HUGE NEWS: Some of you have noticed that there is a little white spot that shows on my CRT TV while filming (which is caused by the light I use to light my controller btw). Well, it appears that I have figured out how to get rid of that white spot. The days of that little white spot terrorizing my footage are now over. That being said, I understand some of you may have grown attached to that white spot and will now miss it. For that, I have a song to help you cope with your loss: ua-cam.com/video/ltIFitYFiVs/v-deo.html
The annoying thing for me is having too many around. Can't play them all. And by the way, theres not much excuses you can find all kinds of console pretty cheap these days via ebay for example.
My power plug life changed for the better forever when I got a modern 3-in-1 connector that gets the Gen, 32X and CD all into one plug - that's STILL smaller than an OEM Genesis plug!
I absolutely hated having to change out cables all the time. I have an n64 nes, GameCube, genesis, PS1, and Dreamcast all hooked up to one CRT. A few weeks ago My school was throwing out a bunch of old technology they didn’t use anymore and I asked them if I could take this 5 input av switcher off them. That’s how I got a really good switcher for free
I've been on top of this for years, thankfully. My original CRT TV had 2 shared inputs other than the RF, so I had to find a way to get all my composite and S-Video stuff into those 2 inputs. I started with those 4-port cheap RCA branded switches that you could buy at Radio Shack and Walmart, and over a decade ago I found a Joytech 240C at Best Buy that handled up to 7 inputs, and included component across 6 of them. I still use that in my setup today and would be in trouble without it.
Amazing video. All the stuff with hiding wires, switches, conextions to TV... is a pain in the ass. Some of my consoles are now disconected, just exposed, because of this issue. Only the ones I use more often are currently connected to my CRT. Regards from Spain.
Currently working on my retro gaming setup.. I bought the Panalog 8-way AV switcher but have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not a techy person, just like playing the games. Thanks for this video.. informative and made me laugh, too! SUB!
If I ever get to the point of collecting that many consoles, I plan to make a display box with built in video and power switching- using proper switch boxes, but hacking in extended switches/buttons to reach the console’s spot on shelf (each shelf itself hollow with removable top for routing wires away)
Have four systems myself all hooked up. AV splitter for my SNES and N64, and the RF for Atari 2600 and NES chained together. Very nice to switch systems within seconds and two or three button presses at the most, and play what you want and when you want to. And I must say, Kaboom for Atari is still as addictive and crazy as it ever was.
Thank you! This has always been a major issue when wanting to have multiple game consoles hooked up to one TV. Switchers and surge protectors are indeed a necessity! Besides that, the other problem I have is finding room on my TV stand for each console to sit. My TV and sound bar take up precious real estate so I can only comfortably fit three or four consoles at a time (depending on the size of the console).
My biggest problem is physical space to site all my consoles (11 at the moment). But I have had so much 'fun' perfecting my set up and switches (SCART, Component and HDMI) have been a real pain at time
I think I have the same Trinitron as you, Retro Bird. I have my consoles connected via HD Retrovision Cables running through a component switcher I found at a thrift store. Looks amazing.
Great video! I have maybe a niche problem hehe. Where I live getting good s-video cables for consoles is almost simple, but finding a good S-Video to S-Video cable is impossible, it has to be imported :(
The gcompsw is the single most awesome piece of auxiliary electronic hardware I’ve ever bought, but for those looking for a cheap alternative that’s inexpensive and much less a pain in the ass than going to the back of the tv to swap consoles, get an HD Retrovision female to male component cable, plug it into the back of your tv, and leave your new “inputs” in an easy to access area that your consoles cords can reach. Just swap out your console of choice from there. Saved me many a back injury, especially with the gargantuan CRTs I own. Another option that is getting better everyday is honestly the MiSTer. What an amazing device. I’m an original hardware all the way kinda guy, but the space this thing saves and the amazing accuracy it provides through hardware FPGA emulation feels exactly like the 6 or so systems I have hooked up in my main room, but in one convenient, one component input occupying, lovely black box. Again, this is coming from a guy that can’t vibe with emulation in the slightest due to the tiniest of issues, but that thing? The coolest piece of tech I have ever witnessed for this hobby. Have you considered talking about it at all Retro Bird? Cheers, and great video as always!
The most annoying thing about hooking up multiple consoles is both not having enough inputs, and not having enough power outlets. Like GAWD I have two 7 port HDMI 2.0 switches because even the 4 on the TV aren't enough. I also have a HDMI ARC Soundbar, which while awesome and convenient, needs to be plugged into a specifically labeled HDMI port to work(HDMI 3 in my case). I also plan to invest in a more expensive component switcher later on. The TV I'm using is awesome though. It's a Sony XBR-43X800D, a 4K Android TV from 2016 with what looks to be VA Panel. Pretty good blacks(not quite as good as OLED, but still excellent), really good viewing angles, accurate color which can get quite punchy if desired, and some of the best built in upscaling I've ever seen on a TV. It's not quite the top of the line 4K 120 Hz TV, but I've had this TV for about three years, and I still love it.
I have an inexpensive 4-input switch, that I use for S-video. But the switch could also do composite, if I wanted to. Like you, I have never noticed any issues with the signals going through the switch.
I'm late to this party, but my multi console retro setup is use and older AV receiver to be a switcher. You can typically get a top of the line AV receiver that's older for very inexpensive, AND get the benefit of multiply inputs, single output.
An annoying thing for me are power bricks!!! They can block the plug next to the one they are plugged into, sometimes two of them! My solution is to buy short 8 to 12 inch extension cords. The plug on these takes up just one spot. There are also what I would call "octopus" extension cords. These take up one plug but have 3-5 arms dangling off of them. Of course there are also power strips that have the sockets further apart than normal so a brick only takes up the one spot. The cords work better for me as I have bricks plugged into different power strips.
