DS Original Capture device

Sir VG

2011-10-30 11:33:04 pm

Fucking Weeaboo

Let's hope the 3rd time is the charm.

Greenalink

2011-11-04 07:13:23 am

DS Dictator

A minor question,
If the video framerate is set to 60, what should the audio be because if you load the AVI file to Virtualdub and go to Framerate, it has the option:
* Change so video and audio durations match (59.995)

That option isn't consistent as sometimes the audio rate is ~60.02 to as low as 59.8xx

I am making some HQ mp4 files and some of the videos are slightly desynched by ~0.2 seconds, you can tell if you play the game a lot and know when the sound effect exactly occurs.

Checking the old emulated TAS avi videos
60 video
60.02 audio

hmm.... Is it possible for every recording to have a fixed audio framerate or does that not matter at all??

Attachments:

framerate.bmp

Timing.bmp

loopy

2011-11-05 10:55:13 am

The audio rate is whatever you set it to in the audio settings. It's independent of the video framerate. Audio "frame rate" is nonsensical, it's measured in kHz, not FPS. The audio rate is fixed, the video rate is not. It's nominally 60 FPS in the AVI, but frames will be skipped to stay in sync, even if there are no capture errors or cpu lag because the DS rate is actually ~59.83 FPS. If audio and video seem out of sync, I would try offsetting the two rather than adjusting their rates.

Greenalink

2011-11-05 11:03:06 am

DS Dictator

Thanks for the info Loopy.

I haven't used Virtualdub as the method to record because I've found out that if you connect the USB to a USB 3.0 slot the performance is much, much better!

Attachment:

USB 3 is good.JPG

Sir VG

2011-11-06 02:57:20 am

Fucking Weeaboo

Awesome!

If anybody needs a USB3.0 plugin, here's a PCI-e card I found for $20. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115105
Or if you don't have PCI-e (or a slot open), here's one for a standard PCI slot (a lot more expensive though): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158275

Greenalink

Edit history:

Greenalink: 2011-11-06 11:59:40 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-06 09:56:07 am

2011-11-06 09:53:46 am

DS Dictator

I've made my first run with a decent enough time to submit.
For verification I am going to submit it in a .rar file that contains an HQ.mp4 verification and 5 .jpg screenshots for publishing use.
MQ .Mp4 doesn't look great compared to a MQ .MP4 on console which I find them still watchable.

Then once it gets accepted, not only I will make the usual LQ , MQ and HQ files but also a bonus encode of the multi-screen layout and a .rar file that contain bloopers.

thieves like us

2011-11-07 01:40:53 pm

Quote from Sir VG:

Awesome!

If anybody needs a USB3.0 plugin, here's a PCI-e card I found for $20. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115105
Or if you don't have PCI-e (or a slot open), here's one for a standard PCI slot (a lot more expensive though): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158275

thanks for the link Sir VG
I'm still on the look-out for a card that uses the external power input (I've heard horror stories about the ones that don't where you've basically wasted your money) but has a power connector like the ones that sata drives use (so that I don't have to plug in a legacy power line to my modular psu)

Carcinogen

2011-11-08 02:53:32 pm

Put me on the list for one of these, too. This is pretty sick. =O

Greenalink

Edit history:

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:59:47 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:57:37 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:55 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:52 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:51 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:50 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:49 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-12 05:31:10 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-11 09:30:03 am

Greenalink: 2011-11-11 09:28:31 am

2011-11-11 09:25:16 am

DS Dictator

I've been messing around with .avs scripts
And I've figured out how to change the main screen to choose either the top or touch screen at certain parts of the video.

Clicking on hidden, contains the script.
This is a script that contains an stat id and no borders in between the 2 screens.
The bolded part is what I added onto a default Anri-chan script
The red text is a tweak to the width of the Stat ID. Before the crop question on anri-chan you get a question on the ratio, you need to answer 2:1 to have the widescreen outcome. Then you need to open up the .avs script (HQ or MQ depending on what you are uploading) and change the Stat id size from

Quote:

float(2*statid.height)/float(1*statid.width) - statid.width) /

to

Quote:

float(2*statid.height)/float(3*statid.width) - statid.width) /

this is so the Stat id images have a fixed ratio otherwise the images will look too skinny than intended.

