Homebrew Snes9x GX 4.3.8 Beta - Feedback requested

[Tantric]

Hi all,

It's been awhile since I've released anything for the emulators but I had some free time so I'm taking the chance now. Here's a beta version of snes9x gx:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2281405/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta.zip

Update: Here's a beta for the sound issues:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2285356/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta2.zip

Update 2: Here's another beta for the sound issues. Is it better than Beta2? Let me know.

<<LINK REMOVED>>

Update 3: The build above was bad. Try this one:
https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2288514/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta4.zip

Update 4:

Even better sound:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2291668/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta5-156-core.zip

With most of the older (faster?) 4.3.7 core
https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2291670/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta6-hybrid-core.zip

Here's another beta:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2295228/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta7.zip

• fixed joystick calculations...for me at least the classic controller was making me move left when the joystick was 100% to the right
• mute sound when in turbo mode. Fixes audio buffers going crazy. Still doesn't fix the problem reported by Emu64 above. If you jiggle the turbo stick a little the sound comes back. Not sure how to fix this...
• add soft and sharp video filtering options from VBAGX
• re-add explicit Wii U Pro controller mappings

​

The major change is an updated core to snes9x 1.56 which seems to fix some games. Here's the changelog so far:

* Updated core to 1.56 (with less accurate but faster Blargg audio core)
* Memory optimizations to free up more MEM1 for Snes9x
* Disable multi pixel format support for a speed boost
* Add MSU1 support (thanks qwertymodo!)
* Add BPS soft-patching support (thanks qwertymodo!)
* Allow loader to pass two arguments instead of three (libertyernie)
* Backport some MSU1 fixes from snes9x
* Fix a few potential crashes caused by the GUI
* Compiled with latest libOGC/devkitPPC
* Remove update check completely.
* Compatibility fixes for newer devkitppc.
* Compile fixes for Gamecube
* Compile fixes for Linux

Please test as much as you can (and as many games as you can) and report back anything that was working before and isn't anymore. This part is important. I know there may be things that are still broken and that also were broken in 4.3.7. Those may still get fixed some day. But I just want to know whether or not this beta is better than the currently released 4.3.7.

 

[Edu64]

I did a quick test with Zelda to link to the past and I noticed "sound crackling" very frequently (in version 4.3.8)
In version 4.3.7 it happens also but much less frequently, it is the only serious problem that I find of the emulator (4.3.7 version), if it was fixed, it would be perfect.

 

[Tantric]

I did a quick test with Zelda to link to the past and I noticed "sound crackling" very frequently (in version 4.3.8)
In version 4.3.7 it happens also but much less frequently, it is the only serious problem that I find of the emulator (4.3.7 version), if it was fixed, it would be perfect.

I've either never played long enough, played the wrong games, or I'm deaf, because I've never heard this sound crackling. I have an NTSC Wii, NTSC TV, and NTSC ROMs. Not sure if this sound issue is an issue only when you throw PAL in there somewhere, only for certain games, or what?

 

[Coto]

well you were 8 years late. I was not even a coder the last time you did code something for the wii. Welcome back!

 

[the_randomizer]

Glad to see this being worked on

 

[Edu64]

I've either never played long enough, played the wrong games, or I'm deaf, because I've never heard this sound crackling. I have an NTSC Wii, NTSC TV, and NTSC ROMs. Not sure if this sound issue is an issue only when you throw PAL in there somewhere, only for certain games, or what?

There is a simple way to check it, in "super mario rpg" or "chrono trigger" when opening the game menu, there is a distortion in the sound.
In other games it is random, as in "zelda a link to the past" in others it does not happen as in "megaman x"
When it happens, it is after about 5 to 10 minutes, and it happens after approximately 2 minutes intervals.
This is using version 4.3.7 (tv, console and rom NTSC).
In 4.3.8 the sound problems start from the first moment.

 

[the_randomizer]

There is a simple way to check it, in "super mario rpg" or "chrono trigger" when opening the game menu, there is a distortion in the sound.
In other games it is random, as in "zelda a link to the past" in others it does not happen as in "megaman x"
When it happens, it is after about 5 to 10 minutes, and it happens after approximately 2 minutes intervals.
This is using version 4.3.7 (tv, console and rom NTSC).
In 4.3.8 the sound problems start from the first moment.

Could be the sample frequency, I seem to recall in testing older versions, changing it from 32000 Hz to something like 31900 to 31950 fixed it. Not sure if the same
can be done here.

 

[Edu64]

Could be the sample frequency, I seem to recall in testing older versions, changing it from 32000 Hz to something like 31900 to 31950 fixed it. Not sure if the same
can be done here.

Maybe it can be that.
In pal games (using NTSC console) the sound problem occurs as in version 4.3.8, very often although somewhat less.

 

[Hozu]

I'm noticing a sound issue with the same game, A Link to the Past (though randomized ROM). It's not so much of sound cracking, but rather it's like the sound (partially?) cuts out for the tiniest fraction of a second. If it's in the middle of a sustained sound, I think it becomes slightly distorted after the cutting out, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Other than that sound issue, seems great so far.

