It is well documented that there is variance among the different consoles’ video output circuitry.
NES Composite Video output is not the same as Sega Genesis, SNES or PC Engine. Even among different models of Sega Genesis there can be differences in appearance and behavior of both audio and video output.
That’s what I have attempted to do using my Custom Blargg NTSC Video Filter presets. Only yesterday when I was trying to respond to @Nesguy I realized that @Juandiegous had the same idea of using the Blargg NTSC filter presets to simulate different console’s outputs and using the CRT Shader to more or less simulate different TVs.
That’s why I created separate tweaks for each system. I remember NES as being very sharp and clean in Composite, the same could be said about the Turbo Grafx 16. I remember SNES being a bit more soft/smooth around the edges, probably due to the low resolution combined with the image being stretched to fit 4:3 thus changing the shape of the pixels as well as the use of its vast colour palette to do wonderful melding on the edges of the graphics.
So far I’ve been able to get the sharp SNES look without the Blargg NTSC Filters, which probably looks more like S-Video than Composite if my memory serves me correctly but when I’ve tried to do composite with artifacts, games that can handle a softer, blended/filtered look, look beautiful, but when I turn on the Super Mario World title screen (and other games which are more line art focused with lots of solid colours), I can see the blur or other weirdness in the title text, especially when viewed from a distance.
My latest SNES Composite Preset aims to address this so it can be used with all games without producing that blur while still having a more subtle NTSC effect.
So far, I think it works well in a variety of games I’ve tried.
I never seem to stop tweaking my presets though. Although, I hardly touch my Arcade and NES presets and I was pretty satisfied with my Turbo Duo Presets, sometimes there’s always something in the back of my mind that I think shouldn’t be there, looks a bit strange or needs improving.
Then I go to work, overhauling, sometimes get the improvements and then experiment with porting the improvements even to my other presets which I’ve previously been satisfied with.
This is why my latest pack has a new CyberLab_Genesis_Composite_Slot_Mask_IV_OLED_for_CyberLab_or_Core_Blargg_Composite_or_Video_Filter_III.slangp
I’m not ready to abandon the previous “look” since the real testing tends to take place after I make my new presets, release them into the wild and play with them over an extended period.
Trust me, when I say, I do a quite a bit of pixel watching.
In my latest Genesis preset I’ve also brightened and desaturated things a bit making it a bit easier on the eyes (which are my primary judge before I do any sort of comparisons). I’m more into reversing and reengineering the final output experience to my liking as opposed to trying to match particular TV sets. Which I also sometimes compare my presets to for reference and guidance, usually in a casual manner because I’m not aiming for nor do I expect to get an identical 1:1 match. Once it does what I think I want done to the pixels and artwork and is pleasing to my eyes, I’m satisfied.
No screenshots yet, pretty soon, but looking at and testing my new Genesis Preset I was really amazed at how clear and sharp the edges of the sprites and backgrounds looked and the level of detail that could be resolved while that Blargg_NTSC_Genesis_Composite_CyberLab_Special_Edition (or Blargg_NTSC_Genesis_S-Video_CyberLab_Special_Edition) video filter preset appeared to effortlessly filter the dithering.
It’s amazing how far I’ve (I previously thought “we” but don’t want to speak for anyone else and inadvertently rub anyone the wrong way) come from relying on great but inherently challenged de-dithering algorithms and on making blurry presets just for the sake of blending dithering to the clear, focused, easy on the eyes presets that I think our old CRTs must be looking at us from heaven feeling proud that their legacy will be safe with software preservation.
Right click on the image, click Open in New Tab then press F11 for Fullscreen for 4K users. Zoom in until it looks right for 1440p or 1080p users.