[SOLVED] Cannot invoke my PAL60 script (tweakvec.py) through runcommand-onstart

FroyoXSG

SOLUTION HERE

Hi,

PAL60 is an SDTV mode that has NTSC geometry but uses PAL color sync.
There is a python-based tool called tweakvec that allows you to switch the Raspberry Pi's 3.5mm Composite output to PAL60. The user first has to use tvservice -c "NTSC 4:3" for 480i or tvservice -c "NTSC 4:3 P" for 240p, and then calls sudo python3 /home/pi/tweakvec/tweakvec.py --preset PAL60 to switch the color sync to PAL.

Now I've been trying to integrate this into my RetroPie setup, but can't get this working.
What does work:

calling tweakvec from autostart.sh. EmulationStation runs in PAL60.
calling tweakvec from runcommand-onend.sh; ES will be set to PAL60 again.

The part that fails is calling tweakvec from runcommand-onstart.sh. I let RetroPie handle switching to NTSC 4:3 and NTSC 4:3 P normally through the videomodes.cfg file. But the tweakvec call doesn't work for some reason. My emulators (all libretro), will be in the right NTSC mode, but not with PAL color sync.
I can call tweakvec through SSH, which will switch the color sync for me; note that tweakvec will not cause a crash or black screen here. It can be run while the emulator is running.
However of course, SSH'ing into the Pi each time is not something I want to do.

I also tried adding my tweakvec command into /opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh manually, on a new line in the if block where it says $TVSERVICE -c "${mode_id[*]}" >/dev/null, but that also doesn't work, leading me to believe that this is something in the RetroPie script chain that I don't know about.

If anyone knows what I can do here, please share your knowledge.

Pi Model or other hardware: 3B+
Power Supply used: official
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.12
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: Logitech K400+, DualShock 4, USB sound card (to separate audio from composite video)
Controller used: DualShock 4
Error messages received: -
Verbose log (if relevant): -
Guide used: No
Emulator: lr-*

mitu

@froyoxsg said in Cannot invoke my PAL60 script (tweakvec.py) through runcommand-onstart:

The part that fails is calling tweakvec from runcommand-onstart.sh. I let RetroPie handle switching to NTSC 4:3 and NTSC 4:3 P normally through the videomodes.cfg file.

The runcommand-onstart.sh commands are run before any mode switching (via tvservice) occurs. If the script relies on a certain TV mode to be set, you cannot use it in conjunction with the runcommand's video mode switching.

FroyoXSG

@mitu I suspected as much! Good to have confirmation. Any call to tvservice -c will throw out tweakvec's color sync overrides.
Do you have an explanation why it doesn't work from the main runcommand.sh either?

This morning, I remembered that I can dump the command output with a > operator, so I'll check for that when I have time. Will also check if I can somehow schedule the actual call 30 seconds into the future or so. I think that will work in the end.

mitu

@froyoxsg said in Cannot invoke my PAL60 script (tweakvec.py) through runcommand-onstart:

Do you have an explanation why it doesn't work from the main runcommand.sh either?

Not sure where you actually added that line in runcommand, but since it's not going to play well with runcommand's usage of tvservice, I'd recommend you use the onstart script for the necessary commands (tvservice and tweakvc).

FroyoXSG

Righto, here's the solution for everyone who wants to let RetroPie handle NTSC/ NTSC progressive modes but then switch to the PAL60 equivalent:
Put this into runcommand-onstart.sh:

(sleep 15 && sudo /home/pi/tweakvec/tweakvec.py --preset PAL60) &

If it doesn't work for your Pi, try sleeping a bit longer. On my Pi3, 15 seconds seems like the sweet spot.