Part way through the bold text, you'll see the crops I use for main screen

For 2D games use this script

Quote:

upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).PointResize(512,384)

Quote:

For 3D games use this script:
upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).BilinearResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).BilinearResize(512,384)

Remember that it's pretty uncommon for the 3D graphics to be displayed on both screens, so one screen might be 2D while the other is 3D at the same time.

import("C:\Program Files\anrichan3.3\plugins\plugins.avs")
import("nsmbmulti2_source.avs")
converttoyuy2
sourcewidth=last.width
sourceheight=last.height
DAR=2./1 * float(last.width)/last.height *

float(sourceheight)/sourcewidth
prenmfrate=last.framerate
Try{import("nsmbmulti2_source_nmf.avs")
nmf=true}catch(err_msg){nmf=false}
last.height > 700 ? (last.width > 480 * DAR ?

lanczos4resize(sda_even(round(480 * DAR)),480) :

lanczos4resize(last.width,480)) : (last.width > last.height * DAR

? lanczos4resize(sda_even(round(last.height * DAR)),last.height) :

NOP)
last.height % 2 == 1 ? AddBorders(0,0,0,1) : NOP
last.width % 4 <> 0 ? AddBorders(floor((4 - last.width % 4) / 2.),

0, ceil((4 - last.width % 4) / 2.), 0) : NOP
changefps(prenmfrate/1)
statid=nate_statid(last,"\nAdvanced Multi screen script\nNo

emulators\n edited by using Avisynth","y","n")
statid=statid.AddBorders(int((statid.width *

float(2*statid.height)/float(3*statid.width) - statid.width) /

2.), 0, int((statid.width *

float(2*statid.height)/float(3*statid.width) - statid.width) /

2.), 0).Lanczos4Resize(statid.width,statid.height)
nmf ? last : statid++last++statid
changefps(last.framerate)
assumeframebased

import("C:\Program Files\anrichan3.3\plugins\plugins.avs")

miniScreens = last
upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
mainScreen =

upperScreen.Trim(0,1685)+lowerScreen.Trim(1686,2100)+upperScreen.T

rim(2101,Framecount-1)

# If you want to switch the main screen display, write something

like the following line instead:
# mainScreen =

lowerScreen.Trim(0,630)+upperScreen.Trim(631,1414)+lowerScreen.Tri

m(1415,Framecount-1)

mainScreen.StackHorizontal(miniScreens)

# Framerate reduction, if needed: ChangeFPS(FrameRateNumerator,

FrameRateDenominator*2)
# If you want to blend every 2 frames, instead:

AssumeFieldBased.Weave.VerticalReduceBy2
Subtitle("Greenalink",660,170,first_frame=300,last_frame=3664,

font="comic sans ms", size=30,text_color=$66FF00,lsp=10)
ConvertToYV12()

I've been messing around with .avs scripts 
And I've figured out how to change the main screen to choose either the top or touch screen at certain parts of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5U5rrakHY

Clicking on hidden, contains the script.
This is a script that contains an stat id and no borders in between the 2 screens.
The bolded part is what I added onto a default Anri-chan script
The red text is a tweak to the width of the Stat ID. Before the crop question on anri-chan you get a question on the ratio, you need to answer 2:1 to have the widescreen outcome. Then you need to open up the .avs script (HQ or MQ depending on what you are uploading) and change the Stat id size from  
[quote]float(2*statid.height)/float(1*statid.width) - statid.width) / [/quote]
to
[quote]float(2*statid.height)/float(3*statid.width) - statid.width) / [/quote]
this is so the Stat id images have a fixed ratio otherwise the images will look too skinny than intended.

Part way through the bold text, you'll see the crops I use for main screen

For 2D games use this script
[quote]upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).PointResize(512,384)[/quote]

[quote]For 3D games use this script:
upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).BilinearResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).BilinearResize(512,384)[/quote]

Remember that it's pretty uncommon for the 3D graphics to be displayed on both screens, so one screen might be 2D while the other is 3D at the same time.

