Dreamcast Release 2.0: HCFR, VMU, Lightguns and more

I was hard at work with a few new features I wanted included for the physical release of the 240p test Suite. The physical release is available for pre-order at VGNY Soft at 24.99. It will be identical to the freely available download, but in  a MIL-CD compatible CD. 

Here is a list of the new features since last month's update.

HCFR integration for calibration, set by Dan Mons and verified by Keith Raney 

This is a huge deal for people interested in display calibration. Dan Mons and Keith Raney made all the work necessary so I could include the HCFR patterns in the 240p test Suite for Dreamcast.

This follows the work made on the FreeCalRec601 – DVDs for calibrating CRTs by Dan Mons and you should check that article to understand what this could mean for you if you want to calibrate your CRT, HDTV or PC CRT using these patterns, a colorimeter and the HCFR software. Thanks to both Dan and also to Keith for believing that it could be achieved, and of course his testing without this couldn't be possible at all. 

The sequences are generated internally from the values created by Dan and displayed using the 888 Dreamcast color mode, in order to get as much precision as possible. Please read the included help written by Dan inside the suite for precise instructions.

Improved Color precision when needed, to ARGB888

And mentioned above, The DC Suite now uses 888 color when needed, meaning more precision in detailed calibration or measurements. This was done for the Following patterns:

• Color Bars Test
• IRE levels
• Full color screens
• Gray Scale
• PLUGE
• SMPTE/EBU

It must be mentioned that all had some things added as well. The color bars now have two more patterns that show the top and bottom colors in 888 range, and the IRE pattern can now advance in smaller steps if needed. 

They also have a new option that is off by default, to try and imitate a proper NTSC 714.3 mV signal. This because the Dreamcast output is close to 800mV. of course this will only affect CRT displays and upscalers that take the analog signal, and is intended for use in patterns such as HCFR, bars etc when measurements are off. In general you should use 800mBV unless you know you need to match 714 mV. A general setting is available from the Options menu in case you want to globally set it, and it can be saved to the VMU. This option is always shown in the VMU screen for peace of mind.

Some emulators show artifacts when switching between screens, but the test on real hardware show these are emulation errors due to the frame buffer and 888 paletted being used. (They are delayed by 2 frames)

VMU Controller Test and MDFourier

I had a lot of fun learning to code in LC86000 assembly for the emblematic Dreamcast VMU. ferigne kindly helped me with some pixel art for a title screen and sleep screens. 

It has a controller test to check the buttons

And MDFourier for the VMU in case somebody wants to confirm the PWM frequencies, either the full range or the recommended range by Sega, selectable with the d-pad inside the test.

It uses 11 blocks in the VMU, and I used libperspective by Kresna Susila for frame buffer functions and assembled with waterbear by wtetzner:

I even made some live streams (in spanish) of while programming these:

Lightgun Test

This light gun test was confirmed to work with several lightgun models, and uses a custom calibration method that seems very precise in my testing. It also allows you to check the real values being detected, and of course test it with actual sound effects and small details.

This was done thanks to the help of Leex from whom I borrowed a few models I didn't have access to.

It was a lot of fun to code, once I understood how the coordinates were returned form tyhe hw, that is. As always thanks to KallistiOS for the awesome support in the devkit.

Added Microphone recording and playback test

Since I already had support for the Microphone lag test that uses Fourier transforms and the microphone, I added a new test to record and play back form the microphone at both supported sample rates. In the meantime I also found out that there are at least two models with slightly different sample rates

BIOS and flashrom data viewer and Identification

this was a feature available in teh Sega Cd version that the Dreamcast needed, and it shows all data I could gather from the BIOS and flashroms. You can also toggle to display the backup version and even CID data with X and Y.

By this same method, it can detect if the region has been changed in the flashrom.

Dialup and ISP data is also shown and displayed, from planetweb and/or the main system.

Some other changes:

- Keyboard test inside Controller Test

- Added ISP flashrom Data display

- Improves general rendering speed

- Added Convergence test

- Added brick pattern to Sharpness test

- Added diagonal pattern to Grid Scroll Test

- Made SIP lag test always visible, and moved it to Audio tests

- Clock/VMU beep and LCD/VMU draw to selected device

- Improved purupuru support

I'll continue to update other versions of the suite, you can download it form the usual site:

https://artemiourbina.itch.io/240p-test-suite