Blargg's NTSC Filter Question...

[J8son]

Hello,

I'm trying to tweak my emulation setup for use with my HD TV and I've found that using Blargg's NTSC filter is an excellent way to recreate a nice CRT feeling on a plasma without getting all the nasty blockiness an emulator would normally have after stretching to that size.

However, I've notice that, depending on the emulator, Blargg's filter seems to operate differently.

For instance, on Blargg's Filter for Nestopia you have the option of Composite, S-Video and RBG. However, on Fusion (Genesis) you can choose only the Filter option, but have no customization options or filter types (IE: no Composite, S-Video or RBG options).

And then there is ZSNES. Blargg's filter is back to having all three settings to choose from but it automatically integrates scan-lines into the picture. I find this terribly distracting and degenerates the over all image. Even when the scan-line feature of ZSNES itself is turned off, Blargg's filter still adds them with the NTSC settings, with no option to turn them on or off.

However, I've tested the same Blargg's filter in BSNES, and it creates the NTSC filter WITHOUT the scan-lines, so that tells me it's probably not the filter itself, but the emulator. However, I'd still much rather use ZSNES for compatibility reasons.

Why does Blargg's filter not seem to have a uniformed effect across all platforms (IE: not having the same options always available and providing a different look depending on the system)?

MOST IMPORTANTLY, is there a way for me to utilize the NTSC effect WHILE getting rid of the scan-line look?

Thanks!

[odditude]

The effect is different for different systems because the systems themselves displayed differently (e.g. the vertical-line artifacts on the Genesis).

The version of the NTSC filter used in current ZSNES adds scanlines and they can't be disabled, sorry.

[Gil_Hamilton]

The effect is different for different systems because the systems themselves displayed differently (e.g. the vertical-line artifacts on the Genesis).

Actually, what he's talking about has everything to do with interface and nothing to do with system differences.
Genesis offers more than one video output. RF, composite, and RGB are all available options*. S-video admittedly requires a mod, but it's not a complex one.



*Depending on model... which actually affects more than just what outputs you have due to significantly different NTSC encoders.

[J8son]

The version of the NTSC filter used in current ZSNES adds scanlines and they can't be disabled, sorry.

So your saying that it was a choice on the part of the coders of the ZSNES emulator to implement the scanlines WITH the NSTC feature? Or are you saying Blargg decided that he wanted his SNES version of the filter to have scanlines?

I can't image it's the latter as I've tried his SNES filter on other emulators (BSNES as mentioned earlier) and it has 0 scanlines.

If it is a decision on the part of the coders, why? What's the purpose? There was already a scanline feature we can manually turn on or off in different increments. We already had complete control over it. Why force it with the NTSC filter without allowing some customization?

[paulguy]

I don't think zsnes allows stacking filters like that, especially since I think zsnes has to pull some weirdness to get ntsc filter to even work right. Basically, just use bsnes if you want ntsc filter with no scanlines.

[Gil_Hamilton]

Or bzsnes if you need proper emulation of the zsnes platform.

[I.S.T.]

bsnes is the better emulator anyway...

[kode54]

I think you missed the z in that name, bzsnes.

You know, byuu's low effort April Fools' gag. He already had the ZSNES theme for his old Qt UI, all he had to do was modify the emulator core to be less accurate, allowing things like VRAM writes during rendering.

[J8son]

Well, I was skiddish to try another emulator with ZSNES being such a reliable standard for SNES emulating. However BSNES might be the way to go.

I just hope there is a way to get it to automatically go full screen once emulation starts (when using a front end like Maximus Arcade for example) as I can't find that option. With BSNES, I always have to manually go full screen.

[grinvader]

There's a lot of things you always have to do with bsnes.

[J8son]

Any chance there is a command line I could implement in my Maximus Arcade under the Super NES config that would do this when launched?

Really, even If I could implement a simple F11 command after launch, that would also do the trick. I just don't want this to stay manual for when friends are trying to play. I don't expect them to know all the advance functions of how to run my emulator before they can play a simple game of Street Fighter 2 Turbo.

[Rashidi]

could try autohotkey that can launch apps, perform series of keystrokes, etc...

however, since i have no bsnes, i don't if bsnes will accept the "send {f11}" command from that autohotkey.

[J8son]

Hmm, sounds interesting but even if you map autohotkey to a F11 command, would it function only when launching the BSNES emulator for Maximus Arcade?

Maxims does have an option to run certain apps at startup, so this could work possibly.

[Awakened]

You'd probably be better off using Hyperspin if autohotkey is the only way to get the latest bsnes to start in fullscreen. It comes with ahk support to resolve stuff like that.

[J8son]

Also, to follow up on the original scanline issue, I've been in touch with the author and here is what he has confirmed:

Yeah, I customized the blit function for zsnes. I believe it was simpler for them to have it add scanlines. As I remember, adding things was difficult due to the whole thing being in asm, thus I didn't make the darkened scanlines optional. Without darkening them, the pixels look much more boxy than they look on a TV, thus partially defeating the purpose of the filter.

I guess I can see the rational if it's due to compatibility reasons. I suppose you can have your choice, either way, depending on if you use ZSNES or BSNES.