[hidden]import("C:\Program Files\anrichan3.3\plugins\plugins.avs") 
import("nsmbmulti2_source.avs")
converttoyuy2
sourcewidth=last.width
sourceheight=last.height
DAR=2./1 * float(last.width)/last.height *

float(sourceheight)/sourcewidth
prenmfrate=last.framerate
Try{import("nsmbmulti2_source_nmf.avs")
nmf=true}catch(err_msg){nmf=false}
last.height > 700 ? (last.width > 480 * DAR ?

lanczos4resize(sda_even(round(480 * DAR)),480) :

lanczos4resize(last.width,480)) : (last.width > last.height * DAR

? lanczos4resize(sda_even(round(last.height * DAR)),last.height) :

NOP)
last.height % 2 == 1 ? AddBorders(0,0,0,1) : NOP
last.width % 4 <> 0 ? AddBorders(floor((4 - last.width % 4) / 2.),

0, ceil((4 - last.width % 4) / 2.), 0) : NOP
changefps(prenmfrate/1)
statid=nate_statid(last,"\nAdvanced Multi screen script\nNo

emulators\n edited by using Avisynth","y","n")
statid=statid.AddBorders(int((statid.width *

float(2*statid.height)/float([color="red"]3[/color]*statid.width) - statid.width) /

2.), 0, int((statid.width *

float(2*statid.height)/float([color="red"]3[/color]*statid.width) - statid.width) /

2.), 0).Lanczos4Resize(statid.width,statid.height)
nmf ? last : statid++last++statid
changefps(last.framerate)
assumeframebased

[b]import("C:\Program Files\anrichan3.3\plugins\plugins.avs")

miniScreens = last 
upperScreen = Crop(0,0,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
lowerScreen = Crop(0,192,256,192).PointResize(512,384)
mainScreen =

upperScreen.Trim(0,1685)+lowerScreen.Trim(1686,2100)+upperScreen.T

rim(2101,Framecount-1)

[color="green"]# If you want to switch the main screen display, write something

like the following line instead: 
# mainScreen =

lowerScreen.Trim(0,630)+upperScreen.Trim(631,1414)+lowerScreen.Tri[/color]

m(1415,Framecount-1)

mainScreen.StackHorizontal(miniScreens)

[color="green"]# Framerate reduction, if needed: ChangeFPS(FrameRateNumerator,[/color]

FrameRateDenominator*2) 
# If you want to blend every 2 frames, instead:

AssumeFieldBased.Weave.VerticalReduceBy2 
Subtitle("Greenalink",660,170,first_frame=300,last_frame=3664,

font="comic sans ms", size=30,text_color=$66FF00,lsp=10)
ConvertToYV12()[/b]
[/hidden]

e_alert

2011-11-17 06:54:12 pm

Just posting here to show interest in buying a kit whenever they're ready to go. Smiley

thieves like us

2011-11-18 02:22:51 pm

e_alert:
I believe that loopy is still waiting to receive parts from a supplier that actually work. the last batch of connectors were sub-standard Sad

Ste

Edit history:

Ste: 2011-11-19 01:09:20 am

2011-11-19 12:14:28 am

Hey, Neal. Very, very impressed with what you got going here. As can be seen with my version of the DS video output, I'm more interested in real-time interfacing with display devices (TVs & Monitors) as opposed to video capture. Anyway, I still think your device is excellent and will serve a much needed purpose. Even though I don't do much capturing, I'll probably still grab one when they're fully available. I wanted to give you props, for seeing a need for something and then rolling up your sleeves and doing it yourself. So thanks for that and everything else. After all, I did find a lot of much needed information on your website to get my project rolling.

On another note, I was curious about the engineering details of the commercial version of your device. Are you still using a Spartan-3? If so, I'm assuming it's a smaller one than what was on the dev-board, and with similar RAM to what was on there too? I know when I was working on my project, the hardest part was writing the memory controller because Xilinx didn't have a MIG for the RAM on my board. I'm guessing you tried to avoid that by not switching up too much stuff from what was on the dev-board? Or did you end up fabricating an ASIC out of the HDL you wrote? If you don't feel comfortable answering this stuff, then that's cool too. I guess I can always wait until I get one and look at the chips on your board to satisfy my curiosity. Oh! And how the heck did you get those ribbon connectors? We were looking for those to put into our project.

Anyway. Thanks again and good luck.

Hey, Neal.  Very, very impressed with what you got going here.  As can be seen with my version of the DS video output, I'm more interested in real-time interfacing with display devices (TVs & Monitors) as opposed to video capture.  Anyway, I still think your device is excellent and will serve a [u]much[/u] needed purpose.  Even though I don't do much capturing, I'll probably still grab one when they're fully available.  I wanted to give you props, for seeing a need for something and then rolling up your sleeves and doing it yourself.  So thanks for that and everything else.  After all, I did find a lot of much needed information on your website to get my project rolling.

