Anyone regret going all RGB led?

[Frostillicus]

Hey all  - been a few moons since I posted.   I must have spent the whole weekend looking at everyone's awesome projects and of course I am getting the bug again lol.  There are a lot of forums now so I don't know which one to post this too...please move if necessary.

I haven't built a cab in years, and have been doing research like crazy - so much is available now from the vendors! - it's info overload!  Of course, I like the LED options, and if I go LED why not go RGB?  I'm thinking of those ICE ones from GGG, they didn't look too blinding to me.  Do people like the whole button illuminated or just the ring? How do they hold up in the daytime...my cab will be destined for my screen-room, which is kind of a tropical theme but get's a good amount of light during the day.  Anyway do you think the white/clear/plain buttons look ok during daytime and are they too bright at night?  I've read a few good threads on it like the showdown (that was some great reading thanks jace)  but I fear it'll come down to ordering a few of each and just trying them out.

I've just read a few remarks about the whole LED thing being cool but the novelty wears off, or just too bright while playing, etc.  Interested in hearing people's thoughts 
 

[MaxVolume]

I don't regret NOT going LED, does that help?

[agent_c]

I went with the led buttons like a moth, just thought they look really cool.
My opinion as a novice on arcade builds is ...

Pros..   instant impact, add a controller to show active buttons,  set cab colour scheme in light, you can always turn them off!

cons...  having to replace faulty ones, not all colours the same, more wiring, may get old fast!

I have them in mine and bought good old concave buttons first, but having seen the led type was like a moth to a flame.
Even though I wanted my colour scheme to have no red in it I fell to the power of the light, originally wanted purple where the red goes but no purple led's ..yet.. I still have my concave top buttons including purple not red so I could change it if I felt the need.
One interesting thing I found is that I have had 3 white led's fail on me almost straight away, all 12v, only white failed! But I don't regret it yet!

[Frostillicus]

I don't regret NOT going LED, does that help?

It doesn't NOT help lol thanks

[Frostillicus]

I went with the led buttons like a moth, just thought they look really cool.
My opinion as a novice on arcade builds is ...

Pros..   instant impact, add a controller to show active buttons,  set cab colour scheme in light, you can always turn them off!

cons...  having to replace faulty ones, not all colours the same, more wiring, may get old fast!

I have them in mine and bought good old concave buttons first, but having seen the led type was like a moth to a flame.
Even though I wanted my colour scheme to have no red in it I fell to the power of the light, originally wanted purple where the red goes but no purple led's ..yet.. I still have my concave top buttons including purple not red so I could change it if I felt the need.
One interesting thing I found is that I have had 3 white led's fail on me almost straight away, all 12v, only white failed! But I don't regret it yet!

hmm good info thanks.  Sucks about your faulty LEDs - defective units maybe?

[Nephasth]

LOVE my RGB LEDs!

[Mysterioii]

if I ever get around to rebuilding my CP, my player 1 and 2 buttons and coin buttons will be blue translucent buttons with blue LEDs only.  Player 1 and 2 start will be RGB, either electric ice bodies with regular white inserts (if that looks ok) or I'll get some button vinyl and put the player start logos directly on electric ice plungers.  Trackball will be RGB.  Joystick tops will either be full RGB (preferably bats) or will toggle between 2 colors to indicate if they are in 4-way or 8-way operation.

I personally don't want all my buttons to be full RGB, although it doesn't bother me when other people do that.  I just have a different vision for this CP.

[Trip]

I just finished up my RGBs and OMG I love them. 

I didn't have my RGBs installed for a few weeks after getting all the controls installed.  My family played it preRGB and post RGB.  They absolutely love the RGBs with LEDBlinky, it makes it very easy to know what buttons to use and which makes playing games much much more enjoyable for the noncomputer/gamer inclined people.  Even with the GGG EI2's set at full blast, it is not bright.  Now my joysticks on the other hand can be ungodly bright at full blast.  Intensity is easily set where you want it in LEDBlinky though.  Editing the Color-RGB.ini file for where you want intensities is the best way to go about it for every game right off the bat.

cons...  having to replace faulty ones, not all colours the same, more wiring, may get old fast!

