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First arcade control panel

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mamenewb100:

One thing you should consider is how the control buttons are placed to comfortably fit your fingers. I regret getting 6 buttons that are flat across because my middle finger is considerably longer than my pointer and pinky that I use for a row of buttons. If I had to do it over again I would of had the middle button a little higher than the other two. Some people still prefer an even row of six buttons but that's up to you.

PL1:

Visit http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html for printable button layouts and other info.


Scott

Terr1:

Thanks for your great responses..

Yeah I know its objective what people recommend, I guess I was looking for some inspiration and to make sure that the parts I was thinking of ordering matched.

 I will be ordering from other shops as well, thanks for your links ill bookmark them. I just need a starting point, since when you first start out, all the information you find is kinda overwhelming imo. :)

I think I will mostly play the classics (DK, PAC-MAN) non-fighter games.

Are there any advantages for Degenatron's AVR encoder over the IPAC - 2, for support / admin functions (MAME wise)? Other than the lower price of cause?
Degenatron's AVR encoder needs soldering and I'm not very skilled in that.. never tried anything so small, would rock if you could buy them with screw terminals attached :)

So I think for now Ill put up the extra cash to avoid soldering, even thou that encoder looks really nice and easy, wished I had soldering experience.

The Virtual Pinball project will come later, I will make a dedicated cabinet for this. Seems like you need better woodcutting skills and of cause more money for the large screens.

I will try to search the forum for the different play buttons layouts (ie. Neo-Geo/Capcom hybrids and the like). Thanks for the button layout link!


PL1:


--- Quote from: Terr1 on August 03, 2012, 06:06:15 pm ---Are there any advantages for Degenatron's AVR encoder over the IPAC - 2, for support / admin functions (MAME wise)? Other than the lower price of cause?
Degenatron's AVR encoder needs soldering and I'm not very skilled in that.. never tried anything so small, would rock if you could buy them with screw terminals attached :)

--- End quote ---
Both encoders will work perfectly well for MAME and/or VP/FP.

The I-Pac is user programmable and has more inputs.

1.)  The single-AVR wiring for using 2 player 6 button MAME AVR extended mode (Group D, Mode 1) is a little more complicated (Extended Mode Wiring Diagram here),

2.)  or you can use 2 AVRs - 1 for player 1 (Group C, Mode 1) and another for player 2 (Group A, Mode 2),

3.)  or you can use 2 AVRs - 1 for player 1/2 (Group D, Mode 1) and another for pinball functions and admin buttons (Group A, Mode 5)-- no extended mode fancy wiring required.

For options 1 and 2 above, if you want to switch the AVR from MAME mode to Pinball and back, you'll need to have one dedicated button that Degenatron calls the Hardware Button (HWB).  Option 3 does not require switching modes to do MAME and Pinball.

As far as screw terminals go, this is how Degenatron sells them. (See here for BYOAC pricing.)  I can relay a message if you want to contact him, since you need 10-15 posts before PMs are active IIRC.


Bryan at Paradise has also added color wires with .187" crimps  that will make wiring easy for either encoder.  If you wait until Monday, he should also have .187" daisy chain grounds back in stock.


--- Quote from: Terr1 on August 03, 2012, 06:06:15 pm ---The Virtual Pinball project will come later, I will make a dedicated cabinet for this. Seems like you need better woodcutting skills and of cause more money for the large screens.

--- End quote ---

You can get VP tables in 4:3/widescreen(16:9) or fullscreen. (FP renders tables either way, based on configuration.)

The 4:3/widescreen versions of tables work just fine with a typical MAME setup.
 
 
NOTE: VP and FP use a lot more GPU than MAME and other emulators.  For high resolution tables, onboard video may not be able to keep up.  I had to upgrade from onboard video to an Evga GeForce GT 430 card to run full speed HD rendering on high-resolution tables.


Scott

Nephasth:


--- Quote from: Terr1 on August 03, 2012, 06:06:15 pm ---Yeah I know its objective what people recommend, I guess I was looking for some inspiration and to make sure that the parts I was thinking of ordering matched.

--- End quote ---

I love my U360s. I don't use them to handle button inputs though. My button inputs (and P3 and P4 joy inputs) are handled by a Lono2. Don't go overboard on the U360 add ons. Figure out what you like first so you don't waste any money on extra parts you won't use. My U360s are mounted in metal panels, so I have never used the long shafts, but I have heard some people don't really care for the throw the long shafts produce. If you go with the U360s, I would recommend top mounting them and going with the standard length shafts. I went with balltops, stiff springs, and octagonal restrictors; love them set up this way. I've only had one issue with one of my U360s. It got very stiff and difficult to use, based on Andy's advice I opened it up cleaned the pivot and lubed it with some plumber's silicone grease (did the other one while I was at it), and haven't had a problem since.

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