Using multimedia / volume keys while in FS-UAE

PHabermehl · 15 February 2013, 12:05

Hey guys,
maybe I should just read some documentation, but maybe also someone can give me a quick answer.

I'm running FS-UAE under OpenSuse 12.2 / KDE.

Now I've got a multimedia keyboard with volume control and mute keys. When FS-UAE runs, I'm not able to alter the volume or mute the sound by key.

Muting naturally works using FS-UAEs Menu screen mute button, but is there any chance to alter the volume, let's say during the emulation being paused and the volume key input forwarded to the host O.S.?

Best regards,
Peter

15 February 2013, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHabermehl

Hey guys,
maybe I should just read some documentation, but maybe also someone can give me a quick answer.

I'm running FS-UAE under OpenSuse 12.2 / KDE.

Now I've got a multimedia keyboard with volume control and mute keys. When FS-UAE runs, I'm not able to alter the volume or mute the sound by key.

Muting naturally works using FS-UAEs Menu screen mute button, but is there any chance to alter the volume, let's say during the emulation being paused and the volume key input forwarded to the host O.S.?

Best regards,
Peter

only way i found was to detach input of fs-uae through alt-tab and then using mm keys to fiddle with volume. and go back to fs-uae.

i wish we had to have fs-uae ignore certain keys and forward them to the system.

FrodeSolheim · 15 February 2013, 19:35

Hi PHabermehl, nice to hear from you again

The issue with multimedia keys is that FS-UAE grabs input with "SDL_WM_GrabInput" in order to capture the mouse. This also captures all keyboard events. And there is no option to exclude specific keys.

For X11: It might be possible to use XGrabPointer directly, bypassing SDL, to capture only the mouse pointer and not the keyboard. This can have negative consequences as well, For example many F keys may then be intercepted by the desktop.

Additionally, when the application runs in fullscreen, it is possible that all key events are routed to FS-UAE events (though this may depend on the window manager / desktop environment).

But here's something to try:
1. Run in windowed mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?
2. Run in fullscreen mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?
3. Run in fullscreen mode - but use the option fullscreen_mode=fullscreen-window - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?

1. should at least work. If 2 and/or 3 works well, these could perhaps be used in combination with XGrabPointer. But there'll still be a problem now with some key combinations being intercepted..

If the point is to control the Amiga volume, the easiest and best solution may simply be to add support in FS-UAE for controlling the FS-UAE output volume via multimedia key presses...

PHabermehl · 24 February 2013, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrodeSolheim

Hi PHabermehl, nice to hear from you again

Hi Frode,

I'm always there, but quite busy. You can be sure, I'll run FS-UAE regularly. I'll grab my joypad from time to time to enjoy some vintage amiga gaming, and honestly, in combination with the launcher, there aren't many wishes left... Still impressed and very happy with your work

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrodeSolheim

The issue with multimedia keys is that FS-UAE grabs input with "SDL_WM_GrabInput" in order to capture the mouse. This also captures all keyboard events. And there is no option to exclude specific keys.

For X11: It might be possible to use XGrabPointer directly, bypassing SDL, to capture only the mouse pointer and not the keyboard. This can have negative consequences as well, For example many F keys may then be intercepted by the desktop.

Additionally, when the application runs in fullscreen, it is possible that all key events are routed to FS-UAE events (though this may depend on the window manager / desktop environment).

Okay, I understand that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrodeSolheim

But here's something to try:
1. Run in windowed mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?
2. Run in fullscreen mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?
3. Run in fullscreen mode - but use the option fullscreen_mode=fullscreen-window - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work?

1. should at least work. If 2 and/or 3 works well, these could perhaps be used in combination with XGrabPointer. But there'll still be a problem now with some key combinations being intercepted..

Here is what I found:

1. Works!
2. Does not work.
3. Does not work.

Furthermore, Pausing FS-UAE in Fullscreen Mode and "Alt-Tabbing" to the desktop makes the keys work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrodeSolheim

If the point is to control the Amiga volume, the easiest and best solution may simply be to add support in FS-UAE for controlling the FS-UAE output volume via multimedia key presses...

Well, there are two issues:

- usually I have audio muted and forget to turn up the volume before starting fs-uae. then I'm forced to quit again (or alt-tab to desktop), unmute, and return to fs-uae (FS-UAE already has that mute button in the GUI, but that works only within FS-UAE and not for the whole system...)

- rather often I would like to turn down the volume a little, especially during some games, here it would really be nice if FS-UAE would offer some sort of volume control.

i guess there are many more important things for you to take care of, but just in case everything else is done, you might consider implementing some audio/volume control

Best regards,
Peter

PHabermehl · 24 February 2013, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoshi314

only way i found was to detach input of fs-uae through alt-tab and then using mm keys to fiddle with volume. and go back to fs-uae.

Yes, thanks that worked! Somewhat inconvenient, but at last it works...

Thanks, Peter

FrodeSolheim · 24 February 2013, 21:53

The "system audio was muted" problem is not easy to fix, since multimedia keys are not reliably forwarded.

But I have implemented some shortcut keys to control the *FS-UAE* volume at least:
- F12 + m (toggle mute, 2.1.28)
- F12 + comma (decrease volume, 2.1.29)
- F12 + period (increase volume, 2.1.29)

Will release 2.1.29 shortly because it fixed a 2.1.28 bug

PHabermehl · 25 February 2013, 08:27

Hey Frode,

it was YOUR birthday, not mine... But thanks for the great gift anyway

Kind regards,
Peter

PHabermehl · 25 February 2013, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrodeSolheim

The "system audio was muted" problem is not easy to fix, since multimedia keys are not reliably forwarded.