On another note, I was curious about the engineering details of the commercial version of your device.  Are you still using a Spartan-3?  If so, I'm assuming it's a smaller one than what was on the dev-board, and with similar RAM to what was on there too?  I know when I was working on my project, the hardest part was writing the memory controller because Xilinx didn't have a MIG for the RAM on my board.  I'm guessing you tried to avoid that by not switching up too much stuff from what was on the dev-board?  Or did you end up fabricating an ASIC out of the HDL you wrote?  If you don't feel comfortable answering this stuff, then that's cool too.  I guess I can always wait until I get one and look at the chips on your board to satisfy my curiosity.  Oh!  And how the heck did you get those ribbon connectors?  We were looking for those to put into our project.

Anyway.  Thanks again and good luck.

Quirino

2011-11-19 02:08:07 am

Does this device also work on PAL DS systems? Because I live in the PAL region and I will be wanting to record my PAL DS games. I believe it's not region-free for games with DSi-features, right? If that's the case I'd send my PAL DS system to you and ask you to install it.

When you're ready to sell the product I'd definitely want to buy one!

Greenalink

2011-11-19 02:39:16 am

DS Dictator

PAL isn't the legit term for portables.
European DS phat models certainly work, it can play:
DS and
DS games that contains DSi extras (Pkmn Black and White, Solatorobo) from any region.

Since this mod only works on the DS original you can't use this mod to record (or even play)
DSiware games,
DSi retail only games (Face Training) and
3DS/3DSWare games

YamiHoshi.nl

2011-11-19 02:51:24 am

Visit us!

Like Greenalink already said, there is no region lockout for any portable, until the DSi came out.
DSi Enhanched games still work on a DS Phat, but you'll miss a few functionalities, like Camera, or WPA and WPA2 connectivity.

loopy

Edit history:

loopy: 2011-11-19 10:07:01 am

2011-11-19 10:00:31 am

Quote from Ste:

Hey, Neal. Very, very impressed with what you got going here. As can be seen with my version of the DS video output, I'm more interested in real-time interfacing with display devices (TVs & Monitors) as opposed to video capture. Anyway, I still think your device is excellent and will serve a much needed purpose. Even though I don't do much capturing, I'll probably still grab one when they're fully available. I wanted to give you props, for seeing a need for something and then rolling up your sleeves and doing it yourself. So thanks for that and everything else. After all, I did find a lot of much needed information on your website to get my project rolling.

On another note, I was curious about the engineering details of the commercial version of your device. Are you still using a Spartan-3? If so, I'm assuming it's a smaller one than what was on the dev-board, and with similar RAM to what was on there too? I know when I was working on my project, the hardest part was writing the memory controller because Xilinx didn't have a MIG for the RAM on my board. I'm guessing you tried to avoid that by not switching up too much stuff from what was on the dev-board? Or did you end up fabricating an ASIC out of the HDL you wrote? If you don't feel comfortable answering this stuff, then that's cool too. I guess I can always wait until I get one and look at the chips on your board to satisfy my curiosity. Oh! And how the heck did you get those ribbon connectors? We were looking for those to put into our project.

Anyway. Thanks again and good luck.

Answered the technical stuff in a PM. Good luck on your project. A long time ago I worked on a component-out adapter for the DS (right after my Jumbotron stuff) but never went public with it and abandoned it. Fun little project.

[quote="Ste"]Hey, Neal.  Very, very impressed with what you got going here.  As can be seen with my version of the DS video output, I'm more interested in real-time interfacing with display devices (TVs & Monitors) as opposed to video capture.  Anyway, I still think your device is excellent and will serve a [u]much[/u] needed purpose.  Even though I don't do much capturing, I'll probably still grab one when they're fully available.  I wanted to give you props, for seeing a need for something and then rolling up your sleeves and doing it yourself.  So thanks for that and everything else.  After all, I did find a lot of much needed information on your website to get my project rolling.

On another note, I was curious about the engineering details of the commercial version of your device.  Are you still using a Spartan-3?  If so, I'm assuming it's a smaller one than what was on the dev-board, and with similar RAM to what was on there too?  I know when I was working on my project, the hardest part was writing the memory controller because Xilinx didn't have a MIG for the RAM on my board.  I'm guessing you tried to avoid that by not switching up too much stuff from what was on the dev-board?  Or did you end up fabricating an ASIC out of the HDL you wrote?  If you don't feel comfortable answering this stuff, then that's cool too.  I guess I can always wait until I get one and look at the chips on your board to satisfy my curiosity.  Oh!  And how the heck did you get those ribbon connectors?  We were looking for those to put into our project.

