fixed severe audio slowdown on the news report at begin of the game

fixed severe audio slowdown on the news report at begin of the game

docs/VCS_PERF_V82_CPU_RUNTIME_LEAN_HANDOFF_2026-08-17.md

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+# VCS PERF V8.2 CPU RUNTIME LEAN — handoff
+
+Date: 2026-08-17
+
+## Baseline and reason for this stage
+
+V8.1 CPU LEAN is the protected baseline. The user reported that it fixed the
+slow-motion feeling at low FPS. Its runtime architecture therefore remains
+unchanged where timing/scheduling is concerned.
+
+The latest V8.1 log confirms the CPU direction is better than V7/V8 under heavy
+workload. Using all windows with at least 50k game draws:
+
+- V7: 12.781 ms guest CPU, 57.29 FPS (120 windows, mean 74,461 draws)
+- V8: 12.952 ms guest CPU, 56.70 FPS (124 windows, mean 74,482 draws)
+- V8.1: 11.969 ms guest CPU, 60.69 FPS (122 windows, mean 76,124 draws)
+
+These are workload-threshold aggregates, not deterministic replay pairs. V8.2
+therefore does not alter the V8.1 frame/tick behavior; it targets repeated native
+chain overhead and code footprint.
+
+## 1. Generic PSPRecomp runtime-chain telemetry compile switch
+
+New CMake option:
+
+`PSPRECOMP_RUNTIME_CHAIN_TELEMETRY`
+
+The generic framework defaults it ON so profiling capability remains available.
+The VCS production build script defaults it OFF.
+
+When OFF, the compiler removes per-chain branches/counters for:
+
+- `g_guest_hotspot_profile_enabled`
+- `g_guest_hotspot_unit_calls`
+- guest-hotspot sampling clocks/records
+- `g_unit_profile_enabled`
+- `g_unit_profile_counts`
+
+from compile-time direct chains, dynamic generated-unit chains, and Tier-2 fused
+transfer entry accounting.
+
+This does **not** disable the low-overhead VCS `PERF` telemetry used for FPS,
+guest CPU, GE, Present and renderer workload measurements.
+
+To produce a deep diagnostic build:
+
+```bat
+set PSPRECOMP_RUNTIME_CHAIN_TELEMETRY=ON
+profiles\vcs\BUILD_VCS_NINJA.bat
+```
+
+## 2. PSP scheduler/tick semantics are protected
+
+The following mechanisms are unchanged from V8.1:
+
+- `PSPRECOMP_TIME_TICK_DISPATCHES` policy
+- `g_runtime_starvation_interval_fast`
+- `dispatches_since_import_`
+- `run_starvation_boundary()`
+- context-switch invalidation / native-chain unwind behavior
+- `account_inlined_generated_leaf()` scheduler cadence
+- Tier-2 fused-transfer scheduler accounting
+
+This is intentional because V8.1 resolved the user's low-FPS slow-motion feeling.
+
+## 3. Five tiny Boundary leaf wrappers removed
+
+The Boundary cluster has four unit-0206 targets that pass the existing static
+leaf validator:
+
+- `0x08B3E084`
+- `0x08B3E08C` (two call sites)
+- `0x08B3E254`
+- `0x08B3E260`
+
+Total transformed sites: **5**.
+
+The validator rejects nested generated/HLE/syscall calls, non-`$ra` returns and
+foreign explicit PC exits. Each transformed site invokes the exact generated
+entry and then calls `account_inlined_generated_leaf()` so the removed native
+wrapper still contributes exactly one scheduler work edge.
+
+No World direct-leaf expansion was enabled because previous experimentation
+showed a compiler/codegen cliff when broad direct-leaf work was mixed with
+World's GPR shadow.
+
+## 4. Geometry/World protected shape
+
+V8.2 deliberately keeps:
+
+- Geometry: **379 blocks**, no GPR shadow, no inline/direct-leaf experiment
+- World: **402 blocks**, no new direct-leaf experiment
+- Tier-2 total: **1,060 blocks**
+- static fused calls: **36**
+- static fused tails: **13**
+- Tier-2 direct-fastmem: **1,969 sites**
+
+This avoids repeating V8's I-cache/code-size regression.
+
+## Static code-size evidence
+
+Same compiler/flags, Linux x86-64, V8.1 vs V8.2:
+
+- generated unit 0085 `.text`: 374,333 -> 354,075 bytes (**-5.41%**)
+- generated unit 0158 `.text`: 360,754 -> 345,782 bytes (**-4.15%**)
+- Geometry Tier-2 `.text`: 170,247 -> 161,163 bytes (**-5.34%**), still 379 blocks
+- Boundary Tier-2 `.text`: 24,937 -> 18,257 bytes (**-26.79%**)
+
+`nm` audit on V8.2 unit 0085 shows no references to the guest-hotspot/unit-profile
+symbols that were present in the V8.1 object.
+
+## Isolated wrapper microbenchmark
+
+20 million calls, x86-64 optimized build, scheduler interval disabled to isolate
+native wrapper overhead:
+
+- ordinary `invoke_chained_direct`: ~2.8 ns/call
+- statically proven leaf direct call + `account_inlined_generated_leaf`: ~1.1–1.2 ns/call
+
+This microbenchmark only validates the local mechanism. It is **not** a game-FPS
+claim; Windows VCS gameplay remains authoritative.
+
+## Validation
+
+Passed:
+
+- `psprecomp_tests`
+- `vcs_profile_tests` (scheduler/callback/framebuffer)
+- `vcs_config_tests`
+- `vfpu_tier2_tests`
+- V8.2 static audit
+- 10/10 hooked generated units syntax-checked with production macros
+- 7/7 Tier-2 cluster objects compiled
+- generated unit 0085 optimized object compile
+- generated unit 0158 optimized object compile
+- Geometry/Boundary optimized object A/B code-size builds
+
+A full Linux VCSNative link was started. The 234-unit O3 generated corpus exceeds
+the interactive build window; no source diagnostic occurred before interruption.
+The Windows VS2022/Ninja build is authoritative for the full executable.
+
+## Runtime identity
+
+Expected log:
+
+```text
+stage=perf-v8.2-cpu-runtime-lean-2026-08-17
+...
+guest_hotspot=0 ... chain_telemetry_compiled=0
+...
+perf_layer=8 cpu_lean_revision=2 runtime_chain_telemetry_default=0
+...
+direct_generated_leaf_sites=5
+geometry_fusion_rollback=1
+```
+
+## What to compare
+
+Primary comparison is V8.2 against V8.1, not against the rejected V8 build.
+Compare `guest_cpu_us_avg` and FPS for similar draw bins, especially 50k+, 70k+
+and 90k+ game draws. The game-speed/slow-motion feeling must remain identical to
+V8.1; any regression there invalidates this stage regardless of average FPS.
+
+## Progress estimate
+
+- overall VCS recomp project: **~92%**
+- CPU/Tier-2 architecture: **~97%**
+- >150 FPS headroom goal: **~61%**, pending V8.2 Windows gameplay benchmark