The colors matching was my biggest worry and issue.  I did the control panel with GGG EI2s and GGG did my custom balltops with Paradise JLFs and Paradise RGBS in the balltops.  The buttons and balltops match perfectly going this route.  The only issue I had with this was the Balltops were ungodly bright in comparison to the buttons.  I made some changes to my Color-RGB.ini and Colors.ini file in LEDBlinky to accomodate the intensity to match the balltops to the buttons and now it looks perfect.

I ended up going Ultimarc flushmount trackball and their lighting unit.  This does not match at all.  The ball is a shade clearer looking than the milky GGG balltops and buttons.  The RGBs match the red and blue, but the green is an awful light green shade that doesn't come close and it is not even close to as bright as the buttons.  I have ordered the replacement 3" ball and lighting kit from GGG, hopefully that will make everything match perfect, in the interim I am using 3 Paradise RGBs taped under the flushmount ball and that makes it look much brighter and match the color.

Here's a few pics to convince you of the goodness that is RGB:

[millercentral]

I'm taking the Nephasth approach and I'm trying to refresh my cocktail to use RGB "rings" around black buttons. It is a LOT of work (and I've learned I'm very bad at crimping connectors), but I'm very excited about the effect and the increased usability it will bring to the cabinet (being able to highlight the usable buttons in a given game).

[agent_c]

Trip
Your pics look cool  but non show the trackball and sticks lit at the same time to see if your just fussy or there is a colour difference, 

To light or not to light... that is the question...

[Frostillicus]

Thank you for the replies.  Trip those pics are awesome.  Do you have any in like full light? during the day with the blinds open kind of thing? I have some LEDs that are bright even in daylight but not sure about the buttons. 

It's not a dealbreaker, either way it'll be great in the evening!

[Trip]

Trip
Your pics look cool  but non show the trackball and sticks lit at the same time to see if your just fussy or there is a colour difference, 

To light or not to light... that is the question...

There isn't a color difference anymore since I got rid of the Ultimarc LEDs.  The trackball is just dimmer than the buttons now.  Well I guess the trackball is not as milky as the balltops and buttons, will get a pic of that.

I still have the Ultimarc LEDs on hand and will take a pic of them when I get home.  It's really hard to get a good pic with my phone and ipad.  Don't have a good real camera to try it with...  The pics really don't do it justice at all.

[agent_c]

Don't worry Trip I was just interested as I know how fussy I am with even the slightest colour difference, it just bugs me and my fussy inner self!

[HaRuMaN]

 

[Brian74]

I have black buttons with clear rings. I also have the GGG upgrade kit, 2 led-wiz and 1 pac-drive running my leds. I also put RGB strip leds under my cab. I love how it looks like its floating on light!  Now my only prob is setting up ledblinky.

[Javinator]

Just to be clear, you're using a UTrak, but with the LED and ball upgrade kit from GGG found here?

Thanks

-Javin

[Trip]

Thank you for the replies.  Trip those pics are awesome.  Do you have any in like full light? during the day with the blinds open kind of thing? I have some LEDs that are bright even in daylight but not sure about the buttons. 

It's not a dealbreaker, either way it'll be great in the evening!

This is the best I got with the lights on in the basement.  Will try to get some daylight/blinds open with lights on when I get home.  You can see them in the light easily.  It's very noticeable in daylight, but not ungodly bright in the dark.



Found this pic, this is where I had everything on full bright.  You can't really tell how ungodly bright the joystick really is though.  It almost hurts to look at it.  LEDBlinky intensity goes from 0-48.  To match the buttons with the joystick, the buttons are at 48 and the joysticks are at 8 in the first pics I posted.  LOL

[Trip]

Don't worry Trip I was just interested as I know how fussy I am with even the slightest colour difference, it just bugs me and my fussy inner self!

I am very fussy too.  I want things to match perfect.  That's why I ordered the GGG upgrade kit for the trackball and praying it matches everything else.  I got lucky with the Paradise joystick RGBs.

Just to be clear, you're using a UTrak, but with the LED and ball upgrade kit from GGG found here?

