Analogue Nt mini Noir

Reference Manual

analogue.co V3.0 July 2020

Analogue
Celebrate & explore the
history of video games with
the respect it deserves.

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Congratulations
on becoming an
Analogue Nt mini
Noir owner.

Engineered with an FPGA. No emulation. 1080p. What’s in the box

Zero lag. Total accuracy. Nt Mini Noir is not a
plug n’ play toy. It is the definitive way to explore — Analogue Nt Mini Noir
Nintendo’s 8-bit era. Compatible with the 1800+
NES and Famicom game library. Explore and re-live — HDMI cable
one of the greatest video game systems of all time
with no compromises. — USB cable

— 8bitdo N30 2.4g Wireless Gamepad with

NES Controller Port Receiver

— Worldwide Power Supply (100-240v,

50/60hz, USA/JPN plug-type)

— A tri-fold Nt Mini Noir Quick-Start Guide

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Audio Output L & R Power Connector

USB

HDMI Output Power/Reset

エキスパンダ
RGB · Component ·
S Video · Composite
Headset

SD Card Slot

Controller 1-4

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To start using your N30 controller with 2.4g Pairing
receiver for NES please see the instructions below.
1 Hold start for 3 seconds on your N30
controller to power it on

2 Insert the 2.4g receiver into your NES

controller port

3 Wait until both LED’s are solid blue

4 Your controller is now paired

Power

D-Pad Button Pad

Select Start

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Setting Up Nt mini Ports

Insert your power adapter into the barrel connector P1-P4 – Controller Ports 1-4.
on the back of the Nt Mini Noir and plug the other
end into a wall outlet. Connect your HDMI cable SD Card – Used for loading NSF music files, NES
and/or your analog cables to your Nt Mini Noir and palettes files and LED pattern files.
display(s). Insert a NES controller and a Cartridge.
Power Button – Hold down to turn the Power On or
Hold the Power Button down until the front LED Off, press and release to perform a Warm Reset.
turns on. SD cards, controllers and video cables
can be inserted and removed while the power is on USB – Used to charge Wireless Gamepads.
but Cartridges cannot.
Power Socket - Provides power to Nt Mini Noir.
Updating the Firmware
エキスパンダ – Used for Famicom Expanion Port
Before playing your Nt Mini Noir, make sure to peripherals.
update to the latest firmware at support.analogue.
co. You will need a FAT formatted SD card to Headset – This is used for both headphone
update the firmware. output and microphone input (used by several
Famicom games) via a TRRS mini-jack. A headset
In order to update the firmware, copy the latest is supported for both headphone output and
firmware update file at Analogue’s Support page microphone input usage and TRS mini-jack standard
(with a .bin extension) to the root directory of headphones are also supported.
your SD card. Make sure no other firmware files
are in the root directory. Insert your SD card into A discrete condenser microphone can be used with
the SD card slot on your Nt Mini Noir and turn a TRRS to headphone & microphone splitter.
the power on. The firmware update process will Nt Mini Noir follows the AHJ/CTIA standard for
start automatically and takes approximately three TRRS signal assignment : Tip = Left, 1st Ring =
minutes to complete. During that time the power Right, 2nd Ring = Ground, Sleeve = Microphone
LED will flicker red and the screen will be blank.
When the process is complete the LED will show a Analog Audio – Gold plated stereo RCA outputs
steady color and you will see the Animated Nt Mini provide audio regardless of video mode used
Noir Startup logo. Do not power off Nt Mini Noir
while the firmware is updating. If the power goes Analog Video – All analog video is passed through
off for any reason, Don’t Panic! The system may not this gold plated HD-15 “VGA” port, but only
display anything but it will look for a firmware file standard definition video is available via this port.
to flash to once the power is restored. You cannot
brick your Nt Mini Noir with a failed firmware HDMI Port – Digital video and audio is available
update. through this port in 480p, 720p, or 1080p modes
with a refresh rate of either 50 or 60Hz.
When you update firmware, all settings are reset to
their defaults. Take notes of your settings prior to
updating.

When you update firmware, all settings are reset to

their defaults. Take notes of your settings prior to
updating.

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Setting up your HDMI TV for ideal retro gaming is no audio connection at DAC’s analog video
connector, you will need to plug in the RCA cables
If your flat panel TV has a low-latency, no-lag into the RCA jacks on DAC.
or Game Mode, enable it. Otherwise turn off all
processing features on your TV or itthey may RGB Video – VGA or DVI Connector
negatively affect gameplay and latency.
You can use any VGA-to-VGA cable or adapter
Compatible Analog Video Cables with HD-15 Connectors on it. Note the gender of
the connector’s input device. The VGA display or
Nt Mini Noir supports RGB, Component, S-Video capture device must be able to support a 15KHz
and Composite video through the 15-pin “VGA” horizontal scan frequency, which is what 240p/480i
video connector. Analogue recommends cost consoles output. Typical VGA CRTs do not. You may
effective cables sold by Monoprice to provide also connect DAC to a display or capture device,
optimal results. Here is a list of compatible cables such as a flat panel LCD, which has a DVI-A or DVI-I
and links where you may purchase them : input connector with the appropriate cables or
adapters. Not all devices with a DVI connector will
Composite & S-Video support the 15KHz horizontal scan frequency which
Nt Mini provides.
Monoprice VGA to S-Video/RCA (Composite)
Adapter Cable Default Controller Key Assignments & Hotkeys