docs/VCS_PERF_V82_CPU_RUNTIME_LEAN_STATS_2026-08-17.json

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{
+  "stage": "perf-v8.2-cpu-runtime-lean-2026-08-17",
+  "base": "perf-v8.1-cpu-lean-2026-08-17",
+  "protected_baseline": {
+    "slow_motion_feeling_fixed": true,
+    "geometry_blocks": 379,
+    "world_blocks": 402,
+    "tier2_hot_blocks": 1060,
+    "tier2_direct_mem_sites": 1969,
+    "scheduler_tick_semantics_changed": false
+  },
+  "runtime_chain_optimization": {
+    "generic_psprecomp_option": "PSPRECOMP_RUNTIME_CHAIN_TELEMETRY",
+    "generic_default": true,
+    "vcs_performance_default": false,
+    "perf_telemetry_preserved": true,
+    "scheduler_accounting_preserved": true
+  },
+  "boundary_direct_generated_leaves": {
+    "targets": ["0x08B3E084", "0x08B3E08C", "0x08B3E254", "0x08B3E260"],
+    "call_sites": 5,
+    "world_experiment_enabled": false,
+    "geometry_experiment_enabled": false
+  },
+  "static_text_bytes": {
+    "generated_unit_0085": {"v81": 374333, "v82": 354075, "reduction_percent": 5.41},
+    "generated_unit_0158": {"v81": 360754, "v82": 345782, "reduction_percent": 4.15},
+    "tier2_geometry": {"v81": 170247, "v82": 161163, "reduction_percent": 5.34},
+    "tier2_boundary": {"v81": 24937, "v82": 18257, "reduction_percent": 26.79}
+  },
+  "isolated_microbench_ns_per_call": {
+    "ordinary_invoke_chained_direct_approx": 2.8,
+    "direct_leaf_plus_scheduler_accounting_approx_range": [1.1, 1.2],
+    "game_fps_claim": false
+  },
+  "v81_runtime_baseline_ge_50000_draws": {
+    "windows": 122,
+    "guest_cpu_ms_mean": 11.969,
+    "fps_mean": 60.69,
+    "game_draws_mean": 76124
+  },
+  "validation": {
+    "psprecomp_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_profile_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_config_tests": "PASS",
+    "vfpu_tier2_tests": "PASS",
+    "v82_static_audit": "PASS",
+    "hook_units_syntax": "10/10 PASS",
+    "tier2_cluster_objects": "7/7 PASS",
+    "full_linux_vcsnative_link": "NOT COMPLETED: generated O3 corpus exceeded interactive build window without source diagnostic",
+    "windows_vs2022": "PENDING USER BUILD"
+  },
+  "progress_estimate": {
+    "overall_project_percent": 92,
+    "cpu_tier2_architecture_percent": 97,
+    "performance_150fps_goal_percent": 61
+  }
+}

