Please note: This is JP21 version of Medusa, not compatible with European SCART standard. Connecting SCART in European standard may damage the device!

For European version, click here.

Medusa scandoubler is a product that was born after many experiments with Framemeister, OSSC and other upscalers. Lotharek decided to make a quantum leap in this field and make something much better. And to be honest - HE DID IT!

Medusa project was started 6-7 years ago, when two retro stuff geeks have met - Acidmaker (creator of SIO2SD) and Lotharek. Since the very beginning, Acidmaker was after getting perfect picture from Atari ST, Atari 8-bit and Amiga. Meanwhile Lotharek vouched for simple usage, ergonomic and user friendly interface. After 5 long years of development, many prototypes, hours of discussions and testing, thousands of Euros spent, we are very happy to announce, that final product is available now.

Device features (in bold changes in rev B)

• Converts picture from retro systems to modern displays
• The device is manufactured on automated production lines, made to highest standard of SMD and THT assembly
• Scandoubler is housed in metal case with small OLED display
• OSD (on screen display) menu to counterpart an OLED display
• Additional completely new approach to picture settings - with USB connection you can set picture settings via PC. This is also used for firmware upgrades.
• Medusa accepts almost all signals that retro computers can produce:
  • composite (yellow RCA, via SCART)
  • S-Video (via SCART)
  • RGB (via SCART)
  • RGBHV (via VGA connector, separate syncs)
  • 8bit digital input (via DB9 socket) - supports Commodore C128, CGA, EGA, Apple IIc and others
• 2x 3.5mm stereo jack - input and output
• DVI-I output port supplies both digital and analogue signal so it can be used with VGA adapter to connect even old CRT monitors
• Modern TVs and monitors with HDMI input may be used with cheap adapter (not included), or connected directly to DVI input port
• Hundreds of memory slots to save display profiles / settings
• Power supply: micro USB, you can use a mobile phone charger (5V, 500 mA minimum)
• moved audio source switching from CPU to FPGA - gives ability to mix both channels using PWM
• added new PLL to generate audio sample frequency (switching between 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 96k, 192k etc.)
• better op-amp that drives audio output jack socket (32ohm headphones can be connected directly, also better audio quality)
• lowered digital audio amplitude (cleaner, not overdriven audio over DVI)
• 5V voltage on DVI passed through Schottky diode (prevents powering Medusa from DVI)
• better input protection on SCART socket (better protection of fragile NCS2564 chip)

Please see Medusa\'s Wiki for detailed description, user manual, troubleshooting.

At the release, Medusa will be guaranteed to work with following systems in all available formats:

• Sinclair
  • Spectrum 128k
  • Spectrum 48k
  • Pentagon
• Amstrad
  • Amstrad CPC
• Commodore 64
  • C64 PAL
• Atari XL/XE
  • Atari VBXE PAL
  • Atari VBXE DP
  • Atari VBXE NTSC
  • Atari VBXE DN
• Atari ST
  • Atari ST PAL
  • Atari ST NTSC
  • Atari ST HIGH
• Atari Falcon
  • Atari FALCON VGA (this is standard VGA 640x480 - maybe will be changed in the future)
  • Atari FALCON N40
  • Atari FALCON N80
  • Atari FALCON PAL
• Atari on MIST
  • ATARI Viking
• Amiga OCS
  • Amiga PAL
  • Amiga NTSC
• Amiga ECS/AGA (without VGA only)
  • Amiga EURO36
  • Amiga EURO72
  • Amiga SUPER72
  • Amiga DblNTSC
  • Amiga DblPAL
  • Amiga Multiscan
  • Amiga SUPERPLUS
  • Amiga HIGHGFX
  • Amiga HD720
• Amiga ECS/AGA (with VGA only)
  • Amiga DblPAL*
  • Amiga DblNTSC*
  • Amiga EURO72*
  • Amiga Multiscan*
  • Amiga SUPER72*
• MIST
  • MIST MENU
  • MIST QL
  • MIST C64 PAL
  • MIST C64 NTSC
  • MIST C16
  • MIST VIC20
  • MIST ACORN
  • MIST MAC PLUS
• Macintosh (tested on LC475)
  • Mac 512x384
  • Mac 640x480
  • Mac 832x624
  • Mac 1024x768
  • Mac 1152x870
• Standard VGA
  • VGA 800x600
• Special modes (unrecognised PAL-like and NTSC-like)
  • unknown PAL
  • unknown NTSC

Power supply

• micro USB mobile phone charger (5V, 500 mA minimum)

Inputs

• composite video (via SCART)
• S-Video (via SCART)
• RGB (via SCART)
• RGB via VGA input (separate syncs)
• component (via SCART and VGA)

Outputs

• DVI-I (digital and analogue output via adapters)
• Audio in/out (3.5mm stereo jack)
• It is possible to use DVI split cable to achieve dual output

Buttons

There are three buttons:

• Standard functions
  • left button - "up"
  • middle button - "down"
  • right button - "Enter"

• When both RGB and SDTV signals are detected (LED is yellow), middle button switches between RGB and SDTV input.

• On powering up:
  • right button invokes firmware updater - usually you do not need to do that manually - firmware updating application does this automatically for you
  • left and middle buttons pressed together executes factory reset (blue LED should be on for a couple of seconds)

Information displayed on OLED

1. Used A/D chip (RGB or SDTV) and input (SCART/VGA for RGB and S-VIDEO/CVBS for SDTV) or firmware version when there is no input signal
2. detected mode, for RGB name of the system ("Atari ST PAL", "Amiga PAL" itp.), for SDTV detected signal standard (PAL, NTSC, SECAM with type) or "NO INPUT SIGNAL"
3. Horizontal frequency of input signal
4. Vertical frequency of input (and output) signal
5. Flags (such as LINEDBL - line doubling)
6. Current DVI window (you may think of it as a "resolution")
7. Screen shift horizontal:vertical
8. Working Pixel Frequency

Front LED colour

• Red - RGB signal detected
• Green - SDTV signal detected
• Yellow - both signals detected (RGB on VGA and SDTV on SCART) - in this mode you may switch input using middle button
• Blue - firmware flash / clearing settings
• LED off - no input signal detected