Mega Bezel Reflection Shader! - Feedback and Updates

TheNamec · 28 August 2021 17:15

A really, really interesting lecture.

Btw, I feel so a privileged and lucky gamer: my first memories are a C64 hooked up to a b/w tv, later a c128D with a color tv, an Amiga500 with a c1084 monitor… straight on to a 486DX2 pc! Somewhat I feel like I played the best versions of many games, expecially in that time window Amiga had way better colors than early gaming PCs (Lucasarts games anyone?).

I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but we tend to create insane ‘sweet bounds’ to hardware limited games: today I fell really lucky to be able to control and simulate limitation to get ‘just a taste’, without being drowned by artifacts, getting the best version EVER of our beloved games… for free.

We’re basically making our homebrew enhanced editions, 20-30 years later. And this, my friends, it’s pure magic.

Duimon · 28 August 2021 23:58

Why do I feel as if everything looks better in amber?

Digitech · 29 August 2021 00:14

Im using the mega bezel with my sony HD crt sending an 1080i signal and it looks awesome to my eyes, i think im using guess dr venom shader, i love how it looks but in white parts of the image the scanlines are non existent, with other colors they can be seem but not too much, is there any option where i can emphasize the thickness of the scanlines or whe darkness of its color? i think if i can find that option i wont need to buy more crts.anymore. BTW Im adding pictures so you can see what i mean, ahh HSM Mega Bezel is running on a real 1080i/480p 4:3 crt! photo_2021-08-28_17-14-15|375x500

HyperspaceMadness · 29 August 2021 00:41

Hi there, this would really be a question about Guest-DrVenom settings. @guest.r might have some suggestions. Off the top of my head there are a couple things which could accentuate the scanlines:

Here is the default guest settings

Here’s scanline 2

Here’s the scanline shape center which adds more dark scanlines in bright areas

This is scanline vertical deconvergence which has a similar effect

Digitech · 29 August 2021 02:06

Thank you so much, i’ll try those options

Cyber · 10 November 2021 12:07

Just sharing my latest presets with the community. I’m quite satisfied with these settings for now. Pictures won’t tell the whole story as there’s a bit of subtle movement going on in there so feel free to try them out.

I recommend using Arcade - Sharp for arcade games, Composite - Pure for NES and similar systems and Composite - Sharp for the 16-bit era systems and everything else except games that rely on dithering to generate additional colours and transparency effects that aren’t being handled well enough by the Composite - Sharp preset. For those cases, I recommend using my Blending and Transparency Edition preset.

With that said, for the best viewing experience of these screenshots I suggest you right click on the image then click, “Open link in new tab”, “Open link in new window” or “Open image in new tab”.

Then click on the new window or tab and press the F11 key for a fullscreen view.

This also works when viewing the albums on imgur.

[Updated 10/11/21]

Presets are updated. Screenshots and video clips are not.

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels (Composite - Sharp)

Note: Please download and loop video clips when playing for optimal viewing quality and experience.

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Sharp.slangp

#reference ":/shaders/shaders_slang/bezel/Mega_Bezel/Presets/Base_CRT_Presets/MBZ__2__STD__GDV.slangp"


g_cntrst = "0.500000"
GDV_AFTERGLOW_THRESHOLD = "7.5"
// BP = "16"
glow = "0.050000"
SIZEH = "7.000000"
SIGMA_H = "2.300000"
halation = "0.250000"
h_sharp = "1.000003"
shadowMask = "6.000000"
maskstr = "0.4"
maskDark = "1.000000"
GDV_DECONVERGENCE_ON = "1.000000"
deconrr = "1.000000"
deconrb = "-1.000000"
deconrry = "1.000000"
deconrby = "-1.000000"
beam_min = "1.000000"
beam_size = "0.000000"
vertmask = "1.000000"
HSM_INTERLACE_TRIGGER_RES = "600.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_RES = "240.000000"
MDAPT_MODE = "2.00000"
HSM_CURVATURE_MODE = "-1.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_OPACITY = "0.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_ROLL = "0.000000"
HSM_CORE_RES_SAMPLING_MULT_SCANLINE_DIR = "1600.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_SCANLINE_DIR = "70.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_OPPOSITE_DIR = "60.000000"
g_crtgamut = "1.000000"
g_hue_degrees = "0.000000"
HSM_SCALEFX_ON = "1.000000"
SHARPEN_ON = "1.000000"
SHARPEN = "0.250000"
CONTR = "0.090000"
g_sat = "0.000000"
GTU_ON = "1.000000"
compositeConnection = "1.000000"
signalResolutionI = "304.000000"
signalResolutionQ = "261.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
gamma_c = "1.640000"
deconsmooth = "1.000000"
addnoised = "0.140000"

Note: If you’re using Higan or BSNES, the resolution setting in the core options can influence how your final image looks in terms of sharpness and softness. In games that you might prefer a crisper, sharper look for example Super Mario World and Super Mario Kart, you can try switching it to 512 x 224. Conversely in games that use dithering to create extra colours for example U.N. Squadron and TMNT: Turtles In Time and Final Fight, 256 x 224 might be the better choice. You can save your choice in Quick Menu…Options…Manage Core Options and save per game.

