Hacking Guide - How to convert YouTube videos to Game Boy Advance ROM files

[hitfan]

I converted some old 1960s Spider-Man cartoon episodes yesterday. I tried to convert 25 of them, but only 16 worked properly (9 of them had video-audio sync issues or the sound would cut out completely about a quarter of the way through--the latter issue occurring only on the longer videos). For the 10 minute « half episodes » I encoded it at 8fps and 46KBps and for the 20 minute « full episodes » I encoded it at 5fps and 18KBps. I used a resolution of 214 by 160 (which is 4:3). I used no filtering because I found that the chances of having a good file were better that way. All of the episodes use close to 32MB in file size.

I didn’t have to use gbafix.exe as the resulting ROMs work fine on my Everdrive. *** EDIT but I ended up doing that because they wouldn’t work on my 3DS (in AGB FIRM).

 

[NumberOneToastFan]

So i tried convert TaDC, it won't work, actaully all video longer than 15 mins wont work it justs shows this

 

[TonioGela]

So, has anyone succeeded in converting a video to a format that meteo reads well using ffmpeg?
I've tried a lot of both manual and automatic conversion methods, to either avi or mpeg like:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -output.avi
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.mpeg
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v mpeg1video -c:a mp2 output.mpg

but I'm always getting an input file error #80040217.
Also, does meteo have any required dependency? I'm running it in a windows 10 bottle, that's why I'm asking.

 

[NumberOneToastFan]

pls i need to

Post automatically merged: Feb 9, 2024

So i tried convert TaDC, it won't work, actaully all video longer than 15 mins wont work it justs shows this
View attachment 418562

pls i need to

 

[ManyMilesAway]

Hey there, I'm getting this vague message from Windows (11) when I try to run either Meteo or gbafix. Changing the compatibility mode didn't do anything either, anyone else run into this?

*edit, just tried on my Windows 10 machine and it didn't work either.

 

[ArcaneCypher]

i converted over 50 various videos, movie and shows! they're all available to download on itch under the user "ArcaneCypher"

Post automatically merged: May 3, 2024

View attachment 424647
Hey there, I'm getting this vague message from Windows (11) when I try to run either Meteo or gbafix. Changing the compatibility mode didn't do anything either, anyone else run into this?

*edit, just tried on my Windows 10 machine and it didn't work either.

get 1.5.0 instead

 

[FireCubX]

Does anyone know an AVI converter that works with METEO that is NOT video-online-convert?? This website takes too long and also asks for money. Maybe something that can be downloaded?

 

[ArcaneCypher]

Does anyone know an AVI converter that works with METEO that is NOT video-online-convert?? This website takes too long and also asks for money. Maybe something that can be downloaded?

use veed dot io mp4 to mpeg online converter (google it). it works so much better when you convert it to mpeg instead of avi (despite the name being avi2gba)

 

[ArcaneCypher]

.

 

[ArcaneCypher]

waitwaitwait, so you mean to tell me the GBA has been out for over 20 years, the modding community has grown incredibly, and to this day the best way to convert a video to a GBA ROM is using a piece of software older than some of us here that barely works in the modern day?

did I get that right? Because I feel like I shouldn't have

Fine we'll make them FOR you ("Digital Spill GBA" on itch). You can concentrate on 3DS videos or something (although you can get 182 fully 3D movies by googling "clownsec 3ds", so that's covered for you too)

 

[Titney]

I created some scripts for batch converting videos with Meteo.

First some .bat scripts using ffmpeg.exe to convert .mp4 to .mpg that Meteo can handle.
These are based on the examples posted by @firewood5304 on page five of this thread ( https://gbatemp.net/threads/guide-h...s-to-game-boy-advance-rom-files.520954/page-5 )