Component Video Up + Start + Select + B + A – Warm Reset (Same as

pushing the power/reset button)
Monoprice 12ft VGA to 3 RCA Component Video
Cable Down + Start – Enter/Leave Menu (Entering the
Menu does not pause a game and blocks controller
Monoprice 6ft VGA to 3 RCA Component Video inputs to the game, Leaving the Menu returns to a
Cable (HD15 – 3-RCA) game in progress and returns controller inputs to
the game)
Monoprice 6in VGA to 3x RCA Component Video
Cable (HD15 to 3x RCA) B - Confirm/Select Menu Option Key
A - Cancel/Back Key
RGB Video – BNC Connectors
These can be changed in the System – Hotkeys &
Monoprice VGA HD-15 to 5 BNC RGB Video Cable Controllers menu option.
for HDTV Monitor cable - 6FT
Select + A - Hold down to Power On Nt Mini Noir
Monoprice VGA HD15 Male to 5x BNC Female by controller
Adapter Cable - 1ft
Main Menu Options
RGB Video – SCART Connector
Run Cartridge
For SCART connections, the most hassle-free way Performs a Cold Reset (CPU registers and memory
to deliver analog video to your TV set may be to use is reset) and runs the cartridge in the cartridge slot.
the Monoprice VGA HD15 Male to 5x BNC Female This can be a NES or a Famicom cartridge, but you
Adapter Cable – 1ft in combination with this : cannot use both cartridge slots at the same time,
if there is a cartridge in the NES slot, the Famicom
Male SCART to 4 x BNC + 2 x RCA breakout slot must be unoccupied and vice versa.

Connect the Red, Green and Blue video terminals Settings

together. The composite synch line is Gray/White, Allows you to adjust the video, audio or system
so connect the matching terminals together. There options, save settings and view the credits.
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Tools
Allows you to enter Game Genie-style cheat codes
and play NSF files.

Power Off System

Allows you to turn the system off without having to
reach behind it to hold down the power button.

Compatible Cartridges

—Official Nintendo-manufactured and approved

cartridges (all regions)
—Unlicensed/Homebrew/Reproduction/Pirate NES
and Famicom cartridges
—Famicom Disk System, Karaoke Studio, Datach
—Joint ROM System, StudyBox and
Famicom Modem
—Game Genie, Pro Action Replay and
Game Action Replay
—Aladdin Deck Enhancer
—NES PowerPak, EverDrive N8 and N8 Pro*

* - Nt Mini does not support Expansion Audio

passthrough on its NES cartridge connector, only
on its Famicom cartridge connector

Compatible Controllers & Peripherals

Official and aftermarket NES controllers

(all regions, all varieties)
Famicom Expansion port devices*
8bitdo N30 2.4G NES Controller Receiver and
Bluetooth Retro Receiver
Super NES Controllers and Super Famicom NTT
Data Controllers (via a SNES-to-NES converter)
NES and Famicom Light Guns, R.O.B. and Famicom
3-D Glasses compatible only when analog video
modes are used on a CRT display

* - The original Famicom Expansion ports were

deeper than the DA-15 connector used on the Nt
Mini Noir, so they may stick out a bit from the
socket. Some very bulky peripherals may block
the power socket and will require a short 15-pin
extension cable.

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Settings Menu Structure & Outline

Factory Default Settings for each option are highlighted. If the option is
not highlighted, then it is not enabled with the Factory Default Settings.
If there is a range given to a particular option, then the default value for
that range is highlighted after the range limits are given.

A Video v No Chroma Filter d Noise (-100-100, 0)

