But not all hardware supports RGB, and some that do may need workarounds. Shall I do future episodes on other consoles if the story differs from this (for example, the ZX Spectrum, NES, Game Gear, Dreamcast, GameCube and more use alternate approaches and/or cables so I could make videos on them, but the Master system is pointless to show as it would be the same methods in this demonstration). Let me know in the replies here! In the meantime, check out the Sonic 2 comparison and can you spot which is hardware and which is emulation? th-cam.com/video/plHJw9Vqg3M/w-d-xo.html Note: at 0:29, I show a comparison between two cables. Be aware that the footage here is the SNES version of the Sonic 1 homebrew. This is because I had a "triple shielded" SCART cable from eBay and a retrogamingcables "PACKAPUNCH" SCART for the SNES, but I had no cheap cables from eBay for the Mega Drive (Genesis) to prove my point (I use to so I know this statement still stands). This was the only way to show an example but take my word for it, unless it's a reputable seller on eBay, stay away from there for cables. You'll end up spending more money on more bad cables rather than just buying one quality cable. I have also heard great things from this website: retro-access.com/
This is a true technical and professional setup at its finest. Well explained, and makes sense once you dive deep into the more in-depth areas. Still struggling to figure out the hardware vs emulation difference, but the fine tuning is what improves on accuracy as best as possible.
That is quite an awesome arsenal of tech to improve quality and color. I'm not into emulations that much normally I would just get some of the best equipment to help upscale and improve the gameplay quality on which consoles or systems I own. Excellent job as always redhotsonic, a great way to educate us.
For the first "spot the difference", I was able to tell by the very slight colour difference for Green Hill's sky, and B looks a bit too vibrant for real hardware. And I say B is real hardware and A is emulation.
I’m extremely jealous of this setup you have. Recently I’ve been learning about the retro tink 5X and thinking about getting it for the retro consoles that I have, since up until this point I’ve been using AV cables on a flatscreen and recently got a Zenith CRT that only works with composite and modifying a crt can be extremely dangerous because of its high voltage. Luckily your discord server is great for in depth questions on stuff like this, and a huge shoutout to Ace he’s extremely knowledgeable with the flatscreen that I have and giving me the info that I need to get a good picture quality. If anyone else doesn’t seem to understand this very well even if it’s a good video on Redhotsonic’s setup, I suggest joining his server.
I never would have guessed that your thing was so complex to get a crisp & clear image from an old console like that. Heck, I never thought about getting a crisp image out of it cuz I'm the type of person that records the camera pointing to the TV
Couldn't tell visually through TH-cam, but the sound is definitely off in Kega. The last bit of percussion on the title theme was what truly tipped me off. Listening closer, I could also hear the hardware DAC noise.
Nice setup! Had to redo my entire capture setup recently due to getting a 4K TV and 4K capture card. I'm looking enviously at that RetroTink 5X and the results it can give! Also, yay for RGC's cables! Great website, awesome service.
The OSSC's settings were the main thing that drove me away from it after using it for a couple of years. I needed something more straightforward just for gaming so I eventually moved to a RetroTink 5x.
Does the BVM really look that "faded" in person...? Would have thought the colours would be a lot more vibrant and the contrast a lot better than that - and that one was meant to be an upgrade from your previous one...?
Like I said in the video, you have to see it in person. There was a line I cut out, "The camera pointing at the screen does not do it justice" and you've just proved my point lol. It appears faded because I had to have 1/100 shutter otherwise I'd get terrible rolling. I set the aperture to 4.0 (lens at its sharpest) and can't remember the ISO but there's three factors making it look "worse" than is. It looks miles better in real life. Especially 480p wide-screen gaming 😊
I wonder, is it possible to run Mega Tech and/or Mega Play games on a retail MD? I make no illusions about the fact that this would be a rather expensive venture, though...
damn that sonic 2 comparison is tough, I can't cross-reference it myself as I don't have component or rgb scart cables to connect my model 2 JP mega drive into my OSSC, only composite cables though I bet is B
Do you just use the vanilla consoles for recording, or have they been modified to remove jailbars? Either way, a good reminder to myself to get a better power supply for my Genesis! Thanks!