Anyway.  Thanks again and good luck.[/quote]
Answered the technical stuff in a PM.  Good luck on your project.  A long time ago I worked on a component-out adapter for the DS (right after my Jumbotron stuff) but never went public with it and abandoned it.  Fun little project.

Ste

2011-11-21 07:48:17 pm

Quote from loopy:

Answered the technical stuff in a PM. Good luck on your project. A long time ago I worked on a component-out adapter for the DS (right after my Jumbotron stuff) but never went public with it and abandoned it. Fun little project.

Cool. Thanks for responding. Yea, I haven't been working on the project since school ended last May so it'll probably go the way side like yours did. It was more of a learning experience, and I learned A LOT. I wish they had an FPGA course at my school so more people can experience the wonders of this stuff. Very useful.

Greenalink

Edit history:

Greenalink: 2011-11-28 01:52:58 pm

2011-11-28 01:50:49 pm

DS Dictator

I just been doing a test on what happens if you record the DS footage in over an hour with a lossless codec raw (Ut Video Codec RGB). Since the file goes over 4GB, there is a problem as the AVI dislikes 4GB+ size files. This Mario Kart DS video I recorded was over an hour long with just under 10GB. unfortunately it cannot be played on Media players nor even be played through Virtualdub. Now this can be a problem for Single Segment speed runners recording a run that lasts over an hour. Anri-chan even fails to encode an MP4 that was from a single 10GB avi raw.

The good solution is to have a feature that enables multi-segment on the AVI file, so after it reaches a 3-4 GB filesize, it makes a new file carrying it on. ~
With Anri-Chan, it's possible to encode loads of ~4GB AVI raws into 1 MP4 video.

pheadbaq

2011-11-28 02:18:12 pm

Hi all, new here. Just found out about this DS capture project today, been looking for something to capture DS (other than the shaky-cam method). Awesome work! Count me as a pre-order... please Cheesy

@Greenalink I'm no AVI guru, but don't the OpenDML specs (AVI2 I think??) allow for >4GB files (no segments)? I regularly record into the TBs using Blackmagic Media Express, and I used to use VDub for capture, and nearly always went over 4GB in a single file.

Thanks to all involved on this project!

Tranquilite

2011-12-14 12:00:21 am

Bump time. Have you been able to source those connectors yet loopy, or are they still out of stock?

AniMeowzerz

Edit history:

AniMeowzerz: 2011-12-14 07:58:08 am

2011-12-14 07:57:31 am

Quote from loopy:

I haven't posted any updates in a while. I reordered from Digikey, ETA is mid-December. I'll be working on 3DS stuff in the meantime.

^

Also because of that quote I saw a new post in here and I spazzed. I wasted a spaz :<

YamiHoshi.nl

2011-12-15 12:55:29 am

Visit us!

I don't know, but did anyone notice he wasn't here for a whole month already?
I guess the 3DS Capture wouldn't be done by Christmas neither.

Greenalink

2011-12-17 03:42:11 pm

DS Dictator

http://dl.speeddemosarchive.com/demo.pl?CastlevaniaPoR_SS_4235

This speed run makes the first published DS run that uses a modded DS to directly record the run.

There is one DS game on the verification list that is recorded with a modded DS by me....
It's GTA Chinatown Wars and it's the uber short glitched run but only verify the run if you have played the game.

loopy

Edit history:

loopy: 2011-12-18 06:00:28 pm

2011-12-18 03:20:22 pm

Ok, so apparently it's mid-December now Tongue

Yes, I got the parts I needed. I've been slowly putting more boards together. I have ..counts.. 12 right now, so I guess I can start taking orders. Send me a PM if interested. In case you missed it earlier, it's $50 USD (+extra for int'l shipping) thru PayPal. (I'm open to other options, but paypal seems easiest to me).

My earlier offer still stands for now, I'm willing to install it myself if you want to send me a DS (or find one on eBay / GameStop / whatever) and pay for the return shipping.

Sir VG

2011-12-18 03:27:58 pm

Fucking Weeaboo

YES YES YES YES

Sending PM and will be sending my DS. I'd rather have somebody else do the dremel work.