Unfortunately with how much my game collection has built up over the years coupled with my living situation, hooking up all my consoles to a single TV is just the tip of the iceberg for me, haha! I definitely want to invest in better shelves and other furniture to make displaying and organizing my collection a lot easier, and of course get some new AV selectors to make switching between each console much easier. Now the biggest problem is space...
Oh man, my journey to hook up everything in my setup can either be considered the stuff of legend or stuff of nightmares. I'm just gonna go with both since I don't regret it but it's also been the bane of my gaming existence. I started out like most people would have, a simple unpowered switch box for my analog consoles and a small Kenevo switcher for HDMI. Both had no more than four inputs and at the time I didn't need more. Since then I have gotten many more consoles and had to upgrade my hookup options significantly. Two Extron Crosspoint switchers handle all of my Component and S-Video consoles while a single Extron DXP HDMI switch handles my HDMI consoles. The DXP is easy to setup since its just your typical HDMI connector, but the Crosspoints are a different story. I need so many cable converters and adapters to make them work they way I want with my setup, especially audio since Phoenix connectors are nowhere near consumer standard. I don't even bother with RGB here, Crosspoints only take C-Sync and produces a sync signal with too high a voltage that can damage or destroy consumer grade equipment. Still though, they work fantastically, are relatively cheap to buy and are built to last since they're all commercial grade stuff that were only available to corporations and such and cost thousands when they were brand new. They float around on eBay from liquidators and individual companies looking to get rid of outdated equipment, great news and opportunities for us retro gamers. :)
“It's the Retro Bird.. yeah! And he's talkin.. talkin about video games! It's the Retro Bird.. oh yes! And he hopes that you liked what he had to say!” Great content and amazing jingle at the end of your videos!! Thanks for sharing with the world.
Hahah what I was most proud of was hitting myself with the green shell at the beginning of that run. I wanted that for my footage and got it on the first try!
In general one of the biggest problems is keeping track of the cables and connections. I've got some many switchers, power strips, voltage converters that it can be quite confusing at times. However what is the most infuriating is the lack of space for all of my equipment and when I want to change something in my setup it's like playing Twister. Your left foot goes here, your right foot has to stay up in the air, your left hand leans against the wall, your right hand desperately tries to reach for the correct inputs and your head has to be tilted unnaturally to actually see something. It's like most the exhausting yoga session you've ever had.
For component setup's Gcomp is a must. It's expensive as it's a premium product but it's automatic. Meaning you just set it and forget it. 8 inputs and 2 outputs. If it had support for svideo I'd say it would be perfect. GScart is also great but is more complicated to get setup in an American household. And yes it's true, tv manufactures don't care that you have multiple retro systems. Most tv's don't even have composite anymore.
Video switchers of high quality have been around longer than video games. You can't find them because they are beyond Amazon and Radio Shack. Regarding security systems and broadcast-level hardware, it is out there. You can even buy a 20 x 20 HDMI Matrix switcher. It will cost you $20K but is out there. Looking at companies like Pelco and my favourite Kramer you will find the best of the best but they are only sold via their websites. My favourite switch to date was my Kramer switcher scaler. It had multiple inputs from composite to HDMI and scaled everything with settings for the scaling.
The worst is when you change your setup and have to unplug something, only to have to try and follow cables to figure out what the right thing is to unplug. Or trying to remember the exact configuration to get the right output for the particular console you want to play. Hooking up newly found/purchased older consoles is always a struggle. Is the lack of display because the configured settings is wrong on the tv? Is the cable broken? Is the console itself just not working? Huge hassle.
I had a vision once that tv companies should build tvs for gamers. Multiple inputs that accept all resolutions for up to 20 inputs. Just implement an upscaler inside the TV as well. Seems like an opportunity missed but no TV companies show interest.
No love for av receivers 😢 multiple inputs and the added bonus of being able to use actually good speakers and utilize that sweet Dolby pro logic surround
In my bedroom I have all my RF systems hooked up to a small crt TV. I daisy chained the RF connectors together so that all I have to do is plug in the AC adapter for whatever system I want to play.
My solution is pretty simple but it might not be suitable for everyone, but I think its pretty elegant. I run a composite ext cable to my CRT and a power ext cable to the power strip and have female plugs in a small cubby in tv stand. My consoles are usually displayed on the shelf and i keep my console cables organized in ziplog backs by system and controllers with cables velcro tied neatly in a drawer. I dont really "console hop" so I only have need for 1 system at a time really. Just pull it off the shelf, grab the controller and cable from the drawer, plug and play.
I found these tiny grounded extension cords online. They solve the most annoying problem of power bricks taking up half the space on surge protectors. They are like 3 inch cords and I plug them into the surge protector and the brick into the to the extension.
I’ve got no problem at all with having all 14 of my retro consoles ready to go. In the bedroom, I have my HDTV, CRT, and a monitor using 2 switch boxes. Everything from Atari -Xbox ONE. In my second game room I use my 60” 4KTV for my more modern consoles Xbox 1X, PS3, PS4pro, WiiU, Switch, and a 2nd 360 using an extra box with multiple HDMI inputs. I use the best of the best when getting power strips also.
I've got three switchers hooked up to a 32" trinitron. One svideo, one component, and one composite switcher. So snes, n64, gamecube and ps1 for svideo. Ps2 and xbox for component. Nes, master system, genesis, and a vcr for composite. A lonely arari 2600 is hooked up to the vcr the through rf. On my hdtv is anything hdmi, ps3, ps4, xbox 360, wii-u, pc. The most annoying thing hooking up another console is definately finding a spot to put it. I like having everything so it's just a input change or a button press away from being used.
