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OSSC Pro now reaches older CRT televisions with PAL, NTSC, composite, and S-Video support, including 240p output.
A More Flexible Analog Path for OSSC Pro
There’s something satisfying about sending a crisp retro-game image back to a chunky CRT television. The latest Extra AV Out board for OSSC Pro is designed precisely for that job, adding composite and S-Video connections to a setup that already supports modern digital display options.
At first glance, this might sound like a straightforward adapter update. The earlier version of the board could already convert a digital signal into analog video, so the basic idea wasn’t entirely new. The important change is that the revised board expands the number of practical connections available, making it easier to use OSSC Pro with older televisions and displays that don’t accept HDMI or RGB in the same way.
That extra flexibility matters in a retro setup. One television may favor RGB, another may only offer S-Video, and a particularly stubborn CRT might expect a composite signal. Instead of treating those displays as separate worlds, the updated hardware gives OSSC Pro a broader bridge between them.
Composite and S-Video Meet Modern Processing
The revised board is built around the AD723 video encoder. Together with OSSC Pro firmware version 0.83, it supports several television formats: PAL, PAL-M/N, and NTSC.
That format support is one of the more useful details here. This isn’t merely a case of adding familiar red, white, and yellow connectors to a box. The board is intended to produce an analog signal in standards that older televisions recognize, while also handling 240p output through both composite and S-Video.
For classic consoles, 240p is especially important. It keeps the picture closer to the low-resolution presentation many older games were designed around, rather than forcing everything into a more modern-looking video mode. Scanlines, sharp pixel edges, and the particular texture of an aging CRT all depend heavily on how the signal is handled. I initially wondered whether the new output options would be mostly useful for convenience, but 240p support makes the idea considerably more interesting for people who care about authentic presentation.
There’s still a little uncertainty around how every television will behave with every setting. CRT compatibility can be wonderfully unpredictable; one set locks onto a signal instantly, while another acts as if it has been asked to decode an alien transmission. The firmware support provides the necessary options, but the final result will naturally depend on the connected display.
Several Outputs Can Run at Once
The clever part is that the outputs don’t have to be treated as an either-or decision. Composite, S-Video, RGB, and HDMI can all be used simultaneously.
That means the same image can be sent to several displays at once. A player could have the HDMI signal going to a modern screen while routing composite or S-Video to a CRT television. RGB remains available as another option, so the system can serve both a contemporary display and an older one without constantly rearranging cables.
That’s the sort of feature that sounds minor until you actually use it. Retro setups tend to collect cables, adapters, switches, and small boxes with mysterious jobs. Being able to keep multiple display paths active could remove some of that fiddling. It also makes OSSC Pro more practical for demonstrations, testing, or simply comparing how the same game looks on different kinds of screens.
The simultaneous-output approach also suits the strange dual life of retro gaming today. On one side, there’s the clean convenience of HDMI. On the other, there’s the soft glow and unmistakable motion of a CRT. Neither experience completely replaces the other. The updated Extra AV Out board lets both exist in the same setup.
Framelock Adds Control Over 50 and 60 Hz
The output options become more useful when paired with the Framelock settings. These controls can force the system to switch between 50 Hz and 60 Hz, provided the connected display supports the selected refresh rate or television standard.
That gives users a way to deal with displays that only accept one particular frequency. A television may work correctly at 60 Hz but reject 50 Hz, or the reverse. Rather than leaving the output behavior entirely to automatic detection, Framelock can be used to choose the frequency deliberately.
This is the kind of practical setting that rarely looks glamorous in a feature list, yet it can decide whether a display works at all. Anyone who has connected older hardware to a temperamental television knows that “almost compatible” is often the same thing as “not working.” Having a direct way to manage 50 Hz and 60 Hz should make the setup less dependent on guesswork.
It also gives the board a clearer role than a basic analog converter. The hardware isn’t only adding physical connectors; the firmware determines how those outputs behave and which television formats can be used. That combination of board and software is what makes the upgrade more substantial.
