TAS Tools

Tool-Assisted Speedrun features for frame-perfect gameplay

Overview

Dolphin includes comprehensive Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) features that allow frame-by-frame gameplay control, input recording and playback, save states, and other tools for creating perfect gameplay sequences.

What is TAS?

Tool-Assisted Speedrunning uses emulator features to create optimized gameplay recordings:

• Frame advance: Progress one frame at a time
• Save states: Save/load at any point instantly
• Input recording: Record and replay controller inputs
• Re-recording: Modify previously recorded inputs
• Slowdown: Play at reduced speed for precision

TAS runs are not considered legitimate speedruns but are valuable for research, entertainment, and discovering game mechanics.

Enabling TAS Features

1. Enable TAS Input

   Config > GameCube/Wii > Controllers

   Set controller ports to “TAS Input”

2. Open TAS Input Window

   Tools > TAS Input

   Opens the TAS input controller window

3. Configure Hotkeys

   Options > Hotkey Settings

   Set hotkeys for:

   • Frame advance
   • Save state
   • Load state
   • Start/stop recording

TAS Input Window

The TAS Input window provides complete control over controller inputs:

Buttons

• A, B, X, Y, Z, Start: Click to activate
• D-Pad: Up, Down, Left, Right
• L, R Triggers: Digital buttons or analog sliders

Analog Sticks

• Control Stick: X/Y coordinates (-1.0 to 1.0)
• C-Stick: X/Y coordinates
• Visual circle: Click to set position
• Numeric input: Precise coordinate entry

Wiimote Controls

• Pointer: X/Y screen coordinates
• Shake: Trigger shake motion
• Tilt: Roll, pitch, yaw controls
• Extension: Nunchuk/Classic Controller inputs

Frame Advance

Step through gameplay one frame at a time (60 FPS = 16.67ms per frame).

Using Frame Advance

1. Pause Emulation

   Press pause or use hotkey

2. Set Inputs

   Configure desired inputs in TAS Input window

3. Advance One Frame

   Press frame advance hotkey

   Game processes one frame with current inputs

4. Repeat

   Modify inputs and advance frame-by-frame

Frame advance is crucial for precise timing of jumps, attacks, and movement.

Input Recording

Record controller inputs to create replayable gameplay sequences.

Recording Movies

1. Start Recording

   Movie > Start Recording Input

   Choose save location for .dtm file

2. Play Normally

   Play game normally or use TAS tools

   All inputs are recorded

3. Stop Recording

   Movie > Stop Recording/Playback

   Saves .dtm movie file

Playing Back Movies

1. Load Movie

   Movie > Play Input Recording

   Select .dtm file

2. Start Game

   Game begins from initial state

   Recorded inputs play automatically

3. Watch or Modify

   Watch playback or start re-recording

Re-recording

Modify existing recordings:

1. Load Movie for Re-record

   Movie > Play Input Recording

   Check “Re-record” option

2. Play to Desired Frame

   Let recording play to where you want changes

3. Provide New Inputs

   Take control with new inputs

   Recording continues from this point with new inputs

4. Save Changes

   Movie > Stop Recording

   Updated movie is saved

Save States

Instantly save and restore complete emulator state.

Save State Slots

Dolphin provides 10 save state slots (0-9):

Shift + F1-F10: Save to slot
F1-F10: Load from slot

State Manager

Tools > Save State Manager:

• View all states: Browse saved states with screenshots
• Load any state: Double-click to load
• Delete states: Remove unwanted states
• Export/Import: Share states with others

Best Practices

State Management

• Use different slots for different points in TAS
• Save before risky maneuvers
• Name states descriptively using State Manager
• Regularly backup state files

Save State Locations

Windows:

Documents/Dolphin Emulator/StateSaves/

macOS:

~/Library/Application Support/Dolphin/StateSaves/

Linux:

~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/StateSaves/

Save states are emulator version-specific. States from older Dolphin versions may not work on newer versions.

Frame Counter & Lag Detection

Display Frame Count

View > Show Frame Counter:

• VI (Vertical Interrupt): Game frames rendered
• FPS: Current rendering speed
• Speed: Percentage of normal speed

Lag Frames

Lag occurs when game takes >1 frame to process:

• Visible in frame counter: Lag frames noted
• Affects timing: Plan TAS around lag
• Game-dependent: Different games lag differently

Memory Watching

Monitor game memory values in real-time:

1. Open Memory Tools

   Tools > Cheats Manager

2. Add Watch

   Right-click address > Add to Watch

3. Monitor Values

   Watch window shows real-time values

   Useful for tracking position, speed, RNG, etc.

