Building The Ultimate 3DS in 2024

[@richneptune]

Your patience and attention to detail always amazes me, but the way you made that perfect USB-C cutout so precisely with a knife and file has blown my mind.

[@TooLazyToFail]

Agreed, that was some great, careful work!

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Thank you so much! Just a lot of patience to get the usb-c shape just right 😅

[@ajmoo]

Came here to say this as well. That's one of the best manual port cut-outs i've ever seen.

[@CubeGuy]

​@@MachoNachoProductionsNah. That's beyond just taking your time. You have a real knack for it. There's an art to plastic cutting.

[@pspsmallz]

Yeah cutting plastic by hand that perfectly is so hard, genuinely impressive

[@minionman123]

Also, something to note. The 3DS can become a sort of pseudo-consolizer, if you have it softmodded. The Luma3DS cfw menu comes with a feature called InputRedirection. It syncs to a PC app of the same name, and takes a controller synced to your PC via bluetooth or USB, and redirects those inputs to the 3DS itself. So if the game doesn't require the touch screen? You can play 3DS games with a controller on your PC.

[@seth7529]

this is awesome, a feature that other handheld emulators have as well. The 3DS is a beast though

[@ougonce]

@@seth7529 This isn't an emulator, it's actual hardware

[@papagarv]

You can map touchscreen coordinates to buttons on your external controller as well. So it still works very well for games that only require tapping a few buttons on the touchscreen (like Metroid: Samus Returns, for instance).

[@BladeBlur]

my only nitpick with that is sometime I press the Analog Stick and it takes me to the home menu... kinda wish I can remap the buttons.

[@ShadowSilver117]

It's been awhile since I've used it so I don't know what type of condition the application is in but there is utility called Snicker stream that works along with input redirection it allows you to use any controller you want to play your 3DS while also streaming the screen onto your computer no capture card or hard mods required

[@VortexS4]

Finally, video capture kits available. I’m sick of seeing listings of $2000 on EBay

[@GDRS_Marc]

scalpers

[@MachoNachoProductions]

They go for that much! That’s crazy 🤯

[@grim86]

​@@MachoNachoProductions i think that before mod kits came out there was a guy manually doing it so that's probably why

[@kingcheerio8558]

​@@MachoNachoProductionsI paid about $400 total for the Katsukitty mod, that's the kit, installation, and a console together. Wish I'd held out for the Loopy kit though, that USB-C is a gamechanger

[@rashira9610]

I mean you're probably only saving $200 with the way 3Ds's, New models in particular are being scalped now. 🤣

[@hosam7609]

Most impressive thing about this mod how clean the hole you made for the USB C port 👍

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Haha, thank you 🙏

[@graphosencrenoir4006]

yeah...is like factory cut...not some modders that did it like a mini shark had bite the edges...lol

[@cyprusmiraque]

It's so cool to see you FINALLY covering the Loopy 3Ds capture mod! I have one of these and it's SOOO nice

[@cyprusmiraque]

I will say, I'm glad that I paid for installation

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Did the $200 include the cost of the kit?

[@zionjackson7617]

Where do I get one and can I get one of the Smash Bros 3DS that would be freaking dope

[@ItsGerYT]

@@MachoNachoProductionsit does, $200 is for you to send your 3ds and he will install it for you, did it originally with the old 3ds and a ds phat when he did those too

[@EurasiaM11922911]

@@MachoNachoProductions Yea. I paid the 200, he did the job and i got it back in 2 weeks ish. As i don't have the tools to do it, i paid that price. Well worth it (though it was before USB C charging was available for it so i don't have it)

[@ultimatedra]

I still have the 1st generation Loopy capture mod for the original 3DS where it was strictly just video output and needed the charger as well. I am glad Loopy continued to improve and support the newer consoles as well! TBH Loopy was the reason why local Pokémon tournaments were able to stream without the need for a Nitro developer unit.