.bat script to convert all .mp4 in the same directory to Meteo compatible .mpg:
for %%a in ("*.mp4") do ffmpeg -i "%%a" -vf scale=-1:320 -c:v mpeg1video -qscale:v 1 -c:a mp3 -format mpeg "%%~na 320p.mpg"
Usage:
Use notepad or similar to put this script into a text file named something like "allmp4tompg.bat" (make sure the extension is .bat and not .txt)
Download ffmpeg.exe from https://ffmpeg.org/download.html (if you don't know which to pick, go for the full/not shared version)
In the same directory/folder as the .bat file put:
ffmpeg.exe
.mp4 video file(s)
Then double click the .bat file, and if all goes as expected ffmpeg should start converting.
This creates mpg videos with a height of 320 pixels (GBA height x2) optimized for 16:9 source video (or other video wider than the gba) that will be cropped from the sides by Meteo to fit the GBA screen. For 4:3 video you might want to do "scale=480:-1" instead (for GBA width x2 to crop from top and bottom)

Another .bat script that converts all .mp4 to .mpg but also splits the output into 8 minute segments.
for %%a in (*.mp4) do ffmpeg -i "%%a" -vf "scale=-1:320" -c:v mpeg1video -q:v 1 -c:a mp3 -f segment -segment_time 480 -reset_timestamps 1 "%%~na part%%03d.mpg"
This is good for splitting ~24 minute shows in 3 parts so they can be encoded with higher quality, works very well for animated shows.

And an .mp4 to .mpg .bat that bumps up the contrast by 10% and saturation by 25% so the videos look less washed out on original hardware.
for %%a in ("*.mp4") do ffmpeg -i "%%a" -vf "scale=-1:320, eq=contrast=1.10:saturation=1.25" -c:v mpeg1video -qscale:v 1 -c:a mp3 -format mpeg "%%~na 320p upcontrast.mpg"
This is based on the info at https://web.archive.org/web/20090826162117/http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/Meteo
For live action/dark videos it can also help to add ":brightness=0.8" to bump up the brightness a bit.


Second, an autohotkey 2.0 script to get Meteo to batch convert .mpg videos to .gba

This is for Meteo1.3.1 found at https://github.com/jkotrub/mirror-meteo-avi2gba
Usage:
Download and install Autohotkey 2.0 from https://www.autohotkey.com/

Script:
#Requires Autohotkey v2.0 Loop Files, "*.mpg" ;for all the mpg files in the same directory as the .ahk file { Run "Meteo1.3.1 (EN).exe" ;open meteo Sleep 3000 ;wait a couple seconds to make sure meteo is loaded WinActivate "METEO 1.3.1 English - GAMEBOY-ADVANCE.NET" ;bring the meteo window to the front Sleep 5 Send A_LoopFileFullPath ;starting in the Movie File entry, enter full path to mpg source file Send "{tab}" Send "{tab}" ;move to GBA ROM File output entry Send A_LoopFileFullPath ;enter full path to mpg source file Send " 60kb 20fps.gba" ;add kbps and fps (optional) and .gba to the end of the mpg source file name for the full output filename Send "{tab}" Send "{tab}" ;move to ROM Title internal name entry Send A_LoopFileName ;enter the source filename for internal rom name Send "{tab}" ;move to Bitrate entry Send "60" ;enter bitrate value Send "{tab}" Send "{Down}" Send "{Down}" Send "{Down}" ;move to Manual Settings Send "{tab}" ;move to Trimming Send "{Down}" ;one down changes to Auto Trim & Resize Send "{tab}" ;move to Framerate Send "{Down}" Send "{Down}" Send "{Down}" ;number of downs determines framerate, 1down=original,2down=24fps,3=20,4=15,5=12,6=10,7=7.5,8=6 Send "{tab}" ;move to Pre-filter and do nothing to keep as default, send down if you want to change Send "{tab}" ;move to process button Send "{Enter}" ;activate process button Sleep 240000 ;wait while the conversion is processing. in milliseconds, 240000 is 4 minutes, likely more than enough WinClose "METEO" ;close meteo Sleep 20 ;wait a moment before opening next file }

Use notepad or similar to put this script into a text file named something like "mpgtogba.ahk" (make sure the extension is .ahk and not .txt)
In the same directory/folder as the .ahk file put:
Meteo1.3.1 (EN).exe
.mpg video file(s)
Then double click the .ahk file, and if all goes as expected Meteo should open and the info for the first .mpg in the directory should be automatically entered and conversion started, and then all .mpg files in the directory should be converted.
The default settings are 60 kbps and 20fps, optimized for 8 minute videos and gives great quality for animated material. For videos with a lot of detail or motion you might need to take the bitrate down from 60 to 55 to fit within the GBA's 256mbit limit.