docs/VCS_V8_2_1_CORRECTNESS_SAVE_AUDIO_NEWS_HANDOFF_2026-08-17.md

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+# VCSNative V8.2.1 — Correctness: Save + SAS loops + NEWS radio
+
+**Date:** 2026-08-17  
+**Base:** PSPRecomp-VCS-PERF-V8.2-CPU-RUNTIME-LEAN-2026-08-17  
+**Stage:** `correctness-v8.2.1-save-audio-news-2026-08-17`
+
+## Why this release exists
+
+Performance work is intentionally paused. V8.1/V8.2 restored the correct gameplay-speed feeling, but three correctness risks have priority before further CPU work:
+
+1. after a real successful Save Game, some later mission states can leave a black screen;
+2. a vehicle-related SAS effect (reported most clearly on motorcycles, possibly brake/engine) can remain looped until entering the menu;
+3. NEWS radio transitions may still hitch when a second ATRAC stream starts.
+
+The V8.2 Tier-2 shape, Geometry rollback, scheduler cadence and runtime-chain lean path are unchanged.
+
+## 1. Save Game black-screen hardening
+
+### Firmware lifecycle fix
+
+The successful LISTSAVE result path previously did all of these at once when the user acknowledged `SAVE COMPLETED`:
+
+- changed the utility state to `Quit`;
+- destroyed the host savedata UI;
+- immediately cleared `display_window`'s system-utility ownership.
+
+The guest had **not yet** observed `Quit` and called `sceUtilitySavedataShutdownStart`. The new path keeps system-utility ownership through that final PSP utility transition and releases it only from the existing ShutdownStart/Finished path.
+
+This does not reuse or alter the older V9.6 LISTSAVE-cancel workaround. Load cancellation behavior remains unchanged.
+
+### Transactional slot writes
+
+The previous save writer truncated `DATA.BIN` before validating/writing every optional payload. Mission-dependent ICON/PIC/SND descriptors could therefore fail after the main file was already replaced.
+
+V8.2.1 now:
+
+1. validates and snapshots the main game save buffer;
+2. validates and snapshots every supplied optional savedata buffer;
+3. stages every host file beside its final target;
+4. moves any old file to a temporary backup;
+5. commits the staged files;
+6. rolls all already-committed files back if a later commit fails;
+7. removes backups only after the complete commit succeeds.
+
+`VCSNative.meta` remains host-only decoration and cannot turn a valid game save into a failed PSP save operation.
+
+A regression test creates an existing `DATA.BIN`, deliberately makes a later auxiliary target impossible, requires the transaction to fail, and verifies the old `DATA.BIN` remains byte-for-byte intact.
+
+## 2. Stuck motorcycle / vehicle sound
+
+The SAS error value `0x80420016` is now named `kSasErrorInvalidState` rather than the misleading `kSasErrorVoicePaused`.
+
+More importantly, `__sceSasSetKeyOff` no longer rejects an active voice merely because that voice is currently mixer-paused. Pause is treated as a mixer gate, while KeyOff still latches:
+
+- `on = false`;
+- envelope phase = `Release`.
+
+This closes the state hole where a looped VAG vehicle voice could be paused during a transition, receive a rejected KeyOff, and later resume with its key still logically held.
+
+The existing zero-release-rate safeguard remains in place. A new regression test exercises:
+
+`looped VAG -> paused -> KeyOff -> unpause -> Release -> retired`
+
+and requires the voice to reach zero envelope and stop playing.
+
+## 3. NEWS radio hitch investigation/fix
+
+### Removed synchronous source scan from the common path
+
+ATRAC setup previously identified a host source by iterating all registered AT3/AA3/OMA files with the same size, opening each candidate synchronously and reading up to 256 header bytes.
+
+V8.2.1 records the native path associated with a normal file descriptor. When `sceIoRead` fills a guest buffer from an ATRAC source, it records the exact producer for that guest buffer. `sceAtracSetHalfwayBufferAndGetID` then resolves the source directly from that buffer address:
