AVFPlayer

A simple Python AVF video file (Atari Video Format) player for modern computers.

Why use this tool?

• To quickly check AVF files without need to launch real hardware.
• To debug output of avi2atari.

Key Features:

• Hardware-adaptive audio sync

• GTIA Palette emulation (YIQ/YUV colorspace)

• Real-time Phase/Saturation adjustment

• CRT (or rather player) scanline emulation

• Horizontal Blending (Blur)

• Looped playback

Installation

The easy way (If you are Windows user and not sure what to do):

Open the Command Prompt, then:

winget install Python.Python.3.10
winget install Git.Git
git clone https://github.com/HanJammer/avfplayer.git
cd avfplayer
python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
python avfplayer.py

The regular (recommended) way:

Install prerequisities:

Python 3.10+

Then:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/HanJammer/avfplayer.git
   cd avfplayer
   

2. Create a Virtual Environment (Recommended):

   • Windows (Command Prompt / PowerShell):

     python -m venv venv
     .\venv\Scripts\activate
     

   • Linux / macOS:

     python3 -m venv venv
     source venv/bin/activate
     

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

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Usage

Play an AVF file for PAL system:

python avfplayer.py video-PAL.avf PAL
or
python avfplayer.py video-PAL.avf

Play an AVF file for NTSC system:

python avfplayer.py video-NTSC.avf NTSC

Parameters

usage: avfplayer.py [-h] [--scale SCALE] [--debug] file [system]

Parameter	Description
file	Input AVF file
system	Target system: PAL or NTSC. Default: PAL.
--debug	Enables debug overlay (currently shows oscilloscope).
--scale	Scale of the video window (integer number, 3 is default, 8 fits 4k screen).

In-player Controls

Key	Description
S	Enable/Disable scanlines. Default: Enabled.
B	Enable/Disable pixel blending. Default: Enabled.
[/]	Tune color phase in 0.05 steps.
Shift+[/Shift+]	Tune color saturation (integer number, 3 is default, 8 fits 4k screen).
L	Loop video. Default: Disabled.
D	Show/Hide oscilloscope. Default: Disabled

Output examples

"DAUBLG Makes it Right!" (source video).

Download AVF: PAL NTSC

Sample 1	Sample 2

Limitations

Don't expect the videos to have the exactly same colors as on original hardware. For now this is the best effort approximation.

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Contributing

This tool was created to modernize the Atari 8-bit video ecosystem.

Testing and debugging was done on the PAL hardware only. NTSC is mostly untested - if you have NTSC computer and can test the output AVFs - this would be a great help to make this program better.

If you find bugs or have ideas for better dithering algorithms:

1. Fork the repo.

2. Create your feature branch.

3. Submit a Pull Request.

Credits:

• Coding & Engineering: HanJammer & Lumen.

• Additional ideas: MNEMOS.