I power my setup via garage surge protector as the have plenty of space between outlets. I also ensure that the switch is accessible so I can physically switch off the power as those brick will draw phantom power even when consoles are off. As for switch boxes the cheap rgb ones with cord often boils down to poor cable quality. As cheap boxes out there sometimes have no switches but have all the inputs connected together which can be bad for your equipment. There are options that auto switch that use its own power but aside from being expensive I would be concern with interference.
The best way I found to connect them all at once was with an HDMi Switch for the newer consoles, and SCART Switches for the older consoles. Since SCART can carry composite, s-video and component, all I need to do is use SCART adapters for the consoles that don't have SCART on the video cable. The power cables all converge into a ventilated drawer.with 5 power extensions. Cable management was HELL, but now that it's done it was worth the hassle.
What you say about if it's discernable to the user or if it's important to the user is 100%. I always get people asking me what the best is, or what I use... Most of the time I say, don't bother. I get the best stuff for competition. for personal use and stuff I don't compete in? slight signal degradation, or *slight* input lag, Not a big deal. But when I run competitions yeah, that's gonna matter. and the premium is worth it. Luckily though, because of that need I will sometimes randomly buy cheap stuff, test for input lag and be surprised at certain budget options. Those DEFINITELY get my +1 and recommendation.
One thing you guys forget to mention is RF for things like Atari 2600 5200 7800 Intellivision ColecoVision etc. I stream these things on Twitch but I take the most direct pads of the TV so that light gun games work and then the longer path is into various other stuff that doesn't have to be instant like the computer broadcast. Also I just have one input for each type and just use ordinary cables and extra double females or RCA, SVideo and Toslink to plug in males and accommodate any connection.
First it's RF DEmodulation, not modulation. Second the secret is to use a VCR to turn it to composite and then go from there. It only has enough ping to throw off aim on on light gun game. All other games are snappy using my Betamax as a converter.
Philips automatic switchers are a game changer. No more pushing buttons and labeling inputs - it automatically detects the signal and switches. Not expensive devices either and look great to me on my trinitron with HD Retrovision component cables.
A pretty relevant topic for me. In the market for a smaller 4k set for my office but I cannot find one with more than one component input. Seems I'll have to go the switch box route and use my retrotink for my consoles with composite input. Tried going the CRT route but I've been burned with discolored and unaligned sets, so better upgrade :/ It's a hard knock gaming life when you want everything hooked up.
My personal annoyance is types of connectors on older consoles. My NES top loader has only RF for connection, no composite support. My gen 1 Genesis has no stereo audio cable and SCART is not in the US. Lastly I hate the rarity and price of good official component cables like the one for the GameCube.
When you get to about ten consoles hooked up to the same TV the back of the setup is a tangled mess, I've lost a few old power supply cords from being bent in place for too long. Whenever you want to move something you have to find the cords and untangle them, that's always the worst part. I should organize them properly, and use those protector things you showed in the video, I didn't know there were products like that.
@@RetroBirdGaming Yeah, my old Snes power cord was frayed from being pulled to the side to fit onto a cluttered surge protector for so many years. I make sure to take better care of them now.
Sometimes it's easier to find an alternate cord for your console. I have both vga and component for my Wii, vga and HDMI for Xbox 360, and since my N64 and GameCube use the same cord, I just swap cords between consoles. Also my BUT was nice enough to include a coax input so it doesn't have to fight with the Atari 2600.
Not trying to be that elite guy, but I really have to give superg credit for his gscartsw in picture here. I got mine a week ago and it's just very well made. Big recommendation if you don't mind the price. The two outputs was my main concern, so it opens for streaming with a rgb scart signal while still playing at my crt with no signal loss
Yeah i've got an old Symphonic Funai CRT TV with only an RF and 1 Yellow and White AV input without the red part, every console is connected to a AV Switch Box but i still don't have enough inputs for all the consoles i own, might plan on getting a stereo receiver for all my consoles
Anecdotally, I have a no-no scart switch with the scart lead built in, but it works great! Not the black generic chinese model. Was made by mad catz. I took a chance on a used one bc the picture showed "rgb scart switch" printed right on the housing.
The worst thing for me was dusting all the cables behind my TV setup. So I had two CRTS next to each other (SD and 16:9 HD), twelve consoles, and a big 12x24 Extron Crosspoint, switching both S-Video and component. It got so insanely dusty back there with the 800 cables and it was so complicated that I just gave up trying to manage it. I recently redid my setup with a 32" 4:3 HD CRT and only have five consoles connected right now (the ones I mainly play), and I put the Crosspoint and it's 60lbs of cables into storage until I move to a place I can have a dedicated game room. Now I just use three daisy-chained switchboxes. Two Gamestop brand component/s-video/ethernet switchers (one plugged in backwards to select the TV) and one Pelican S-video switcher. They're cheap crap but the quality is identical to me lol. It's a fun puzzle building a setup that works. I also have two big 12-outlet Belkin surge protectors which are awesome. One also powers my desktop. I only turn on what I need to and I haven't tripped a fuse yet! Haha
I grabbed a really nice Hdmi multiport hub a few months ago from Amazon, maybe 30-40 bucks. It needs a USB power supply which my Tv has. I have my "retro" stuff plugged into that thing since my Tv only has 3 Hdmi ports (ps3 & ps4 occupy the other slots). I have a Pound for my Xbox (meh), both a Hyperkin & Kaico for my modded Dreamcast (ehh), and Level Hike for my Genesis, Saturn, & PS2 (by far the best). The Level Hike requires external USB power in every application but it is way better quality than the other brands for basically the same price. I'll be replacing the others eventually but I'm gonna need a bigger power strip...
