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{{Infobox console
{{Infobox information appliance
|image = Pioneer-LaserActive-Set-FL.jpg
| image = Pioneer-LaserActive-Set-FL.jpg
|caption = LaserActive CLD-A100 with the Sega Genesis PAC module installed
| caption = LaserActive CLD-A100 with the Sega Genesis PAC module installed
|aka = NEC LD-ROM² System
| manufacturer = [[Pioneer Corporation]]
|manufacturer = Pioneer Corporation
| type = [[Technological convergence|Converged device]], [[:Category:Home video game consoles|home video game console]]
|family = [[LaserDisc]]
| generation = [[:Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles|Fourth]]
|type = Converged device, [[:Category:Home consoles|home video game console]]
| releasedate = JP: August 20, 1993<br/>NA: September 13, 1993
|generation = [[:Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles|Fourth]]
| discontinued = 1996
|releasedate = JP: August 20, 1993<br/>NA: September 13, 1993
| emulated = {{Ya}}
|price = {{Unbulleted indent list
}}
  |{{JPY|89800|1993|round=0}}
The '''[[gametech:Pioneer LaserActive|Pioneer LaserActive]]''' is a converged, fourth-generation device capable of playing [[LaserDisc]]s, compact discs, console games, and LD-G karaoke discs. It was released by [[wikipedia:Pioneer_Corporation|Pioneer Corporation]] in 1993. In addition to LaserActive games, separately sold [[#Hardware_features_and_peripherals|add-on modules]] (called "PACs" by Pioneer) accept [[Sega Genesis emulators|Genesis/Mega Drive]] and [[PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) emulators|PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16]] ROM cartridges and CD-ROMs.
  |{{USD|970|1993|round=0}}
  }}
|discontinued = 1996
|unitssold = est. 10,000
|unitsshipped =
|media = {{Unbulleted indent list
  |Native: [[LaserDisc]], [[CD]]
  |With LD-ROM² PAC: {{nowrap|[[LD-ROM]]}} (LD{{nbhyph}}ROM²), {{nowrap|[[CD-ROM]]}} ({{nowrap|[[CD-ROM²]]}}), [[Hucard]]
  |With Mega-LD PAC: {{nowrap|[[LD-ROM]]}} (Mega{{nbhyph}}LD), {{nowrap|[[CD-ROM]]}} ({{nowrap|[[Mega-CD]]}}/{{nowrap|[[Sega CD]]}}), [[Sega Genesis]]/[[Mega Drive]] cartridges
  }}
|power =
|cpu =
|storage =
|memory =
|display =
|graphics =
|sound =
|input =
|controllers = {{Unbulleted indent list
  |Sega Genesis 6-Button Controller
  |Turbografx-16 Controller
  }}
|dimensions =
|weight =
|topgame =
|compatibility =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|related =
|emulated = {{✓}}
}}The '''[[gametech:Pioneer LaserActive|Pioneer LaserActive]]''' is a converged, fourth-generation device capable of playing [[LaserDisc]]s, compact discs, console games, and LD-G karaoke discs. It was released by [[wikipedia:Pioneer_Corporation|Pioneer Corporation]] in 1993. In addition to LaserActive games, separately sold [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|add-on modules]] (called "PACs" by Pioneer) accept [[Sega Genesis emulators|Genesis/Mega Drive]] and [[PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) emulators|PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16]] ROM cartridges and CD-ROMs.


Pioneer released the LaserActive model '''CLD-A100''' in Japan on August 20, 1993, at a cost of ¥89,800 and in the United States on September 13, 1993, at a cost of {{Inflation|USD|970|1993}}. NEC later released a cloned version of the system, the NEC PDE-LD1, which also accepted Pioneer's PAC modules. The LaserActive was a commercial failure.
Pioneer released the LaserActive model '''CLD-A100''' in Japan on August 20, 1993, at a cost of ¥89,800 and in the United States on September 13, 1993, at a cost of {{Inflation|USD|970|1993}}. NEC later released a cloned version of the system, the NEC PDE-LD1, which also accepted Pioneer's PAC modules. The LaserActive was a commercial failure.
