Composite Video on the NES: Why's it so wobbly?
This article explores the technical reasons behind the 'wobbly' video output of the Nintendo Entertainment System when using composite video. It focuses on NTSC signal timing and encoding rather than external interference.
Why it matters
It provides technical insight into retro-computing hardware limitations and the history of analog video signal processing.
The Nintendo Entertainment System. Is it the platonic ideal of an 8-bit video game system? Well, only because it’s so prominent and successful– it’s actually kind of an oddball in its expandability and design. But there’s something else about it. The picture is a bit… wobbly. Well, over composite video anyway. Let’s dig in and learn a little big more about the nitty-gritty of composite video.
The content is a technical deep-dive into hardware design with no political or social bias.
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