Relatedly, I also realized that it's possible to pause and resume Meteo videos on the EZ Flash ODE with savestates. Fast patching needs to be off for it to work. But the fact that Meteo makes every button reset the video means that its hit and miss to be quick enough to save/restore without accidentally resetting the video. If it was possible to hack out the reset on every button feature it would actually make the gba into a pretty capable video player.

I also have some more advanced scripts if anyone is interested, for adding subtitles that are easy to read on the gba, and for splitting videos into 2,3 etc equal length parts, but they require additional software and/or manual editing of files.

 

[Dittprgr_]

Hi! I was triyin to make a video but I don't know why its only playes on originals gbas and not in open fpga and analogues.

Can you give me some advice to repair this?

Post automatically merged: Jun 9, 2024

Hi! I was triyin to make a video but I don't know why its only playes on originals gbas and not in open fpga and analogues.

Can you give me some advice to repair this?

 

[N7Kopper]

View attachment 424647
Hey there, I'm getting this vague message from Windows (11) when I try to run either Meteo or gbafix. Changing the compatibility mode didn't do anything either, anyone else run into this?

*edit, just tried on my Windows 10 machine and it didn't work either.

That's just modern Windows treating you like a little baby. (or a diversity hire, but what's the difference?)

What this message means is that you're trying to run a 16-bit executable on a 64-bit operating system, which doesn't work directly. (64-bit CPUs can execute 16-bit code directly, but only when in compatibility mode caused by running a 32-bit operating system or the like) Like previous commenters have pointed out, there's a 32-bit version to use instead, version 1.5.0. Why not just explain that to the end user? I dunno, ask the diversity hires.

So i tried convert TaDC, it won't work, actaully all video longer than 15 mins wont work it justs shows this
View attachment 418562

Meteo doesn't support 64 MB files (and a lot of flashcarts don't either, because the 64 MB movie carts are the only GBA carts in existence to use bankswitching), so you need to keep the file below that size.

 

[Eriswiler]

when i try to watch my selfmade videos or your demo it just stays in the startup screen on my gba sp. On a gba emulator it works fine. What could be the problem?

Post automatically merged: Jul 15, 2024

when i try to watch my selfmade videos or your demo it just stays in the startup screen on my gba sp. On a gba emulator it works fine. What could be the problem?

Post automatically merged: Jul 15, 2024

Why should it work in an emulator?
If it is good enough, it should do the same as the real hardware (not working).

Why haven't you tried it yet, on an emulator at least?

for me, videos also only work in the emulator and not on my Gameboy advanced sp

 

[thefuzi]

Hey Y'all,

I'm getting a very high-pitched sound constantly in the background of the videos I converted. Anyone run into this problem and know a fix? Would appreciate any advice.

 

[Retrosurfer]

Yeah so where do I go if the website you linked essentially became the Discord of file conversion sites?

 

[Adrian-E-C]

Hello GBAtemp!

Today I have a guide on how to watch YouTube videos on your Game Boy Advance, using some old, old software!

Step 1: Download the video of your choice in mp4 format using the method of your choice.
Step 2: Use the site linked here to convert that mp4 video to a properly formatted AVI video. https://video.online-convert.com/convert-to-avi
Step 3: Download the tools that I have linked here. https://github.com/Sterophonick/mirror-meteo-avi2gba

Step 4: Launch the meteo.exe application. You should see a very dated looking interface. Drag the AVI video file into the box that is labelled "Movie File."

Step 5: On the box labelled "GBA ROM File," click browse and select the destination of your GBA ROM.

Step 6: On the box labelled ROM Title, give the ROM an internal name. This is optional.