+
+- no directory-sized candidate scan;
+- no host file open;
+- no header reread in the common case.
+
+A bounded 256-byte prefix cache remains only as a fallback for raw virtual-disc layouts where the direct fd-to-buffer association is unavailable. Each fallback file is read at most once.
+
+### Runtime proof in normal VCSNative.log
+
+No environment variable is required. Low-volume lines are now written to the normal runtime log:
+
+```text
+ATRAC_SOURCE resolve_us=... candidates=... direct_buffer=1 fallback_reads=0 ... source=NEWS_....AT3
+ATRAC_DECODE source=NEWS_....AT3 open=1 decode_us=... bytes=... sample=... slow_events=...
+```
+
+`ATRAC_DECODE` is emitted for every decoder open and for later decode calls taking at least 2 ms. Therefore the next physical NEWS test can distinguish:
+
+- source resolution stall;
+- FFmpeg decoder-open stall;
+- slow steady-state decode.
+
+This release removes the known synchronous resolver scan. It does **not** claim that FFmpeg opening a brand-new NEWS decoder is already proven hitch-free; the new log makes that measurable before a more invasive decoder-prewarm change is considered.
+
+## Preserved V8.2 performance baseline
+
+Unchanged:
+
+- hot blocks: 1,060;
+- static fused calls: 36;
+- Geometry inline generated leaves: 0;
+- Boundary direct generated leaf sites: 5;
+- `cpu_lean_revision=2`;
+- Geometry fusion rollback active;
+- direct fastmem active;
+- GE async quarantined/off;
+- parallel vertex decode quarantined/off;
+- scheduler/starvation cadence unchanged.
+
+## Runtime identity
+
+Expected header:
+
+```text
+stage=correctness-v8.2.1-save-audio-news-2026-08-17
+...
+correctness_revision=821
+save_transaction=1
+save_shutdown_lifecycle=1
+sas_paused_keyoff=1
+atrac_direct_source=1
+atrac_stall_diag=1
+```
+
+## Validation completed
+
+- `vcs_profile.cpp` VCSNative Release object: PASS.
+- `vcs_runtime_log.cpp` VCSNative Release object: PASS.
+- `psprecomp_tests`: PASS.
+- `vcs_profile_tests`: PASS.
+- `vcs_config_tests`: PASS.
+- `vfpu_tier2_tests`: PASS.
+- V8.2 CPU runtime-lean audit: PASS.
+- V8.2.1 correctness static audit: **13/13 PASS**.
+- transactional save rollback fixture: PASS as part of `vcs_profile_tests`.
+- paused looped-SAS KeyOff fixture: PASS as part of `vcs_profile_tests`.
+- changed-source audit for the prohibited external emulator name: PASS.
+
+A full fresh Linux VCSNative link was not repeated because this host-only correctness overlay does not modify generated AOT/Tier-2/DX12 code; the changed VCSNative target objects were compiled directly. Windows VS2022/Ninja plus real VCS gameplay remains authoritative.
+
+## Windows build / install
+
+Preferred path from current V8.2 source: extract the V8.2.1 overlay over it, overwrite files, **do not delete `out`**, then run:
+
+```bat
+profiles\vcs\BUILD_VCS_NINJA.bat
+```
+
+The new one-shot stamp invalidates only `vcs_profile` and `vcs_runtime_log` objects. Generated AOT, Tier-2 and DX12 objects are preserved.
+
+## Physical test order
+
+1. Load the same save and complete several missions.
+2. Save into an existing slot and a new slot; acknowledge `SAVE COMPLETED`; verify normal return every time.
+3. Reproduce the motorcycle/vehicle sound that previously stuck; enter/leave pause and vehicles repeatedly; verify no effect survives incorrectly.
+4. Listen until a NEWS bulletin starts. If any hitch remains, provide the new `VCSNative(...).log`; inspect `ATRAC_SOURCE` and `ATRAC_DECODE` around the NEWS filename.
+
+## Progress estimate
+
+- Overall VCS recomp project: **~92%**.
+- Correctness/frontend/audio stabilization: **~94% implementation**, pending physical Windows verification of these three reports.
+- CPU/Tier-2 optimization: remains **~97% architectural work**, intentionally paused here.
+- 150+ FPS headroom objective: unchanged from V8.2 and not advanced by this correctness release.