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|[[ares]]
|[[ares]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases/tag/nightly nightly]<br/>[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases]<br/>||{{Ya}} ||{{Green}} {{License|ISC}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{Emulator compatibility|link=https://ares-emu.net/compatibility/pioneer-laseractive?status=-1|23|26}} <ref group="lower-alpha">There were [https://techdocs.exodusemulator.com/Console/PioneerLaserActive/Titles.html 57 official titles]. Additionally, 2 ''Myst'' prototypes (for the American Sega PAC though judging by Japanese language presence inside them, the Japanese release was likely in the works) are known to exist: 02-110, 02-111 + unconfirmed 02-114 whose existence [https://forums.sonicretro.org/threads/mega-ld-dumping-project.32596/page-2#post-783915 is only known from a single low-res image]. Unreleased game ''Steel Driver'' is rumored to exist as well. Only games relevant to corresponding PAC(s) are counted. I.e. for Genesis/Mega Drive emulators, only support for Mega-LD games is counted. MegaLD and LDROM2 emulation support was built from extensive reverse-engineering of the register interface of the Pioneer PD6103A IC using the MegaLDRegEditor program below on real hardware, and most aspects of the hardware are emulated fully and correctly at this time. This is the first LaserActive emulator capable of booting and running games, with no known differences from the real hardware.</ref>
|[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases/tag/nightly nightly]<br/>[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases {{AresVer}}]<br/>||{{Ya}} ||{{Green}} {{License|ISC}} ({{License|Permissive}}) ||{{Emulator compatibility|link=https://ares-emu.net/compatibility/pioneer-laseractive?status=-1|24|26}} <ref group="lower-alpha">There were [https://techdocs.exodusemulator.com/Console/PioneerLaserActive/Titles.html 57 official titles]. Additionally, 2 ''Myst'' prototypes (for the American Sega PAC though judging by Japanese language presence inside them, the Japanese release was likely in the works) are known to exist: 02-110, 02-111 + unconfirmed 02-114 whose existence [https://forums.sonicretro.org/threads/mega-ld-dumping-project.32596/page-2#post-783915 is only known from a single low-res image]. Unreleased game ''Steel Driver'' is rumored to exist as well. Only games relevant to corresponding PAC(s) are counted. I.e. for Genesis/Mega Drive emulators, only support for Mega-LD games is counted. MegaLD and LDROM2 emulation support was built from extensive reverse-engineering of the register interface of the Pioneer PD6103A IC using the MegaLDRegEditor program below on real hardware, and most aspects of the hardware are emulated fully and correctly at this time. This is the first LaserActive emulator capable of booting and running games, with no known differences from the real hardware.</ref>
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|rowspan="6" |Post-Processing
|rowspan="6" |Post-Processing
|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br /><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>
|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/AI-powered filter compatible}}
|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|[[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]
|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/Filters}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|-
|-
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|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|[[Shader_Presets|Shader chain]]
|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/Shader chain}}
|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="12" |Quality of life
|rowspan="11" |Quality of life
|Automatic updater
|Automatic updater
|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
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|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|[[Ripping games|Capable image format support]]
|Command-line options
|{{Ya}}[[Ripping games#Analog|*]]
|-
|Command line options
|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
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|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="7" |Misc
|rowspan="8" |Misc
|Screen translator<br /><small>Using optical character recognition (OCR) and other techniques, this feature can provide live translation of in-game text, text-to-speech for visually impaired users, and more — either on demand or automatically.</small></small>
|Screen translator<br /><small>Using optical character recognition (OCR) and other techniques, this feature can provide live translation of in-game text, text-to-speech for visually impaired users, and more — either on demand or automatically.</small></small>
|colspan="6" |You can use [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/ai-service/ RetroArch's AI Service] or the standalone offline [https://github.com/bquenin/interpreter bquenin's Interpreter].
|colspan="6" |You can use [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/ai-service/ RetroArch's AI Service] or the standalone offline [https://github.com/bquenin/interpreter bquenin's Interpreter].