Not sure if you mentioned it but Extron Crosspoint Matrix Switchers are top of the line option. They can have up to 16 inputs and 16 outputs. I doubt anyone needs 16 outputs though lol
Yeah I bought one off ebay. The video signal was flawless but I was getting audio interference through the switcher so ended up having to get a separate small composite switcher just for the audio part
This is awesome! Questions: I want to do this with a Playstation (original full size), PS2 (original full size), Gamecube, and a Wii. Can I do this on a 'normal' modern TV or does it need to be a CRT? And will those four consoles use the same input, i.e. go into the same type of splitter? Thanks!
As long as the inputs and output on the switchbox match one of the inputs on the TV, you can plug it into any TV that has the type of connection you're looking to use.
Have you tried adding pepper and Tabasco to the Ketchup Water? Of course, if you add Tons of both it doesn't matter if you have water or Ketchup with it.
Here I am watching your video on how to connect multiple consoles when I become distracted at the game you're playing. I'm like, "That looks like Rayforce. But Rayforce isn't a horizontal scrolling shooter." Then the rest of my brain catches up, "Oh, I see. He has it in Tate Mode." I forget that some people like playing their games Tate on their side. Me, I prefer vertical scrolling and don't mind the smaller picture.
I have the SCART switcher shown at 5:17 and never had any issues. I’m sure there’s a higher spec/higher priced one out there that produces a better quality sound and picture but because I’ve never used one I don’t know what I’m missing and therefore don’t care, because the one I have looks great to me.
Thank you man, you gave me the information I was looking for!!! I want to buy exactly the same switcher, that's how I landed here, to get the approval that this switcher works :)
I think it depends on the tv you’re using and cables, as long as you’re using properly shielded cables that are high quality and you’re outputting to a CRT there shouldn’t be any issue at all, it comes down to whether you want a manual switcher or automatic one. There’s pros and cons to both, I personally went for manual given I don’t mind manually switching inputs and there’s less to go wrong in a manual vs an automatic one. I may be wrong tho this is what I’ve learned through my research
HUGE NEWS: Some of you have noticed that there is a little white spot that shows on my CRT TV while filming (which is caused by the light I use to light my controller btw). Well, it appears that I have figured out how to get rid of that white spot. The days of that little white spot terrorizing my footage are now over. That being said, I understand some of you may have grown attached to that white spot and will now miss it. For that, I have a song to help you cope with your loss: ua-cam.com/video/ltIFitYFiVs/v-deo.html
I noticed that white spot and will miss it dearly now that you pointed out it's gone.
You mean Layer Section for Saturn? You can actually change the controls so that you can play it like a horizontal shooter.
RIP little white spot. You had so much potential to grow and become famous.
@@AJCOOL11256 Yeah, it's funny to notice those things weren't turned.
I'm in disbelief. Little white spot was always there, and now gone so suddenly.... nothing makes sense anymore. Where do we go from here?
For me the most annoying thing about hooking up multiple consoles is not having multiple consoles to hook up.
haha good one
Hopefully there's good news in the last 8 months?
True
Don’t you just hate when that happens? 😢
The annoying thing for me is having too many around. Can't play them all. And by the way, theres not much excuses you can find all kinds of console pretty cheap these days via ebay for example.
I hate it when an extra life spawns in a wall. I felt your pain.
Yeah, haha. I wondered if anyone would notice that. I missed an extra life earlier too.
My power plug life changed for the better forever when I got a modern 3-in-1 connector that gets the Gen, 32X and CD all into one plug - that's STILL smaller than an OEM Genesis plug!
I have seen that! Great invention!
2:02 that 1up stuck in the wall, this is love
I absolutely hated having to change out cables all the time. I have an n64 nes, GameCube, genesis, PS1, and Dreamcast all hooked up to one CRT. A few weeks ago My school was throwing out a bunch of old technology they didn’t use anymore and I asked them if I could take this 5 input av switcher off them. That’s how I got a really good switcher for free
I've been on top of this for years, thankfully. My original CRT TV had 2 shared inputs other than the RF, so I had to find a way to get all my composite and S-Video stuff into those 2 inputs. I started with those 4-port cheap RCA branded switches that you could buy at Radio Shack and Walmart, and over a decade ago I found a Joytech 240C at Best Buy that handled up to 7 inputs, and included component across 6 of them. I still use that in my setup today and would be in trouble without it.
Keep doing what you're doing, you'll have 100,000 subs in no time. Your videos are fun and informative!
Amazing video.
All the stuff with hiding wires, switches, conextions to TV... is a pain in the ass.
Some of my consoles are now disconected, just exposed, because of this issue.
Only the ones I use more often are currently connected to my CRT.
Regards from Spain.
Hiding all the wires and everything is a pain in the ass indeed!
Currently working on my retro gaming setup.. I bought the Panalog 8-way AV switcher but have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not a techy person, just like playing the games. Thanks for this video.. informative and made me laugh, too! SUB!
Glad it was helpful! Welcome to the channel!
I have the Panalog. Have 2 in fact. One hooked up to my JVC D series and the other to my jvc av. Work very well.
I have a few of those. They work just fine!
Subscribed within two minutes of starting the video. Had no idea it would be this funny!
Glad you liked it and welcome to the channel!
Most annoying for me is the cable management. Two of my TVs are mounted on a wall so it took a lot of work to make the wires less agregious
Wall mounting definitely requires a little more work for everything.
