mac-se-video-converter converts the video output of a Mac Plus/SE/Classic using a Raspberry Pi Pico to one of:

• A VESA compatible VGA signal.
• Monochrome composite video.

This is an active adapter that digitally reads the Mac’s 512×[email protected] and converts it. The VGA out signal is to 1024×[email protected] which should work with any VESA compatible VGA monitor. Composite video output is PAL 288p@50/576i@50 format. (Composite video should work with NTSC 480i@60 with some currently unwritten code tweaks.)

My use case for this is using an old Mac SE motherboard I have saved from back in the day. I imagine it could also be useful for if your CRT has died and can’t source another, or for direct video capture.

I did this project to use my VGA demo board, but there’s nothing that specifically requires it. This project can be done on the cheap with just the Pico in a bread board, the logic level converter, some resistors, and Dupont wires.

See all the details on GitHub.