How do you connect a control panel, buttons, joysticks to PC?and PS3 or xbox360?

[Rice Cube]

Hey everyone, new to the arcade game, started my own mame arcade project and im doing the cabinet right now. but thinking down the line, ive been trying to figure out how to connect my joysticks buttons to my pc and through a little research i saw that i can use an ipac to do that. watched a video online on how someone connected their control panel. for the most part i understand the wiring, im just if...

there is another way to do it. are there any alternatives to an ipac?  i am not that good at wiring, and am wondering if there is anything out there that i can get that have that all ready for me. i saw something at paradise arcade shop but not sure how it works because im new to all this.

i would like to be able to connect to my pc and possibly an xbox 360 or ps3.

if ya got any advice it would be much appreciated, thanks, help a brotha out. later.

[emphatic]

Get one (or two) of these and you're set: http://www.focusattack.com/products/Akishop-PS360-Tri-Mod-Joystick-PCB-(3rd-Wave).html

[Rice Cube]

Hey i saw how he did it but he had an xbox 360 arcade stick already. im building my control panel/arcade stick. i understand that mine would still work as long as if i have button for each function and it is wired connectly, but this PCB doesnt support two players right?

[HaRuMaN]

You can hack 360 controllers... 

[Rice Cube]

when you say hack an xbox 360, what do you mean? im new to all this. are you saying open an xbox controller up and do it that way. im just trying to build my own 2 player control panel, and be able to somehow hook it up to my pc and xbox 360 or ps3. i just want to be able to use the control panel whenever i play my 360, ps3, or pc.

[emphatic]

Hey i saw how he did it but he had an xbox 360 arcade stick already. im building my control panel/arcade stick. i understand that mine would still work as long as if i have button for each function and it is wired connectly, but this PCB doesnt support two players right?

You get 1 PCB for each player. Then when you build your control panel, the wires for the buttons/joysticks go into the PCB. You don't even need to know how to solder. The best part is that it is compatible with XBox 360, PS3 and PC without any need to do any kind of hacking.

when you say hack an xbox 360, what do you mean? im new to all this. are you saying open an xbox controller up and do it that way. im just trying to build my own 2 player control panel, and be able to somehow hook it up to my pc and xbox 360 or ps3. i just want to be able to use the control panel whenever i play my 360, ps3, or pc.

He's suggesting instead of buying the PCB I linked to (that is somewhat more expensive) you buy a wired 360 pad and hack the controls. If you're comfortable with doing this (it's not easy) then by all means.

[HaRuMaN]

^ Right.  Hack the controller...  see my link for examples to see what I'm talking about:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76185.0

[Donkbaca]

I think what the OP is wondering is if there is a way to connect the same controls to the pc and the xbox/ps3 at the same time.

A cheaper/ easier way then that pcb is the hori ex2 stick. You can get one for 30 bucks if you look around. It's an xbox 360 stick, plug and play into a pc and already has the sticks and buttons. All you would have to do is build it into your cp, or transplant the hardware to your cp

[Rice Cube]

@donkbaca, yeah thats what i am trying to do, i want to connect the same controls to my pc and xbox 360 or ps3 at the SAME TIME.

so this hori ex 2 stick, if i wanted to have two players going i would get two, build them into my control panel, and then connect them both to my pc?

would this solve my issue. found it on paradise arcade shop, im thinking it will.

http://paradisearcadeshop.com/24-arcade-controller-to-usb.html

[Donkbaca]

That interface will let you hook up joysticks to the pc, it won't work with the xbox. 

The Hori ex2 is an arcade joystick that uses knockoff seimitsu parts, since its already wired to joysticks and buttons, you wouldn't have to hack a xbox pad, you could either build two into a cp, or transplant the sticks and buttons onto a cp, or just use the guts with your own buttons and sticks.

Not sure of a way to wire something to a pc and xbox at the same time, with the same controller.  The only thing I can think of would be to wire the microswitches in your controls to an to sets of inputs, one for the pc and one for the xbox.

Maybe you could take that paradise arcade and hook it up to your pc.  Take 2 hori sticks and connect them to your xbox an then connect the paradise arcade controller to the hori sticks.  that way when you use the hori sticks, it sends out 2 sets of inputs, one to the xbox and one to the pc.

[HaRuMaN]

if you absolutely have to have both connected at once, use something like a usb kvm switch...

or just move the usb plugs from PC to 360....

[Franco B]

Get one (or two) of these and you're set: http://www.focusattack.com/products/Akishop-PS360-Tri-Mod-Joystick-PCB-(3rd-Wave).html

^ What he said.

Wire your controls to that PCB and then connect a USB cable from the the PCB to your PC, 360 or PS3. Simple as that.