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|[[Sound and audio#Ambient_sounds_simulation|Ambient sounds simulation]]<br/><small>Simulation of audio from original hardware and environments, such as mechanical hard drive, floppy diskette, and optical drive noises (e.g., head seeks, spin-up/down, tray loading, disc spinning, and clicking), variable CRT flyback transformer whine (the classic high-pitched "coil whine" that dynamically changes pitch based on screen brightness and content), arcade cabinet effects (e.g., fan hum or button rattles), and other background ambient noises.</small>
|[[Sound and audio#Ambient_sounds_simulation|Ambient sounds simulation]]<br/><small>Simulation of audio from original hardware and environments, such as mechanical hard drive, floppy diskette, and optical drive noises (e.g., head seeks, spin-up/down, tray loading, disc spinning, and clicking), variable CRT flyback transformer whine (the classic high-pitched "coil whine" that dynamically changes pitch based on screen brightness and content), arcade cabinet effects (e.g., fan hum or button rattles), and other background ambient noises.</small>
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
|[[Sound and audio#Audio filters and presets|Audio filters and presets]]<br/><small>Simulation of characteristic playback limitations and coloration of vintage consumer audio hardware, such as CRT television speakers, arcade cabinets, handheld consoles, early PC sound outputs, and low-fidelity integrated speakers. These filters are not intended to be perfectly accurate recreations, but rather to evoke the tonal qualities, distortion, bandwidth limits, resonance, and compression associated with 8-bit and 16-bit era devices. Examples include mono or narrow stereo output, reduced frequency response, speaker cone distortion, mild saturation, aliasing, and preset lo-fi profiles inspired by classic TVs, portable game systems, radios, and retro multimedia hardware.</small>
|colspan="1" |Exclusive to [https://github.com/RetroCrisis/Retro-Crisis-Audio-Filters libretro cores] at the moment.
|-
|-
|[[Netplay]]
|[[Netplay]]
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|{{Dunno}}
|{{Dunno}}
|-
|-
|colspan="2" |LD player
|colspan="2" |[[Disc Drive emulation|LD player]]
|{{~}}<ref group="lower-alpha" name="LD capture">Pioneer LaserActive supports [[Home media players|Audio CD]], [[Home media players|Video CD]], [[Home media players|CD-G]], [[wikipedia:LV-ROM#LD-ROM|LD-ROM²]], [[Wikipedia:LaserDisc#LD-G|LD-G]] and [[Home media players|Laser Videodisc]]. Advanced features like frame-by-frame playback or enhanced karaoke modes (e.g., for CD+G, a related but distinct format) may require inserting a Sega PAC (S-10) or NEC PAC (N-10) for improved functionality during VCD viewing. Without the Sega PAC, the LaserActive can still play the audio portion of a CD+G disc as a standard audio CD, but it won't display the graphical content. The NEC PAC (N-10) doesn't add CD+G support in the same way, as its focus is on TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine compatibility. Unlike most optical-disc standards, LaserDisc is not fully digital, and instead requires the use of analog video signals.<br />Use [[Ripping games#Analog|this section]] for more infomation about LD capture. [https://techdocs.exodusemulator.com/Console/PioneerLaserActive/Software.html#emulation LD-ROM² disc image support added to Ares].</ref>
|{{~}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="5" |Peripherals
|rowspan="5" |Peripherals
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|-
|-
|Karaoke PAC
|Karaoke PAC
|{{Na}}<ref group="lower-alpha" name="LD capture"/>
|{{Na}}
|-
|-
|NEC PAC
|NEC PAC
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;Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)
;Sega PAC (PAC-S10/PAC-S1)
:[https://segaretro.org/Category:Mega_LD_games Mega LD games for the Pioneer LaserActive's Sega PAC expansion module]
:[https://segaretro.org/Category:Mega_LD_games Mega LD games for the Pioneer LaserActive's Sega PAC expansion module]
The Sega PAC allows the system to play [[Sega_Genesis_emulators|Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD]], and also Sega Mega LD games, in addition to [[Wikipedia:CD%2BG|CD-G media]]. Like it's counterpart, the NEC PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding [[Home_media_players|advanced playback features]] like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging. Ares supports it since v146.
The Sega PAC allows the system to play [[Sega_Genesis_emulators|Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD]], and also Sega Mega LD games, in addition to [[Wikipedia:CD%2BG|CD-G media]]. Like its counterpart, the NEC PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding [[Home_media_players|advanced playback features]] like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging. Ares supports it since v146.


;NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)/PC Engine PAC (PCE-LP1)
;NEC PAC (PAC-N10/PAC-N1)/PC Engine PAC (PCE-LP1)
:[https://consolemods.org/wiki/LaserActive:List_of_NEC_LD-ROM%C2%B2_Games consolemods: NEC LD-ROM² games for the Pioneer LaserActive's NEC PAC expansion module]
:[https://consolemods.org/wiki/LaserActive:List_of_NEC_LD-ROM%C2%B2_Games consolemods: NEC LD-ROM² games for the Pioneer LaserActive's NEC PAC expansion module]
The NEC PAC (or its alternative version the PC Engine PAC) allows the system to play [[PC_Engine_(TurboGrafx-16)_emulators|NEC PC Engine, NEC PC Engine CD-ROM²]], and also NEC LD-ROM² games, in addition to CD-G media. Like it's counterpart, the Sega PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding [[Home_media_players|advanced playback features]] like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging. Ares [https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/pull/2222 has initial support for NEC/PC Engine PAC games], full support will come in v147.
The NEC PAC (or its alternative version the PC Engine PAC) allows the system to play [[PC_Engine_(TurboGrafx-16)_emulators|NEC PC Engine, NEC PC Engine CD-ROM²]], and also NEC LD-ROM² games, in addition to CD-G media. Like it's counterpart, the Sega PAC, it also expands the LaserDisc functionality of the system by adding [[Home_media_players|advanced playback features]] like frame-by-frame view and multi-speed jogging. Ares supports it since v147.


;Karaoke PAC (PAC-K10/PAC-K1)
;Karaoke PAC (PAC-K10/PAC-K1)
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===3D Goggles (GOL-1)===
===3D Goggles (GOL-1)===
An active shutter 3D system compatible with 6 LD-ROM games: ''3D Museum'', ''Vajra 2'', ''Virtual Cameraman 2'', ''3D Virtual Australia'', ''Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video'', ''Goku''. Up to 2 goggles can be connected to a console with the 3D Goggles Adaptor (ADP-1) sold separately. The official adaptor/goggles are very rare, but any 3rd-party CRT-based LCD shutter controller can be used instead, as can any pair of LCD shutter 3D glasses that connect via 3.5mm jack (this includes the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Famicom]] 3D glasses).
An active shutter 3D system compatible with 6 LD-ROM games: ''3D Museum'', ''Vajra 2'', ''Virtual Cameraman 2'', ''3D Virtual Australia'', ''Dr. Paolo no Totteoki Video'', ''Goku''. Up to 2 goggles can be connected to a console with the 3D Goggles Adaptor (ADP-1) sold separately. The official adaptor/goggles are very rare, but any 3rd-party CRT-based LCD shutter controller can be used instead, as can any pair of LCD shutter 3D glasses that connect via 3.5mm jack (this includes the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Famicom]] 3D glasses).
==Emulation issues==
The LaserActive Project wishes to document all LaserActive media. On their FAQ page, they have this to say about the possibility of creating a LaserActive emulator:
<blockquote>Emulation of the LaserActive, if attempted at all, would be an incredibly difficult task – due to the hybrid nature of the system's hardware (utilizing Sega/NEC hardware in synchronization with the unique LD player hardware) and the analog-digital composite image (analog video background, digital in-game graphics generated by said Sega/NEC hardware).<ref>https://laseractive.wordpress.com/faq/</ref></blockquote>
Emulator developer Nemesis has made an effort to dump [https://segaretro.org/LaserActive#List_of_games the games for the system] (except for porn games).<ref name="Nemesis">https://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1647&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0</ref> Copies of the games sent to him were supposed to be dumped and then returned.<ref name="Nemesis"/>


==References==
==References==
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* {{YouTubeChannelOwner|LAPProject|LAPP YouTube page}}
* {{YouTubeChannelOwner|LAPProject|LAPP YouTube page}}
* {{YouTubeVideo|-yGxV5E7tTw|Retro RGB: Interview With LaserActive Emulation Creator: Nemesis}}
* {{YouTubeVideo|-yGxV5E7tTw|Retro RGB: Interview With LaserActive Emulation Creator: Nemesis}}
[[Category:PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16)]]
[[Category:Backward-compatible video game consoles]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis]]
[[Category:Backward-compatible consoles]]
[[Category:CD-ROM-based]]
[[Category:CD-ROM-based]]
[[Category:Discontinued consoles]]
[[Category:Discontinued video game consoles]]
[[Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Home consoles]]
[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
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