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TS-DOT-02 Turn Count Question
bluewave8:
Hello everyone,
I've built a MAME cabinet and am using the TS-DOT-02 spinner. The spinner is working mostly as intended, but I have been unable to correctly calculate the sensitivity to set for games that use the spinner in MAME.
I'm familiar with the following page:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Spinner_Turn_Count
However, after a significant amount of research, I've been unable to determine the counts per revolution of the TS-DOT-02. I've seen that it has software settings to change the CPI between 360, 720, and 1440, though this does not seem to equate to PPR and I have not been able to find a way to relate the two (if that is even possible).
I've called and emailed Thunderstick multiple times requesting counts per revolution but have not heard back.
So my questions are:
1) Does anyone know the PPR for this spinner?
2) If not, is there an easy way (program that can report "pulses"?) to measure it?
2) What is the relationship (if any) between PPR and CPI? How would changing CPI effect user experience for a given PPR?
Thank you!
PL1:
--- Quote from: bluewave8 on November 29, 2023, 09:48:13 am ---What is the relationship (if any) between PPR and CPI? How would changing CPI effect user experience for a given PPR?
--- End quote ---
There is no easy way to directly convert between the two, but they are directly proportional.
PPR (Pulses Per Rotation/Revolution) - How many transitions you get when you rotate the spinner 360 degrees. (angle-based measurement)
- Changing the diameter of the spinner knob does not change this measurement.
CPI (Counts Per Inch) - How many transitions you get when you move a mouse one inch. (distance-based measurement)
- Changing the diameter of the spinner knob does change this measurement.
This post on Reddit several years ago claims that the GRS button hole spinner "reports 380 steps per revolution over USB."
- No mention if the adjustable sensitivity feature was used or even available at that time. :dunno
Arkanoid requires a very high spinner resolution.
- Set your spinner to the highest resolution possible and try playing it.
- If it works OK in Arkanoid, it is easy to reduce sensitivity in other MAME games.
User experience is going to be affected by the choice of knob, resolution of the spinner, and personal preferences. It can be very subjective.
Scott
bluewave8:
Well that's unfortunate. Thank you for the information.
I think I might try to sell this spinner and get the Ultimarc Spintrak that was mentioned in that thread, unless you all can recommend something else.
I don't like the idea of dialing it down, I don't want to be approximate. I've not logged many hours on an authentic cabinet of most of these games so I won't have a basis for comparison. If someone has gone through the work of creating the wonderful table on the wiki detailing the PPR per game, I want to use that information to its fullest to provide the most accurate experience.
PL1:
--- Quote from: bluewave8 on November 30, 2023, 08:25:05 am ---I think I might try to sell this spinner and get the Ultimarc Spintrak that was mentioned in that thread, unless you all can recommend something else.
--- End quote ---
TT2 from GGG and SpinTrak from Ultimarc are the most commonly used/recommended spinners.
--- Quote from: bluewave8 on November 30, 2023, 08:25:05 am ---I don't like the idea of dialing it down, I don't want to be approximate.
--- End quote ---
The only 100% accurate approach is buying all of the original cabs with original spinners, knobs, buttons, and control panels.
For most people, the more rational and reasonable approach to playing the widest variety of games is to approximate.
The key is answering the question, "How close is close enough for me?"
Scott
BadMouth:
There has got to be some way to back into it from the software side.
If there is some game where one full rotation is obvious, adjust sensitivity to get one full rotation correct and then use the sensitivity setting and original count to figure out the spinner's cpr. Maybe the game 720?
I remember using some kind of software to count pulses on unknown encoders long long ago, but that was straight from the sensors and I can't figure out what software it was. I think it was from US Digital, but their current stuff looks like it requires their interface.