Newbie Here - Several questions for my first cab build and looking for advice :)

[StriderDSO]

Hey everyone,

Brand new to the forum, and cab building in general, so forgive the ignorance of some of my following questions! I’ve recently become interested in building my own MAME cab, and have already found this forum a great help. I was wondering if I might be able to get some advice/tips from you guys on a few different matters before I start my build? Sorry if anything has been covered elsewhere, but the forum is rather huge so I haven’t found everything I’m looking for yet!

First I suppose I should give some details about what I am building and what I hope to get out of it. I’m making a standup unit made from plywood (furniture grade most likely) and 2x4s (sparingly), with a four player control panel. While I know CRT is the standard, I’ve opted to go the way of a medium 27-32” LCD or plasma screen (most likely a 27” LCD computer monitor). I’ll be using the machine to play not only the old style arcade games (via MAME), but also some newer games, such as SSFIV:AE. The control panel will consist of players 1-2 having 8 buttons, while players 3-4 having 4, 4 coins and 4 starts, a trackball and 3 mouse buttons, as well as a few standard computer keys (esc, enter, tab, select, etc).

Without any real order, my questions are as follows:

1) Re. Joystick Selection
For players 3-4 I’m leaning towards getting two Ultrimarc Mag-Stik Plus joysticks (especially considering the easy 4/8-way adjustment). For players 1-2 however I figure I might buy two Ultrimarc Ultristik 360s. I’m wondering what peoples’ opinion is on the U360s as a ‘do-it-all’ controller is, seeing as I’ll be wanting something for both newer fighting games, as well as the old arcade games – any better recommendations?

2) Re. U360 Configuration
Relating to the U360s, just to make sure I understand properly, changing its setup from 4 to 8 to analogue is all done through software, right (Other than the optional restrictor plates)? Is there a better choice of joystick for offering all modes of play with ease of changing between them via software, or is the U360 what I should stick with?

3) Re. Ultrimac I-PAC4 Configuration
I’m considering the Ultrimarc I-Pac4 encoder board. These can be programmed such that any input button can be configured as anything I want, ranging from a mouse-click to a keystroke, correct?

4) Re. LED Push Buttons & Encoder
I noticed that there are LED encoders out there (ex. PACLED64), but is there any benefit if you just want the LEDs either on or off? Do they add any benefit other than offering some level of control over the LEDs brightness? As for the buttons, I’m probably going to pick up some Ultrilux or Spectralite buttons. Some sites/threads just mention wiring them directly up to a 5v (or 12v if need be) terminal of a PC PSU – aren’t resistors necessary for each button?

5) Re. Control Panel Overlay & Side Art
What is the common material people are having their artwork printed on that is durable enough to be glued/laminated to the CP and/or side and withstand playing? Or what are people sealing/laminating the overlays with – just very thin acrylic?

6) Re. Lighting – Cold Cathode, Neon Flexwire/EL Wire
Thinking of using some lighting for the cab, and just wondering if anyone has any experience using CCs, or neon flexwire/EL wire – are they easy to work with and worth the money, or are there better alternatives?

7) Re. Additional Emulators/Common Frontend
Other than MAME and some newer games like SSFIV:AE, I was also considering getting some other emulators (NES, SNES, SMS, SG, etc) and was wondering if there is a single front end that I can install to manage/play all my ROMs through, or will I need to use a separate one for each? Am I right in thinking something like Maximus Arcade is what I need – are there any free alternatives?

Re. ROM movies/Sample Clips
Are there any other options other than EmuMovies for this? What front ends can use them, and how can you make your own? Do any frontends come with either movies or screen captures built in?

I apologize again for any of these topics that are covered in other threads (most likely some are), but there are just so many to go through! Thanks for any help you can offer!

[markronz]

I will address at least a few of your questions:

1) Re. Joystick Selection
U360's are wildly popular, and they really are the best (IMHO) do-it all joystick.   To my knowledge there are no other joysticks out there that really do it all, or change profiles via software.  You'll likely want the harder springs and some restrictor plates for them.

2) Re. U360 Configuration
U360 all the way.   none of the others are done via software.  The only complaint or difference by people seems to be that some people like physical restriction in controls, versus just the software changing.  But the optional restrictor can help with that, if that bothers you.   Personally, that doesn't really bother me though.