I've lifted pin 50 off of the VDP to help reduce jailbars. Now, they're only noticeable if you purposely try to look for them. The only one that it's still super obvious is my PAL but I don't feel the need to get any bypasses installed :)
Absolute beast of a setup! Guess I have to save up for a OSSC then. Looking forward to a video about the mentioned Dreamcast RGB problems, as i have no idea what these could be. Does it have to do with PAL50/NTSC ? Also i heard PAL60 is a thing too, idk. I have multiple Dreamcasts, but i use them with VGA 99% of the time. VGA compatibility has become a long way via hacking or homebrew. There are great VGA to HDMI converters for little money.
Does your Genesis and Mega Drive Model 2 RGB cable display correct colors, because the one I have displays weird colors (ex. Knuckles is blue and not red, even when not doing the Blue Knuckles glitch in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, difference is is the un-glitched one is darker). My PAL Mega Drive Model 2 is also modded to be region free and obviously normal cables give a black & white display on NTSC (U or J) but colored on PAL. :| I'm not sure if brands are different quality on RGB cables, since mine looks unbranded or doesn't have any logos or stickers on it at all. :(
Already done! I've lifted pin 50 to help reduce the jailbar effect! Although if you look hard, it's still there. Not keen on getting the bypass mod as I find it unnecessary :)
@@redhotsonic How come you find the triple bypass unnecessary? From my experience it also makes the sound better, but having multiple genesis/ mega drives maybe why.
Oy... that Sonic the Fighters music... one of the rare few soundtracks that should not have been made. Only one track on there is worth listening to, and I can't even remember which one it is.
No. I have another BDIWORH in the works and it'll be my most expensive one yet! But they take a LOT more time to make. Quality of quantity! STTP is just to help keep the time going.
Or you could just not care about sharp pixels and have dither transparency/extra color effects actually work and use composite, it's basically free and it works, still gonna need an upscaler though for all non crt tvs/widescreen tvs including crts though (retrotink, gbscontrol, ossc work well) can also enable scanlines which can give a more accurate look. or you could just use a MiSTer if you want 1:1 hardware emulation (fpga is really cool) or if you don't care about 1:1 hardware and just want most of the games you care about to work then just emulate on pc, maybe use something with filters if you want to get close to the original look.
You still need the at games models the radica plug n plays and the classic edition to get the full group Yeah I wanted to get every mega drive model but not every Brazil model because they aren't interesting
silly question: what's the name of the subject this video is about? Science of computer graphics? virtual signals? Frankly I don't understand much about what's in this video, and I'd like to fix that, but I don't know where to start.
If you wish to understand the terminology used here I suggest watching my life in gaming because they have dedicated videos on the subject. Though if you still struggle, Redhotsonic’s server has some people who can help out.
Yeah, it might seem like a lot of time and money spent just to capture game footage but I get it. I'm the kind of guy who loves clarity in any form of media so going the extra mile feels right to me.
@@SproutyPottedPlant I know exactly what you mean, I have the Analogue Mega SG set up in my bedroom for ''before bedtime gaming'' on a Sony smart TV through HDMI, but downstairs in the living room I still use the PAL SEGA Mega Drive VA5 model 1 on a Sanyo analog CRT TV and that's still the console that I personally capture all my game footage and do the ''Complete Soundtrack CD'' series on. One day just for one i'm gonna try and use a HDMI to Composite downgrader and plug the Mega SG into my analog TV and record some footage just to see how it flairs in comparison to the original Mega Drive.