vi Chroma Filter 1 e DPCM (-100-100, 0) C System
1 Resolution vii Chroma Filter 2 f N163 (-100-100, 0)
a 480p60 viii 7.5 IRE Black Level g VRC6 Sq1 (-100-100, 0) 1 Hotkeys
b 720p60 ix 700mv RGB Level h VRC6 Sq2 (-100-100, 0) a USA
c 1080p60 (assuming your display i VRC6 Saw (-100-100, 0) i EUR
supports this resolution) iiJPN
j MMC5 Sq1 (-100-100, 0)
d 480p50 8 Extra Features b Highlight Style
k MMC5 Sq2 (-100-100, 0)
e. 720p50 a Enable Dejitter i Solid
l MMC5 PCM (-100-100, 0) iiSwipe
f. 1080p50 b 16 Sprites per Scanline m AY8910 (-100-100, 0) iii
Flash
c Palette n Disk Sys (-100-100, 0) ivRolling
2 Width & Height (when Advanced
d FirebrandX o VRC7 A (-100-100, 0) v Throb
Mode is enabled, otherwise
Screen Size) e FCEUX p VRC7 B (-100-100, 0) c Highlight Color
a Width (depends on resolution, f Black & White i Chlorophyll
1234 for 1080p) g PC10 4 3db Output Cut iiQuinoline
h Beware iii
Fast Green
b Horizontal Position (depends on
5 Enable Cartridge Audio ivPetent Blue V
resolution, 38 for 1080p) i Custom
v Spirulina
c Height (depends on resolution, j Load Custom Palette viBrilliant Blue
1080 for 1080p) 6 Swap Left & Right
i File Browser vii
Anthocyanin
d Vertical Position (depends on viii
Indiotine
resolution, 48 for 1080p) 7 Cartridge Audio Volume (0-255, 90)
ixPhloxine
9 Buffer & DVI Modes x Carmine
3 Screen Size (when Advanced Mode 8 Advanced Filter Settings
xiCarotene
is disabled) a Cutoff Frequency (100-20000, xii
Tartrazine
10 Fully Buffered 3000)
a 1:1 a Zero Delay xiii
Titanium Dioxide
b Square Pixels b Rolloff Rate (1-253, 53) xiv
Aluminum Oxide
b Single Buffer c Filter the following:
c 4:3 for 16:9 d Font
c DVI Mode d Square 1 Alternate Font
d 4:3 for 16:10
i Square 2 Upper Case
e 4x Height (1080p only) 11 Color Mixed Case
f 4.5x Height (1080p only) ii Triangle
a Limit RGB Range Lower Case
g 5x Height (1080p only) iii Noise
b Lock Gamma Sliders Together User Loaded Font
vi DPCM Load Font from SD Card
c Red
4 Cropping v N163 1. File Browser
d Green
a Crop Left (0-32, 0) vii VRC6 Sq1 e Menu Bounce
e Blue
b Crop Right (0-32, 0) viii VRC6 Sq2 f Dim Game in Menu
c Crop Top (0-32, 0) 12 Advanced Mode ix VRC6 Saw
d Crop Bottom (0-32, 0) x MMC5 Sq1 2 Hotkeys
xi MMC5 Sq2 a Reset Hotkey
5 Scalers B Audio xii MMC5 PCM i Right
a No Scaler ii Left
xiii AY8910
1 Headphone Settings iii Up
b HQ2x xiv Disk Sys
a Headphone Volume (0-50, 32) iv Down
c HQ3x xv VRC7 A v Start
b High Impedance Phones
d HQ4x xvi VRC7 B vi Select
c Use Headset Volume Buttons vii B
e Scale 2x
f Scale 3x viii A
2 Channel Levels
g X-Ray 9 Audio Toys b Menu Hotkey
a quare 2 (0-100, 64) i Right
h Disable H Interpolation a Square TIA Enable
b Triangle (0-100, 64) ii Left
i Disable V Interpolation i Distortion (0-31, 0)
c Noise (0-100, 64) iii Up
ii Scaler (0-255, 0) iv Down
d DPCM (0-100, 64)
5 Scanlines b Square 2 TIA Enable v Start
e N163 (0-100, 70)
a No Scanlines i Distortion (0-31, 0) vi Select
f VRC6 Sq1 (0-100, 100)
b Normal Scanlines ii Scaler (0-255, 0) vii B
g VRC6 Sq2 (0-100, 100) viii A
c Hybrid Scanlines c Triangle TIA Enable
h VRC6 Saw (0-100, 100) c 4 Player Settings
d Normal Scanline Depth (0-100, 0) i Distortion (0-15, 0)
i MMC5 Sq1 (0-100, 100) i Standard Controllers
e Scanline Width (0-48, 8) ii Scaler (0-255, 0)
j MMC5 Sq2 (0-100, 100) ii Four Score
f Scanline Sub-Brightness (0-255, 0) d Triangle Volume (0-15, 7)
k MMC5 PCM (0-100, 100) iii Fami Four Player
g Scanline Depth (0-FF, 80) iv Disable Hotkeys
l AY8910 (0-100, 100)
10 Microphone Sensitivity (0-63, 10) v Passthrough Mode
7 Analog Mode m Disk Sys (0-100, 32) vi Swap Confirm/Cancel
a Limit Browser Width n VRC7 A (0-100, 64) 11 Expansion Chips
b DAC LED Brightness (0-31, 1) o VRC7 B (0-100, 64) a VRC6 3 Startup Options
c Link DAC LED to power LED b VRC7 a Boot Sequence Delay (1-10, 4)
d Advanced Settings c FDS i Title → Menu
i RGB Composite Synch 3 Channel Panning d MMC5 ii Title → Cartridges
a Square 1 (-100-100, 0) iii Menu Direct
ii RGB Separate Synch e N163
b Square 2 (-100-100, 0) iv Cartridge Direct
iii RGB Synch on Green f Sunsoft 5B
c Triangle (-100-100, 0) g VRC6 Swap
iv Invert RGB Synch

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4 Hardware
a USA
b PAL Regions
c Dendy
d SD Card Speed
i Normal Speed
ii Fast
iii Faster
e Fill RAM with 0’s at start
f Fill RAM with FF’s at start
g Fill RAM randomly at start
h 3.6V Cartridge IO

5 LED Options
a Standby Color
b Center Pixel
c K-Pro Rainbow
d Load Custom Pattern
i File Browser
e Adjust Pattern
i Animate Pattern
ii Animate Speed (0-31, 16)
iii Pattern Position (0-255, 0)
f LED Brightness (0-31, 8)
g Standby Color Adjust:
i Red (0-255, 255)
ii Green (0-255, 255)
iii Blue (0-255, 255)

D Cheat Codes

1 Enable Checked Codes

a ________
b ________
c ________
d ________
e ________
f ________

E Core Options

1 Disable Square Reset

2 Disable Looped Noise

F About

1 Special Thanks

F Save/Clear Settings

1 Save Settings

2 Restore Factory Defaults

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Resolution Minimum/Maximum Height in Vertical Pixels :
480/576
480p mode sets a resolution of 640x480
576p mode sets a resolution of 720x576 Horizontal Presets at the 480 (2x) Vertical Preset :
720p modes set a resolution of 1280x720 Width – 256 (1x), 480 (1:1), 512 (2x), 548 (Square
1080p modes set a resolution of 1920x1080 Pixels), 720 (4:3 for 16:10)

50p is intended for European, Australian, Chinese Horizontal Presets at the 576 Vertical Preset :
and Russian PAL and Dendy games, all Japanese, Width – 256 (1x), 512 (2x), 576 (1:1), 658 (Square
American, South Korean, Taiwanese and Brazilian Pixels), 720 (4:3 for 16:10)
games use the NTSC 60p frame rate. If you see
visual artifacts like tearing (assuming the single 3. 720p Options
buffer mode is off) or stuttering, check here to
make sure your refresh rate matches the refresh Minimum/Maximum Width in Horizontal Pixels :
rate of the game’s region. This setting should be 512/1280
used in conjunction with the Hardware settings in Minimum/Maximum Height in Vertical Pixels :
the System Submenu. 480/720

