Saturn optimal settings

[Galdelico]

Huge thanks FBX for these Saturn profiles. I tried them all – even though in a different configuration, as I love to use LineX2 with scanlines, instead of clean LineX4 – and they work beautifully. I was stuck, trying to sort out the second profile, so your settings came out extremely helpful and appreciated.
Also, for the record, I own a Japanese white model 2 console: I copy-pasted your values and everything was perfect.

As I tried several games in my Saturn collection, I thought to share my findings:
– the first profile (320×224) works fine with the system’s UI, the Action Replay’s UI, as well as pretty much all the SNK ports I fired up.
– the second one (352×224) seems suited for the majority of games, so far. It’s the way to go for standard resolution 3D titles such as SEGA Rally, all the CAPCOM ports, and some misc stuff like Donpachi. I don’t know if it’s just Virtua Fighter 2 (or this is relevant for all the ‘mixed’ 240p/480i games in the system’s library), but this setting is also good for its 240p graphic elements. I’ll do more tests soon (Dead or Alive, Silhouette Mirage, Astra Superstars…). Worth noting that – while with the previous profile it’s possible to set the V. mask to 8, in order to cut the overscan off – with this one it’s better to bring it back to 0, as many games (Street Fighter: Real Battle on Film, as well as the aforementioned Donpachi) seem to run 100% fullscreen.
– the third profile (704x480i) is perfect, although with my setup I had to slightly readjust H. backporch to 96, in order to perfectly align the interlaced frame to the progressive one.

Massive thanks again!

[AtlasShrugged80]

Are any of you other Saturnites getting any odd audio issues (static) with the 1.6 (connected directly to T.V. via HDMI)? I only really notice it on the main bootup screens (when navigating to the clock/memory manger and such). It sounds like a “whooshing” after every sound effect. I’m sure it’s happening during gameplay as well, but any music masks it.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t noticed it with my Saturn (model 2). Some things that come immediately to mind that might have an affect:

Audio Options -> Down-sampling
Compatibility -> Full TX setup

I have found that neither of my capture devices handle the audio well unless Down-sampling is ‘on’. That is true for output from any console. It doesn’t seem to affect my TV either way, though…possibly ‘off’ provides slightly crisper audio, but I’m not completely certain of that.

[AtlasShrugged80]

Thanks! Also using a Model 2. Found my TV only accepts audio when the downsampling is ON, so I can check that one off. I’ll give the Full TX setup change a shot. I currently have it off (default).

As a hail mary, I’m going to change the HDMI cable if that doesn’t work.

[AtlasShrugged80]

In case anybody stumbles upon this issue in the future, updating the firmware to .81-aud fixed my sound issue.

[Witchhunter]

The profiles listed above is great if you want pixel-accurate output. I found them independently while messing around the settings back last year.

However I get a big problem in that now the picture now “stretches” outside of the screen. So I either get scaling artifacts from the sampling size being inaccurate, or I get part of the screen missing. Line3x/4x would help with the scaling artefacts but my TV doesn’t work with them.

Also, for what game uses which resolution: most 3d games use 352 or 704, most Capcom games use 352 (it is closer to the arcade CPS2 resolution), most SNK games use 320 (closer to the arcade Neogeo resolution). For other 2d games it is a toss-up – they can use either.
I don’t know if any 3d game used 320 mode. I recall there was one or two, but I don’t remember which ones, I could be wrong.

[Galdelico]

Also, for what game uses which resolution: most 3d games use 352 or 704, most Capcom games use 352 (it is closer to the arcade CPS2 resolution), most SNK games use 320 (closer to the arcade Neogeo resolution). For other 2d games it is a toss-up – they can use either.

That’s something we’ll have to figure out through testing.
From what I’ve seen so far, most games fall into either 352/320p and 704i territory, even if there are quirks which I assume depend on very specific assets:

– Dead or Alive uses the same numbers as Virtua Fighter 2, as in, 352p for character select/loading screens, and 704i in game. Everything is pixel-perfectly centered. That said, the title screen – in spite of not looking off or stretched in 704i – has two small columns of white background cut off, left and right, leading me to believe it might use some oddball resolution, just for that one instance.

– Sengoku Blade, while is running flawlessly in 320p for the main game, comes with a special CD which is basically a glorified art gallery, all displayed in high resolution. Once again, the 704i profile provides a perfectly clean image, with the correct aspect ratio, yet there are tiny black bars at both sides, this time.

Now, there’s one beast I’m having trouble figuring out: Winter Heat.
704i seems perfectly fine for the hi-res assets used in the game, but according to SEGA Retro, the actual gameplay runs at a 704×240 progressive resolution I can’t find the optimal timings for. By logic, I tried the same values suggested for 704i, and they actually seem to work. Only problem is, the frame is completely off-centered, and there’s no way I can rectify that with H-backporch. Any clues?

[Witchhunter]

Yeah, some games use 704×240 or 704×224 for ingame, like Winter Heat and Virtua Fighter Remix. Winter Heat is full hi-res in the menus though.

Waku Puyo Dungeon uses 352x480i for the main menu, but lowres ingame.

[Endgame22]

Odd, trying to run the high res (eg Virtua Fighter 2) settings and I cant get it to work when connected with my Vp30. Current setting is G samplerate 910 and H active 718.

[Author]

Posts