But not all hardware supports RGB, and some that do may need workarounds. Shall I do future episodes on other consoles if the story differs from this (for example, the ZX Spectrum, NES, Game Gear, Dreamcast, GameCube and more use alternate approaches and/or cables so I could make videos on them, but the Master system is pointless to show as it would be the same methods in this demonstration). Let me know in the replies here! In the meantime, check out the Sonic 2 comparison and can you spot which is hardware and which is emulation? th-cam.com/video/plHJw9Vqg3M/w-d-xo.html
Note: at 0:29, I show a comparison between two cables. Be aware that the footage here is the SNES version of the Sonic 1 homebrew. This is because I had a "triple shielded" SCART cable from eBay and a retrogamingcables "PACKAPUNCH" SCART for the SNES, but I had no cheap cables from eBay for the Mega Drive (Genesis) to prove my point (I use to so I know this statement still stands). This was the only way to show an example but take my word for it, unless it's a reputable seller on eBay, stay away from there for cables. You'll end up spending more money on more bad cables rather than just buying one quality cable. I have also heard great things from this website: retro-access.com/
but dreamcast supports RGB Scart natively without any workarounds
How, in your opinion, is the Dreamcast's VGA output?
Indeed unless its moded
@@t0biascze644 Sorry, my bad, I meant the VGA output 😅 My BVM doesn't play nicely with it unless I bought this extra stuff to stabilise the signal.
And I would know
That's a very impressive setup my dude, nice!
Hey there could you make a sonic low poly part 2 showing off sonic spin off models including mobile sonic games and the Sonic Racing games please
Yeah
This is dedication to one's craft. Seriously.
That setup is awesome. I bet that took some time to get tuned and set up just right.
Techno Base and Cyber Track sure goes well with this video!
This is a true technical and professional setup at its finest. Well explained, and makes sense once you dive deep into the more in-depth areas. Still struggling to figure out the hardware vs emulation difference, but the fine tuning is what improves on accuracy as best as possible.
That is quite an awesome arsenal of tech to improve quality and color.
I'm not into emulations that much normally I would just get some of the best equipment to help upscale and improve the gameplay quality on which consoles or systems I own.
Excellent job as always redhotsonic, a great way to educate us.
Thank you, when I’m sick at my stomach, I watch your videos and then I fill better.
I've picked up everything in this guide in a few videos before, but this is a nice streamlined option to share for friends
I looks so nice, that I’m glad you take all this effort to make it look nice so that we get the best viewing experience!
this is quite explainable since whatever you capture game footage is probably needed for your experience.
Time to add stuff to my Christmas wishlist!
I figured A) was hardware... but I still got out my own OSSC and MD combo just to check haha! Definitely considering a RT5x in the future though
For the first "spot the difference", I was able to tell by the very slight colour difference for Green Hill's sky, and B looks a bit too vibrant for real hardware. And I say B is real hardware and A is emulation.
it was the quality of RGB signal's. they're both from hardware
Id say B is emulation (it's every so slightly blurier)
I’m extremely jealous of this setup you have. Recently I’ve been learning about the retro tink 5X and thinking about getting it for the retro consoles that I have, since up until this point I’ve been using AV cables on a flatscreen and recently got a Zenith CRT that only works with composite and modifying a crt can be extremely dangerous because of its high voltage. Luckily your discord server is great for in depth questions on stuff like this, and a huge shoutout to Ace he’s extremely knowledgeable with the flatscreen that I have and giving me the info that I need to get a good picture quality. If anyone else doesn’t seem to understand this very well even if it’s a good video on Redhotsonic’s setup, I suggest joining his server.
I never would have guessed that your thing was so complex to get a crisp & clear image from an old console like that.
Heck, I never thought about getting a crisp image out of it cuz I'm the type of person that records the camera pointing to the TV
Wow! Great and informative video redhotsonic.
god i feel jealous about your setup. wish i had one like yours to keep me busy for like, the whole day
I like Straight to the point, because it's so Straight to the point
Couldn't tell visually through TH-cam, but the sound is definitely off in Kega. The last bit of percussion on the title theme was what truly tipped me off. Listening closer, I could also hear the hardware DAC noise.
