Medusa Scandoubler announced!

[rubber_jonnie]

I'm slightly conflicted. I like the idea, but already have an OSSC and a Retrotink 2x Mini, so I really don't need one, especially as I run my main STE on VGA and take audio directly from the phono jacks.

My other STs are really just for using applications, so sound isn't a priority.

Plus I could buy another retro machine for that price

[sporniket]

Plus I could buy another retro machine for that price

That in itself sounds like the deal breaker

[rubber_jonnie]

Plus I could buy another retro machine for that price

That in itself sounds like the deal breaker

I guess so

[mrbombermillzy]

Quantum (n): The smallest indivisible quantity.

Just saying.

Not the best wording, is it?


Ok, so I would go as far as to say, I would pay that price if the screen adjustments were automatic (or at least saveable, with 10+ slots), had selectable CRT emulation (e.g. 1084, 1901, Sony PVM, etc, with accurate characteristics like scanline/colour bleed/phosphor persistence) and most importantly, ultra low latency.

[Steve]

Plus I could buy another retro machine for that price

That in itself sounds like the deal breaker

Just to add perspective on this guys, the device isn't really for 'us', ie; the computer IT hardware fixer-tinkerer. The device is aimed towards retro gamers who have a TV setup, a massive SCART switcher and 15 consoles plugged into it, with the Medusa on the output.
Why the ossc annoys me in the above situation: Well firstly I have to create individual profiles for every console which is a ball ache. Then if I feel like playing my Nintendo instead of my Megadrive I have to go through the OSSC OSD and select the correct profile. The other day I was accidentally in the 'delete profile' section and deleted my Megadrive profile! I haven't been bothered enough to recreate my profiles again so I basically haven't played it since.

This is why I'd like a Retrotink5x, which auto-configures every possible input correctly, automatically. If the Medusa does that for half the price then it would be a winner. If it doesn't then it will be a loser in my opinion.

[stephen_usher]

I must admit, for the majority of the machine I have, which have RGB output, this would be a downgrade from the OSSC as I output to HDMI, split to video capture and display, with audio integration. I use the OSSC with the TT to output the non-standard VGA to a proper display also, which is why the VGA input is so handy. It's also useful with the Amiga A1200 and Acorn A4000 as it can handle their higher resolutions too, which a SCART input couldn't.

For the few machines with composite output I do have to use the cheap scan converter, which has SCART input, which is a pain.

What I would really like is a Composite/s-video -> RGB SCART converter with audio input, then I could just use the OSSC for the upscaling etc.

[stephen_usher]

That in itself sounds like the deal breaker

Just to add perspective on this guys, the device isn't really for 'us', ie; the computer IT hardware fixer-tinkerer. The device is aimed towards retro gamers who have a TV setup, a massive SCART switcher and 15 consoles plugged into it, with the Medusa on the output.
Why the ossc annoys me in the above situation: Well firstly I have to create individual profiles for every console which is a ball ache. Then if I feel like playing my Nintendo instead of my Megadrive I have to go through the OSSC OSD and select the correct profile. The other day I was accidentally in the 'delete profile' section and deleted my Megadrive profile! And I haven't been bothered enough to recreate my profiles again so I basically haven't played it since.

This is why I'd like a Retrotink5x.

I agree that the OSSC lacking an auto-sense system is its biggest problem. I think the RGB2HDMI (original, non-Amiga one) has a similar issue.

[troed]

This is why I'd like a Retrotink5x, which auto-configures every possible input correctly, automatically. If the Medusa does that for half the price then it would be a winner.

That's what it says it does.

• with more than 50 predefined settings for popular old computers

this would be a downgrade from the OSSC as I output to HDMI, split to video capture and display, with audio integration

Not sure I understand what you mean - but Medusa carries audio in the (HDMI compatible) digital DVI stream. It also carries analogue DVI, for easy VGA breakout.

Ok, so I would go as far as to say, I would pay that price if the screen adjustments were automatic (or at least saveable, with 10+ slots), had selectable CRT emulation (e.g. 1084, 1901, Sony PVM, etc, with accurate characteristics like scanline/colour bleed/phosphor persistence) and most importantly, ultra low latency.

Screen adjustments and latency - check. Don't think there's any CRT emulation at the moment.

http://medusa-sc.org/index.php?title=Description

[mrbombermillzy]

Screen adjustments and latency - check. Don't think there's any CRT emulation at the moment.

I think the latency and crt emu would be the point where I actually start seriously looking at these type of devices and store the CRTs away.

As you may well know, lots of demos/games use colour bleed and interlace (hence requesting phosphor persistence emulation to show the images how they were actually meant to be displayed) and scanlines are better for the games which were made with them in mind, rather than not.

Also this would allow all those flicky Amiga productivity modes to be more...well...productive lol

[Darklord]

Just a "because I'm curious" question...

Has anyone fitted an OSSC or RetroTink or Framemeister
internally in an ST, Mega STe, or TT?

Thanks.

PS Reason I'm asking is because it would appear that with
some models the Medusa in that role would be viable...