Cables are a nightmare! Hdmi splitters and Internet cables add even more headaches
Mama's got a switch box, Daddy never sleeps at night.
hahah
If I ever get to the point of collecting that many consoles, I plan to make a display box with built in video and power switching- using proper switch boxes, but hacking in extended switches/buttons to reach the console’s spot on shelf (each shelf itself hollow with removable top for routing wires away)
Sounds like a worthy project!
@@RetroBirdGaming likely hood of being even started? maybe around 3.256666%
Have four systems myself all hooked up. AV splitter for my SNES and N64, and the RF for Atari 2600 and NES chained together. Very nice to switch systems within seconds and two or three button presses at the most, and play what you want and when you want to. And I must say, Kaboom for Atari is still as addictive and crazy as it ever was.
just realized i never subscribed but have been watching you for a while...my bad ...finally pressed the button :)
Haha no problem. UA-cam cares more about watching than subscribing anyhow. I appreciate the support!
Thank you! This has always been a major issue when wanting to have multiple game consoles hooked up to one TV. Switchers and surge protectors are indeed a necessity!
Besides that, the other problem I have is finding room on my TV stand for each console to sit. My TV and sound bar take up precious real estate so I can only comfortably fit three or four consoles at a time (depending on the size of the console).
My biggest problem is physical space to site all my consoles (11 at the moment). But I have had so much 'fun' perfecting my set up and switches (SCART, Component and HDMI) have been a real pain at time
I think I have the same Trinitron as you, Retro Bird. I have my consoles connected via HD Retrovision Cables running through a component switcher I found at a thrift store. Looks amazing.
Sounds good to me!
Was looking for this exact topic today and you upload this literally today. Thanks man!
Wow! That worked out nicely! Hope you enjoy it :)
Thank you! Its always a funny way to learn things of you and remember me each Time how IT was somewhere in time
Ok this is my first video are you Scott the WOZ dad lol 😂 definitely subscribing
Great video!
I have maybe a niche problem hehe. Where I live getting good s-video cables for consoles is almost simple, but finding a good S-Video to S-Video cable is impossible, it has to be imported :(
You are the only UA-camr I found humorous. Great content. Keep it up.
Thank you for that :). Glad you're enjoying the channel.
I use an HDMI switch for my modern consoles and it has been a lifesaver. Too many consoles for 3 HDMI slots.
Just want to say that your videos always make me smile🤙 don’t ever change
Glad to hear it!
The gcompsw is the single most awesome piece of auxiliary electronic hardware I’ve ever bought, but for those looking for a cheap alternative that’s inexpensive and much less a pain in the ass than going to the back of the tv to swap consoles, get an HD Retrovision female to male component cable, plug it into the back of your tv, and leave your new “inputs” in an easy to access area that your consoles cords can reach. Just swap out your console of choice from there. Saved me many a back injury, especially with the gargantuan CRTs I own.
Another option that is getting better everyday is honestly the MiSTer. What an amazing device. I’m an original hardware all the way kinda guy, but the space this thing saves and the amazing accuracy it provides through hardware FPGA emulation feels exactly like the 6 or so systems I have hooked up in my main room, but in one convenient, one component input occupying, lovely black box. Again, this is coming from a guy that can’t vibe with emulation in the slightest due to the tiniest of issues, but that thing? The coolest piece of tech I have ever witnessed for this hobby. Have you considered talking about it at all Retro Bird? Cheers, and great video as always!
I would totally talk about the MISTer if I had one. I definitely appreciate that it exists. Such a great solution.
Just make sure to terminate (in the technical sense), those free component connections, when not in use.
The most annoying thing about hooking up multiple consoles is both not having enough inputs, and not having enough power outlets. Like GAWD I have two 7 port HDMI 2.0 switches because even the 4 on the TV aren't enough. I also have a HDMI ARC Soundbar, which while awesome and convenient, needs to be plugged into a specifically labeled HDMI port to work(HDMI 3 in my case). I also plan to invest in a more expensive component switcher later on. The TV I'm using is awesome though. It's a Sony XBR-43X800D, a 4K Android TV from 2016 with what looks to be VA Panel. Pretty good blacks(not quite as good as OLED, but still excellent), really good viewing angles, accurate color which can get quite punchy if desired, and some of the best built in upscaling I've ever seen on a TV. It's not quite the top of the line 4K 120 Hz TV, but I've had this TV for about three years, and I still love it.
I have an inexpensive 4-input switch, that I use for S-video. But the switch could also do composite, if I wanted to. Like you, I have never noticed any issues with the signals going through the switch.
I'm late to this party, but my multi console retro setup is use and older AV receiver to be a switcher. You can typically get a top of the line AV receiver that's older for very inexpensive, AND get the benefit of multiply inputs, single output.
Yes I've noticed the outlets, and my theory is they're made to look like faces and are located near the floor so babies can put stuff in them.
As an electrician, I can confirm that is correct
An annoying thing for me are power bricks!!! They can block the plug next to the one they are plugged into, sometimes two of them! My solution is to buy short 8 to 12 inch extension cords. The plug on these takes up just one spot. There are also what I would call "octopus" extension cords. These take up one plug but have 3-5 arms dangling off of them.
Of course there are also power strips that have the sockets further apart than normal so a brick only takes up the one spot.
The cords work better for me as I have bricks plugged into different power strips.
Unfortunately with how much my game collection has built up over the years coupled with my living situation, hooking up all my consoles to a single TV is just the tip of the iceberg for me, haha! I definitely want to invest in better shelves and other furniture to make displaying and organizing my collection a lot easier, and of course get some new AV selectors to make switching between each console much easier. Now the biggest problem is space...
