Medusa Scandoubler announced!

[Darklord]

Check it out - a new scan-doubler called Medusa from Lotharek and Acidmaker (creator of SIO2SD).

Retro Lemon and Lotharek both have it listed:

https://tinyurl.com/2p93ft5p

https://www.lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=135

Pictures, stats and videos on both web sites but I'll post a picture of the Medusa here:

medusa-retro-scandoubler.png

Looks interesting, if a bit high priced...

[stephen_usher]

DVI out means no digital audio.

[Steve]

I think the choice of DVI is fine, my thoughts:

* if it's to avoid hdmi port license fees and reducing the cost of the product, that is fine.
* All these analogue devices that need scan doubling are analogue audio anyway, most monitors have an analogue input
* I have an OSSC already which has HDMI output and digital audio, but I still use the analogue out directly to my amp & speakers, so for me digital output has never been a big deal.
* DVI_I has an advantage over HDMI in how it also supplies an analogue signal, so you can convert it to VGA with a simple cable. So great if you want to use a monitor CRT output (a lot of people do this)

Price point £133 is reasonable for a good quality scan doubler.
The other decent ones are: Retrotink5x at £230 and OSSC at £110 - I used to think the OSSC cost a lot more, I'm sure I paid more. But according to VGP website it is £110 now... so that's my top value right there.

I do not think they'll sell many unless the Medusa offers a much better experience than OSSC.

[stephen_usher]

The only real advantage is that it handles composite video and s-video, unlike the OSSC.

[xyzzy76]

It says you can get audio out of the DVI connection:

Encode audio on DVI; this option can be switched on and (using DVI-HDMI adapter and HDMI capable display) audio signal from SCART (or 3.5mm jack) is digitised and mixed with video

[sporniket]

* if it's to avoid hdmi port license fees

Yes, and I would not mind if such standards were without paywalled documentation (HDMI, SDIO for SD Card, etc...), a real PITA for hobbyist...

[Steve]

@xyzzy76 that's good then, no loss of functionality, great!

In all honesty if this device acts in a more 'user friendly' manner like the Retrotink5x handles it (ie; automatically configures itself and outputs the correct standards/display for all inputs, unlike the OSSC which requires a lot of user configuration) Then they could be on to a winner. But if it requires lots of custom profiles and configuration, then OSSC is better value still.

[mrbombermillzy]

@xyzzy76 that's good then, no loss of functionality, great!

In all honesty if this device acts in a more 'user friendly' manner like the Retrotink5x handles it (ie; automatically configures itself and outputs the correct standards/display for all inputs, unlike the OSSC which requires a lot of user configuration) Then they could be on to a winner. But if it requires lots of custom profiles and configuration, then OSSC is better value still.

Well @Steve apparently it is a 'quantum leap' ahead of the OSSC.

From a quick look over, it seems the unit has:

'completly NEW approach to picture seetings (usb connection PC-MEDUSA) via terminal banging.' (Whatever that means) :shrug:

[stephen_usher]

Quantum (n): The smallest indivisible quantity.

Just saying. :lol:

[JezC]

Quantum (n): The smallest indivisible quantity.

Just saying. :lol:

Just like the jokes around the launch of the QL... ;)