docs/VCS_V8_2_1_CORRECTNESS_SAVE_AUDIO_NEWS_STATS_2026-08-17.json

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+  "release": "PSPRecomp-VCS-V8.2.1-CORRECTNESS-SAVE-AUDIO-NEWS-2026-08-17",
+  "base": "PSPRecomp-VCS-PERF-V8.2-CPU-RUNTIME-LEAN-2026-08-17",
+  "stage": "correctness-v8.2.1-save-audio-news-2026-08-17",
+  "performance_baseline_preserved": {
+    "hot_blocks": 1060,
+    "static_fused_calls": 36,
+    "static_fused_tail": 13,
+    "hooks": 25,
+    "boundary_direct_generated_leaf_sites": 5,
+    "geometry_direct_generated_leaf_sites": 0,
+    "cpu_lean_revision": 2,
+    "scheduler_changed": false,
+    "geometry_changed": false,
+    "dx12_changed": false
+  },
+  "savedata": {
+    "transactional_buffer_snapshot": true,
+    "stage_before_replace": true,
+    "rollback_on_commit_failure": true,
+    "listsave_system_utility_released_at_shutdown": true,
+    "v9_6_cancel_policy_changed": false
+  },
+  "sas": {
+    "error_80420016_name": "InvalidState",
+    "keyoff_while_paused_latches_release": true,
+    "zero_release_fallback_preserved": true,
+    "paused_loop_regression_test": true
+  },
+  "news_atrac": {
+    "direct_sceIoRead_buffer_source_resolution": true,
+    "common_path_host_file_scan": false,
+    "lazy_prefix_fallback_bytes": 256,
+    "runtime_source_timing_log": true,
+    "runtime_decode_open_timing_log": true,
+    "slow_decode_threshold_us": 2000,
+    "ffmpeg_open_hitch_physically_verified": false
+  },
+  "validation": {
+    "psprecomp_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_profile_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_config_tests": "PASS",
+    "vfpu_tier2_tests": "PASS",
+    "v8_2_baseline_audit": "PASS",
+    "v8_2_1_correctness_audit": "13/13 PASS",
+    "vcsnative_vcs_profile_object": "PASS",
+    "vcsnative_runtime_log_object": "PASS"
+  },
+  "progress_estimate_percent": {
+    "overall": 92,
+    "correctness_frontend_audio_implementation": 94,
+    "cpu_tier2_architecture": 97
+  }
+}