The Enclosure Still Needs a Redesign
There is one obvious unfinished piece: the enclosure.
The existing 3D-printable case was designed before the additional RCA and S-Video connectors were added. As a result, it needs to be modified so the new ports can fit properly. Until that redesign is complete, the electronics may be ready while the surrounding shell is still catching up.
That delay is understandable, but it’s also a mild annoyance. A board can have excellent output support, yet a loose or poorly protected installation makes the whole project feel half-finished. The enclosure is the unglamorous part of hardware design—the bit nobody talks about until a connector doesn’t line up or a cable puts stress on the circuit board.
Still, this appears to be a practical revision rather than a fundamental obstacle. The case needs new openings for the added RCA and S-Video connections, not a complete rethink of the entire system. Once the updated design is available, the finished addon should be easier to mount and use without treating the board like a delicate science experiment.
A Small First Production Run Is Planned
A small batch of the revised Extra AV Out Addon is expected to reach customers through Video Game Perfection by the end of September 2026. That date is presented as a target rather than an absolute guarantee, and later production will depend on the availability of AD723 video encoders.
That supply detail could become important. A niche video board doesn’t necessarily need massive production numbers, but even a modest run can be affected when a particular component becomes difficult to obtain. In this case, the AD723 is central to the new design, so future availability may determine whether the board remains easy to find or becomes a limited curiosity.
The planned first batch also suggests that this won’t immediately be an everywhere-at-once accessory. Availability may be tight, especially while the enclosure is being revised and the production process is still settling. I can’t say how quickly the initial run will disappear, but anyone interested in adding CRT-friendly outputs would be wise to keep an eye on the release rather than assume the board will sit around indefinitely.
The accompanying presentation includes a short promotional clip, which fits the hardware nicely: the real appeal is seeing the same processed image travel through several display paths. On paper, the specifications are useful. In practice, the difference is felt when an old television springs to life with a properly supported analog signal.
Why This Upgrade Feels Worth Watching
The revised Extra AV Out board doesn’t try to replace OSSC Pro’s existing digital strengths. Instead, it fills a gap for players who still want genuine analog connections in a modern video setup.
The combination of PAL, PAL-M/N, and NTSC support, 240p output, simultaneous connections, and adjustable 50/60 Hz behavior gives the addon a focused purpose. It’s aimed at people who want their OSSC Pro to communicate with older televisions without abandoning HDMI, RGB, or the convenience of a current display.
That balance is what changed my opinion of the update. My first reaction was that composite and S-Video sounded like a backward-looking add-on for a device built around newer processing. After considering the simultaneous outputs and 240p support, it feels less like a compromise and more like a sensible expansion. Retro hardware is rarely about choosing one era forever. The best setups let old and new equipment cooperate, even when their ideas about video standards are wildly different.
The enclosure work and component availability remain open questions, and the planned production run is small. Even so, the board offers a useful path for anyone who wants CRT compatibility without giving up modern connections.
Conclusion
The OSSC Pro Extra AV Out revision gives composite and S-Video a more capable home, with support for 240p, multiple television standards, simultaneous output, and adjustable refresh behavior. It’s not a flashy overhaul, but it addresses a very real problem: getting modern video processing to play nicely with older screens. Would you use OSSC Pro with a CRT, an HDMI display, or both at the same time?
FAQ
- What does the Extra AV Out board add to OSSC Pro?
It adds composite and S-Video output, allowing OSSC Pro to send analog video to compatible CRT televisions and other older displays. - Does the updated board support 240p?
Yes. With OSSC Pro firmware version 0.83, the board can output 240p through composite and S-Video. - Which television formats are supported?
The revised board supports PAL, PAL-M/N, and NTSC output formats. - Can composite, S-Video, RGB, and HDMI be used together?
Yes. All four output types can be active simultaneously, allowing the same image to appear on multiple connected displays. - When is the revised addon expected to become available?
A small production batch is planned for the end of September 2026. Future availability will depend partly on the supply of AD723 video encoders.
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