[@anthreyony]

Loopy's stuff is great, and this is a great video! I think you missed a few other features in the software, though. If you right click on the preview window in the 3DS Capture software, you'll see a couple of extra settings, including changing the scaling filter to either Bilinear (slightly soft/blurry) or Point (sharp pixels). There's also an option to crop the capture for when you're playing Nintendo DS games (stretched or 1:1 for when you hold Start or Select when starting DS games to launch them at their native resolution). One additional feature that isn't obvious: when dragging any of the preview windows to resize them, they'll automatically snap to integer scaled resolutions. That, combined with the "Point" scaling option results in some super sharp and evenly scaled pixels, if that's what you're into.

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Oh man, that’s great! I had no idea you could right click to get more customizing options! Thank you for the heads up

[@SylverstoneKhandr]

First off, this was such a great video to watch, seeing your very meticulous work on modifying that N3DS XL. Man, there were various moments where I'm thinking "I could've screwed up badly there" but your experience clearly shines through. Kudos, Tito! Secondly, I'm very glad to see that there's finally a new standard for hard-mod 3DS video capture. I was able to procure (what was then) one of the last modified N2DS XL consoles done by Merki in 2019 as Keity/Katsukitty was shut down due to that Japanese modification law, and they only had a few boards left to distribute before there were no more, with no successor in sight. It was a pain to scroll through eBay seeing people sell theirs for hundred (and even thousands) of dollars, but luckily, I paid a friend for his N2DS XL unit and shipped it off to be modified, which in the end cost me about $600-$650. Checking their site now, Merki appears to be still in business to this day modifying 3DS systems with Keity (now with USB-C) and Loopy boards. Again, 2019 had a bit of a mad rush for 3DS capture units - seeing where we're at now kinda makes me wish I waited, but it was so uncertain back then. The Merki N2DS XL I have uses micro-USB and uses the Keity software viewer, and it does work really well! Even has a compatible VR viewer, but unfortunately, the visuals are still in 2D and is not like what's produced in the CitraVR fork that's on Quest platforms. The quality is pretty decent, though I do find myself using the audio from the unit itself since there's a slight bit of latency and I play a lot of rhythm games on 3DS. I might consider getting a N3DS XL and a Loopy board in the future because the one thing I do miss from using the 3DS is the actual 3D feature, especially the more stable version introduced with the new line, and in the case of the Loopy board, USB-C is a huge plus. I usually find myself having to rely on the 3DS charger for long sessions, so 2 wires are usually running from their respective outlets/ports into my N2DS XL at all times. Again, phenomenal video, here's hoping it can reach the masses looking for a decent 3DS capture solution now!

[@macpatterson9750]

One hardware mod that I love on the new 3ds is the glass touch screen digitizer. It really makes the touchscreen feel more responsive when using your finger.

[@Butterscotch_96]

There’s a WHAT?

[@caliboyizhere]

@@Butterscotch_96i said the same thing out loud!😂

[@therealseanmay]

where do you find them, im not seeing any obvious listings for these, they seem to all be saying glass but not clarify if they truly mean glass

[@DNAMobileGaming]

This mod was awesome I did mine recently and the audio video is perfect. Now we need a way to upscale 2x resolution. I call mine the Pink Beauty because I paid $300 CAD for the 3DS and $120 USD for the kit. The 1 hour this took to do while following the picture guide really puts it in perspective as to why people try to sell theirs for $7-800.

[@ThePanacon]

Almost 10 minutes into the video and I'm totally relaxed. Your videos have a therapeutic effect on me.

[@mronewheeler]

The title "Building The Ultimate 3DS in 2024" was a bit misleading for just a tutorial on how to install a capture card

[@eeveeblazelol]

loopy’s kits have been around for about a year, glad it’s getting some more attention

[@herodragon3259]

Before loopy, there was a japanese company called katsukitty that installed 3ds capture cards to every 3ds region. But because of the japanese law, the company went bankrupt.

[@AlexParr]

Katsukity is a very, _very_ complicated situation. From my understanding, Katsukity was just a reseller for boards created by Optimize; who is still making capture boards to this day. Katsukity just happened to get more attention than the others, whether it be via word of mouth or otherwise.

[@thecyberquake618]

​@@AlexParrthis. And as someone who previously installed an optimize card in my 3ds, that card is a load of rubbish with several recurring faults across multiple people online. Bottom screen issues were among the most common, along with the card just straight up dying. After moving to the loopy card it's been smooth sailing, and it's way easier to install

[@SuperLuigiGuy64]

I installed this myself sometime last year. Glad you're finally covering this. 😊 my trims weren't as good as yours, but I'll use this video for reference next time if I ever do another.

