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Want to gauge demand for pc-jamma bridge
iscariot:
I've been considering building an all-in-1 to jamma that handles IO/Audio/Video to the jamma standard. Does something like this already exist? I was looking at the existing chinese timer boards and it'd function something similar to that, but so far I only see those that are compatible with the xbox and would require serious modification to use on the PC. Would anyone be interested in something that handled this all across a single USB port for a computer?
MonMotha:
There are several products along these lines. I don't know of any that handle audio or video over the USB port. Video is especially problematic (it basically needs Superspeed USB 3), though USB audio could work well enough if done right (and it almost never is). Audio and video are both easily pulled off their corresponding ports on the PC with standard passthrough cables, so most people don't seem to care.
The most popular device along these lines is probably the Ultimarc J-PAC. There are also some semi-application-specific interfaces out there (e.g. Minimaid IO for Konami "Bemani" titles), and some lesser known/cheaper names mostly from China. There's also a bunch of non-JAMMA encoders that have screw-down terminals (I-PAC, Keywiz, GP-Wiz, etc.) or connectorized pigtails (Zerodelay), or even low-cost models where you just solder down wires to the PCB.
iscariot:
Thought about that. The thing is tat the J-PAC is expensive, and really doesn't do much more than handle the 10 or so buttons per player. There's no audio, and the video circuit isn't very good. It only handles direct video and can't step down to NTSC. It also can't digest audio. For the $$ it just doesn't seem like it's that good. There are docks out there that are usb2 that push VGA, IO, and sound. I was thinking something along those lines wouldn't be too tough if:
It only handled 640x480/320x240
It would output mono sound to the finger board
It handled all 1/2p IO and took advantage of the extra pins at the end for more IO, and had some sort of input for extra
Looking around there are cheap amps for under $10, and finger boards aren't too pricey. I was kicking around the idea of having a usb2/3 device that handled all of the stuff with limited need for setup
Just my thoughts on it. Wondering ifsomeone had gone that route.
paigeoliver:
If you actually made something that handled video conversion, controls and audio in one board then people would be lining up to buy it. However the sheer reason it doesn't exist leads me to believe that there is some hurdle to building it.
yotsuya:
--- Quote from: iscariot on November 18, 2013, 09:32:53 pm ---Thought about that. The thing is tat the J-PAC is expensive, and really doesn't do much more than handle the 10 or so buttons per player. There's no audio, and the video circuit isn't very good. It only handles direct video and can't step down to NTSC. It also can't digest audio. For the $$ it just doesn't seem like it's that good. There are docks out there that are usb2 that push VGA, IO, and sound. I was thinking something along those lines wouldn't be too tough if:
It only handled 640x480/320x240
It would output mono sound to the finger board
It handled all 1/2p IO and took advantage of the extra pins at the end for more IO, and had some sort of input for extra
Looking around there are cheap amps for under $10, and finger boards aren't too pricey. I was kicking around the idea of having a usb2/3 device that handled all of the stuff with limited need for setup
Just my thoughts on it. Wondering ifsomeone had gone that route.
--- End quote ---
Go for it! I like to see people come up with new things!