Common TAS Uses

• Position tracking: Monitor X/Y/Z coordinates
• Speed monitoring: Verify optimal movement
• RNG manipulation: Track random number generation
• Timer watching: Frame-perfect timing checks

Speed Control

Control emulation speed for precision or faster testing:

Hotkeys

Tab (hold): Fast-forward
Shift + Tab: Increase speed limit
Ctrl + Tab: Decrease speed limit

Slowdown for Precision

Emulation > Speed Limit: Custom (25%, 50%, etc.)

Useful for:

• Planning difficult sequences
• Studying game mechanics
• Identifying optimal paths

Movie File Format

Dolphin movies (.dtm) contain:

• Input data: Frame-by-frame controller inputs
• Game ID: Which game the movie is for
• Start state: Initial conditions (save state or boot)
• Frame count: Total recorded frames
• Metadata: Author, description, timestamps

Sharing Movies

For movie playback to work identically:

• Use same Dolphin version
• Same game version/region
• Same Dolphin settings
• Same starting save state (if used)

Lua Scripting

Advanced TAS creators can use Lua scripts for automation:

• Automated input: Generate inputs programmatically
• Memory manipulation: Read/write game memory
• Visual overlays: Display hitboxes, paths, info
• Bot assistance: AI-assisted input generation

Lua scripting requires programming knowledge and is for advanced users only.

TAS Workflow Example

1. Plan Route

   Research optimal path, tricks, glitches Watch existing speedruns for reference

2. Set Up Dolphin

   Configure TAS Input for all needed controllers Set up hotkeys for frame advance, save states Enable frame counter and memory watch

3. Start Recording

   Movie > Start Recording Input Begin from game start or specific save state

4. TAS Frame-by-Frame

   Use frame advance for precise inputs Save states before risky sections Re-record mistakes

5. Optimize

   Review recording for improvements Check memory values for optimality Re-record slow sections

6. Verify & Export

   Playback full movie to verify Record video with capture tools Share .dtm file and settings

Tips for TAS Creation

Input Precision

• Use numeric input for exact analog stick values
• Frame-perfect inputs require frame advance
• Save before attempting difficult tricks
• Watch memory values to verify success

Optimization

• Every frame counts: minimize lag and wait times
• Test multiple approaches to find fastest
• Study game mechanics deeply
• Use community knowledge and existing TASes

Recording Quality

• Use high resolution and enhancements for video
• Configure graphics settings before recording
• Disable speed limit during final recording
• Add HUD elements (input display, frame counter)

Troubleshooting

Movie Desyncs on Playback

• Verify exact same Dolphin version
• Check game version/region matches
• Ensure settings are identical
• Confirm save state (if used) is same
• Disable “Dual Core” for better sync stability

Frame Advance Too Fast

• Reduce emulation speed limit
• Use slower hotkey repeat rate
• Consider using Lua script for controlled advance

Inputs Not Recording

• Verify recording is active (Movie menu shows “Stop”)
• Check TAS Input is selected in controller config
• Ensure you’re using TAS Input window, not physical controller

Save States Crash

• Update to latest Dolphin version
• Don’t use states across different versions
• Verify game image is not corrupted
• Try different save slot

Community Resources

• TASVideos: Community hub for TAS creation and submission
• Dolphin Forums: TAS discussion and help
• Game-specific Discord servers: Detailed game knowledge
• YouTube: Watch existing TASes for inspiration

Recommended Settings for TAS

General:
  Enable Dual Core: OFF (better sync stability)
  Enable Idle Skipping: OFF (consistent timing)
  
Graphics:
  Internal Resolution: Native (fastest, most stable)
  Enhancements: Disable (reduce lag)
  
GameCube/Wii:
  Controller Ports: TAS Input
  Memory Card: Enabled (if needed for saves)

Disable enhancements during TAS creation for stability. Enable them when recording video for presentation.

Related Topics

Cheats & Action Replay

Memory modification and cheat codes

RetroAchievements

Achievement tracking during gameplay