What RGB actually means, and what it means to be “analog”
RGB is an acronym for Red, Green and Blue. When used in the context of video production, RGB refers to an analog video signal that sends three separate colour channels to your television’s display. Each of these colour channels includes brightness data for that colour. Your TV utilizes those three colour channels to generate the final image.
RGB is the same video format that many vintage arcade cabinet systems were based upon, and therefore it is the same video format that many of the graphics designers of vintage video games intended their graphics to be generated on.
All of the older consoles can generate RGB video output, so long as you are using the proper cable. The SNES can generate RGB via an RGB cable. The Genesis generates RGB via an RGB adapter. Unfortunately, the N64 does not generate RGB (instead it generates composite or S-Video). As such, you will never be able to receive RGB from the N64.
You will need to cheque your console documentation to find out if your console is capable of generating RGB, and what kind of cable(s) you will need to use to receive RGB output from the console.
Why RGB Matters
So why is RGB important? One advantage of RGB is that it is an analog video signal, thus there is no digital compression or conversion of the signal. This results in the signal going from the console straight to the display without having to undergo any conversion processes.
Theoretically, this means the analog signal will be preserved perfectly. Practically speaking, the quality of the analog signal is dependent upon the quality of the cable, the length of the cable, and the amount of electromagnetic interference that exists.
Poor-quality RGB cables may potentially produce a worse picture than digital compressed signals.
Disadvantages of RGB
Another disadvantage of RGB is that most modern TVs are digital and don’t have an analog video input port. If your TV does not have an analog video input port, you’ll need to either locate a TV that does have an analog video input port, or buy an HDMI converter that will allow you to convert your analog RGB signal into a digital HDMI signal.
When converting the analog RGB signal into an HDMI signal using an HDMI converter, you’ll be doing an Analog-to-Digital conversion. This means you’ll potentially lose some quality.
What HDMI Means
HDMI is an acronym that stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a digital video signal that transmits video data as digital information.
Most modern TVs are digital, which means they can accept HDMI natively. Most modern TVs come equipped with multiple HDMI ports. Because HDMI is a digital format, you can connect a retro console to an HDMI port on a modern TV using a console that produces HDMI natively, or an adapter that converts your console’s analog video signal to digital HDMI.
Regardless of which path you take, you’ll need to convert your analog video signal into a digital format.
Benefits of HDMI
There are numerous benefits of using HDMI with retro consoles. First, because HDMI is a digital format, it can be easily received by modern TVs. Second, because HDMI is a digital format, you won’t need to make an Analog-to-Digital conversion in order to get your video signal from your console to your TV.
Third, because modern TVs are designed to operate with digital formats, you’ll usually see a much clearer picture when sending a digital signal through HDMI.
Downfalls of Using HDMI with Retro Consoles
Although HDMI offers a number of benefits when using it with retro consoles, it also has its downfalls. First, if your console doesn’t already produce HDMI natively, you’ll need to spend money to buy an adapter that will allow you to convert your analog video signal into digital HDMI.
Second, the quality of the conversion made by the adapter is dependent on the quality of the adapter itself. Cheap adapters may produce lower quality images than expensive adapters.
Lastly, just as with RGB, the conversion from analog to digital will result in a loss of quality – although the loss of quality will usually be minimal.
Upscaling
Now things get even more interesting — modern upscalers (including the Framemeister and OSSC — Open Source Scan Converter) can produce an HDMI signal that includes an upscaling of the original signal. In other words, the Framemeister or OSSC takes the analog RGB signal coming from your retro console, digitizes the signal, and then upscales the signal to 1080p or 4K.
While the Framemeister and OSSC are somewhat expensive ($150-$500) they produce an image that is clearly better than trying to display the original signal on a modern 1080p or 4K TV. The reason that the upscaling process performed by the Framemeister or OSSC produces a cleaner and sharper image is because the upscaling process eliminates artifacts present in the original image and creates a cleaner image.
Thus, upscaling represents a fundamentally different way of creating an image than attempting to display the original image at its native resolution.
Some retro gamers feel very strongly that the only legitimate representation of a retro game is the original-resolution signal. Other retro gamers feel that the benefits of upscaling (a cleaner, sharper image) outweigh the potential negatives (loss of authenticity) of displaying an up-scaled version of the game.