Thanks

-Javin

Right now I only have the Utrack translucent trackball with their lighting kit.  I took out their lighting kit and replaced it with 3 of these: (this is also what I use in my joysticks)

http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/joystick-leds/556-rgb-5mm-led.html

I ordered the GGG upgrade kit you posted just yesterday, I can do an update thread when I get it in and compare it for you if you want.

[Frostillicus]

This is the best I got with the lights on in the basement.  Will try to get some daylight/blinds open with lights on when I get home.  You can see them in the light easily.  It's very noticeable in daylight, but not ungodly bright in the dark.
...
Found this pic, this is where I had everything on full bright.  You can't really tell how ungodly bright the joystick really is though.  It almost hurts to look at it.  LEDBlinky intensity goes from 0-48.  To match the buttons with the joystick, the buttons are at 48 and the joysticks are at 8 in the first pics I posted.  LOL
...

Thanks Trip - that looks great in the daytime too!  do the lights ever get distracting when playing?

[Frostillicus]

those are some sweet lights!

[Frostillicus]

I have black buttons with clear rings. I also have the GGG upgrade kit, 2 led-wiz and 1 pac-drive running my leds. I also put RGB strip leds under my cab. I love how it looks like its floating on light!  Now my only prob is setting up ledblinky.

You haven't set up LEDBlinky?  What are driving the lights to the music then? LEDWiz? Very nice btw

[Javinator]

I ordered the GGG upgrade kit you posted just yesterday, I can do an update thread when I get it in and compare it for you if you want.

If you don't mind 

[drventure]

Ok. I saw Frostillicus posting so I had to chime in. Your cab design was one of the templates I used for my own (ongoing) build, many moons ago indeed. So many thanks for that!

Anyway. Don't know what most people do with fully lit buttons but on my cp, i went with LED's set behind tiny lens in 1/16 holes drilled near each button.

When off, the holes are so small, the cp is black laminate and the lens dark enough that you don't even see the holes.

The LED's light for which button is active in the game you've selected (and when playing things like DDR, or using the cab as a jukebox). But for most arcade games I leave them off, because, even though the whole button doesn't light, they can still be distracting.

Still, they make an awfully nice light show, and they're fun to wire up and get configured/animated.

[jace055]

If you couldn't tell already, I'm all in on RGB. I decided to do this for the same reason as Trip. I wanted to only light the buttons for the game playing and in their correct color. If you are going to buy a few RGBs I would suggest you do it later on in the build. Shipping will kill you one at a time and it's easier to stomach adding a button to an order than paying for shipping on one button.

There aren't any buttons that are better or best. Find a style you like (convex, concave, clear or white) and stick with it.

[Frostillicus]

If you couldn't tell already, I'm all in on RGB. I decided to do this for the same reason as Trip. I wanted to only light the buttons for the game playing and in their correct color.

That alone is a good reason.  OK I think I'm getting convinced.  I balk a little at the price but at the end of the day I could always replace them and chalk it all up to a learning experience 

Ok. I saw Frostillicus posting so I had to chime in. Your cab design was one of the templates I used for my own (ongoing) build, many moons ago indeed. So many thanks for that!

Glad it helped!   

I'm going for a slim-type arcade this type around like the Terminus one by markc74, which doesn't take up a lot of depth.  Actually all the cabs in that stickied thread are just  awesome!

[Nephasth]

If I wasn't out of town I'd post some pics, but you can check out some animations and pics in daylight and darkness of my CPs and cabinet lighting in the Two-Headed Beast thread in my signature… also a different approach to joystick lighting.

[Trip]

Jav, I will post up when I get the GGG upgrade kit.

Thanks Trip - that looks great in the daytime too!  do the lights ever get distracting when playing?

Not that I can tell, but I am just a recreational player and so is my family members.  It helps us a lot.  You can really dim them down by playing with LEDBlinky are just have it so you can just tell they are lit if they really bother you if they are too bright.

Here are some of the pics, it is really hard to take pics of these things, I tried for awhile and gave up.  Pics just don't do these justice at all.

Attempt to show the milky differences between the balltops and buttons to the trackball. 


Differences in the green, you can see the track ball is considerably dimmer and then I have the ultimarc LED kit laying at the bottom center of the pic.  You can tell it's almost yellowish green, pretty much gatorade lemon-lime color.


