Troubleshooting PCSX ReARMed Issues with FMV Cut-Offs in RetroPie

If you're experiencing issues with FMVs (full-motion videos) cut off or playing incorrectly while using PCSX ReARMed r22 on your RetroPie setup, you're not alone. In this article, we'll explore a common problem and its solution to ensure that your PS1 games run smoothly.

The Problem: Incorrect Audio/Video Playback

Many users have reported issues with audio/video playback in certain situations while playing their PS1 games using PCSX ReARMed r22 on RetroPie. The problems seem to increase in frequency as the number of CD tracks grows, resulting in incorrect audio and video playback. This issue is specific to the PCSX ReARMed core and does not occur when using other cores.

The Cause: Incorrect CD Track Seeking

After investigating this problem, it appears that PCSX ReARMed has an issue with seeking CD tracks at incorrect locations. This results in FMVs being cut short or not playing at all. The issue is further complicated by the presence of multiple CD audio tracks and thumbnails, which can cause playback to jump between different tracks.

Workarounds and Solutions

While there isn't a straightforward solution to this problem, there are some workarounds that may help:

1. Merging CUE & BIN files: Merging your game's CUE & BIN files into a single file (such as ISO or CHD) did not resolve the issue.

2. Using Redump verified files: We recommend using redump verified CUE & BIN files to ensure that your game is properly configured and free of errors.

Alternative Solution: Switching to Another Core

If you're experiencing persistent issues with PCSX ReARMed, consider switching to another PS1 core. After testing several alternatives, we found a core that runs PS1 games remarkably well. By building a custom RetroPie image with this alternative core, we were able to resolve the FMV cut-off issue.

The problem of FMVs being cut off or playing incorrectly in certain situations is specific to PCSX ReARMed r22 on RetroPie and appears to be caused by incorrect CD track seeking. While there are some workarounds available, switching to another PS1 core may be the most effective solution for those experiencing this issue. We hope that this article has helped you troubleshoot and resolve your FMV playback problems with PCSX ReARMed on RetroPie.

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