Nt Mini Noir supports EDID (Extended Display Horizontal Presets at the 480 (2x) Vertical Preset :
Identification Data) over HDMI. The display will Width – 512 (2x), 548 (Square Pixels), 768 (4:3 for
send EDID information over the HDMI cable telling 16:10), 853 (4:3 for 16:9), 4x (1024), 5x (1280)
Nt Mini Noir what display modes it supports. You
may get an unsupported display mode to work, Horizontal Presets at the 600 (2.5x) Vertical Preset
but if you do not, you may end up with no picture. :
Some NTSC displays may not report 50p support Width – 512 (2x), 600 (1:1), 685 (Square Pixels), 3x
but will work with some or all 50p resolutions (768), 960 (4:3 for 16:10), 1024 (4x), 1066 (4:3 for
anyway. Almost all European displays support 60p. 16:9), 1280 (5x)
Nt Mini Noir will start up with the highest resolution
and frame rate your monitor supports unless you Horizontal Presets at the 720 (3x) Vertical Preset :
select a lower resolution setting and save the Width – 512 (2x), 720 (1:1), 768 (3x), 822 (Square
settings. Pixels), 1024 (4x), 1152 (4:3 for 16:10), 1279 (4:3 for
16:9), 1280 (5x)
The NTSC NES and Famicom display 256x240
active pixels in NTSC mode and the PAL NES and 4. 1080p Options
Dendy display 252x239 pixels in PAL mode.
Width & Height Minimum/Maximum Width (Horizontal Pixels) :
1024/1920
1. 480p Options Minimum/Maximum Height (Vertical Pixels) :
960/1200
Minimum/Maximum Width in Horizontal Pixels :
256/640 Horizontal Presets at the 960 (4x) Vertical Preset :
Minimum/Maximum Height in Vertical Pixels : Width – 1024 (4x), 1097 (Square Pixels), 1280 (5x),
480/480 1536 (4:3 for 16:10) (6x), 1706 (4:3 for 16:9), 1792 (7x),
1920
Horizontal Presets at the 480 (2x) Vertical Preset :
Width – 256 (1x), 480 (1:1), 512 (2x), 548 (Square Horizontal Presets at the 1080 (4.5x) Vertical Preset
Pixels), 640 (4:3 for 16:10) :
Width – 1024 (4x), 1080 (1:1), 1234 (Square Pixels),
2. 576p Options 1280 (5x); 1536 (6x), 1728 (4:3 for 16:10), 1792 (7x),
1919 (4:3 for 16:9), 1920
Minimum/Maximum Width in Horizontal Pixels :
256/720
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Horizontal Presets at the 1200 (5x) Vertical Preset : Height = 1080 (4.5x)
Width – 1024 (4x), 1200 (1:1), 1280 (5x), 1371 (Square Vertical Position = 48
Pixels), 1536 (6x), 1792 (7x), 1920 (4:3 for 16:10)
Width = 1371 (Square Pixels) / 1536 (6x)
Notes on Scaling Horizontal Position = 13 / 7
Height = 1200 (5x)
If you are outputting your Nt Mini to a 1080p or Vertical Position = 45
4K native display, you should use the 5x vertical
scale to fill up as much of the screen as possible. These values may not be valid for every HDMI-
You should be able to see all essential information compatible device and may shift by a pixel or two if
in most games and should not need to adjust the one of the scalers or interpolation is active.
vertical position often. A 5x vertical scale gives you
essentially a 256x216 scaled resolution, so you can Screen Size
use the horizontal and vertical positioning sliders to
adjust the lines displayed if any vital details are lost. In the simplified Screen Size setting, height settings
This page discusses overscan on the NES. are given only for 1080p modes.

