WinUAE Video Output: AVI splitting

[Al82]

Looks like I was still using the old version by accident - just loaded up the file again in a clean directory and got the prompt about the beta software with new build date.

I'll re-run the tests and post back

[Al82]

I've re-run the tests again and the frame is still missing.

Using the same Alien Hunter as an example, the arrows to the right of the arena cycle between 2 colours (red/grey). The red state should be active for exactly 38 frames - when joining the 2 clips together and monitoring the red state, it's exactly 37 frames.

When the state is loaded you can see a 'garbage' frame for a split second in the actual emulator, but that isn't captured in the output video (Capture Before Filtering = On). When the recording does activate, it's advanced one frame too far.

The appearance of the 'garbage' frame seems to correspond with where the missing frame ought to be.

What I will say is it's very difficult to see the skip under normal playback - it's really only when advancing frame by frame that I can see it.

[Toni Wilen]

You didn't do what I requested, don't add unknown variables, this needs to start from basics. This is the exact reason why it was never fixed, everyone blamed recording when the missing frame was never rendered at all.

Do exactly as I said in previous post. Don't create save states, don't merge videos, just create two videos from _same_ statefile, one when emulation has not yet been started, another after emulation has been started. Are the videos identical or does one of them miss first frame? If they are = one bug is confirmed fixed.

This needs to be confirmed first before more complex tests are done.

My crystal ball says the problem again has nothing to do with recording but related to way statefiles work.

[Al82]

I've worked through the following steps, but you'll need to confirm if these are what you wanted:

1) Load emulator (clean start)
2) Load config
3) Load a previously created state file
4) Begin recording first output clip
5) Stop clip
6) Load state file (again)
7) Record second clip
8) Load clips into VirtualDub

Frame 0 in both clips are identical and the videos play the same; both appear to have a frame missing (compared to previously record clip before save-state was created).

I can upload a video with replication steps if you need it.

[Toni Wilen]

Thanks. This confirms it isn't recording related but side-effect of statefiles. Need to keep looking..

[Toni Wilen]

One more update. Last frame was not recorded when emulator state changed. Not sure if this has any effect but at least there is small chance..

[Al82]

Thanks Toni - I'll be out this afternoon, but will be sure to test it when I get back.

[ransom1122]

Great teamwork gents.

[Rotareneg]

With that latest beta (2017.10.14) there are no frames lost in the save-restore process, it's now seamless, at least for the video.

This first link is to a 16 meg Lagarith avi showing the output from WinUAE when restoring save states: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...U5YdEswSUNwWlE

And this second one is after editing with virtualdub, with frame perfect edits: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...29ROTJyU3RFWEE

The only issue I could see was that the audio for the duration of the first frame after restoring a save state is glitched:

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by Rotareneg

The only issue I could see was that the audio for the duration of the first frame after restoring a save state is glitched:

Does it only happen when restoring state and emulation is already running?

[Al82]

I've run the test again (as per Toni's instructions) to record a clip from when the emulator starts AND when it is running, then compared the output to an earlier clip to check frame positions.

The modified date of the Winuae.exe I'm using says 14 ‎October ‎2017, ‏‎14:39:12

Both the recorded clips start on exactly the same frame, but the missing frame problem is still apparent.

[Rotareneg]

Just checked, and yes: The first frame audio is glitched when loading the state before starting emulation as well:

[Toni Wilen]

It should be fixed now.

[Al82]

I've run the test again (Winuae.exe modified 14/10/2017 18:37:44):

Unfortunately, the missing frames are still evident. However, there's a new issue now with part of the image (8 pixels) being cropped when resuming recording from the loaded state.

* If the emulator was not already running then the top portion of the screen is missing.
* If the emulator was already running then the bottom part of the screen is missing.

It's only frame 0 that has the cropping problem; it reappears in the next frame.

[Toni Wilen]

Have you 100% confirmed it does not happen in previous version? This sounds too weird..

Also, screenshots please.

[Al82]

Something VERY weird just happened. I just went to re-record another clip so I could upload a screenshot for you, but it hasn't cropped it this time; very odd!

I've got a video of the first recording I did to prove I'm not going ! [ Show youtube player ]

I'll do some more testing...

[Rotareneg]

Yeah, I think it's semi-random, I just tried multiple times in a row and got some recordings with skipped frames after the restore and some recordings without skipped frames.

[Al82]

Reproduced the error as per the video - screenshot attached showing the bottom half being cropped.

[Al82]

I just recorded a series of 10 clips back-to-back by loading the same save state each time; the behaviour with the 8-pixel cropping is not consistent - sometimes it occurs, other times it doesn't.

However, frame 0 in all clips (regardless of whether the top/bottom were cropped) is consistent.

[Toni Wilen]

I think I finally managed to duplicate and hopefully also fix it, winuae.7z updated.