docs/VCS_V8_2_2_CORRECTNESS_RECOVERY_HANDOFF_2026-08-17.md

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# VCSNative V8.2.2 Correctness Recovery — Save / SAS / ATRAC
+
+Date: 2026-08-17
+Base: V8.2 CPU Runtime Lean stable source (not V8.2.1)
+Estimated total VCS recomp project progress: ~92%
+
+## Why this recovery exists
+
+The physical V8.2.1 test did not fix the stuck vehicle sound and introduced/revealed an infinite mission-interior Loading state. The supplied runtime log shows the Loading screen is active rather than blocked: from vblank 20461 onward the same 4500 game draws / 4080 GPU draws / 420 merges repeat with host I/O at zero for thousands of vblanks. There are no savedata operations in that run before the interior stall.
+
+V8.2.2 therefore rebases correctness work onto the previously stable V8.2 source and does not carry forward the speculative V8.2.1 paused-KeyOff or LISTSAVE lifecycle changes.
+
+## 1. Mission-interior Loading regression recovery
+
+- Source base restored to V8.2 for runtime behavior.
+- V8.2.1 paused-KeyOff behavior removed.
+- V8.2.1 LISTSAVE host-ownership/lifecycle experiment removed.
+- Tier-2, scheduler, Geometry, World, DX12 and performance architecture are unchanged from V8.2.
+
+This removes V8.2.1-specific runtime changes from the mission/interior path. Physical gameplay remains authoritative to prove the interior transition is restored.
+
+## 2. SAS audio correctness
+
+### Latched EndFlag
+
+The old HLE returned `!voice.playing` directly from `__sceSasGetEndFlag`. PSP SAS exposes end flags as a snapshot refreshed by a completed Core mixer cycle. V8.2.2 stores `SasState::end_flags` and refreshes it only after `sas_mix_into` / `sas_mix_raw` completes.
+
+This prevents guest audio control code from observing a voice transition before the mixer cycle that publishes it, which can otherwise cause premature voice reuse/rearming.
+
+### VAG loop predictor restoration
+
+The decoder already captured `loop_start_history1/2`, but `rewind_loop()` never restored them. V8.2.2 restores both predictor histories on every loop jump. This makes every pass through a loop start from the same ADPCM decoder state instead of accumulating waveform drift.
+
+### What was deliberately reverted
+
+The V8.2.1 helper that accepted KeyOff while a voice was paused is gone. V8.2 paused-KeyOff behavior is restored until a physical trace proves a different state transition is required.
+
+## 3. Savedata
+
+The useful transactional write protection is retained, but the UI/status lifecycle is exactly the V8.2/V9.6 behavior again.
+
+Before replacing an existing slot, V8.2.2 snapshots all guest buffers, stages DATA.BIN and optional auxiliary files to temporary host files, and commits only after all staging succeeds. A failure rolls the old slot back instead of leaving DATA.BIN partially replaced.
+
+Normal VCSNative.log now records low-volume LISTSAVE diagnostics:
+
+- `SAVEDATA_SAVE result=... data=... icon0=... icon1=... pic1=... snd0=...`
+- `SAVEDATA_SAVE acknowledged status=QUIT`
+- `SAVEDATA_SAVE shutdown status=FINISHED`
+
+These lines will distinguish an I/O/descriptor failure from a guest frontend transition if the original post-save black screen still reproduces.
+
+## 4. ATRAC / radio NEWS stall
+
+V8.2.1 attempted direct source tracking only for ordinary host-file reads. The physical log showed every observed source resolution as `direct_buffer=0`, proving the radio was taking another path. VCS commonly reads these streams through the virtual UMD handle.
+
+V8.2.2 maps virtual-disc read offsets back to the indexed `VirtualDiscFile` before the read, associates an ATRAC guest destination buffer with the exact AT3/AA3/OMA source, and consumes that mapping in `sceAtracSetHalfwayBufferAndGetID`.
+
+The old content-header search remains only as fallback. `ATRAC_SOURCE` and `ATRAC_DECODE` remain low-volume runtime diagnostics.
+
+Expected healthy line:
+
+`ATRAC_SOURCE resolve_us=<small> direct_buffer=1 fallback_reads=0 source=...AT3`
+
+The V8.2.1 physical log contained a 7152 us source lookup while the matching decoder open was only 431 us, so source resolution itself was still capable of producing a visible radio hitch.
+
+## Validation
+
+- CMake Release/Ninja configure: PASS
+- changed `vcs_profile.cpp` object: PASS
+- changed `vcs_runtime_log.cpp` object: PASS
+- psprecomp_tests: PASS
+- vcs_profile_tests: PASS
+- vcs_config_tests: PASS
+- vfpu_tier2_tests: PASS
+- V8.2 CPU runtime lean audit: PASS
+- V8.2.2 correctness recovery audit: PASS (15 checks)
+- forbidden external-emulator reference audit: PASS
+
+The full Windows/DX12 executable was not linked in the Linux container. VS2022/Ninja on the user's machine remains the authoritative full build and physical runtime test.
+
+## Physical test order
+
+1. Enter the same mission interior that looped on Loading. This is the first gate.
+2. Reproduce the motorcycle/vehicle sound that used to stay looped; verify it retires without opening the menu.
+3. Save after several missions and complete the Save UI. If black returns, send the new log; the SAVEDATA_SAVE lines now expose the exact result/descriptor state.
+4. Let radio/news transitions occur. Check whether `ATRAC_SOURCE` is now `direct_buffer=1 fallback_reads=0`, and report any visible hitch.
+
+Do not resume CPU optimization until these correctness gates pass.