If you want perfectly square pixels at 1080p, choose Cropping

a 5x horizontal scale. The ideal pixel scale are the
“Square Pixel” options shown above the horizontal You can use the sliders to crop each edge of the
slider. Horizontal scaling with non-integer pixel screen by up to 32 pixels in each direction.
values can show shimmering in games like Contra.
Enabling the horizontal interpolation can eliminate The NES always displays 240 or 239 active vertical
that shimmer with only a minimal loss of sharpness. pixels and 256 or 252 active horizontal pixels with
If you want a stretch that does not have shimmering NTSC and PAL PPUs, respectively. The NTSC
artifacts and that is just slightly wider than a typical NES and Famicom also can display a border color,
CRT, then choose the 6x horizontal scale with the but this was not intended to be seen and is only
5x vertical scale in 1080p mode. visible on Nt Mini Noir with analog display modes.
While early games tended to fill the top, bottom
Centering Values for Selected Horizontal and and sides with tiles, eventually developers figured
Vertical Pixel Sizes out that most TVs did not display the edges of the
NES resolution. So they may have not updated tiles
480p properly in these areas (Bionic Commando, Double
Width = 512 (2x) /548 (Square Pixels) Dragon II) or have allowed oddly colored areas in
Horizontal Position = 31 the left and right borders (Super Mario Bros. 3,
Height = 480 (2x) Kirby’s Adventure).
Vertical Position = 53
Scalers
720p
Width = 822 (Square Pixels) / 1024 (4x) Several scalers are available if you wish to
Horizontal Position = 26 / 19 apply them. “No scaler” uses nearest-neighbor
Height = 480 (2x) interpolation where the color of a pixel is repeated
Vertical Position = 39 horizontally and vertically as often as is necessary
to get to the desired scaled resolution. This results
1080p in the sharpest, “pixel purist” graphics but can leave
Width = 1097 (Square Pixels) / 1280 (5x) uneven horizontal pixels if the scaled resolution is
Horizontal Position = 22 / 16 not an integer multiple of the original resolution.
Height = 960 (4x)
Vertical Position = 51 The HQ2x, HQ3x and HQ4x scalers interpolate a
pixel based on the surrounding pixels. The result
Width = 1234 (Square Pixels) / 1280 (5x) is generally a smoother image. The 2x, 3x and 4x
Horizontal Position = 17 / 18 refer to blocks of pixels, and the larger the block,
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 12 / 21
the fewer colors will be used. Scale 2x and Scale 3x to the brightness of a scanned line’s colors in
use a somewhat different algorithm but produce a relation to the gaps in between each drawn line.
similar result. X-Ray uses a simple algorithm to give You can use these options to darken every third
inverted black and white graphics. scanline in 720p mode, which may be the easiest
way to obtain PVM-like scanlines.
Using scalers may shift the image slightly, alter the
colors considerably and will cause a little extra lag If you use scanlines, you may need to adjust the
due to the processing of the image required. Vertical Position in the Width and Height setting
from the current setting to allow the scanlines to
Disable H and V Interpolation – These options align themselves with the top or bottom edge of
are useful with horizontal and vertical pixel sizes each line of scaled pixels. Having scanlines bisect a
which are not an integer multiple of 256 and 240, scaled pixel is not ideal.
respectively. These modes subtly blend the edges
of pixels to make uneven nearest-neighbor scaled Analog Mode
pixels less noticeable. It can also eliminate shimmer
in scrolling backgrounds on LCD displays. If you Nt Mini Noir can display analog video output via its
are using a true integer horizontal or vertical scale, built in analog video port as well as Analogue DAC.
you should not need to use these options.
Limit Browser Width – The File Browser for fonts
When the Disable Horizontal or Vertical and LED animations will show 60 columns of text
Interpolation box is checked, that means the and numbers per line. If checked, the File Browser
interpolation is NOT being applied to the will show 30 columns of text and numbers per line.
video. You can set each form of interpolation If a file name is too long to be displayed fully on one
independently. line of the File Browser, the name will scroll to the
left so you can read the whole file name. Text at 60
Scanlines characters per line can be extremely hard to read
when output via composite video. 30 characters
Nt Mini Noir can recreate scanlines produced by per line text is not an issue, even with composite.
the scanning beam structure of a CRT. Normal
Scanlines dim pixels by the same amount regardless DAC LED Brightness – Sets the brightness of DAC’s
of the pixel’s color. The Hybrid Scanlines option led.
targets more realistic scanlines by adjusting for
gamma when dimming a pixel’s color. With hybrid Link DAC LED to power LED – Analogue DAC’s LED
scanlines, darker colors have thicker scanlines than behaves like Nt Mini Noir’s LED
brighter colors.
Advanced Settings
These options presented here, Normal Scanline
Depth, Scanline Width and Scanline Sub-Brightness RGB Composite Synch (one synch wire, 75-ohm
work in conjunction with each other to alter the terminated synch) default option
display of the brightness of both the scan displayed RGB Separate Synch (two synch wires, TTL-level
and the gap lines simulated in between each scan synch)
of the displayed graphics. Scanline Sub-Brightness, RGB Synch on Green (zero synch wires)
must be set to a value above 0 before you will see
any lines in between the graphics. This option will These settings can also be accessed with HDMI.
darken the line and by 255, the lines will be full Setting the wrong synch option may result in a
black. black or garbled screen or a rolling screen. You
can use any other video output from HDMI to
The first two options have little, if any effect in Composite to set the synch option to an option
480p mode. Their best utility is in the 1080p 4x and your device supports if the default analog option
5x modes. What they do is to alter the brightness (Composite synch) does not function with your
of the scanned lines adjacent to the gap line in display device. Remember to save your settings
different ways. These options allow a fine gradient if you plan to use an analog display exclusively.
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 13 / 21
Analog RGB monitors usually require or prefer Palette – This option allows you to select one of the
Composite Synch, but an analog capture card like built-in palettes or a custom palette from your SD
the Datapath E1/E1s requires Separate Synch. card. There is no one true NES palette because the
NES directly generated NTSC and PAL hues rather
Invert RGB Synch – This option will toggle the than converting RGB values. The .pal file must be
polarity of the Synch signal from positive to 192 bytes in size. Nt Mini will look by default in the
negative or negative to positive. Use this option \PALETTE directory on the SD card. This option
if your display is showing a difficulty acquiring or will have no effect if Composite or S-Video is being
losing sync with the default option. used.