Couple of questions, though. Is this the first version of Snes9x GX with this sound core? If not, how long has it been a thing? Also, is there a way to change/disable the turbo functionality?

 

[the_randomizer]

I'm noticing a sound issue with the same game, A Link to the Past (though randomized ROM). It's not so much of sound cracking, but rather it's like the sound (partially?) cuts out for the tiniest fraction of a second. If it's in the middle of a sustained sound, I think it becomes slightly distorted after the cutting out, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Other than that sound issue, seems great so far.

Couple of questions, though. Is this the first version of Snes9x GX with this sound core? If not, how long has it been a thing? Also, is there a way to change/disable the turbo functionality?

No, it's has that sound core for some time since it had the core from Snes9x 1.52, the older sound cores are utter garbage.

 

[spielvan]

The game Cybernator, there is a crack in the audio during the tracks before the game play.

 

[Zopenko]

Can i ask for a feature to have the cheats names display with scrolling text?
Since some cheats have such a large name it does not display properly.

I added this feature on the fcegx emu (nes), but could recreated on the snesgx emu.

 

[Tantric]

Can i ask for a feature to have the cheats names display with scrolling text?
Since some cheats have such a large name it does not display properly.

I added this feature on the fcegx emu (nes), but could recreated on the snesgx emu.

Currrently only the old binary CHT file format is supported, which limits the cheat name length to 20 characters. So I would think that's actually the reason it's cut off. We can't change that format spec, but there are lots of other file formats apparently and it's built into snes9x now. So someone just has to extend the code to support loading multiple formats. I agree it would be a nice addition. Maybe you can do it?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I did a quick test with Zelda to link to the past and I noticed "sound crackling" very frequently (in version 4.3.8)
In version 4.3.7 it happens also but much less frequently, it is the only serious problem that I find of the emulator (4.3.7 version), if it was fixed, it would be perfect.

Okay, I've taken a crack at syncing the audio. Here it is:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2285356/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta2.zip

I took another crack at the audio, try this one as well and let me know which is better:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2287922/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta3.zip

 

[Edu64]

Currrently only the old binary CHT file format is supported



Okay, I've taken a crack at syncing the audio. Here it is:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2285356/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta2.zip

I took another crack at the audio, try this one as well and let me know which is better:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2287922/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta3.zip

Currrently only the old binary CHT file format is supported, which limits the cheat name length to 20 characters. So I would think that's actually the reason it's cut off. We can't change that format spec, but there are lots of other file formats apparently and it's built into snes9x now. So someone just has to extend the code to support loading multiple formats. I agree it would be a nice addition. Maybe you can do it?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------



Okay, I've taken a crack at syncing the audio. Here it is:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2285356/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta2.zip

I took another crack at the audio, try this one as well and let me know which is better:

https://github.com/dborth/snes9xgx/files/2287922/Snes9xGX-4.3.8-Beta3.zip

Ok, when I get home, I'll do the tests.
I will be reporting the results.
Thank you!

 

[Hozu]

Tried Beta 2 with ALttP again, the micro sound drops are gone entirely, though very rarely an entire sound "note" can be dropped. Seems to be able to happen when the "SNES" is lagging. Also, once when I opened the emu menu while in-game, and exited it, the sounds got messed up until I went back into the menu then left it. Kinda weird, but at least I was able to resolve it. It only happened once though. That may have been an issue with older versions of Snes9x GX I believe...

I'll give Beta 3 a shot, since it wasn't there when I started testing earlier.

 

[the_randomizer]

Tried Beta 2 with ALttP again, the micro sound drops are gone entirely, though very rarely an entire sound can be dropped. Seems to be able to happen when the "SNES" is lagging. Also, once when I opened the emu menu while in-game, and exited it, the sounds got messed up until I went back into the menu then left it. Kinda weird, but at least I was able to resolve it. It only happened once though. That may have been an issue with older versions of Snes9x GX I believe...

I'll give Beta 3 a shot, since it wasn't there when I started testing earlier.

I believe that infamous menu tinny sound glitch is caused by the differences in the sample frequency and the type of audio used. Snes uses Gaussian interpolation at 32 kHz whereas the menu I believe uses Cubic interpolation at 44 (or was it 48 kHz). It's been an issue for years and not easy to resolve. If both emulator and menu used the same kHz and interpolation, maybe.

 

[Hozu]

I guess I'm not giving beta 3 a shot because I get a stack dump whenever I load a ROM. Uh oh.

 

[Tantric]

I guess I'm not giving beta 3 a shot because I get a stack dump whenever I load a ROM. Uh oh.

Uh oh. So do I. Maybe just a bad build. I'll try to put together a new one.

 

[FancyNintendoGamer567]

is SNES9X GX 4.3.8 Beta based off of SNES9X 1.56.2?

 

[the_randomizer]

is SNES9X GX 4.3.8 Beta based off of SNES9X 1.56.2?

1.54 or 1.55, one of those two, but that shouldn't matter, should it?