Oh, just an idea, you don't have to forward the MM keys, but would it be possible to inject a keycode into the system input stream? e.g. pressing F12+"n" (or something else) in FS-UAE what results in sending the appropriate key code to the system? I can remember I did something similar 20 years ago on the real Amiga...

BR
Peter

PHabermehl · 25 February 2013, 17:19

Hello Frode,

I played around a little, and guess what - I found some unexcepted behaviour of the volume control.

I muted FS-UAE pressing F12+m, then opened the GUI (F12) and the "Mute" button showed the unmuted state. So I clicked the mute button, which changed to muted state, clicked the button again (changed to unmuted), then left the GUI. Had no sound at that point. Pressed F12+m, OSD showed "Volume:100%" again, but still no sound...

Sorry for raising more questions

Kind regards
Peter

FrodeSolheim · 25 February 2013, 20:17

You're right, forgot to update the GUI mute button to work properly with the new volume system. There were also a couple of other oddities. Will be sane in the next version

PHabermehl · 28 February 2013, 10:39

...installed it this morning, and see: it works

Frode, no except, again excellent work, thank you!

TenLeftFingers · 08 October 2013, 19:05

Is it posible to set the volume in the configuration so that it' permanently at, for example 50% for all FS-UAE applications/games?

FrodeSolheim · 11 October 2013, 23:57

It is possibly to use some uae_ settings to set the internal volume for the sound output by the emulation core, but I should definitively add some options to set the FS-UAE "master volume" (added to TODO).

FrodeSolheim · 23 October 2013, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenLeftFingers

Is it posible to set the volume in the configuration so that it' permanently at, for example 50% for all FS-UAE applications/games?

Implemented for the upcoming version 2.3.8dev

15 February 2013, 12:05	#1
PHabermehl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 73	Using multimedia / volume keys while in FS-UAE Hey guys, maybe I should just read some documentation, but maybe also someone can give me a quick answer. I'm running FS-UAE under OpenSuse 12.2 / KDE. Now I've got a multimedia keyboard with volume control and mute keys. When FS-UAE runs, I'm not able to alter the volume or mute the sound by key. Muting naturally works using FS-UAEs Menu screen mute button, but is there any chance to alter the volume, let's say during the emulation being paused and the volume key input forwarded to the host O.S.? Best regards, Peter

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15 February 2013, 19:35	#3
FrodeSolheim FS-UAE Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Førde, Norway Age: 43 Posts: 4,043	Hi PHabermehl, nice to hear from you again The issue with multimedia keys is that FS-UAE grabs input with "SDL_WM_GrabInput" in order to capture the mouse. This also captures all keyboard events. And there is no option to exclude specific keys. For X11: It might be possible to use XGrabPointer directly, bypassing SDL, to capture only the mouse pointer and not the keyboard. This can have negative consequences as well, For example many F keys may then be intercepted by the desktop. Additionally, when the application runs in fullscreen, it is possible that all key events are routed to FS-UAE events (though this may depend on the window manager / desktop environment). But here's something to try: 1. Run in windowed mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work? 2. Run in fullscreen mode - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work? 3. Run in fullscreen mode - but use the option fullscreen_mode=fullscreen-window - press F12+g to release the input grab. Do the multimedia keys now work? 1. should at least work. If 2 and/or 3 works well, these could perhaps be used in combination with XGrabPointer. But there'll still be a problem now with some key combinations being intercepted.. If the point is to control the Amiga volume, the easiest and best solution may simply be to add support in FS-UAE for controlling the FS-UAE output volume via multimedia key presses...

24 February 2013, 21:53	#6
FrodeSolheim FS-UAE Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Førde, Norway Age: 43 Posts: 4,043	The "system audio was muted" problem is not easy to fix, since multimedia keys are not reliably forwarded. But I have implemented some shortcut keys to control the FS-UAE volume at least: - F12 + m (toggle mute, 2.1.28) - F12 + comma (decrease volume, 2.1.29) - F12 + period (increase volume, 2.1.29) Will release 2.1.29 shortly because it fixed a 2.1.28 bug

25 February 2013, 08:27	#7
PHabermehl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 73	Hey Frode, it was YOUR birthday, not mine... But thanks for the great gift anyway Kind regards, Peter

25 February 2013, 17:19	#9
PHabermehl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 73	Hello Frode, I played around a little, and guess what - I found some unexcepted behaviour of the volume control. I muted FS-UAE pressing F12+m, then opened the GUI (F12) and the "Mute" button showed the unmuted state. So I clicked the mute button, which changed to muted state, clicked the button again (changed to unmuted), then left the GUI. Had no sound at that point. Pressed F12+m, OSD showed "Volume:100%" again, but still no sound... Sorry for raising more questions Kind regards Peter

25 February 2013, 20:17	#10
FrodeSolheim FS-UAE Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Førde, Norway Age: 43 Posts: 4,043	You're right, forgot to update the GUI mute button to work properly with the new volume system. There were also a couple of other oddities. Will be sane in the next version

28 February 2013, 10:39	#11
PHabermehl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 73	...installed it this morning, and see: it works Frode, no except, again excellent work, thank you!

08 October 2013, 19:05	#12
TenLeftFingers Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 800	Is it posible to set the volume in the configuration so that it' permanently at, for example 50% for all FS-UAE applications/games?

11 October 2013, 23:57	#13
FrodeSolheim FS-UAE Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Førde, Norway Age: 43 Posts: 4,043	It is possibly to use some uae_ settings to set the internal volume for the sound output by the emulation core, but I should definitively add some options to set the FS-UAE "master volume" (added to TODO).

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