It's definitely a project to do that.
Oh man, my journey to hook up everything in my setup can either be considered the stuff of legend or stuff of nightmares. I'm just gonna go with both since I don't regret it but it's also been the bane of my gaming existence. I started out like most people would have, a simple unpowered switch box for my analog consoles and a small Kenevo switcher for HDMI. Both had no more than four inputs and at the time I didn't need more. Since then I have gotten many more consoles and had to upgrade my hookup options significantly. Two Extron Crosspoint switchers handle all of my Component and S-Video consoles while a single Extron DXP HDMI switch handles my HDMI consoles. The DXP is easy to setup since its just your typical HDMI connector, but the Crosspoints are a different story. I need so many cable converters and adapters to make them work they way I want with my setup, especially audio since Phoenix connectors are nowhere near consumer standard. I don't even bother with RGB here, Crosspoints only take C-Sync and produces a sync signal with too high a voltage that can damage or destroy consumer grade equipment. Still though, they work fantastically, are relatively cheap to buy and are built to last since they're all commercial grade stuff that were only available to corporations and such and cost thousands when they were brand new. They float around on eBay from liquidators and individual companies looking to get rid of outdated equipment, great news and opportunities for us retro gamers. :)
“It's the Retro Bird.. yeah! And he's talkin.. talkin about video games!
It's the Retro Bird.. oh yes! And he hopes that you liked what he had to say!”
Great content and amazing jingle at the end of your videos!! Thanks for sharing with the world.
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching :)
5:35 Very nicely timed thunderstrike right before flattening poor Mario. What an appropriate character pick to have Wario do the honors.
Hahah what I was most proud of was hitting myself with the green shell at the beginning of that run. I wanted that for my footage and got it on the first try!
Your videos are very informative and entertaining. I would say your channel is definitely a hidden 💎 and deserves more subs.
Thank you! I appreciate that :)
You have the exact same sony tv as I do for retro gaming. This tv is perfect!
In general one of the biggest problems is keeping track of the cables and connections. I've got some many switchers, power strips, voltage converters that it can be quite confusing at times. However what is the most infuriating is the lack of space for all of my equipment and when I want to change something in my setup it's like playing Twister. Your left foot goes here, your right foot has to stay up in the air, your left hand leans against the wall, your right hand desperately tries to reach for the correct inputs and your head has to be tilted unnaturally to actually see something. It's like most the exhausting yoga session you've ever had.
I take labels and wrap them around the cords and label what systems the cables go to. This helps me tremendously
@@THE.CHIEF616 Yeah, that's definitely a great idea. I started doing it a couple of months ago and noticed how helpful it is.
Wow I have never seen those cable wraps before!
I love the Streets of Rage music in the background
For component setup's Gcomp is a must. It's expensive as it's a premium product but it's automatic. Meaning you just set it and forget it. 8 inputs and 2 outputs. If it had support for svideo I'd say it would be perfect. GScart is also great but is more complicated to get setup in an American household. And yes it's true, tv manufactures don't care that you have multiple retro systems. Most tv's don't even have composite anymore.
It is indeed premium!
I don't know why them ketchup water jokes get me
Who says they're jokes? I'm serious. hahah
Video switchers of high quality have been around longer than video games. You can't find them because they are beyond Amazon and Radio Shack. Regarding security systems and broadcast-level hardware, it is out there. You can even buy a 20 x 20 HDMI Matrix switcher. It will cost you $20K but is out there. Looking at companies like Pelco and my favourite Kramer you will find the best of the best but they are only sold via their websites. My favourite switch to date was my Kramer switcher scaler. It had multiple inputs from composite to HDMI and scaled everything with settings for the scaling.
The worst is when you change your setup and have to unplug something, only to have to try and follow cables to figure out what the right thing is to unplug. Or trying to remember the exact configuration to get the right output for the particular console you want to play. Hooking up newly found/purchased older consoles is always a struggle. Is the lack of display because the configured settings is wrong on the tv? Is the cable broken? Is the console itself just not working? Huge hassle.
I had a vision once that tv companies should build tvs for gamers. Multiple inputs that accept all resolutions for up to 20 inputs. Just implement an upscaler inside the TV as well. Seems like an opportunity missed but no TV companies show interest.
No love for av receivers 😢 multiple inputs and the added bonus of being able to use actually good speakers and utilize that sweet Dolby pro logic surround
In my bedroom I have all my RF systems hooked up to a small crt TV. I daisy chained the RF connectors together so that all I have to do is plug in the AC adapter for whatever system I want to play.
Another great video as usual. Subscribed.
Glad you're liking them! Welcome aboard :)
I really enjoy your videos and humor style
Glad to hear it! Thank you :)
2nd. Really enjoying this channel. Keep up the great work.
Glad that you're liking it! Thank you.
Hah! Jackwagon 😆 I just found your videos the other day and you really crack me up dude!
Welcome to the channel! Glad to hear :)
Thank you! Yeah, I like your style! I will be watching your channel a bunch for sure!
Thanks a bunch, 8 year old me would’ve been so happy to see me now!
A good component switcher is truly a life changer not even kidding
My solution is pretty simple but it might not be suitable for everyone, but I think its pretty elegant.
I run a composite ext cable to my CRT and a power ext cable to the power strip and have female plugs in a small cubby in tv stand. My consoles are usually displayed on the shelf and i keep my console cables organized in ziplog backs by system and controllers with cables velcro tied neatly in a drawer. I dont really "console hop" so I only have need for 1 system at a time really. Just pull it off the shelf, grab the controller and cable from the drawer, plug and play.
I like the creativity. I could also see that working out well for allowing you to focus on one system for longer.
