<p>A movie file is a file which contains data needed to reconstruct actions in a game.
In most emulators, the movie files consist of simply the buttons that were pressed during the game.
Because the emulation is completely predictable (deterministic), it will always play back the same way.</p>
<p>Unless the movie starts from the console power-on or from reset, the movie file might also contain a savestate that loads the beginning point of the game.
Movie files don’t contain any sound or image data. Such data is not needed, because the emulator can reconstruct it during movie playback.</p>
<p>Movie files in FCEUX are .fm2 files.
The file format is unique to FCEUX and not compatible with other movie recording versions of FCE Ultra.
Movie files from other versions (.fcm) can be converted to .fm2 for playback with the <ahref="ConvertFCMtoFM2.html">.fcm to .fm2 converter.</a></p>
<p>Movie features in FCEUX are designed specifically for making Tool-assisted Speedruns.<br>
<ahref="http://tasvideos.org">For more information visit TASVideos.</a></p>
<p>(Windows users - the default key for making a savestate is "I" and the default key for loading a state is "P". Both of these can be assigned under the <ahref="files/{4CBEC453-C1F0-4E5F-9553-7A88DB95B03C}.htm">Map Hotkeys Menu</a>).
Both can also be access through the File > Savestate Menu.
</p>
<p>Tool Assisted movies take advantage of slowing the emulator down in order to increase precision of the movie making process.
Navigating to NES > Emulation Speed > Slow down or pressing the "-" key will slow down emulation.
NES > Emulation Speed > Speed up or the "=" will speed it up. (These can be re-mapped. For windows users, see the <ahref="files/{4CBEC453-C1F0-4E5F-9553-7A88DB95B03C}.htm">Map Hotkeys Menu</a>).</p>
<p>Even greater precision can be made using the frame advance key.
Pressing the frame advance key will pause emulation and advance it a single frame (~1/60th of a second NTSC ).
By holding down input and pressing the frame advance key, it will record that input for that particular frame.
</p>
<h2>"Bullet Proof Rerecording"</h2>
<p>All savestates made during movie recording contain the movie information up to the frame of the savestate.
When a savestate is loaded, the movie file in the savestate is also loaded.
This is referred to as "Bullet Proof Rerecording" because it prevents possible desyncs and lost data from improper/out of order savestate loading.
</p>
<h2>Read only</h2>
<p> You can select read-only when playing a movie.
You can also toggle the read-only status by navigating to File > Movie > Read only.
In read-only mode a movie can not be edited.
Loading a savestate will take the movie to that point in the movie and stay in playback mode.
</p>
<p>In read-write status, loading a state will change a movie from playback mode to record mode.</p>
<h2>Resuming Recording</h2>
<p>You can resume recording a previous movie by playing back the movie, setting the record status to read+write, and then loading a state.</p>
<h2>Play Movie from Beginning</h2>
<p>At any point while recording or playing back a movie, you can navigate to File
> Movie > Play Movie from Beginning.
This will set the movie to read only status and reset playback to frame 0.</b>
</p>
<h2>Frame Counter</h2>
<p>The Frame counter displays what frame the movie is currently on.
If the movie is playing in read-only mode, it will also display the total number of frames in the movie.
The default key for toggling the Frame Counter display is the "." (period) key. (This can be re-mapped in the <ahref="files/{4CBEC453-C1F0-4E5F-9553-7A88DB95B03C}.htm">Map Hotkeys Menu</a>).
<p>The frame advance key ("backlash" key by default. Re-mappable under the <ahref="files/{4CBEC453-C1F0-4E5F-9553-7A88DB95B03C}.htm">Map Hotkeys Menu</a>)