[@Kippykip]

God dang, your footage is good. These are tough mods but are freaking entertaining

[@Brett_Aint_Dead]

Will catch this later , didn't get a 3ds till 2017ish , great system . Watching this channel blow up , deserve it 👍

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Thank you 🙏! Same didn’t get a 3ds until very recently

[@kyleolsen3305]

TITO that was amazing. I can't believe it looks so clean!! usbC 3ds mods have been on my todo list for so long.

[@yuseftobias7194]

God bless you, Macho Nacho, Tito, and your sponsors, and the audience! Thank you for making this exceptional video! SO much attention to details!

[@MachoNachoProductions]

I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you 🙏

[@TOAST818989898]

at least you have the usb-c port for charging which is a huge plus in and on itself (I mean, even if you do not use the capture capability very often)

[@chriswatt2702]

In so many ways. No need for a special car adapter. No fighting for the accessory socket. External power banks. Easily replaced /sourced charger.

[@apollolux]

I'm glad you mentioned the price and look forward to you continuing to call out the price of mods and services in future videos more often, ideally every video, whether it's a pro or a con or not even slotted in either.

[@lucasweigelt7990]

Your video editing skills and quality of your videos amaze me every time pls keep going like this!

[@NecroPhil85]

Every time I hear you say "Take your time" in one of your videos I think it's the most important part. I can't stress enough how important it is. When I did something wrong, it was because I was impatient.

[@Madblaster6]

That is the cleanest manual USB c hole I've ever seen.

[@AlexParr]

Some info: the install service price _does_ include the cost of the mod. Not only that, but if the unit you get ends up being defective in some way, you can send it back to Loopy to be serviced; you just have to pay for shipping.

[@TheKingdomXIII]

I actually have 4 of his capture card mods and they are awesome! Really changed the game for me in terms of using original physical GBA/DS/3DS cartridges and being able to capture footage for them for streaming!! So glad to see you going over his kit!

[@sprescav]

The fact that 3ds is today a retro console.. and 13 yr old, well.. giveme that feeling of... you know..

[@wafflesyem]

Wow these have improved a LOT over the years

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Totally agree!

[@importprogram]

This mod would be fantastic if there was a way to have controller inputs/touch to be sent over USB-C. This likely would be a lot of effort, but connecting the 3ds to a Wii U (with homebrew of course) would be insane!

[@mhfsilver_]

There actually is a way to use a controller with a modded 3DS. Built into Luma 3DS is a feature called InputRedirection which will allow you to use a controller plugged into a PC and a PC program to send inputs from your controller to your 3DS.

[@importprogram]

@mhfsilver_ I totally forgot about InputRedirection in Luma! That would be a solution for sure, still would pay the extra money for hardwired support because of latency, as if i recall it was a little laggy when I tested a few years (New 2ds XL) ago but hopefully it's improved since then.

[@axelkusanagi4139]

I don't think it would be too hard to tap into the test points and make your own connector for it. Unless there wasn't any documentation for it. Or maybe a Bluetooth mod if you can tap into the battery power safely

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

Thumbnail gave me an idea so dumb, I wish it was a trend. Convert portable platforms to be housed in LCD monitors, and have dedicated controllers with fixed wires to play them like plug-and-play consoles. Imagine having a nice, luggable Sega Nomad, and using the TV out to connect to a 5-inch camera monitor.

[@Rhoran]

Man, I am so glad I paid Loopy to do this for me! They did it perfectly and it was worth every penny!

[@AkizaNoir]

Been looking to get into direct DS capture in 2024, this is the exact video I needed. Thank you big dawg fr

[@adonian]

Welcome back... Long time no see. This little kit looks AWESOME. I have a couple 3ds laying around.

[@MachoNachoProductions]

It was a small hiatus but great to be back!!

[@willrussell01]

I think there should be a custom bottom plate created and sold for this particular modded system. It’ll definitely save a lot of other folks from potentially damaging the original pieces and make the mod more beginner friendly!

