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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    *SOLVED* 240p per emulator (run command setting) possible?

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    240prun commandpervideomodes
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    • matchamanM
      matchaman
      last edited by matchaman

      I recently bought a new-old-stock 29" CRT TV and it looks AMAZING with 240p gaming, even via composite.

      I used sdtv_mode=16 on the config.txt and everything plays fine except for the menu.

      240 lines is too low-res for any use besides the games that were designed for such a non-interlaced resolution.

      No matter the theme or the edits I make for it, box art and text looks plain bad but games look as good as composite can allow - great!

      However, with 480i (or even better PAL 576i) the menus look great but then again not the games.

      I see that run command allows for several different resolutions per emulator but the options are only interlaced.

      Is there anything I could modify on videomodes.cfg in order to force 240p per emulator/core and keep an interlaced sdtv_mode value (in my case 2 aka PAL looks best for menus)?

      Edit: please note that I have read similar threads that resort to shaders or onstart commands but the results are off compared to sdtv_mode=16 ...that's why I am asking about a simplistic run command solution

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • matchamanM
        matchaman
        last edited by matchaman

        Bumping this up to help others :)

        So it appears that it was quite simple but with a twist.

        In the aforementioned videomodes.cfg located in /opt/retropie/configs/all/ the default modified values for each emulator (or RA core) are as follows:

        lr-genesis-plus-gx = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-snes9x = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-snes9x2010 = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-snes9x2005 = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-nestopia = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-fbalpha = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-mame2010 = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-mame2003 = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-mame2000 = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-stella = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-o2em = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-bluemsx = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-prosystem = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-beetle-pce-fast = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-gambatte = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-handy = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-beetle-supergrafx = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-picodrive = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-beetle-vb = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-mgba = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-beetle-ngp = "NTSC-4:3"
        lr-beetle-wswan = "NTSC-4:3"
        

        I tried modifying the value to "NTSC-4:3 P" but it didn't help, the " P" part was ignored and the resolution for each system remained 480i

        Apparently the value had to change to "NTSC 4:3 P" without the dash following NTSC! Therefore with the new values like this

        lr-genesis-plus-gx = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-snes9x = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-snes9x2010 = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-snes9x2005 = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-nestopia = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-fbalpha = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-mame2010 = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-mame2003 = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-mame2000 = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-stella = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-o2em = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-bluemsx = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-prosystem = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-beetle-pce-fast = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-gambatte = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-handy = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-beetle-supergrafx = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-picodrive = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-beetle-vb = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-mgba = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-beetle-ngp = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        lr-beetle-wswan = "NTSC 4:3 P"
        

        The games run in 240p (240 non-interlaced lines) and the same applies for PAL resolutions.

        I noticed that if the menu is also in NTSC but in sdtv_mode 0 (480i), after exiting the game, the system retains the 240p resolution. This is solved by using mode 2 (576i) because PAL defaults back to the original, interlaced resolution. Strange bug!

        Cheers!

        mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • mituM
          mitu Global Moderator @matchaman
          last edited by

          @matchaman Thanks for providing the solution !
          Is this on a stock RetroPie installation or is there anything else to install to get the video modes working ? I see no videomodes.cfg in my /opt/retropie/configs folder.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • matchamanM
            matchaman
            last edited by matchaman

            No need to install anything. You can either create the file or use the run command for loading a specific resolution for the emulator.

            Then the file will be created with emulatorname = "NTSC-4:3" that will have to be changed manually to emulatorname = "NTSC 4:3 P"

            Just make sure that your RetroPie is up to date because 240p was not supported in previous firmware versions.

            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • BuZzB
              BuZz administrators
              last edited by

              This probably works "by accident", but glad you have a solution. I will look into adding official support for switching to progressive modes though.

              To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

              matchamanM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • mituM
                mitu Global Moderator @matchaman
                last edited by

                @matchaman said in *SOLVED* 240p per emulator (run command setting) possible?:

                No need to install anything. You can either create the file or use the run command for loading a specific resolution for the emulator.

                Yes, I see that the file is created when you change the resolution through the Runcommand launch. I didn't have that since I haven't done this for any emulator. Enjoy on your CRT !

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • matchamanM
                  matchaman @BuZz
                  last edited by

                  @buzz said:

                  This probably works "by accident", but glad you have a solution. I will look into adding official support for switching to progressive modes though.

                  Yup, lots of trial and error :D that would be great, thanks!

                  @mitu said:

                  Yes, I see that the file is created when you change the resolution through the Runcommand launch. I didn't have that since I haven't done this for any emulator. Enjoy on your CRT !

