240p Test Suite for PC Engine release (Huc/SCD/CD)

[aurbina]

Hello guys, I've developed the 240p Test suite for several consoles. It is a homebrew software suite for video game consoles developed to help in the evaluation of upscalers, upscan converters, line doublers and of course TV processing of 240p video.

As a secondary target, the suite aims to provide tools for calibrating colors, black and white levels for specific console outputs and setups.

I always release the full source code, and this is no exception. This version is released as a ROM, and two CD-ROM2 releases, one for Sytem Card 3.0 and the other for 2.1 and below.

Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/testsuite240p/

This is release 1.0, and has tests in 224p, 240p and the usual 240p starting at line 24 modes (239 visible lines). It also has different horizontal resolutions: 256, 320 and 512 patterns.

During the development of the suite in the last weeks, I encountered some issues with HuC and porposed a patch to better use the Banks of the resulting compiled code. This was crucial for the CD-ROM versions: https://github.com/uli/huc/issues/6

I hope to improve this version of the suite further, since I love the platform. I also hope the source is useful to beginners as a reference, since although it is a simple project it is complete and has several use cases that might help others getting started in PCE development. It has happened in other platforms, and it is one of the reasons I make the source code available.

Please let me know if you have comments or suggestions.

Artemio

[CGQuarterly]

Thank you!  I have used the test suite for SNES and Genesis multiple times, when dialing in my RGB monitor.  Great to see a PCE release.

[Dicer]

Very nice to see an OBEY release, thanks for the work

[ultrageranium]

This is fantastic news.

The 240p Test Suite is an essential piece of free software to fine tune upscalers like the XRGB Mini.

Many many thanks for the time invested in this project!

[aurbina]

Thanks a lot for the positive feedback. I have really enjoyed developing for the console.

[DragonmasterDan]

Nice job on this, I am actually going to be attempting to use this later today!

[NightWolve]

Oh wow, I missed this and it happened a little after I asked Bonknuts to develop custom test software for me to just do all red, green, blue and white screens to help tweak the YPbPr/Component circuit. I still haven't updated my thread to add his software, make it known to others, but I guess I can mention it here as well.

NEC Video test tools - All white, red, green and blue screen tests.

ROM for flashcarts
http://pcedev.net/color_test/color_test.zip

ISO/CUE image set for CD-R burn and use with CD system
http://pcedev.net/color_test/color_test_v02.zip

The way it works is simple enough. Boot it and it starts with an all max white screen, and you just keep pressing button I to change it to all red, green, blue, etc. The idea is when you have an all max white signal and are using an oscilloscope, you'll get a smooth, stable looking wave form to analyze.  As you're amping the signal, adding resistors, conditioning, etc. while building a circuit like Steve's, you'd be in theory able to see if you're getting it properly up to the 1 Vp-p signal standard and what not, etc. It's to help determine more exact resistance values was my thinking, to perfect Steve's base design, etc.

Anyway, will have to check out what was done here by aurbina as well which looks far more advanced and is a welcomed piece of needed software!

[aurbina]

Hey NightWolve, the suite includes this test as well. It is under "White & RGB screen", it has a similar  behavior that allows switching between white, black, red, green and blue screens by pressing a button and it allows setting any RGB value by pressing Select as well.

Hope you find it useful. It might be less practical for your particular needs since this test is in a submenu on the second screen though.

BTW, thanks for your work on the translations and mods. I recently finished Ys IV on my Duo, what a great game and excellent work.

[NightWolve]

Purty cool piece of software, trying it on the YAME emulator. Yeah, it has everything needed. Before I asked Bonknuts to help me, I tried looking for this, but people had only ported it to SNES, Sega, and other consoles before you came along!

BTW, thanks for your work on the translations and mods. I recently finished Ys IV on my Duo, what a great game and excellent work.

You're welcome!

[aurbina]

Yes, I tackled other consoles first because I didn't have a Turbo Everdrive. But I must confess that from all the versions I've made of the suite for all other consoles, I like the PCE the most.

[NightWolve]

http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/240p_test_suite

Ah, I see, you're the guy responsible for the whole thing! You got your own Wiki-backed page and everything! I thought you were just a PCE fan/coder that ported it (read past the first sentence, etc.). Well, welcome to PCEFX!

[cjameslv]

This is really good. Helped me get my bvm tuned up just right!

[SmokeMonster]

I can't live without the 240p Test Suites. Thanks for bringing it to the PCE!

[aurbina]

Thanks for your feedback SmokeMonster, I am really glad it is of use. I really love the PCE, there was no way I'd leave it without its version.

[NightWolve]

Yeah, thanks again for this, it's appreciated!