[@meneese9827]

Thank you for taking the time to make the USB C hole pretty. So many people just make a mess :P

[@seethruhead7119]

MIght be time to invest in a set of jewelers hand drills

[@Sun-ut9gr]

Yep yep, a Mitutoyo pin vice and a set of precision drills would go a long way for someone with as much dexterity as Tito.

[@BladeEXE67]

that is the cleanest usb cutout I have ever seen, usually those things are no more than gaping holes.

[@Artista_Frustrado]

Finally the New 3DS XL gets the Capture Kit we all were needing considering the last kits available were for the early models & went for absurdly high prices

[@MemoryHunts]

As always, your videos never disappoint! Amazing mod and a great tutorial on how to perform it. Thank you 🙏 keep up the good work!

[@olevet75]

having map on bottom screen is bliss in zelda game in begining, something that I miss dearly in the minish cap that I play on ps vita at moment

[@Larv6464]

I hope we get a studio tour soon 🥺

[@hawkfeather6802]

That's a really cool mod! The video output looks great!

[@xXMasterJ360Xx]

I still have my old 3DS capture card from Loopy back in 2013 when he was really active selling them or modded it for you. Its perfect for Flashcart emulation capturing. I also have the Vita capture card from Kastukity before Japan made it illegal to modify devices.

[@T3KFTW]

This is so cool. I wanted to do this mod forever but the old capture cards weren't being produced.

[@thepaper888]

The Power of the Sun In the Palm of My Hand

[@mattakadanja]

I wish I could solder half as good as you, Tito.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

11:09 "Now comes the tricky part" You mean the needlework just before this is just an appetizer?!

[@Monado.]

Seeing you cover Loopy's stuff is fantastic. Wonderful modder, even if he has not lived up to some promises in the past LOL Oh and to note, the $200 on the site IS for the kit and a full install on the system, I've had it done before

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Thanks for the info! That’s actually a fantastic deal!

[@jugstery]

Fantastic work and tutorial! I will definitely consider using this mod on my 3DS.

[@KaiSchSp]

The 3DS library is absolutely delightful. This is very cool!

[@ryzerblaade]

I remember when Katsukitty capture device were a hot commodity, Loopy too at one point, definitely will be looking into this soon

[@goododarco2785]

Towards the end, you mentioned that this mod isn't a consolizer. It's not exactly the same thing (like the Nintendo Switch dock for example), but PabloMK7's Arctic Base add-on for Citra accomplishes much of the same. It streams the game data from your 3ds, renders it via Citra on your PC (which means upscaling!), and allows you to use external controllers. Personally, while it's very workable, it's not exactly in a finished state, as there are still frame drops and rendering issues, but it's pretty close.

[@noratatax2618]

this is perfect! I just purchased loopys card like 2 weeks ago and I am waiting on it to arrive! yes a great install video!!

[@mateuszmichalak1463]

Now I want a clamshell Switch 2 again, well done.

[@tigheklory]

Great job Tito! I hate working on the 2DS and 3DS with their 800 ribbon cables.

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Totally agree, its the worst 😭

[@davidt3563]

Woohoo 3ds content! I've been playing my 3ds for the last two years. It's such an awesome console filled with tons of amazing games. About to finish my first playthrough of Majora's Mask.

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Nice!

[@joe-edward]

AMAZING & FINALLY!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do the Game Cube Controller mod for the 3DS next! That would make for the ULTIMATE 3DS mod, and finally bring the amazing 3ds games to full screen couch-mode.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

If it were ultimate I'd love to find something that lets your PHONE interface with it

[@spiderphone4430]

I am not a consloe guy , I've never owned any type of console in my life and been using computers for 25 years now...but I still watch your videos because of the effort and good explanations put to them.

[@Mimikyu_Lov3r]

While you can’t record/live stream your gameplay for DS game titles you can record/live stream your 3DS and VC gameplay via software modding a 3DS and software modding a Wii U console

[@Ultimatelocke]

I remember back in 2011 getting my 3DS system modded with Loopy Capture board. He's hands down the best one for this without question. The alternative to loopy's was terrible, it worked but so many people had issues it wasn't worth getting. I remember it being a massive issue back in the day.