Another shot of the trackball lit up with various colors


Various Daylight pics with room lights on

[mgb]

I have electric ice buttons with rgb and I definitely don't regret it. They light up great, they are plenty bright in a well lit room and of course they are awesome in the dark.

[Brian74]

I have black buttons with clear rings. I also have the GGG upgrade kit, 2 led-wiz and 1 pac-drive running my leds. I also put RGB strip leds under my cab. I love how it looks like its floating on light!  Now my only prob is setting up ledblinky.

You haven't set up LEDBlinky?  What are driving the lights to the music then? LEDWiz? Very nice btw

What I meant is, I dont have LedBlinky configured to do the in-game button colors or announce what buttons do what and flash. I was just running a test on a random audio animation. 

[MaxVolume]

I don't regret NOT going LED, does that help?

It doesn't NOT help lol thanks

LOL... glad I could "not not help". 

[Frostillicus]

whoa great pics guys - those buttons are sweeeeeet.  You have convinced me.  My wallet seems lighter already 

[lordnacho]

My only regret is the color when they aren't lit.  Can someone sell me some button covers?

[mgb]

Personally I like how the electric ice look when not lit

[lordnacho]

I don't really mind them but compared to a solid color I'd prefer the solid.

[Mysterioii]

If you have dead buttons on your control panel during games it's only because you're too lazy to remap the controls the first time you fire it up.

Whenever someone says, "it helps you see which buttons you need to use during the game" I translate that mentally as, "I spend more time configuring bling than I do actually playing anything."

Really?  "Dead buttons" don't bother me, I'd never really even considered remapping them all.  If I'm playing a 2-button game I just know I'm gonna use the first two buttons.  I rarely reconfigure the controls, only if something really bothers me for a particular game.  But then, I'm just a casual gamer and not teh hardcorez...   

[Trip]

If you have dead buttons on your control panel during games it's only because you're too lazy to remap the controls the first time you fire it up.

Whenever someone says, "it helps you see which buttons you need to use during the game" I translate that mentally as, "I spend more time configuring bling than I do actually playing anything."

Wow, doesn't everyone wish they can be as freaking obsessed with old arcade games as you.  Imagine if you actually have friends who have lives outside of arcade games.  They like to come over and play your cabinet.  They don't know if Mortal Kombat is 5 button or 6 button.  They don't remember how many buttons are in Double Dragon.

How many buttons can you actually configure on a 4 player panel to play Pac Man?

Why do you care if we like to tinker instead of playing games?

[mgb]

If you have dead buttons on your control panel during games it's only because you're too lazy to remap the controls the first time you fire it up.

Whenever someone says, "it helps you see which buttons you need to use during the game" I translate that mentally as, "I spend more time configuring bling than I do actually playing anything."

Are you saying its best to light up even unused buttons during game play? I'm not sure what sense it would make.
So if I don't have every button lit for a game of Donkey Kong, its because I was too lazy to set it up.
Some of here actually were able to get wives and have kids so I guess all of our time can't be used for lighting unused button. and doesn't your second part about bling actually go against what you said first. 

[Nephasth]

If you have dead buttons on your control panel during games it's only because you're too lazy to remap the controls the first time you fire it up.

Whenever someone says, "it helps you see which buttons you need to use during the game" I translate that mentally as, "I spend more time configuring bling than I do actually playing anything."

With LEDBlinky and the .ini files that are available, the "bling configuring" is damn near automatic. Much faster than going into the tab menu for every game that doesn't use all available buttons. Setting up all avaible buttons to mirror other buttons translates into "I'm a random button masher."

You say the originals never had "warm, lit buttons." (Mine don't get warm, btw) this is true, but they never had 4 buttons that did the same damn thing either.

[Trip]

You say the originals never had "warm, lit buttons." (Mine don't get warm, btw) this is true, but they never had 4 buttons that did the same damn thing either.

Played mine for a few hours last night, LEDs going full bright the whole time.  Never felt warm to the touch either.  Need to bring home the temp gun we use in the switchyards to see how hot they get after a few hours.   

[Pixelhugger]

Hey all  - been a few moons since I posted.

Welcome back Frosty.

The more things change the more they stay the same.