Chroma Filter – The Chroma Filter options will Buffer Mode

adjust the color fringing seen with Composite The buffering modes on Nt Mini Noir address the
Video. S-Video is virtually free of color fringing, so issue that the NES’s native NTSC frame rate is
this option’s effect using that connection is minimal. 60.0988fps and the PAL rate is 50.0070fps. A CRT
It has no effect on Component Video or RGB Video can display these frame rates with ease but Modern
connections. displays and HDMI interfaces expect either 60fps,
59.94fps or 50fps and are generally not tolerant of
7.5 IRE Black Level – Brightness for Composite refresh rates that vary from too far from the official
Video is measured in IRE units, and 0.0-100.0 is framerates. Nt Mini Noir has three modes that deal
the usable range of IRE units. This option sets the with the frame rate differential in different ways.
black level to the US NTSC standard of 7.5 IRE
when enabled. This option will only have an effect The Fully Buffered option buffers full frames to
for Composite Video and S-Video. If disabled, 0.0 maintain the timing of a 60.0988 or 50.0070 frame
IRE will be used, which became the Japanese NTSC rate using only 60 or 50fps. This mode avoids
standard and was always used for PAL. tearing at the cost of latency. Nt Mini Noir must
render at least 1 frame ahead of the game’s internal
700mv RGB Level – When disabled, RGB will use 1v rendering to stay ahead.
signaling for each color signal. Most RGB displays
prefer 700mV, you should disable this option only The Zero Delay option slows down the simulated
for those displays that prefer higher voltage levels. NES.Famicom to achieve a true 60or 50fps frame
It has no effect for any other connection type. rate, a speed difference of no more than 0.1%
There is no latency penalty with this method but
Extra Features this method causes Nt Mini Noir fall behind by
about 1 second every 10 minutes compared to an
Enable Dejitter – The NES outputs one “short” (by original NES/Famicom running the same software.
one pixel) scanline every other frame to reduce
the visibility of composite color artifacts. Nt Mini Finally, the Single Buffer option is something of a
Noir replicates this feature, but it can show as jitter compromise between the two methods described
in the first scanline in other output types. Enable above. Like the Full Buffer option, the correct
Dejitter to eliminate this jitter. timing is being generated within Nt Mini Noir.
Unlike the Full Buffer, only a portion of the next
16 Sprites per Scanline – The NES could display frame is being pre-rendered, giving latency of no
eight sprites per scanline. If more sprites were more than 1 frame depending on when the player
placed on a scanline, the result would be flickering activates an input. The drawback is a recurring
because the ninth and later sprites would not retrace line that is visible once per every several
otherwise be displayed. This option can eliminate seconds.
or greatly reduce flickering by allowing up to 16
sprites per scanline to be displayed. However, Enable DVI Mode – This option can allow Nt Mini
it can cause glitches in games and some games Noir to connect to displays which only support the
(Nintendo World Cup) draw their sprites to avoid DVI standard. DVI does not carry audio and other
flickering in such a way that this option will not help data over its connection that HDMI carries. The
those games’ flickering. extra data which HDMI provides can cause many
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 14 / 21
DVI-only monitors to fail to display Nt Mini Noir’s with values below 15 being designated as black and
video. If you use this option, you must take audio values above 235 being designated as white. The
from the RCA or headset jacks identical RGB value will not produce the same color
in limited RGB versus full RGB because limited RGB
Dual Output Support tries to cover the same color space as full RGB but
has fewer values to cover the range.
Nt Mini Noir supports simultaneous output via its
HDMI and analog video ports. You should use Full RGB if your display supports
it. If you turn on the Limited RGB Option and see
Zero Delay and analog video output are not black turn to dark gray, than you should not use
compatible. When HDMI is in Full or Single Buffer this option. If the black stays black, then keep this
mode, analog video will run at the native NES/ option on.
Famicom NTSC or PAL refresh rate and there will
never be any lag over analog video. If Zero Delay is The Lock Gamma Sliders Together option disables
enabled, Nt Mini Noir will show a warning message your ability to set the gamma for Red, Green and
until it is turned to another option on the HDMI Blue independently.
display
Red, Green & Blue sliders can be set from 1.00 to
Nt Mini Noir supports Analogue DAC for dual 1.99 in .01 increments. You may come close to the
analog output. The Nt Mini Noir’s USB port or an gamma of a CRT with the sliders at 1.20 without
external power adapter can be used to provide scanlines and 1.40 with scanlines.
power to Analogue DAC. Plugging in Analogue
DAC will turn Zero Delay mode into Full Buffer Advanced Mode
Mode.
Enabling this option adds the Cropping, Extra
Famicom Disk System Compatibility Features, Buffer Mode, Color and DAC RGB Mode
options to the Video Submenu and turns the
The cycle-stealing nature of the Zero Delay mode simplified Screen Size options into the Width &
will likely cause the Famicom Disk System not Height options. Any options you select while using
to work properly with Nt Mini Noir because the Advanced Mode options will remain in effect if the
Famicom Disk System runs on its own clock and Simplified Menu is selected.
must synchronize it to the Famicom’s internal clock
which the designers expected to be identical. The Audio Settings
Full and Single Buffer modes present the original
clock signal to the cartridge ports but Zero Delay The NES’ Audio Processing Unit (APU) provided five
cannot. The result is that some Famicom Disk channels of audio, two pulse waves, one triangle
Systems will not work reliably with the Zero Delay wave, one noise channel and one DPCM channel.
mode. Changing the buffer mode from Zero Delay Certain Famicom games and the Famicom Disk
to Full Buffer or Single Buffer should resolve this System can add additional audio channels which
issue. are then mixed with the APU’s audio.
Headphone Volume – Sets the volume level from
Color the headset jack