Step 7: Click the option labelled "Manual Settings" and you will be given access to a bunch of other options. To make this simpler, I have some "Sweet Spots" for compression.

Great quality: This is the best way to view trailers and clips, but only allows one on a 256 MBit cartridge
Bitrate: 60
Framerate: 15 fps
Settings: No trim, manual resize 240x160, 4x dither
Average maximum amount of minutes: 8 minutes

Nice quality: These settings are best to store multiple trailers and clips, yet still having very nice quality
Bitrate: 28
Framerate: 12 fps
Settings: No trim, manual resize 216x144, 4x dither
Average maximum amount of minutes: 15 minutes

Lesser quality: These settings can hold most episodes, and still looking great for such a long movie
Bitrate: 12
Framerate: 7.5 fps
Settings: No trim, manual resize 204x136, 4x dither
Average maximum amount of minutes: 25 minutes

Compression quality: The longest recording time with still acceptable video
Bitrate: 8
Framerate: 6 fps
Settings: No trim, manual resize 192x128, 4x dither
Average maximum amount of minutes: 31 minutes

Step 8: After converting your file and there are no errors, then drag the created ROM file on top of the "gbafix.exe" program that I included with the meteo.exe file. This will allow the ROM to be able to run on hardware.

Other notes:
- You can include longer videos but it would look crappy, and your friends will laugh at you because it looks so pathetic.
- There are no seat controls. The B button will restart the video.
- If you get the error "Input File Error" after the video is done, then the ROM has reached over the 32MB limit and you need to try again with more compressed settings.
- This WILL NOT work on Linux or macOS using Wine. I got it to process the video successfully on Linux but the ROM was just a black screen, nothing worked. This guide ONLY works on Windows.

Credits: DarkFader, gameboy-advance.net, inside-cap

A demo is included here to show that it really works.

Cannot get this to work, no matter how hard I try. I desperately want Kung Fury (30 minute movie) and Maverick Hunter X Day of Sigma) converted to play on my GBA in the best quality possible (I figured each in 2 15 minute parts)

Can anyone please assist?

 

[Sonicfan2007]

everytime i put an avi file in thats lower than 32MB it keeps saying its bigger?!?! (btw i used the mp4 to avi website) nothing worked

 

[OmDRetro]

everytime i put an avi file in thats lower than 32MB it keeps saying its bigger?!?! (btw i used the mp4 to avi website) nothing worked

Meteo always complains about the output ROM size when it exceeds 32MB. T'was developed that way since the largest known capacity for a GBA game cart at the time is 32 MBytes. Unlike now where the bootleg 369-In-1 gba multicart sports a whopping 256 MBytes capacity.

Basically, you need to tweak some settings by sacrificing quality to ensure that the output video is AT MOST 32 MBytes.

Cannot get this to work, no matter how hard I try. I desperately want Kung Fury (30 minute movie) and Maverick Hunter X Day of Sigma) converted to play on my GBA in the best quality possible (I figured each in 2 15 minute parts)

Can anyone please assist?

Lucky for you I also test with tools of my own(not really). I tried using ffmpeg and was unsuccessful in converting videos to a meteo friendly format.

This is where kdenlive (a free open-source video editing software with less features than Da Vinci Resolve) comes in.

TL;DR - You need to reprocess/render the input video with an old codec that was common in the Y2K era ( I feel old ).

Profile preset is under the "Old-TV definition" -> MPEG4-ASP (Advanced Simple Profile)

The rendered output video should be accepted by meteo.

NOTE: I've already tried mimicking the ffmpeg profile that kdenlive uses for MPEG4-ASP, but for whatever reason it simply does not work unless the entire video is post-processed/reprocessed into a meteo friendly format.

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 -c:v mpeg4 -q:v 2 -r 33 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v 2500k -c:a mp3 -b:a 32k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -qscale:a 4 output_video.avi

The ffmpeg conversion above will not work, but I'm writing down my findings for future reference.

 

[Sonicfan2007]

it still says its bigger than 32 mb even tho its 16 mb, converted it to avi with the website, put it in 8 or 12 bitrate, and its also its below 31 minutes!?! why wont it work