You could even use a USB switch to easily switch between consoles etc. I'm not 100% sure a digital switch would work but a manual, physical one would.

[opt2not]

I'm not 100% sure a digital switch would work but a manual, physical one would.

A digital switch works fine, have one in my Galaxbox that switches between the 360 and PC (VGA & USB). I got HarumaN to hack up a couple official controllers for me. Works great, with no problems or worries of M$ changing controller protocals to combat the "all-in-one boards" out on the market.

[Donkbaca]

glad to know the kvm switch works.  Which one do you have?

A kvm makes sense since you would want to switch the input to the monitor.

[Sark]

I've successfully used this switch to connect a 360 hacked controller to XBox and PC:
http://www.iofast.com/product_info.php/products_id/3312
I imagine most 1x2 usb switches would work.

[javeryh]

Do they make a wireless version of that PCB?

[opt2not]

glad to know the kvm switch works.  Which one do you have?

A kvm makes sense since you would want to switch the input to the monitor.

Just a cheap-o TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch. Got VGA out of my 360 and PC, and both USB connections from the controllers connected to the keyboard and mouse ports. They're only labeled that way, the switch doesn't really care what kind of USB device it is.

I got the switch mounted on the inside of the cabinet beside the coin door, so when I wanna switch it I just reach in there and press the buttons.

[Donkbaca]

You can't hotkey it to digitally switch?

[HaRuMaN]

Here's the same switch for $22, free shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-2-Port-Switch-Cables-TK-207K/dp/B000F4C310

[opt2not]

You can't hotkey it to digitally switch?

I'm sure you could.
I figured it works good the way it is, so I didn't wanna create more work for myself for something that no one is going to touch/see but me.

[ark_ader]

Anyone tried the Datel Arcade Pro Joystick?

[AndyWarne]

We have adaptors to connect an I-PAC equipped panel to PS2, PS3 and Xbox. You can use a KVM switch with these and this would switch video and sound also.
Xbox 360 is not supported owing to encrypted interface which prevents third-party controllers.

Andy

[Rice Cube]

Wondering, if I was to order the akishop 360 pcb and hack a controller, that would both work right with no problems?

[ZWC11]

You could always buy an I-PAC and buy the I-PAC to PS2 controller adapter and then buy 2 separate PS2 to Xbox 360 Adapters.

[emphatic]

Wondering, if I was to order the akishop 360 pcb and hack a controller, that would both work right with no problems?

Yes, but the Akihabarashop PCB is MUCH easier and adds support for PS3.

[Donkbaca]

But, since that pcb not digitally signed, you run the risk of Microsoft disabling it in an update

[emphatic]

But, since that pcb not digitally signed, you run the risk of Microsoft disabling it in an update

I've read lots about pad hacks breaking as well. If Microsoft "kills" this, then at least it will still work for the PS3 and PC.  Also, I'll believe that when I see it. 

[HaRuMaN]

But, since that pcb not digitally signed, you run the risk of Microsoft disabling it in an update

I've read lots about pad hacks breaking as well.

Then they aren't HarumaN Quality Hacks... 

[opt2not]

Then they aren't HarumaN Quality Hacks... 

Bam!

[emphatic]

I don't doubt your skills at all, Haruman, but I myself prefer the much smaller footprint of a custom PCB. I got a padhack in one of my cabinets, and it's enclosed in a project box with a JAMMA fingerboard so should be fine, but I still bought 2 Akihabarashop PCBs as soon as I possibly could because I wanted to make an even smaller solution for 2 players in a same size box.  

[Rice Cube]

what kind of switch should I use? I have my pc connected through VGA and the xbox 360 connected through HDMI. would i Just need a usb hub or switch. I need my 2 usbs coming from my CP to go to my xbox 360 and pc. Are there digital ones out there so I wouldnt have to manually switch from one another?

[Donkbaca]

First: You need to get a vga cable for your xbox.  Next get a KVM that switches the Monitor, sound and USB.  They have manual switches, but most also have a hot key you can press.  Not sure if you can assign the hot key to a joystick button though. 

I use a manual switch on mine that I wired to an arcade button

[Rice Cube]

Do I have to use a VGA cable witht he xbox 360? i guess i do if I went to keep the video and audio sound together right?

[emphatic]

Get the official VGA cable from Microsoft or you will regret not getting it. The third party ones I've tried all had horrible ghosting on all the whites. It comes with two RCA cables for the audio.

[Donkbaca]

I got a third party cable and it works fine, but from what I have read they are hit or miss.  You need a by cable to use a KVM switch, unless you find one that allows VGA and hdmi input, but that switch would probably be more expensive than thaw cable. You will probably need a female to female VGA adapter and a RCA to 3.5mm jack adapter and probably a female to female 3.5pm adapter too to hook everything up right