Limiting RGB Range adjusts the color output range High Impedance Phones – If you are using studio-
to accommodate those displays which do not use headphones, select this option and Nt Mini Noir
handle 24-bit RGB natively. Many LCDs as found on will try to provide the power necessary to drive
TVs do not show a full range of RGB for each of the those phones. If you are using earbuds or typically
three primaries, red, green and blue. Each primary low impedance computer/gaming headsets,
color is represented by an 8-bit value, giving 256 leave this option unchecked. If your headphone’s
levels of color for each primary. Full RGB displays impedance is above 50 Ohms, then select this
accept values of 0-255 for each color primary. option. If below 30 Ohms, leave it unchecked.
Limited RGB displays only accept values of 16-235, Between 30 and 50 Ohms, see which setting works
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 15 / 21
best for you. You will notice an increase in the Use Lowpass Filter – This allows you to apply
loudness of the audio with this item checked. a lowpass filter to the simulated audio output.
You may wish to use this to attenuate the higher
Use Headset Volume Buttons - Allows you to frequency components of the audio. The slider
control the volume via the buttons on a headset. allows you to specify a cutoff frequency from 100-
20000Hz in 100Hz steps. If you go too low the
Channel Levels – These sliders allow you to set the sound will start to sound muffled.
relative volume levels of each internal NES APU
channel and the levels of the simulated expansion The low pass filter is a 256-order low pass, so the
audio APUs. The NES’ five internal channels are cutoff frequency will sharply attenuate audio above
designated as Square 1, Square 2, Triangle, Noise the set frequency.
and DPCM.
The Disk System and N163 default to using the filter
Some expansion audio sources (VRC6, MMC5, because the Disk System had a low pass filter and
three channels each) allow you to set the channels certain games (Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken,
individually, some partially (VRC7, six channels King of Kings, Namco Classic II, Sangokushi:
split into A and B) and some only have one channel Chuugen no Hasha, Sangokushi II: Haou no Tairiku,
(Famicom Disk System). The AY38910 (Sunsoft 5B) Yokai Dochuuki) using N163 audio also included a
has three channels, but Nt Mini does not allow you filter in the mixing path.
to set the volume of each channel individually. The
N163 may have up to eight channels, but the chip Rolloff Rate – The rolloff rate is given with a number
was designed to play each channel sequentially, representing the db reduction in volume over a
and that part of its functionality is maintained in the decade. The default value is 28db/decade
volume controls.
The resulting sound may vary considerably from
Channel Panning – All audio on the NES anf what was intended, so the setting won’t be saved
Famicom was intended to be heard in mono but when you Save Settings.
NES could be modded to split to have the two pulse
wave channels on one output and the triangle, Audio Toys – The Square 1-2 and Triangle TIA
noise and DPCM channels on another output. The features give an Atari 2600-like quality to the audio
panning options with the Nt Mini Noir allows for far output. The 2600’s TIA could produce various
more control over stereo sound than the original forms of sound, but the sound quality was generally
hardware was capable. The middle setting gives a very crude. Music was difficult to get in tune with
centered output. the 2600. With these options you can give your
Nt Mini Noir some of those same harsh, electronic
-3db Output Cut – Some monitor embedded qualities.
speakers and soundbars clip or cannot recognize a
full-volume signal. This option reduces the volume Microphone Sensitivity – This option adjusts the
to reduce the peaks below their maximum amount sensitivity of the Famicom Controller Port 2’s
(0db). Try enabling this option if you are not microphone as implemented by the headset jack
hearing any sound or hearing clipping sound from on Nt Mini Noir. The Japanese versions of The
Nt Mini Noir. Legend of Zelda and the Famicom Disk System’s
Hikari Shinwa : Palutena no Kagami are the titles
Enable Cartridge Audio – This option lets you use a best known to western audiences to use the
cartridge’s built-in audio processing unit instead of microphone.
Nt Mini Noir’s.
Expansion Chips – This enables the expansion audio
Swap Left & Right – This option reverses stereo. chip recreation for cartridges that use expansion
audio. You must select the appropriate option
when using a cartridge if you wish to hear Nt Mini’s
reproduction of that audio chip. The list of games
Advanced Filter Settings with expansion audio support can be found here.
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 16 / 21
Akumajou Densetsu uses the VRC6 option while of controller buttons and directionals for this option.
Esper Dream 2 & Madara use the VRC6 Swap You cannot use the Up and Down or Left and Right
option. directionals at the same time.

You must use original cartridges if you wish to hear Menu Hotkey – You can use almost any
expansion audio from the Jaleco or Bandai speech combination of controller buttons and directionals
chip games. They are not implemented in Nt Mini for this option. You cannot use the Up and Down or
Noir. Left and Right directionals at the same time.

System Settings 4 Player Settings

Menu Options These options will determine how Controller Ports 3

& 4 function on Nt Mini Noir.
Skin – Use the Cartridge graphic and Highlight
color appropriate for the region selected. Standard Controllers – Controller Ports 3 & 4 will
not function.
Highlight Style – Used to indicate the current menu
option Four Score – required for NES Four Score/Satellite
supporting four player games released in North
Highlight Color – Used to determine the color of America and Europe.
the current menu option
Fami Four Player – allows you to use NES
Font – Changes the menu font, Alternate Font uses controllers plugged into Controller Ports 3 & 4
a thicker, standard 8x8 font instead of the default instead of the Famicom Expansion Port to play
font. Famicom three and four player games. This is
supported by games released only in Japan.
The user loaded font allows you to select your own
font in place of those which come with Nt Mini Famicom and NES four player games use
Noir. The load font option will bring you to the file incompatible methods for reading the inputs of
browser. If you have a directory called FONT at the controllers three and four and are not compatible
root of your SD card, it will default to that directory with each other. You should not need to set either
to load a font file. The font must use an 8x8 text four player option unless you are playing games
box and must be represented in binary in a 1-bit per with more than two players.
pixel format. Each character will take eight bytes
to represent in this format. The file must be 768 or Light Guns can only be used on Controller Ports
1024 bytes in size and use the extension .fnt. The 1&2
characters in the file will have to start at ASCII 20
(space) and end at ASCII 7F (delete). Font files 1024 Disable Hotkeys – If you wish to eliminate any
bytes in size will not show the first 32 characters accidental triggering of the hotkeys, you can use
which would be stored in the first 256 bytes of that this option but you will not be able to return to
file. the menu without power cycling the console. The
state of this option will not be saved when you Save
Menu Bounce – The menus will drop down instead Settings.
of instantly appearing
Passthrough Mode – If you are having trouble
Dim Game in Menu – The game will be dimmed with an unusual peripheral or wish to disable all Nt
when the menu is active, making it easier to see the Mini Noir controller compatibility processing and
menu options but more difficult to see the effects of eliminate a tiny amount of latency required by that
changing video parameters. processing, enable this mode. You will need to tap
Controls & Hotkeys the power button twice (reset) quickly to get out of
this mode and be able to access the menu again.
Reset Hotkey - You can use almost any combination The state of this option will not be saved when you
analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 17 / 21
Save Settings. SD Card Speed