[@5ashll303]

Kinda wish we could get some kind of 3ds to tv input that doesn’t require opening up the console for those of us not comfortable with taking the console apart. Especially since 3ds capture cards are rare and expensive

[@Smouv]

If you're willing to software-mod your 3DS, this is possible. There are apps that allow you to stream visuals over WiFi to a computer (which in turn you can hook up to a TV). It's obviously never gonna be as smooth or high quality as a direct USB cable like this will get you, but I can tell you... it was a blast seeing Kingdom Hearts 3D come to life on a TV before the HD remake of that game existed, even if it was kinda iffy.

[@fvig2001]

So I followed this partially for the capture card and went crazy and di the controller board to make it more ultimate. I wish this channel covered the mod too as it's more difficult

[@GamingNightsNeoMasaki]

I actually got my New 3dsLL modded while I was in Japan back in the day. I don't see them anymore, but I'm glad to see that this mod is out now for everyone

[@moejoesayson1933]

Hard modding was something I've always been interested in but never thought I'd do myself. Your videos are so well put together and informative though that I may just take the leap and start with very small things. Definetly won't start with this one xD. Thanks for the inspiration

[@darksilentkill8282]

It's so cool to see you FINALLY covering the Loopy 3Ds capture mod! They was another person that did the 3DS Capture Mods back since early 2019 before his company got bankrupt named Katsukity. Does anyone remembers him and his company??? He does the 3DS Capture Mod but he also did the WiiU Gamepad Capture Mod. I would be lovely that Tito gets his hands on the WiiU Gamepad Capture Mod!!!

[@borpistheirname]

I know I'm a bit late, but I wanted to say thank you for making such a detailed tutorial on how to set up the loopy card on your own. It's not that I don't trust Loopy themselves, but the 3DS that I want modded means a lot to me, so if anything were to happen to it I'd be devastated. Again, thank you. lol

[@NoahForeman]

There is a homebrew app to route a controller over bluetooth to a PC, then over your wifi network to the 3ds, even has a little touchpad overlay on the monitor if needed for the game. But if the game doesn't need a touchpad, it's a great option for controllwers.

[@AuroraButterflyx]

It’s great to see this in the market. I always wanted a 3ds with a capture card when I was younger.

[@CarlosHenriqueNoronhadeAguiar]

Tito! You are an artist! this usb cut is a piece of art!

[@jmanstunna]

Question: does the 3D still work when just playing on the 3DS screen? Or does modding the 3DS only allow playing in 2D mode?

[@complete-mayhem-x64]

I ordered my 3ds with a capture kit in it from Katsukity back in 2017 I think. It uses a micro usb cable and has always worked really well for me. I'm not familiar with the hardware really as it isn't well documented, but the console was about $650 with the capture card installed. I had a lot of fun streaming off of it so I think it was well worth it. Glad there is something new and less expensive that's available however!

[@KentHambrock]

Such a good and surprisingly professional tutorial of installing a really useful mod. You used methods I definitely wasn't aware of for doing better bodge jobs and I'll be remembering those for the future. 👍

[@Flargenyargen]

I really wanted to have something like this, but started looking into it around the time that the two people who made mods like this stopped doing it. I think there was one in Japan, one in Europe. I settled with the software based ones which work well enough for my needs, it's just not really ideal. You made this mod look so good I'm tempted! I have also been waiting for a consolizer mod of some sort. I find the 3ds uncomfortable to play for extended sessions so some of my favorite games get shelved pretty often because I can't really get comfortable with it.

[@ReallyRandom-gf3ih]

Ahhh yes the New 3DS XL from 2017 on retro renew. Bro called me old in a whole different language.

[@zerik_media]

Thank you for making this video! Ive been wanting to mod my 3ds and ive also been looking at a way to be able to screen capture it like this! Im in a weird spot where i have more experience doing the drilling and dremil work you did, than i do with messing with the inside of consoles. But that didnt look like the worst thing try and learn. Thank you again, and ill be back when i have the kit!

[@torloni13]

My friend.....you have a Mill Drill!! Now...that's professional or what?!! Always an enjoyment watching your videos!! Thank you

[@davidhildreth]

Absolutely insane that the default for that codec menu is from 1993. Windows is wild.

[@__N0otherNam3__]

Your videos are top notch man. Well done.