I found these tiny grounded extension cords online. They solve the most annoying problem of power bricks taking up half the space on surge protectors. They are like 3 inch cords and I plug them into the surge protector and the brick into the to the extension.
I've been using the same RadioShack switch box since elementary school and it's held together just fine.
I’ve got no problem at all with having all 14 of my retro consoles ready to go. In the bedroom, I have my HDTV, CRT, and a monitor using 2 switch boxes. Everything from Atari -Xbox ONE. In my second game room I use my 60” 4KTV for my more modern consoles Xbox 1X, PS3, PS4pro, WiiU, Switch, and a 2nd 360 using an extra box with multiple HDMI inputs. I use the best of the best when getting power strips also.
I've got three switchers hooked up to a 32" trinitron. One svideo, one component, and one composite switcher. So snes, n64, gamecube and ps1 for svideo. Ps2 and xbox for component. Nes, master system, genesis, and a vcr for composite. A lonely arari 2600 is hooked up to the vcr the through rf. On my hdtv is anything hdmi, ps3, ps4, xbox 360, wii-u, pc.
The most annoying thing hooking up another console is definately finding a spot to put it. I like having everything so it's just a input change or a button press away from being used.
Yeah, finding a new spot for stuff sucks!
Great videos man, very informative and fun.
Thank you!
The jungle of wires has always been my problem until I started using velcro strips to keep them neat
Good thinkin'!
I power my setup via garage surge protector as the have plenty of space between outlets. I also ensure that the switch is accessible so I can physically switch off the power as those brick will draw phantom power even when consoles are off. As for switch boxes the cheap rgb ones with cord often boils down to poor cable quality. As cheap boxes out there sometimes have no switches but have all the inputs connected together which can be bad for your equipment. There are options that auto switch that use its own power but aside from being expensive I would be concern with interference.
The best way I found to connect them all at once was with an HDMi Switch for the newer consoles, and SCART Switches for the older consoles. Since SCART can carry composite, s-video and component, all I need to do is use SCART adapters for the consoles that don't have SCART on the video cable. The power cables all converge into a ventilated drawer.with 5 power extensions. Cable management was HELL, but now that it's done it was worth the hassle.
Solid, helpful info. Thank you.
What you say about if it's discernable to the user or if it's important to the user is 100%. I always get people asking me what the best is, or what I use... Most of the time I say, don't bother. I get the best stuff for competition. for personal use and stuff I don't compete in? slight signal degradation, or *slight* input lag, Not a big deal. But when I run competitions yeah, that's gonna matter. and the premium is worth it. Luckily though, because of that need I will sometimes randomly buy cheap stuff, test for input lag and be surprised at certain budget options. Those DEFINITELY get my +1 and recommendation.
One thing you guys forget to mention is RF for things like Atari 2600 5200 7800 Intellivision ColecoVision etc.
I stream these things on Twitch but I take the most direct pads of the TV so that light gun games work and then the longer path is into various other stuff that doesn't have to be instant like the computer broadcast.
Also I just have one input for each type and just use ordinary cables and extra double females or RCA, SVideo and Toslink to plug in males and accommodate any connection.
rf modulation device with av out to upscaler the capture card
a bonus is rf modulators usually clean up the signal noise quite a bit
First it's RF DEmodulation, not modulation.
Second the secret is to use a VCR to turn it to composite and then go from there. It only has enough ping to throw off aim on on light gun game. All other games are snappy using my Betamax as a converter.
2:38 i have the same AV Switcher, i use it for my NES, PS2 & GameCube!
Oddly enough, I'm on board with this "Ketchup Water" idea 🤔💡 hopefully you find the perfect formula 😎👌
Philips automatic switchers are a game changer. No more pushing buttons and labeling inputs - it automatically detects the signal and switches. Not expensive devices either and look great to me on my trinitron with HD Retrovision component cables.
I use 2 4 input component switchers plugged into an OSSC on my HDTV works great. the consoles I can’t hook up on the ossc are hooked up to my crt tv
A pretty relevant topic for me.
In the market for a smaller 4k set for my office but I cannot find one with more than one component input.
Seems I'll have to go the switch box route and use my retrotink for my consoles with composite input.
Tried going the CRT route but I've been burned with discolored and unaligned sets, so better upgrade :/
It's a hard knock gaming life when you want everything hooked up.
A hard knock life indeed!
I have two retro consoles at this time but I’m planning on buying a N64 soon as well as a sega dreamcast
Belkin makes power strips with rotatable sockets, best power strips for lots of bulky power supplies
My personal annoyance is types of connectors on older consoles. My NES top loader has only RF for connection, no composite support. My gen 1 Genesis has no stereo audio cable and SCART is not in the US. Lastly I hate the rarity and price of good official component cables like the one for the GameCube.
When you get to about ten consoles hooked up to the same TV the back of the setup is a tangled mess, I've lost a few old power supply cords from being bent in place for too long.
Whenever you want to move something you have to find the cords and untangle them, that's always the worst part. I should organize them properly, and use those protector things you showed in the video, I didn't know there were products like that.
Dang. I didn't know cords could be bent that badly hahah.
@@RetroBirdGaming Yeah, my old Snes power cord was frayed from being pulled to the side to fit onto a cluttered surge protector for so many years.
I make sure to take better care of them now.
for me, I have a gamecube and snes on the same tv, I just switch the video cables between the two systems because they use the same output
One Day I will have a CRT with Component and S video. Right now I'm rocking two Small Composite CRTs. 9 inch PVM and 13 inch Toshiba.
