Tag Archives: Video

Introducing The RetroTINK 4K CE – A cheaper alternative!

Mike Chi has just announced a cheaper, slightly stripped-down version of the RetroTINK 4K he’s calling the “CE” that will be available in early 2025. This video is an overview of what to expect, as well as how it differs from the 4K Pro.

https://www.retrotink.com/

Ah, the humble retro gaming console—your dusty time machine to an era when polygons were edgy (literally) and Mario had the square jawline of an ’80s action hero. But trying to hook up your beloved Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis to a modern TV is like introducing your grandma to TikTok—it’s a total mismatch.

Here’s the deal: your retro console speaks fluent analog—a language your ultra-HD, 4K smart TV barely remembers, like a millennial trying to understand a rotary phone. Plug that RCA cable into your shiny new TV, and what do you get? A pixelated soup that looks like Mario’s been smudged with Vaseline and then run through a blender.

Enter the upscaler, the nerdy translator your retro console desperately needs. This magical device takes those ancient 240p signals (yes, your childhood was that low-res) and stretches them into something your TV can understand without bursting into laughter. It’s like putting glasses on your games—they’re still old, but suddenly, you can actually see their charm again.

But don’t think the upscaler works miracles. It’s not turning “GoldenEye 007” into “Call of Duty.” Those blocky faces are still there—Pierce Brosnan will forever look like a thumb with eyebrows—but now you can admire every glorious pixel of his thumb-ness.

Without an upscaler, your retro gaming experience becomes a quest of frustration: blurry visuals, laggy inputs, and colors so washed out they look like a faded 1980s family photo. So, unless you want Sonic the Hedgehog to run in slow motion or for Link to look like he’s lost in a foggy dreamscape, do yourself a favor—get that upscaler. It’s not just a device; it’s a bridge between generations, ensuring your childhood doesn’t look too embarrassing on a 65-inch TV.

Making a Hollywood Car Chase with RC Cars

YouTuber Paul E.T. walks us through the challenges of creating a high quality Hollywood style car chase on a budget and only using RC cars!

Creating a quality indie film on a budget presents a myriad of challenges that demand resourcefulness, creativity, and careful planning. One of the primary hurdles is limited financial resources, which can constrain the production’s ability to secure top-tier talent, rent high-end equipment, or access premium locations. This necessitates a scrappy approach to filmmaking, often requiring filmmakers to rely on local, non-professional actors and crew members, as well as to seek out cost-effective alternatives for equipment and set design. Moreover, a restricted budget may force compromises in post-production, potentially leading to constraints in visual effects, sound design, and editing capabilities. Overcoming these financial limitations often requires a keen understanding of prioritization and a willingness to think outside the box to achieve the desired cinematic vision.

Another significant challenge for indie filmmakers on a budget lies in time management and scheduling. With limited resources, there’s often a need to condense shooting schedules, which can lead to intense workloads for cast and crew. This can impact the quality of performances and result in logistical challenges related to securing permits, managing locations, and coordinating with a reduced crew. Additionally, the lack of a dedicated production budget may require the director and producers to wear multiple hats, taking on responsibilities in areas like marketing, distribution, and fundraising, which can be time-consuming and divert attention away from the creative aspects of filmmaking. Successfully navigating these challenges requires meticulous planning, effective communication, and a deep understanding of the intricacies of the filmmaking process.

HDMI Switch, Splitter and Extractor Reviews & Shootout

Here’s a shootout of a bunch of HDMI splitters, switches and audio extractors I’ve been using. They’re all zero-lag devices (even in downscaling modes!) and appear to work well with retro gaming devices, including the OSSC. The first “reviews” are the longest, as they explain everything you need to know about these devices, then the rest reference those.