[@ridingnerdy6406]

Definitely seems like the sort of mod they'd wanna make a custom shell option for.

[@VeeGeeA]

I got 3 of these mods for intentions of documenting a Triforce Heroes playthrough. Sold the idea to friend/creators on the mod. None of them regret their choice and love it.

[@TSmith-rl4xd]

It would’ve been amazing for an Nintendo to sell a streaming model of the 3DS. They would’ve benefitted so much from it. Can you imagine how many streamers would’ve played in hyped their games up

[@videostash413]

If I'm wanting to play 3DS on a big screen I definitely want to use the handheld as my controller!

[@SamCampbell]

This is quite an improvement from the earlier versions of this mod

[@Aldo.flores]

There was a Japan based company years a go that sells this capture kits or can install it directly at their facilities, however they were sued by Nintendo and sadly had to close the business, I remember that their capture card was slightly bigger but also well developed, the usb c port was located just on the same part as the fabric charging port or can be installed on the infrared one, now those one consoles are super expensive, and this is a great alternative, ironically the most difficult part it’s not soldering but trimming and lower the PCB area.

[@stephendallas9709]

A 3DS that packs in a wii u tablet and wirelessly transmits the top screen signal to a TV would be sweet.

[@giltesa]

The installation would be much simpler if, instead of integrating USB-C directly into the board, it were included as a separate board that could be installed where the original charging connector is. Additionally, having the connector separate would avoid the need for cutting the bottom casing so much with a sophisticated drill. In any case, the flat cables and the location where they are installed look magnificent!

[@steel5897]

You can hook up external controllers with homebrew, homebrew is easy to install in any 3DS system using just software. However the delay would still stop you from having a TV console experience anyway.

[@NerdyWeaponXGames]

I’ve been watching your channel for 4 years now and THIS is the one that made me say “screw that” 😂

[@TalesDelma]

it might be pricy at first glance, but the ability to record from the original device instead of pc software, is rly appealing to me. Didnt regret my purchase

[@RandomGuy2_Electric-Boogalo]

personally, I'd say anyone doing this mod should skip the soldering altogether unless you really really know what you're doing. Capturing audio through the capture device isn't necessary for streaming or recording since the device already has an audio output. You can use an 8mm male to male cable and connect that to your microphone delivery system of choice. Similarly, there isn't a need to solder the usb power delivery either since you can simply use a 3ds charger to charge it.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

If they can - they have to - use the dremel in this process, they most likely know the stuff, and soldering is probably a simpler task for them.

[@ProjectDv2]

Anyone not comfortable enough to solder this kit shouldn't be bothering to try to install it to begin with.

[@DylanTayag]

Damnit dude, I finally pulled the trigger on a dual IPS 3DS XL that I've been stalling on... and now this video pops up. Guess it's time to rip this thing apart for this mod. Thanks a lot

[@AmazingFrenchman]

Honestly if this was a consolizer it would be a must.

[@drdandalf]

We need the 2ds capture card to come back. My buddies have 2ds' and want to stream their gameplay so bad, but cant.

[@FullMetalMaster]

I think this mod would benefit if they also sold custom bottom plates with the slit already made especially for the new 2DS as well

[@johnsabilla5897]

looks amazing!, this mod is way beyond my skills. I hope a pre-milled shell will become available for purchase sometime in the future!

[@RPFM333]

For anyone wondering, yes the $200.00 installation price does include the parts for the mod, it's the "I want to pay for it all" bundle, I emailed some folks and got it confirmed:)

[@RevolutionFalls]

I was right, this video does smell good. Keep up the good work!

[@MachoNachoProductions]

Thanks! Will do

[@rhizostomatidae]

I've been running a Loopy card for about 2 years and its held up perfectly, 100% worth the price, love USB C charging aswell!

[@sypwn]

I hope someone eventually sells custom molded shells for this. Even if the plastic quality is inferior to OEM, I think it would be worth it to make the installation process drastically simpler and reversible. The bottom plate would cover most of it anyway.

[@darkgtprince]

great video. for those who aren't as comfortable with hardware mods, a homebrewed 3ds can wirelessly stream as well

[@thohillesland]

I really wish there existed capture card mods for any of the other 3ds models... not just the new 3ds xl (the most expensive one)