I like how knuckles is standing on some of your equipment
Nice setup! Had to redo my entire capture setup recently due to getting a 4K TV and 4K capture card. I'm looking enviously at that RetroTink 5X and the results it can give! Also, yay for RGC's cables! Great website, awesome service.
I've been to studios less complicated than this lmao
The OSSC's settings were the main thing that drove me away from it after using it for a couple of years. I needed something more straightforward just for gaming so I eventually moved to a RetroTink 5x.
Awesome tutorial!
wow that video is so amazing, i like it! :D
Damn clear picture for days!
Mister redhotsonic although your setup is fascinating, it's expensive as hell for retro systems. So I'm going to stick to emulation, thank you 😁
Does the BVM really look that "faded" in person...? Would have thought the colours would be a lot more vibrant and the contrast a lot better than that - and that one was meant to be an upgrade from your previous one...?
Like I said in the video, you have to see it in person. There was a line I cut out, "The camera pointing at the screen does not do it justice" and you've just proved my point lol. It appears faded because I had to have 1/100 shutter otherwise I'd get terrible rolling. I set the aperture to 4.0 (lens at its sharpest) and can't remember the ISO but there's three factors making it look "worse" than is. It looks miles better in real life. Especially 480p wide-screen gaming 😊
@@redhotsonic thanks for the reply!
“Good evening”
Dude it’s like 9:30 in the morning
I wonder, is it possible to run Mega Tech and/or Mega Play games on a retail MD? I make no illusions about the fact that this would be a rather expensive venture, though...
damn that sonic 2 comparison is tough, I can't cross-reference it myself as I don't have component or rgb scart cables to connect my model 2 JP mega drive into my OSSC, only composite cables
though I bet is B
I knew I was right about the Green Hill Zone footage! I use Kega too much lmao
Your videos are super cool
1:13 : I thought I was watching a tetrabitgaming video.
Do you just use the vanilla consoles for recording, or have they been modified to remove jailbars? Either way, a good reminder to myself to get a better power supply for my Genesis! Thanks!
I've lifted pin 50 off of the VDP to help reduce jailbars. Now, they're only noticeable if you purposely try to look for them. The only one that it's still super obvious is my PAL but I don't feel the need to get any bypasses installed :)
Good to know!
Absolute beast of a setup! Guess I have to save up for a OSSC then. Looking forward to a video about the mentioned Dreamcast RGB problems, as i have no idea what these could be. Does it have to do with PAL50/NTSC ? Also i heard PAL60 is a thing too, idk. I have multiple Dreamcasts, but i use them with VGA 99% of the time. VGA compatibility has become a long way via hacking or homebrew. There are great VGA to HDMI converters for little money.
Cool!
Does your Genesis and Mega Drive Model 2 RGB cable display correct colors, because the one I have displays weird colors (ex. Knuckles is blue and not red, even when not doing the Blue Knuckles glitch in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, difference is is the un-glitched one is darker). My PAL Mega Drive Model 2 is also modded to be region free and obviously normal cables give a black & white display on NTSC (U or J) but colored on PAL. :|
I'm not sure if brands are different quality on RGB cables, since mine looks unbranded or doesn't have any logos or stickers on it at all. :(
My model 2's work correctly. Either you have a mis-matched cable, or your Mega Drive is on the blink.
Nice ! I lost my Retro Computer shack cable, he is on holiday until October!! Will be getting the cable you have instead and the power supply too!
Retro Computer Shack makes great cables, I have one for my Genesis and it is flawless.
i'll be honest
i can't tell the difference between the blastem and real hardware footage they look the same to me lmao
Just want to know how do you get it to look so clear on emulation
I also reccomend getting the system modded to only have rgb signal, the composite signal will create interferance even when not in use
Already done! I've lifted pin 50 to help reduce the jailbar effect! Although if you look hard, it's still there. Not keen on getting the bypass mod as I find it unnecessary :)
@@redhotsonic ok, cool
@@redhotsonic How come you find the triple bypass unnecessary? From my experience it also makes the sound better, but having multiple genesis/ mega drives maybe why.