3) Re. Ultrimac I-PAC4 Configuration
I will let someone else confirm this.   I know they can absolutely be reconfigured.  The part I am questioning is whether the IPAC can handle mouse clicks.   I was under the impression that a keyboard encoder would not be able to handle mouse clicks.  But I usually use GGG's KeyWiz myself.   Anyway, a lot of trackball options out there do come with mouse buttons, since a trackball is basically just a fancy mouse.  So if the IPAC can't do mouse clicks, you should be able to find a trackball that can.


4) Re. LED Push Buttons & Encoder
You can have as much control as you want with a PAC LED, or a LED-WIZ if you use a piece of software such as LEDBlinky.   You can control the brightness (intensity), you can flash them, light up only the controls that are necessary for the specific game you are playing etc. You can also put on a little light show when the game is paused.   Look around, you will see lots of videos of this in action.  Here is one from one of my arcades.

The lighting part is somewhere in the middle of the video.
Regarding the buttons, see my review I posted here There is also paradise arcade, which you will see in the review, which offers a similar button alternative. I love all these buttons, especially since you can make your own inserts, or use pongo's vinyl.  Some people don't like how clicky (noisy) they are, but I don't find it to be a problem.   As for the resistors, with each LED that each vendor provides, they all have built in resistors.   So you don't need to add one yourself.  Makes things a lot easier.

5) Re. Control Panel Overlay & Side Art
I've never printed my own graphics.   I have always ordered from GameOnGrafix.  They use some kind of polycarbinate laminate thats pretty tough.  They can also print on this polybanner stuff if you plan to put plexiglass over your CP.   I've used both and personally, I like the normal polycarbinate laminate stuff they offer, with adhesive.   I have used a plexiglass overlay, and its pretty cool, but not really necessary, especially if you get the polycarbinate laminate from GoG.

6) Re. Lighting – Cold Cathode, Neon Flexwire/EL Wire
I can't speak to the other stuff.   Thus far I have only used a sound sensitive Cold Cathode light bar, which you can see in my above video.   There was nothing to that, but again, I wasn't doing anything complex with it...

7) Re. Additional Emulators/Common Frontend
The part of the idea of a front end is to link up all these different emulators.  So you will only need one front end, not multiple. You will have to configure or design menus for each system/emulator, but it's still all done through one program.   There are a lot of front ends out there.   If you are using a good, decent power PC, you could look at HyperSpin.  Hyperspin offers you the ability to make a theme for each individual game (instead of just each emulator as a whole).  Some people aren't into all the glitz of that (or arent using a powerful enough pc) so that one isn't an option for everyone.   I also like MaLa.  It's free, has very good support with a forum member who listens, and is pretty easy to configure.    I used Maximus a while back, but you have to pay for it (did not confirm if this was still the case) and I'm not sure what state their development is in.   Like I don't know if someone is regularly updating it or not.  Might have to look into that.   Theres also a few other front ends out there, but those are the major ones.   It can vary wildly on opinions, so try them out, see which one you like.


 Re. ROM movies/Sample Clips
I believe all front ends support movies/screen captures.  EmuMovies is bar none the best supplier for these videos.   Constant updates, constant improvements, just a great community too.   You do have to pay to get other emulators besides MAME I believe.  I am not personally aware of any other alternatives for videos besides EmuMovies.   In my opinion, this is because EmuMovies does it so well, there is no need for an alternative.   And no, emulators do not come with screenshots or videos.  You have to get those yourself.

Whew! that was a lot of typing!

[StriderDSO]

Thanks Markronz. Lots of great information for me there - much appreciated

[javeryh]

markronz nailed it pretty much.  I'd add that I wouldn't have dedicated buttons for the mouse (trackball) or for the keyboard.  It clutters the CP and will confuse your friends.  The mouse buttons can be wires to the P1 or P2 controls and do double duty.  Also, just keep a keyboard handy (I keep mine inside the coin door) and only use it when you need to tweak something under the hood instead of having all of those buttons out in the open for everyone to play with and screw up your settings.

[StriderDSO]

You're probably right, Javeryh - I'll just keep the CP for game keys and have a keyboard inside the bottom door panel. Thanks.

[arzoo]

To my knowledge there are no other joysticks out there that really do it all, or change profiles via software. 

Actually - there is another option for a digitally restricted joystick (via software). GGG sells (or at least use to sell) an interface board called the GP-Wiz49 that interfaced with a 49-way joystick. I used one on my cp for a while but eventually swapped it out for a u360 because the 49-way is not a true analog stick. It works fine for 2way/4way/8way and is ideal for the few games (like Sinistar) that used a 49way, but no good for anything analog. So really the u360 is the best choice as a do-everyting stick.