The following 2 video clips show my CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels (Composite - Sharp) preset combined with the built-in Blargg NTSC Composite filter in the Genesis Plus GX core.

https://mega.nz/file/kYxySCKI#szeKGsQbg5YWFIJMooKw7WG5t-85uBhWxnQQUjNnoCo

https://mega.nz/file/ZUwUhAqL#G7JGAiWbhItVWvsU41peplF6ND-HIkMgswHo3n-BozA

This next one’s for the CRT purists like @Nesguy, @Brainbin74, @Duimon and even myself sometimes when I’m feeling for that extra bit of nostalgia.

Note: This preset needs the “CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Sharp.slangp” preset to be in the same “…\Retroarch\Shaders” folder for it to work.

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels (Composite - Pure)

Note: Please download and loop video clip for optimal viewing quality and experience.

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Pure.slangp

#reference "CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Sharp.slangp"
halation = "0.150000"
h_sharp = "5.000000"
HSM_SCALEFX_ON = "0.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_SCANLINE_DIR = "0.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_OPPOSITE_DIR = "0.000000"
g_hue_degrees = "4.000000"
signalResolutionI = "83.000000"
signalResolutionQ = "145.000000"
g_sat = "0.050000"
addnoised = "0.200000"

If you’re also looking for the infamous " Rainbow effect" you can use my presets above and also enable Blargg’s NTSC Composite filter in the Genesis Plus GX Core Options. It might even work with my Composite - Pure preset as well but I haven’t tested it yet.

What I’ve noticed is that once the Blargg NTSC Composite Filter is enabled and used in conjunction with my Composite - Sharp preset, dithering based transparencies also work fine, whereas without the Blargg filter set to composite that particular preset didn’t do the transparency effects properly. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with this next preset. It’s not a one size fits all solution as it can cause some artifacts due to false positives in certain games but when it works, it works beautifully!

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels (Blending and Transparency Edition)

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Blending and Transparency Edition.slangp

#reference "CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Sharp.slangp"
MDAPT_MODE = "3.000000"

Note: This preset needs the “CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Composite Sharp.slangp” preset to be in the same “…\Retroarch\Shaders” folder for it to work.

So now you can get the best of both worlds. Extra colours, transparency effects and the rainbow effect without blurry graphics as if Vaseline was smeared all over the screen.

My next mission is to test this combination out with my Composite - Pure preset and also ~~to test it with the global Blargg NTSC Filter in the main RetroArch settings~~ to see if it works the same way!

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels (Arcade - Sharp)

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Arcade Sharp.slangp

#reference ":/shaders/shaders_slang/bezel/Mega_Bezel/Presets/Base_CRT_Presets/MBZ__2__STD__GDV.slangp"


g_cntrst = "0.500000"
GDV_AFTERGLOW_THRESHOLD = "7.5"
// BP = "16"
glow = "0.050000"
SIZEH = "7.000000"
SIGMA_H = "2.300000"
halation = "0.200000"
h_sharp = "3.000001"
shadowMask = "6.000000"
maskstr = "0.4"
maskDark = "1.000000"
GDV_DECONVERGENCE_ON = "1.000000"
deconrr = "1.000000"
deconrb = "-1.000000"
deconrry = "1.000000"
deconrby = "-1.000000"
beam_min = "1.000000"
beam_size = "0.000000"
vertmask = "1.000000"
HSM_INTERLACE_TRIGGER_RES = "600.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_RES = "240.000000"
MDAPT_MODE = "2.00000"
HSM_SCALEFX_ON = "1.000000"
HSM_CURVATURE_MODE = "-1.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_OPACITY = "0.000000"
HSM_FAKE_SCANLINE_ROLL = "0.000000"
HSM_CORE_RES_SAMPLING_MULT_SCANLINE_DIR = "1600.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_SCANLINE_DIR = "100.000000"
HSM_DOWNSAMPLE_BLUR_OPPOSITE_DIR = "100.000000"
g_hue_degrees = "4.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
gamma_c = "1.460000"
deconsmooth = "1.000000"
addnoised = "0.120000"

For lower end systems, you can replace the Base CRT Preset reference shader line with this:

#reference ":/shaders/shaders_slang/bezel/Mega_Bezel/Presets/Base_CRT_Presets/MBZ__3__BASIC-EXTRA-PASSES__GDV.slangp"

1080p and 1440p users can now enjoy presets that are optimized for those resolutions providing almost the same look and feel of my existing presets which were all designed, tested and targeted towards 4K display users!

