It’s like Zeno’s Paradox, but for footage of old video games

I keep getting closer and closer to realizing this unfortunate determination I’ve developed to create the best possible video footage of NES light gun games. I have the RGB-capable console, I have the massive cathode ray tube television, I have the upscaler, I have the recording gear… and now I even have all the requisite RGB cables.

Look at that Wild Gunman footage! That is not emulated content, it is the actual cartridge running on real hardware. (OK, on an actual cartridge and an Analogue NT. And I used an EverDrive for one of these just to see if I could tell the difference between that and a real cartridge… I can’t. But close enough.) Hit the resize button in the bottom right corner and soak in the 720p splendor, won’t you? This is reference quality material.

Well, almost.

Do you hear that? That annoying buzzing sound? I can’t seem to scrub the noise pollution out of these videos. I’ve added a ground loop isolator to the mix; I’ve arranged all the audio cables so they’re clear of power cords; I’ve even spread the AC cables for each of the key components to a different electrical outlet to avoid them sharing common grounding. And yet! Still the buzz persists.

I’m gonna beat this thing, though, just you wait. I feel like every step I take brings me halfway to the goal from where I was before, but there are only so many impediments this thing can put in my way. Dogginnit. Eventually, I’ll win.

Anyway, expect the Wild Gunman episode of Good Nintentions sometime next week.

6 thoughts on “It’s like Zeno’s Paradox, but for footage of old video games”

  1. You’re only dealing with 8 bits, so Zeno’s Paradox resolves into a rounding error pretty quickly.

  2. I’m always impressed at your dedication to accuracy. One day I hope I’ll be able to get a set up even half as good as yours one day

    • Well, people have been very generous in helping me create these projects, so my hope is to give back in a small way by creating a library of reference-quality Creative Commons video for anyone to use in projects.

  3. Maybe the buzz is produced by oversaturation of one of the video channels? Maybe the signal is too strong?

    Not sure if it affects like in the really old systems. Do you have a place where you can pick up the audio signal and post process it apart from the whole setup?

    Also, check the power supply, it could also be that one.

    and that buzz … it is kinda nostalgic … brings me back

    • Seems unlikely. The buzz was present before the CRT came into the mix, and it’s not present if I remove the sound connectors altogether.

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