jailbars and RF wiggles that the stock configuration put out. Also, because I don't have an actual CRT, there's a high likelihood that the image was being influenced by my cheap RF-to-VGA adaptor I was using to connect to the monitor too, so don't take my results as representative of the true output being produced at this stage. The takeaway is that the image was massively improved. What the VIC-II-dizer did to the stock output of this old and buggy chip was still pretty magic, to me.

The RBGtoHDMI hat (again, C0pperdragon's variant makes it a breeze to setup) is the final magical flourish that results in a crisp, clear, DIGITAL image on your modern day display that looks just like it's coming from an emulator on your PC, except without the lag, and running on original, native hardware.

This little device completely eliminated the biggest issue with this old hardware, and made it a snap to connect to modern displays! Totally worth the investment in time and money!

Mark | Feb. 2, 2024

NTSC TI99/4a install, worked!

For TMSdigitizer

Easy to install, you do need to do a little soldering and make a pigtail, but was dead simple.
Great product.

Peter | Dec. 4, 2023

Does what it says, make sure you know what you are getting..

For VIC20digitizer

A great little board, was pretty obvious to me (electronic engineer) how to install, to the extent that I didn't look at any documentation until it 'did'nt work properly'
(it shows monochrome with vertical lines)
It does need the additional RGB to HDMI adaptor, available from the same vendor, which also needs an additonal Pi-Zero board and SD card, and mini HDMI to HDMI. It's entirely my error, and would have bought these together had I read it all fully!!
Once put together, with the RGB to HDMI board, and some pretty trivial fiddling with the settings (menu that works in much the same way as a lot of desk top monitor .. two for 'up and down' and one for enter... worked it out pretty quickly...
Fantastic, rock solid , pin sharp display on my 40 odd year old vic20
Note .. need to do something for audio, lash something up with the din connector and headphones or PC-type speaker//whatever..
one niggle, and I can see why, doesn't seem to co-operate with my 'Penultimate' cartridge, probably a bus contention as the digitizers sits right on data and address bus on the VIC chip . Will investigate and see-- may yet be a user error!

Peter | Dec. 4, 2023

Does what it says... and very well.

I have reviewed this in the context of a engineering user, not a 'consumer' in the normal sense. That reflects that the documentation is complete and thorough, but it did not feature an 'out of the box' idiots guide. It took me not very long to pick up the fact that the later releases of the firmware have a 'select profile' in the menu, and could simply find my computer and it worked.
I would recommend taking a bit of time to at least overview the documentation, but I did find the menu navigation, while not exactly intuitive, just a few moments .. similar to menu on many monitors.
Fantastically stable image. (Vic-20)

Günther | Dec. 2, 2023

The best extension for the Commodore 128 (64)

This sharpness and brilliance cannot compare with anything and completely streak-free.
The instructions say to format the SD card for the Pi to FAT32. So it didn't work for me. I had to format the card to FAT and it works great.
Thank you so much for this great product.

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

Excellent project

Using this with a C64 and the VIC-II-Dizer for an excellent picture and perfect scrolling on an HDMI monitor.

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.

Paul | Nov. 1, 2023

Amazing Results

I have found it hard to put into words just how happy I am after I installed your VICIIdizer128. This in combination of the RGB2HDMI has produced the single best 40 column screen for the C128 I have ever seen since having it on a 1902A monitor. It was SO easy to install, and results speak for themselves. I am excited to see where this project goes. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Ronny | Oct. 30, 2023

Einfach der Wahnsinn!

Für perfekte Bildqualität am Commodore 64 mit sehr vielen durchdachten Einstellmöglichkeiten!
Für ein gestochen scharfes Bild!

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!!!

Lee | Oct. 9, 2023

Simply amazing