docs/VCS_V8_2_2_CORRECTNESS_RECOVERY_STATS_2026-08-17.json

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+  "release": "V8.2.2 Correctness Recovery",
+  "date": "2026-08-17",
+  "base": "V8.2 CPU Runtime Lean",
+  "estimated_total_project_progress_percent": 92,
+  "runtime_stage": "correctness-v8.2.2-recovery-save-audio-news-2026-08-17",
+  "recovery": {
+    "v821_paused_keyoff_removed": true,
+    "v821_save_lifecycle_experiment_removed": true,
+    "tier2_scheduler_geometry_unchanged_from_v82": true
+  },
+  "sas": {
+    "end_flags_latched_after_core": true,
+    "vag_loop_predictor_history_restored": true
+  },
+  "savedata": {
+    "transactional_commit": true,
+    "rollback_on_staging_or_commit_failure": true,
+    "v82_v96_lifecycle_preserved": true,
+    "runtime_save_diagnostics": true
+  },
+  "atrac": {
+    "regular_file_buffer_source_tracking": true,
+    "virtual_umd_buffer_source_tracking": true,
+    "header_scan_fallback_retained": true,
+    "source_and_decode_timing_log": true,
+    "v821_observed_max_source_resolution_us": 7152,
+    "matching_decode_open_us": 431
+  },
+  "loading_loop_observation": {
+    "first_stable_vblank": 20461,
+    "last_observed_vblank": 24481,
+    "repeated_game_draws": 4500,
+    "repeated_gpu_draws": 4080,
+    "repeated_batch_merges": 420,
+    "io_us_avg": 0
+  },
+  "validation": {
+    "psprecomp_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_profile_tests": "PASS",
+    "vcs_config_tests": "PASS",
+    "vfpu_tier2_tests": "PASS",
+    "v82_static_audit": "PASS",
+    "v822_static_audit": "PASS",
+    "changed_host_objects": "PASS",
+    "full_windows_runtime": "PENDING_PHYSICAL_TEST"
+  }
+}