The issue i have isnt the amount of console i want plug but audio control
I use a 16 input to 1 output HDMI switcher combined with a bunch of retroTINKs/ Analogue consules. Cable management is my biggest issue.
Wow!
CRT5: Back In Composite
Keep 'em comin!
The Name of CRT 6 shall not be disclosed until a later date.
Sometimes it's easier to find an alternate cord for your console. I have both vga and component for my Wii, vga and HDMI for Xbox 360, and since my N64 and GameCube use the same cord, I just swap cords between consoles. Also my BUT was nice enough to include a coax input so it doesn't have to fight with the Atari 2600.
Not trying to be that elite guy, but I really have to give superg credit for his gscartsw in picture here. I got mine a week ago and it's just very well made. Big recommendation if you don't mind the price. The two outputs was my main concern, so it opens for streaming with a rgb scart signal while still playing at my crt with no signal loss
Yeah i've got an old Symphonic Funai CRT TV with only an RF and 1 Yellow and White AV input without the red part, every console is connected to a AV Switch Box but i still don't have enough inputs for all the consoles i own, might plan on getting a stereo receiver for all my consoles
Anecdotally, I have a no-no scart switch with the scart lead built in, but it works great! Not the black generic chinese model. Was made by mad catz. I took a chance on a used one bc the picture showed "rgb scart switch" printed right on the housing.
Glad that worked out for you!
The worst thing for me was dusting all the cables behind my TV setup. So I had two CRTS next to each other (SD and 16:9 HD), twelve consoles, and a big 12x24 Extron Crosspoint, switching both S-Video and component. It got so insanely dusty back there with the 800 cables and it was so complicated that I just gave up trying to manage it. I recently redid my setup with a 32" 4:3 HD CRT and only have five consoles connected right now (the ones I mainly play), and I put the Crosspoint and it's 60lbs of cables into storage until I move to a place I can have a dedicated game room.
Now I just use three daisy-chained switchboxes. Two Gamestop brand component/s-video/ethernet switchers (one plugged in backwards to select the TV) and one Pelican S-video switcher. They're cheap crap but the quality is identical to me lol. It's a fun puzzle building a setup that works.
I also have two big 12-outlet Belkin surge protectors which are awesome. One also powers my desktop. I only turn on what I need to and I haven't tripped a fuse yet! Haha
I grabbed a really nice Hdmi multiport hub a few months ago from Amazon, maybe 30-40 bucks. It needs a USB power supply which my Tv has. I have my "retro" stuff plugged into that thing since my Tv only has 3 Hdmi ports (ps3 & ps4 occupy the other slots). I have a Pound for my Xbox (meh), both a Hyperkin & Kaico for my modded Dreamcast (ehh), and Level Hike for my Genesis, Saturn, & PS2 (by far the best). The Level Hike requires external USB power in every application but it is way better quality than the other brands for basically the same price. I'll be replacing the others eventually but I'm gonna need a bigger power strip...
Not sure if you mentioned it but Extron Crosspoint Matrix Switchers are top of the line option. They can have up to 16 inputs and 16 outputs. I doubt anyone needs 16 outputs though lol
Yeah I bought one off ebay. The video signal was flawless but I was getting audio interference through the switcher so ended up having to get a separate small composite switcher just for the audio part
Oh man, I have no idea how I’m going to add the consoles I find this year to our game room 😅
I like this guy.
Thanks!
Just make sure you tell people to buy shielded video cables.
In a cable wrap, there will be a LOT of interference.
Yes, absolutely. It's worth getting the cables that are shielded properly.
The Johnsons next door hahah perfect! Great video!
Radioshack switch box. Old school!
I love you RetroBird :)
This is awesome!
Questions: I want to do this with a Playstation (original full size), PS2 (original full size), Gamecube, and a Wii. Can I do this on a 'normal' modern TV or does it need to be a CRT? And will those four consoles use the same input, i.e. go into the same type of splitter? Thanks!
As long as the inputs and output on the switchbox match one of the inputs on the TV, you can plug it into any TV that has the type of connection you're looking to use.
Have you tried adding pepper and Tabasco to the Ketchup Water?
Of course, if you add Tons of both it doesn't matter if you have water or Ketchup with it.
I'll have to try that out!
I lucked into a Denon surround system at a thrift shop for $8. IT HAS LIKE 10 S-VIDEO INPUTS.
Here I am watching your video on how to connect multiple consoles when I become distracted at the game you're playing.
I'm like, "That looks like Rayforce. But Rayforce isn't a horizontal scrolling shooter." Then the rest of my brain catches up, "Oh, I see. He has it in Tate Mode."
I forget that some people like playing their games Tate on their side. Me, I prefer vertical scrolling and don't mind the smaller picture.
Me to the Johnson's:
SEE THIS! 4 INPUTS! YEP! 4! WHAT NOW JOHNSON!
I have the SCART switcher shown at 5:17 and never had any issues. I’m sure there’s a higher spec/higher priced one out there that produces a better quality sound and picture but because I’ve never used one I don’t know what I’m missing and therefore don’t care, because the one I have looks great to me.
Thank you man, you gave me the information I was looking for!!! I want to buy exactly the same switcher, that's how I landed here, to get the approval that this switcher works :)
I think it depends on the tv you’re using and cables, as long as you’re using properly shielded cables that are high quality and you’re outputting to a CRT there shouldn’t be any issue at all, it comes down to whether you want a manual switcher or automatic one. There’s pros and cons to both, I personally went for manual given I don’t mind manually switching inputs and there’s less to go wrong in a manual vs an automatic one. I may be wrong tho this is what I’ve learned through my research
Some consoles use the same hook ups, even if they aren't by the same company. Those are rare occasions though.