                  Thanks! Just make sure that you don't use any shaders and you have enabled bilinear filtering in Video settings. Not all lines correspond to the original pixels on every system but bilinear smoothing does an OK job in fixing this.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • ohmycommodoreO
                    ohmycommodore
                    last edited by

                    So this is still while using sdtv_mode=16 in config.txt? Any other changes in that file?

                    And the end result, after this videomodes work, is games in 240p, and menus / everything else in a more readable resolution?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • matchamanM
                      matchaman
                      last edited by matchaman

                      No, I am using sdtv_mode=2 (PAL 576i, the best possible picture for menus). 240p will apply only when running emulators and will normally revert back to interlaced when exiting.

                      For those who can't use PAL, it's unfortunate that if the sdtv_mode is 0 (480i), when exiting the signal will remain 240p for the rest of the session, making text hard to read. It goes back to interlaced only if the config.txt is PAL (and vice versa as I just confirmed).

                      To sum it up, you can have 576i@50hz for the menus via sdtv_mode=2 in /boot/config.txt and 240p@60hz for emulators via emulatorname = "NTSC 4:3 P" in /opt/retropie/configs/all/videomodes.cfg

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • ohmycommodoreO
                        ohmycommodore
                        last edited by

                        OK thanks. Hopefully what you've learned will help open up doors to an NTSC solution. Good job with the trial and error!

                        edmaul69E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • matchamanM
                          matchaman
                          last edited by

                          You're welcome. Really glad to see I'm also helping others with 240p awesomeness! :D

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • edmaul69E
                            edmaul69 @ohmycommodore
                            last edited by

                            @ohmycommodore in the previous 240p thread i explained how i made the menus and emulationstation 480 and the games 240p.

                            matchamanM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • matchamanM
                              matchaman @edmaul69
                              last edited by matchaman

                              @edmaul69

                              Where is that located? I spent time looking and there was no simple solution. Some suggested running scripts that ruined the theme when exiting games or using shaders (to force things out?) which I avoid for performance reasons.

                              edmaul69E 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • edmaul69E
                                edmaul69 @matchaman
                                last edited by

                                @matchaman i posted it here:

                                https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/13503/480p-menus-240p-games/4

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • edmaul69E
                                  edmaul69 @matchaman
                                  last edited by

                                  @matchaman also here are the commands for tv service. i use putty to ssh into the pi to use commandline.

                                  240p

                                  sudo tvservice -c "NTSC 4:3 P" ; fbset -depth 8 ; fbset -depth 32; tvservice -s
                                  

                                  480

                                  sudo tvservice -c "NTSC 4:3" ; fbset -depth 8 ; fbset -depth 32; tvservice -s
                                  
                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • matchamanM
                                    matchaman
                                    last edited by

                                    I see, however it's possible to be done via runcommand which is simpler, doesn't give a momentary message and also safer for video themes.

                                    In the past I tried several workarounds (very likely including your method) and when exiting a game, video themes had erroneous structure :/

                                    Though runcommand isn't perfect either; as I mentioned before, if the config.txt mode is NTSC or PAL, then the game running in the same region's progressive mode will not go back to interlaced (unless it's at the opposite region).

                                    edmaul69E 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • edmaul69E
                                      edmaul69 @matchaman
                                      last edited by edmaul69

                                      @matchaman i never get an error message, so not sure what you get from other methods.

                                      Edit:i think you are saying themes that have videos gets the erroneous structure? I wouldnt know as i dont use video themes.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • edmaul69E
                                        edmaul69 @matchaman
                                        last edited by edmaul69

                                        @matchaman also with this method i use, it goes back to interlaced after i exit a game. All this is ntsc as i dont use pal at all.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • pjftP
                                          pjft
                                          last edited by

                                          I hate to resurrect an old thread, but I'll likely be going through the exact same process soon in an old PAL CRT.

                                          Just to confirm, @matchaman , your TV is PAL and yet it works well with the NTSC 4:3 P video mode, is that it?

                                          If you just used the sdtv mode to 240p you wouldn't have needed to change the individual emulators settings for them to display as intended but ES would have looked fairly bad, correct?

                                          Just making sure I follow it.

                                          Thanks!

                                          Y 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Y
                                            youxia @pjft
                                            last edited by

                                            @pjft Are you going to connect through RGB or composite?
                                            Personally I use runcommand which is more versatile but it also depends on the method you're using. There is also a CRT theme (named "CRT" :) which works well without the need for 480i.

                                            pjftP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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