Console Specific Considerations
As previously noted, different consoles produce video signals differently. For instance, the SNES produces a perfect RGB signal when plugged into a modern HDMI converter.
This means that the SNES can produce a clean digital RGB signal at the console’s original resolution of 256 x 224 pixels and that signal can be displayed natively on a CRT monitor designed for that resolution, or the signal can be up-scaled to 1080p on a modern TV.
Likewise, the Genesis produces a perfect RGB signal when the right cables are used. Just as with the SNES, many Genesis consoles shipped with composite cables, therefore finding the right RGB cables is a necessary first step before you can start converting the signal to RGB.
Once you’ve found the right cables and are receiving a perfect RGB signal from the Genesis, the conversion process is identical to that of the SNES.
Unfortunately, the N64 does not produce an RGB signal. Instead, the N64 produces a composite or S-Video signal. So, if you want to produce a picture that is substantially better than that produced by a composite signal, you’ll need to find an up-scaler that can accept composite input and produce an aggressive up-scale to 1080p or 4K.
Unfortunately, the only feasible option available to retro gamers looking to get an excellent picture from their N64 is an up-scaler that can accept composite input.
Finally, while the original PlayStation produces a composite signal as standard, the PlayStation can produce an RGB signal if the correct cables and connectors are used.
However, receiving an RGB signal from an original PlayStation is only possible if you have the correct version of the original PlayStation console, and the correct cables and connectors.
Once you’ve got an RGB signal from the original PlayStation, the conversion to an HDMI signal is quite straightforward.
Practical Recommendations
If you own a CRT television, the best option is to connect your console to your CRT TV using RGB cables.
With a CRT television, you’re connecting your console to a TV that was built to receive analog video signals at the original resolution of the console, so you’ll end up with a nice, clean image that’s faithful to the original.
On the other hand, if you have a modern TV, the best option is to get an up-scaller that can convert your analog RGB signal into a digital HDMI signal.
The Framemeister and OSSC are two good options for high-quality up-scalers that are capable of producing an excellent HDMI signal at 1080p and 4K.
While the Framemeister and OSSC are relatively pricey ($150-$500) they produce an image that is far superior to a direct RGB to TV connection or a cheap HDMI adapter.
Cheap HDMI adapters will produce a decent image but not as good as an up-scaller. They are a good option for those who are working on a tight budget.
A cheap HDMI adapter will give you a digital output to your TV and will cost you a lot less than an up-scaller.
Composite is another viable option — albeit not the ideal option — to using an up-scaller or cheap HDMI adapter.
Composite will not give you the same level of clarity as RGB or HDMI but you will still be able to play and enjoy your games.
Additionally, composite cables are normally supplied with the console and are generally inexpensive.
Technical Reality
RGB cables represent the “purest” form of video transmission but the “purest” form of video transmission is not always the “best.”
Modern TVs do not accept analog video input — they accept HDMI.
Therefore, to be able to send an analog signal through an HDMI connection you will need to purchase an HDMI converter that can accept analog RGB input and send the analog signal as a digital HDMI output.
While the conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal will likely result in a minor loss of quality — depending on the quality of the converter — it is impossible to completely eliminate this loss.
Additionally, the upscaling of your video signal is the key element in determining the quality of the image you will be able to achieve from a retro console to a modern TV.
Upscaling represents a fundamental difference in the way images are created.
Original Resolution RGB is “cleaner,” but it is not always “better.”
Original Resolution RGB is not “better” when viewed on a modern 1080p or 4K TV that was not designed to receive 240p console output.
In fact, upscaling is often “better.”
Philosophical Split in the Retro Gaming Community
The debate surrounding the merits of original-resolution RGB vs. upscaling has resulted in a philosophical split in the retro gaming community.
On one side of the debate are purists who feel that the only legitimate representation of a retro game is the original-resolution RGB signal.
On the other side of the debate are pragmatists who feel that the benefits of upscaling (i.e., cleaner, sharper image) outweigh the potential drawbacks (i.e., loss of authenticity) of displaying an up-scaled version of the game.
Ultimately, the decision to choose original-resolution RGB vs. upscaling will depend on the values of the individual gamer.
If preserving authenticity and original-resolution signal is the primary value for you, then the decision is clear.
If enjoying the game and viewing the highest-quality image possible is your primary value, then the decision is equally clear.
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