Basic guide to input recording with RetroArch (.bsv files)

[Krushal]

Since there's a real lack of info about this feature on the webz, here's a quick how-to.

ULTRA MODE (Linux peeps):

Spoiler

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retroarch --help (Look at -R and -P flags) 

NORMAL MODE (Windows):
-Input recording-

For each game...
Create a shortcut to retroarch.exe.
Move & rename.
Right-click, properties, edit "target" similar to:

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C:\RetroArch\retroarch.exe -L cores\fbneo_libretro.dll "C:\Games\Roms\batsugunsp.zip" -R recordings\batsugunsp.bsv -M noload-nosave

-Input playback (with movie recording)-

Either make another shortcut or just use the command-line:

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cd C:\RetroArch
retroarch.exe -L cores\fbneo_libretro.dll "C:\Games\Roms\batsugunsp.zip" -P recordings\batsugunsp.bsv -M noload-nosave -r recordings\batsugunsp.mkv --eof-exit

ARRANGE MODE (not generally useful):

Spoiler

This setup uses two minimal batch files (record and playback) as "launchers" for each game.
For example, "batsugunsp-record.bat":

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SET game_name=batsugunsp
SET core_name=fbneo
::::::::
CALL _Record.bat

and "batsugunsp-playback.bat":

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SET game_name=batsugunsp
SET core_name=fbneo
::::::::
CALL _Playback.bat

To allow for this, three "utility" batch files will need to be created...

-STEP 1-
Create a folder to store the batch files. My default is recordings\batches in the main RetroArch directory.

-STEP 2-
Create "_DefineDirectories.bat", open (edit), and paste the following:

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@ECHO OFF
:: CHANGE THESE ::
SET retroarch_dir=C:\RetroArch
SET roms_dir=C:\Games\Roms\Arcade
:: CHANGE IF NECESSARY ::
SET batch_dir=%retroarch_dir%\recordings\batches
SET core_dir=%retroarch_dir%\cores
SET record_dir=%retroarch_dir%\recordings
::
:: DON'T CHANGE ::
SET rom=%roms_dir%\%game_name%.zip
SET core=%core_dir%\%core_name%_libretro.dll
SET recording=%record_dir%\%game_name%.bsv
SET mode=noload-nosave
SET video=%record_dir%\%game_name%.mkv
CD %retroarch_dir%

Make the necessary changes and save.

-STEP 3-
"_Record.bat" is this:

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@ECHO OFF
CALL _DefineDirectories.bat
retroarch.exe -L %core% %rom% -R %recording% -M %mode%
CD %batch_dir%

-STEP 4-
"_Playback.bat":

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@ECHO OFF
CALL _DefineDirectories.bat
retroarch.exe -L %core% %rom% -P %recording% -M %mode% -r %video% --eof-exit
CD %batch_dir%

Playback ends automatically and also invokes video recording, since this is the likely use case.

-STEP 5-
Now, simply make the pair of "launcher" batch files for any game where you want input recording, as with the "batsugunsp" example above.

-ISSUES-
Easiest to just exit RA when finished recording. The two "recording toggle" hotkeys seemed to also toggle video recording.
Rename or move any .bsv file you want to keep, it will be overwritten on the next record-session.
As regards the technical limitations of the feature or ways that de-syncs etc. might occur (configs/nvram), I'm no expert. Probably similar to MAME's .inp files.
The sram 'noload-nosave' mode is set as a precaution.

Short test-runs so far have worked as desired, but I'd quickly playback and dump the video file. Perfect sync could be broken easily (updates/configs) and sharing might be difficult.

[Mark_MSX]

MY DUDE! I've been trying to figure this out and you're right, there is very little info on how to do this! Medal of honor for sure!

[Krushal]

Glad to help! I saw your recent video where you mentioned it. Which got me thinking about how it could be incorporated into ShmupArch, hence all that batch file stuff.

I've posted a much saner solution. Peace.

[casualcoder]

Was curious about this and found this post. A few things that I found:

Best to wrap the target links in quotes to avoid issues with paths that have spaces. Also, best to use absolute rather than relative paths.

Since it fails silently, it can be a real pain so best to avoid the problems to begin with. Here's an example on my machine that I got working:

RECORDING (target path)
"E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\retroarch.exe" -L "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\cores\fbalpha_libretro.dll" "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\PLATFORMS\Arcade\espgal.zip" -R "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\bsv\espgal.bsv" -M noload-nosave

PLAYBACK (target path)
"E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\retroarch.exe" -L "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\cores\fbalpha_libretro.dll" "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\PLATFORMS\Arcade\espgal.zip" -P "E:\~GAMES~\EMU Games\EMULATORS\RetroArch\bsv\espgal.bsv" -M noload-nosave --eof-exit

To break that down for people, that's "path to emulator" -L (Load) "path to core" "path to game" -P or -R (Playback || Record)

Note that in the playback path I didn't set it to "Retroarch\recordings" as this woudl also fail silently. Probably some sort of conflicting write issue, or the app trying to write to a particular (non-bsv) file type.

So I just made my own directory called "bsv"


One major problem on my end that I haven't been able to resolve. Playback never outputs audio. It just launches and plays back fine but... pffft... no sound. Otherwise, playback seems to be working fine.

[Krushal]

One major problem on my end that I haven't been able to resolve. Playback never outputs audio. It just launches and plays back fine but... pffft... no sound.

Strange problem. Audio works for me.
I can't think of any suggestions, but if you want I can upload a bsv file or my config file or whatever.