Startup Options This option allows for SD card access in the File
Browser via three speed settings for loading files :
Boot Sequence Delay – This slider determines how Normal Speed, Fast and Faster.
much of a delay will be used before the screen
will be activated. Some LCDs cannot handle Unless your SD card is really slow, you should be
information immediately available from the HDMI OK with Faster. Lower the speed down if you are
interface, so if you are not getting a picture you having trouble loading Files.
may want to add a little delay to give the display
time to set up the picture parameters. Fill RAM Options – These options let you set the
initial RAM values when a game starts. RAM in
Title → Menu – Starts up directly with the Root original consoles is not set or cleared by the system,
Menu after showing the startup sequence it uses pseudo-random values which can vary from
system to system. Some games like Final Fantasy
Title → Cartridges – Starts any cartridge inserted in rely on this randomness for their random number
Nt Mini Noir after showing the startup sequence generator functions. Certain games like Huge
Insect may show glitch tiles unless the RAM is set
Menu Direct – Starts up directly with the Root to 0s or FFs due to programming oversights.
Menu without showing the startup sequence
3.6V Cartridge IO – By default, Nt Mini Noir uses
Cartridge Direct – Starts any cartridge inserted in 5V IO signals to communicate with cartridges. This
Nt Mini Noir without showing the startup sequence is ideal for cartridges released during the lifetime
of the NES and Famicom. However, some more
Hardware recent homebrew games and multicartridges uses
3.3v flash chips without logic level converters.
USA – Use for Games released in North America, These flash chips work best with a console that
Japan, Taiwan and South Korea uses logic levels at or near that voltage. If you are
PAL Regions – Use for Games released in Western having trouble with such a cartridge, try checking
Europe, Australasia, Hong Kong this option. Keep this option unchecked when using
Dendy – Use to recreate the Dendy PAL behavior official and vintage cartridges.

These settings change the PPU and APU Dendy mode – When using Analogue DAC with
functionality to function with each particular region. Nt Mini Noir, DAC’s NTSC/PAL switch determines
USA simulates the 2A03 APU and the 2C02 PPU, the output mode. Because the switch has only
found in all official mainstream Famicoms and two positions, this option lets Nt Mini Noir instruct
NTSC NES consoles. Analogue DAC to use Dendy-timings instead of
official PAL timings.
PAL Regions simulates the 2A07 APU and 2C07
PPU found in official PAL NES consoles. Dendy
simulates the PAL UA6527P APU and UA6538 PPU
clone chip behavior found in the Dendy consoles
which were popular in Russia and Eastern Europe.
The Dendy option uses PAL speed but is much
more compatible with NTSC games than the official
PAL APU and PPU.

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LED Options Core Options

These options control the colors displayed by Disable Square Reload – This is a feature relied
Nt Mini Noir’s RGB LED. upon with certain NSF files originally composed
using less accurate emulators. It should be
Standby Color – LED Color is solid White by default unchecked when not playing those NSF files,
but can be freely adjusted with the Standby Color because it can lead to inaccurate audio. When
Adjust sliders. the score counts down in Super Mario Bros. when
you touch the flagpole at the end of a level and the
Center Pixel – LED Color will be whatever the pixel Disable Square Reload function is enabled, you will
in the center of the screen’s color is. If you choose hear a constant tone instead of the oscillating tone
this option, you may not see the LED show color intended.
when the system turns on if you boot to the menu
because the center pixel is black. Disable Looped Noise – This option allows your Nt
Mini Noir to sound like an early Famicom, which
K-Pro Rainbow – LED Color cycles through the lacks the short noise period in its APU. Enabling
rainbow. this option will make electrical sounds in Mega Man
(Fire Man’s stage) and Mega Man 2 (Quick Man’s
Load Custom Pattern – Allows you to load a custom stage) sound like white noise but may make the final
pattern contained on the SD card. Will send you to note of game over music in Balloon Fight sound
a File Browser. Pattern files are 768 bytes in size. more authentic.

Adjust Pattern – These options allow you to adjust Tools

the animation speed and position of the pattern
selected in the previous menu :. NSF Player

Animate Pattern – Will disable animation and leave Starts the file browser to play NSF (Nintendo Sound
the LED set to the last displayed color if disabled. Format) files contained on the inserted SD card.
Equivalent to setting the Animate Speed to 0. Once an NSF is selected, the NSF player application
will play the songs in the NSF file. NSF files contain
Animate Speed – Determines the speed at which the APU register data needed to generate NES
the LED changes colors, higher numbers give faster music and sound effects. Only NSF v1.0 files are
transitions. fully supported. When you wish to leave the player
or play another file, bring up the menu to the file
Pattern Position – Determines the currently browser and keep pressing the Back button until
displayed color within the pattern. Each pattern the application disappears.
consists of 256 RGB values.

LED Brightness – Determines the brightness of the

LED in a slider, 0 turns the LED off.

Save/Clear Settings

Save Settings – Saves menu settings to Nt Mini

Noir’s internal flash memory

Restore Factory Defaults – Restores Factory

Defaults, so take notes of your settings prior to
updating.

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Cheat Codes

Enable Checked Codes – Activates and Deactivates

Codes individually. Up to six standard Game Genie
codes can be entered, Codes #1-#6. A code
is entered by moving the D-pad to the box and
pressing A to advance the numbers and letters.
You can only go forward from A-Z & 0-9, not
backward.

analogue.co V3.0 July 2020 20 / 21

To be this good takes
Analogue.

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