BBC Micro / Acorn Electron Emu

[retrofan]

@folly

It’s a great finding, now everything works and looks almost like a real beeb. ;)
In the meantime, I noticed some lag when typing.
I don't think it's related to these latest changes, but it's easiest to notice if you hold down a key and observe the auto repeat function.
At the beginning, the letters are printed smoothly, but then it starts to get stuck at irregular intervals and it seems that the emulator cannot catch up with all the keyboard input.
This doesn't happen on PC emulators, maybe pi 3 doesn't have enough horse power, so it would be worth trying on Pi4.
I tested with a wired and wifi keyboard, but it behaves the same...

[Folly]

@retrofan

I had the same issue when using the pi3.
It kept jumping with the game Blagger.

Perhaps we have to add frameskipping for the RPI3.
Frameskipping is selectable in the qui.
(Edit : It seems I have no key lag with frame skip = 4)

The installation was ok on my pi4.
And I detected no lag with the keys on the pi4.

[retrofan]

@folly

Yes, it seems that even pi3+ isn't strong enough for b-em.
I was surprised that the frame drop during the key auto repeat process went from 50 fps, all the way below 30 fps and back.
I don't think there's any point in lowering the resolution below 640x480, because the image quality drops quite a bit.
On the other hand, I've never liked frame skipping, so I'll try to explore some more tweaking options or buy pi4, as the easiest solution. ;)
It's really a pity, that after almost a whole decade, there's still no solution for a sound issue with a beebem on a Raspberry Pi, because it's also a great emulator, less demanding than b-em.

[Folly]

@retrofan

Too bad it's not that great on the RPI3, indeed you can consider a RPI4.
RPI4 is really nice !

Well if you only want a go with bbc-micro you can still try this solution on RPI3 :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29402/bbc-micro-acorn-electron-emu/57
Beware of what mitu told !, Not supported, but if you only use it for bbcmicro, who cares.

The framerate is much better.
But you have to remove the platform check in the updated module-script.
(you can just change rpi4 into rpi3, that will work)

Edit: I tried again and with this solution and it works just as fast as on a rpi4 !
This morning I had some blackouts in the desktop with the exp driver on.
Could be a power-supply issue, but could also be related to the exp driver though, so be aware of it !

[retrofan]

@folly

I did the whole procedure with full GL Driver enabled, compiled ES from source and emulator works, but I have no sound at all in the whole retropie system.
There is no HDMI option in the audio setup, only the Headphone, setting audio to default does not help.
With fake GL Driver, the sound worked, still every entry in any option in the ES menu gives an error:
VolumeControl :: init () - Failed to find mixer elements!
Once again I reinstalled ES from source, but without success and now I have no idea how to fix this.

[segasonic]

@retrofan said in BBC Micro / Acorn Electron Emu:

VolumeControl :: init () - Failed to find mixer elements!

Edit 'es_settings.cfg' and change 'AudioDevice' to 'HDMI'. I think it's set to PCM by default.

[retrofan]

@segasonic

Nope, HDMI is already there, but the sound doesn't work at all with the full GL driver and there are no hdmi options in the Audio settings.
With fake GL, sound works, with the bunch of error message I mentioned and hdmi option exist in audio settings.
Everything is installed from scratch, following Folly's instructions, step by step.
btw, the emulator speed is really good, but there's still the same occasional stuttering with the keys auto repeat function, not only in the emulator, but also in the ES menu, when we press and hold the up/down keys.
Maybe there is a problem in some keyboard buffer, which overflows and creates this issue ?
I'm really stuck here...

[Folly]

@retrofan

Thanks for setting your mind to it !
We already learned quite some stuff here ;-)

Looks like we are now a bit out of options here.
I will have look at it once more.
Can't promise anything though.

I am now on the fake KMSjust to test if I get a black screen again with this.
So on this setting I used raspi-config to change audio between HDMI or Headphone. (see -> system options)
It works with both outputs here.
Indeed, strange that this doesn't work with emulationstation though.
But there have been audio issues before like this because of updates.
Perhaps emulationstation is not yet well adapted to these updates.

btw. this is how you can run the emulator from the cli without using emulationstation :
/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh 0 SYS bbcmicro /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/bbcmicro/your_game.ssd

[retrofan]

@folly

Yes, I also have hdmi sound with fake GL driver but I can't get it at all with full one, within ES or cli.
Do you have a sound with full GL drivers, maybe I missed something after all ?
Frankly, I don't know what the difference is between a full and fake GL driver, but the speed is now at stable 50 fps and the image renders better than legacy drivers, without crisp edges etc.
As for the key auto repeat issue, I played around a bit with the governor within the runcommand setting and the "performance" option seems to be the best choice.
In these few days, great progress has been made, thanks to you, and this is now just a desire for perfection. ;)

[Folly]

@retrofan

I tested full KMS again.
No hdmi sound also and black screen again in Desktop. ;-(
So no success with this option either.

[Lister of Smeg]

@folly
Hi, just a quick fyi
I may be late to the party but I have had b-em 2.2 from http://b-em.bbcmicro.com (actually i'm using a slightly updated fork but can't remember where I got it from - if you want I can upload my install folder somehow?) running fullscreen/fullspeed/fullsound on a pi3 - stretch
It's old, but it works great for games
btw - thanks for your work on the electron

*edit - link for version I use (games removed)
https://www109.zippyshare.com/v/uWq1jLsJ/file.html

[Folly]

@lister-of-smeg

That is interesting.

I will have a look at that, when I can.

[Lister of Smeg]

@folly
hope it's useful for someone
I think your solutions for the electron emulator should only take minor tweaking to get this scripted and working - applying cea-17 at the run command gives a resolution for full screen that just about lets the (f11) gui be seen (at least that is what i'm using)
sorry about the poor photos - they're only to give you a rough idea of what's possible

[Folly]

@lister-of-smeg

I never had issues, not seeing the (f11) menu.
I will have try on my tv.

[Lister of Smeg]

@folly
admittedly I am still using the stretch image so there may be differences as compared with buster - but as far as just playing games?, a little bit of a missing menu is definitely not a deal breaker (for me at least) & I know stretch isn't supported anymore so don't worry too much
photo from electron emu on stretch

[Folly]

@lister-of-smeg

Well, seems a good fix for those who have the same problem !

[Folly]

@lister-of-smeg

Can you tell me, is your speed setting of the good b-em on 100% or is it on 500% ?

[Lister of Smeg]

@folly
yes - the 100% option is ticked in the menu
The emulator doesn't seem to be too resource hungry - iirc there was only the tiniest amount of slow down when I ran it on my original pi3 - the 3b+ has the occasional sound stutter (start up tune for Arcadians) but everything else seems perfect
(I never run overclocks btw - pi speeds are stock)

[Folly]

@lister-of-smeg

Too bad, we don't know the exact source.
Did try to compile that old source of 2012 from http://b-em.bbcmicro.com but could not get it to compile.

Btw, I can't extract your .rar file.

Did you compile that binary yourself on that "strech" ?

[Lister of Smeg]

@folly
try this
https://www104.zippyshare.com/v/QoyhNZAp/file.html
just need to change permissions on the configure file to executable (probably need to delete the already compiled b-em - or just make executable then run) then ./configure && make - takes ~ 20 mins

yes - I've just compiled the zip folder with stretch to test & it works

from memory all that was needed dependency wise was
sudo apt-get install automake liballegro4-dev zlib1g-dev libalut-dev libopenal-dev aclocal
but you should already have that from your electron compiling