Video Guide: Using overlays with RetroPie

[Floob]

Video: http://youtu.be/viSb9t-y7AU

This guide is based on the post by "patl" here:
http://blog.petrockblock.com/forums/top ... fter-look/

There is another post in the smartretro forums about overlays, but a key difference here is that the overlay includes an effect that simulates scanlines and therefore produces a very good alternative to using shaders in order to get a retro feel to the video output when using a modern high definition TV.

This guide is for TVs running in a 1080p mode. If you are using 720p there would need to be changes.
This guide will only work for emulation when using a libretro core, as it uses Retroarch config files.

Details below are for the SNES setup (which will also work with the Megadrive / Genesis)
See the link above for more info on getting this running on other systems.

Step 1 - Update video mode for the given emulator

Either edit this file, or if it doesnt exist create it:
/opt/retropie/configs/all/videomodes.cfg

You can edit or create it with the following command
"sudo nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/videomodes.cfg"

Add lines to it in this format,
{emulator name}_render="config"

Code: Select all

lr-picodrive_render="config"
lr-snes9x-next_render="config"

You would do the above for each emulator you want to behave in this way. As "lr-snes9x-next" is the default emulator for SNES that will work fine here.

This basically tells retroarch to apply the settings specified in the next file.

Step 2 - Apply overlay settings to the system specific retroarch.cfg file

For example, the SNES specific retroarch config file is:
/opt/retropie/configs/snes/retroarch.cfg

You can edit this with
"sudo nano /opt/retropie/configs/snes/retroarch.cfg"

Remove these lines. Delete them out, or comment them with a #

Code: Select all

video_shader = /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/shader/snes_phosphor.glslp
video_shader_enable = false
video_smooth = false

Then, above this line:
#include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"

Add this

Code: Select all

video_shader_enable = false
# We dont need them
video_fullscreen_x = 1920
# Horizontal Monitor resolution
video_fullscreen_y = 1080
# Vertical Monitor resolution
custom_viewport_width = 1194
# Horizontal emulator resolution
custom_viewport_height = 896
# Vertical emulator resolution
custom_viewport_x = 363
# The first X pixel of the emulator image
custom_viewport_y = 92
# The first Y pixel of the emulator image
aspect_ratio_index = 22
# Aspect Ratio set to custom
input_overlay = /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/16-9/TV_16-9_SNES-MD.cfg
# Overlayimage
input_overlay_enable = true
# Overlay Image enable
input_overlay_opacity = 1.000000
# opacity of the overlayimage
input_overlay_scale = "1.000000"
# Scalesize of the overlay image
video_smooth = true
# Smoth the emulated image, not the overlay, If you set it to false, it will remain sharp but blocky.

Step 3 - Download and copy overlay files
https://mega.co.nz/#!OZ4ihKKa!TL2j16bE0 ... 8ax3-NWQCg
or
http://www.filedropper.com/16-9

Then unzip the file, and put the folder "16-9" in here with your FTP client:
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/

=========================

There is more detail on the overlay use here:
https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/w ... figuration

[Floob]

I have also written a tool that should automate a lot of this here:
https://github.com/biscuits99/rp-video-manager

Please note it will overwrite any custom changes you may have made to system specific retroarch.cfg files, so use the backup function.

[retromancer]

Excellent video and guide Floob - untangling the details from the petrockblock forum is most appreciated.

I'm currently running 2.6 - do you know if the overlays can be implemented as-is on this version?

I ask as I have heavily configured my 2.6 including diverse items such as: installation for multiple original controllers attached via multiple USB convertors, overclocking (including stress tests), USB port power increase, forcing the pi to assume HDMI, overscan, passthrough audio, controller issues on atari800 and Hatari, subtle issues with pcsx_rearmed, etc, so not ready to move to RetroPie 3 yet.

I'm aiming to write guides for many of the changes I've investigated and implemented, slanted towards support / troubleshooting for those following existing guides.

[Floob]

Yep - no problem with using overlays in 2.6. The video manager tool wont work for it as the paths are different, but the principles shown in the video should work fine.

If you arent sure, just post up the files you have that need editing and I should be able to tweak them. I'd do one system at a time to check its workign as you expect.

[billyg]

Hi Floob , I've been watching so many of your tutorials & they have been a great help to me. The only thing I haven't quite got the hang of yet is using overlays. I have 720p hd tv - are you able to advise on the changes I need to make? I messed up my snes settings somehow as it was displaying the picture more to the bottom right so I've wiped my sd card & am starting from scratch with retropie version 3.3.1

I also have a picade that I've just set up but only have one rpi2 at the moment & I want to configure & get it all working using my tv before putting it into the picade - is there a way I can have 2 overlay settings for both the picade & my 720p tv.

Also, this isn't related to overlays but I was wondering if you could pm a link or a clue as to where I can obtain the Neo Geo (GnGeo) Mame 0.138 romset. I normally don't have problems finding roms but am having trouble with this set.

A massive thanks in advance for any help you can give me

[Floob]

Hi Billy,

The video manager tool should do that ok for you if you make sure you choose the 720p overlay option, or use the shader option as that isnt reliant on resolution.

I'm afraid I havent got the settings for overlays at the Picade resolution, what I tend to do is just use a scanline overlay that doent have a border as that makes it easier. either 640x480 or 800x600.

All the settings are pretty much as per the video in /opt/retropie/configs/{systemname}/retroarch.cfg

[billyg]

Hi Floob, I just SSH'd into Pi & did it. I can't believe it was so easy! That's a really great tool you built - thank you.
I think I removed the video manager successfully because when I entered the 'rm' command again the directory no longer existed.
Also , when I changed my overlay to 720p it didn't mention any changes to the Neo Geo - is that correct?

Thanks again Floob.... you're awesome

[Floob]

Yes, I'm afraid not all of the changes affect all of the systems yet. I'll need to update the tool a bit more.

[tbird]

Firstly loving the guide @floob and your videos, my only question how would I edit the above for lets say my sg1000 emulator do I need to edit this line as ive done every other step

input_overlay = /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/16-9/TV_16-9_SNES-MD.cfg

[Floob]

Yes, thats right. Or you could use the crt-pi shader instead of overlays if you want.