Thanks again to all who made this possible!

Click the link below to download

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Shader Preset Pack 10-11-21.zip

Digitech · 29 August 2021 15:04

Is this shader going to be available on next mega bezel’s versions?

Duimon · 29 August 2021 16:39

He is using the existing Newpixie clone with custom parameters. Make a note of the parameters and you can make the changes yourself. Or copy and paste the included code into a preset.

For that matter most if not all of the presets in the variations folder use parameter adjustments. They don’t include new code.

Everyone is highly encouraged to play around with the shader parameters. This yields an end result that fits your personal taste.

This is one of the things that make the Mega Bezel, (And the RA shader system in general.) so awesome.

HyperspaceMadness · 29 August 2021 16:46

That’s right everything in the variations folder is only parameter adjustments and texture replacements

Cyber · 29 August 2021 17:56

What would it take for these presets to be included in the official HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader package for the “Death to Pixels.cgp” Analog Shader Pack 3.0 fans (and also the wider community) to have a nice plug and play starting point for this type of look?

HyperspaceMadness · 29 August 2021 18:09

Hi, usually I like to give these things a little ‘soak’ time to gauge interest, often putting them into the experimental area until I’m sure they should be a permanent part of the package.

For instance the BendBombBoom presets I think are ready to go into the standard package.

So for the moment perhaps we could see about bringing your 2 ‘Death to Pixels’ presets into the experimental area…

It would also be interesting to know if there are particular other analog shader pack shaders which are highly desired and could be replicated with GDV & the Mega Bezel

Cyber · 29 August 2021 20:34

That would be a great honour and I would be really glad if others actually found them as useful and pleasing to the eyes and nostalgia receptors as I have.

Cyber · 30 August 2021 19:19

Just updated my post. Really looking forward to seeing these reach the wider community. Composite - Sharp is really the look I was going for as the first one was a bit too soft. So if you have to leave out 1 then you can leave the original Composite preset out. Arcade - Sharp is really nice in my opinion and the text is very clear. Composite - Sharp can even work for arcade games if you feel the need to also not include the Arcade preset but the Arcade preset is actually more authentic and closer to the look I was going for for arcade games than the Arcade - Sharp preset due to the fact that I can notice some slight artifacts from the anti-aliasing filter which aren’t necessarily that bad but they do make it look a little less authentic in my opinion. However, due to it’s clarity I think I’ll be sticking with this over the Arcade preset as my daily driver (for arcade games) for some time to come. Feel free to include them all if you wish but if I only had 2 picks, they’d have to be Composite - Sharp (for home consoles) and Arcade - Sharp (for arcade games).

slikvik55 · 30 August 2021 20:40

I’ve been looking at getting a Sinden light gun but don’t want to lose HSM. The Sinden creates a white border around the play space but it does it using overlays. I was wondering if a “Sinden boarder” could be added to the shader? I’m going to ask them if it HAS to be around the play space because that would ruin the reflection! Hopefully it can be placed around the monitor edge and an offset added in their settings.

Details – Sinden Lightgun®

HyperspaceMadness · 30 August 2021 20:59

Hmm, the overlay system and the shader system are quite separate. If the sinden places a border using an overlay then I would expect it to go on top of the Mega Bezel and appear at the edges of your monitor…

slikvik55 · 30 August 2021 21:39

It’s not so much that the Sinden places the border, more that it uses A border (it comes supplied with white borders for lots of emulators I think). If, for example, this shader created the white border, the gun would use it. But like you said, I guess this shader could be used in conjunction with its overlay or maybe just added as part of the HSM backgroundimage… Thanks!

Duimon · 30 August 2021 22:20

Here are two of the RA overlays from the Sinden software. (I filled the transparency with black.)

It seems it just needs some consistent contrasts between the game screen and the rest of the screen.

@HyperspaceMadness has suggested adding a brightness control to the screen black edge in the shader. (For other reasons.) If he does, you turned it all the way up to white, and ran the shader in night mode, it may work better than the included Sinden overlays.

BTW, the screen black edge (Or white edge in this use case.) is not included in the reflection, so it would stay well defined.

I have some concerns about what would happen during really bright scenes in the game but the video appears to show the player moving off the screen repeatedly, to maintain calibration.

Personally, I would just get a light gun that used sensor bars, if I were looking for one.

Digitech · 31 August 2021 03:17

HSM Mega Bezel in action with my Sony XBR400

c9f5fdda06 · 31 August 2021 03:36

Man I love the animation for that tank

BendBombBoom · 31 August 2021 05:23

I was playing around with retroarch on an Xbox Series X and I can’t get Mega Bezel to run in any of the video modes. (D3D11, D3D12, GL.) Does Mega Bezel not like those video drivers?