Now I want that
Wow this is cleaaan
Oy... that Sonic the Fighters music... one of the rare few soundtracks that should not have been made. Only one track on there is worth listening to, and I can't even remember which one it is.
I'm curious: which emulators do you prefer nowadays?
Neat
Or you can be like me and use a Framemeister! ...and deal with a frankly INSANE amount of video noise considering the quality of cables I use lol.
I use to own a Frameister lol. After getting the OSSC (and now the RT5x), I really do not need it any longer and sold it. I kinda regret it though.
I find it a lot more convenient than my OSSC so it's staying set up until I get around to snagging a RT5X.
Rhs can you do a "work on real hardware" vid for movie sonic in sonic 1
I noticed that a what is going slower than b and the mega drive is now what35 years old so it isn’t as powerful as PCs from nowadays
is sttp replaceing bdiworh
No. I have another BDIWORH in the works and it'll be my most expensive one yet! But they take a LOT more time to make. Quality of quantity! STTP is just to help keep the time going.
Or you could just not care about sharp pixels and have dither transparency/extra color effects actually work and use composite, it's basically free and it works, still gonna need an upscaler though for all non crt tvs/widescreen tvs including crts though (retrotink, gbscontrol, ossc work well) can also enable scanlines which can give a more accurate look. or you could just use a MiSTer if you want 1:1 hardware emulation (fpga is really cool) or if you don't care about 1:1 hardware and just want most of the games you care about to work then just emulate on pc, maybe use something with filters if you want to get close to the original look.
You still need the at games models the radica plug n plays and the classic edition to get the full group
Yeah I wanted to get every mega drive model but not every Brazil model because they aren't interesting
They aren't real hardware. They're emulators on machines.
Brazilian models are just european models imported from tectoy
Wow...!!!
1:00 n64
Wow
silly question: what's the name of the subject this video is about? Science of computer graphics? virtual signals?
Frankly I don't understand much about what's in this video, and I'd like to fix that, but I don't know where to start.
It’s about how he gets his Genesis/Mega Drive footage from real hardware looking so good
If you wish to understand the terminology used here I suggest watching my life in gaming because they have dedicated videos on the subject. Though if you still struggle, Redhotsonic’s server has some people who can help out.
I GOT IT RIGHT
hmm intresting
Dang I lost the vote :(
I had emulation and real hardware backwards.
cool
a is hardware an b is emulation
Im in America and I still call it a Mega Drive!
A emulation B harware
sonic two B I think it’s hardware
Cue the comments who probably still accuse you of using emulation 🤣
Red do me a fav please if your gonna swear put a sound effect over it thanks
wat
Read it out loud
I think it's A
playing sonic 1 everyday is fun ? how !?
>nods my head, like a understand what he's saying (I don't)
Same here you’re not alone lol. I’m slowly catching up though.
So what if you play on emulator? Lol
*drools*
Hi how are you today
"this ‘Straight to the point’ *instalment.* "?
That seems like a lot to deal with just to capture footage
Yeah, it might seem like a lot of time and money spent just to capture game footage but I get it. I'm the kind of guy who loves clarity in any form of media so going the extra mile feels right to me.
@@FatherJosephofMomma You know, you have a point
oof
E
I'm lazy and will just buy an hdmi third party console that can play real cartridges like a Mega SG lol
I got that setup but the Mega Drive deserves to be played too!
@@SproutyPottedPlant I know exactly what you mean, I have the Analogue Mega SG set up in my bedroom for ''before bedtime gaming'' on a Sony smart TV through HDMI, but downstairs in the living room I still use the PAL SEGA Mega Drive VA5 model 1 on a Sanyo analog CRT TV and that's still the console that I personally capture all my game footage and do the ''Complete Soundtrack CD'' series on. One day just for one i'm gonna try and use a HDMI to Composite downgrader and plug the Mega SG into my analog TV and record some footage just to see how it flairs in comparison to the original Mega Drive.
B
You can't be accused now!