WTB: Anyone Selling/Make Hacked Keyboards for E-M-U-L-A-T-I-O-N?

[Otraotaku]

just wanted to knowif anyone knows, or is making/selling Hacked Keyboards for mame, perferably for 60+ keys/buttons?

[Thenasty]

60 keys ? there is no way a KEYBOARD HACK is gonna work without Casper involve, specially if you want 4-player at the same time.
Better just get a Keyboard encoder.

[monkeybomb]

I've got to ask, Why do you need thast many keys?  All I could think of is console 4 player with 8 buttons per player.  that's still only 48 inputs and I doubt I can acctually think of a way to use that...wait maybe majong controls?  I'm just curious.


Anyway if you need more than the 56 offered on an i-pac 4 then I think you will have to go with a hangstrom.  Check out tiger-heli's page

http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm

[NoOne=NBA=]

Anyway if you need more than the 56 offered on an i-pac 4 then I think you will have to go with a hangstrom.

The other option would be to use multiple encoders (i.e. an I-pac4 with a GP-Wiz, etc....)

[Otraotaku]

im lost... lol is a ecoder is to accept more keys being used at once no ghosting or keyboard errors? and how is it installed? 

[Otraotaku]

another would be what you guys think would bethe easiest?...

[monkeybomb]

another would be what you guys think would bethe easiest?...

What do you want to do?  Do you really need 60+ keys?  You're answer changes the reccomendation.

[paigeoliver]

I'm sorry, due to recent trademark infringement "Hacked Keyboards for Mame" are no longer legal,  you must instead ask for a "Hacked keyboard for use with an emulator"!!

 

[Thenasty]

I'm sorry, due to recent trademark infringement "Hacked Keyboards for Mame" are no longer legal,

[SirPeale]

A hacked keyboard is a great solution - if you're only going to have a couple of buttons and one joystick.  I've done it for a couple cabs now.

For a lot of buttons, get an encoder.  It's plug and play, no soldering involved (unless you get one of the solder models) and most are set up out-of-the-box for use with a very popular emulator.

[Hoagie_one]

I have an LPT switch that has 60 inputs.  It plugs in through the printer port and can only be used on windows machines

[LPZ]

Can you spell Hagstrom KE-72? 

[HaRuMaN]

Or I-P-A-C-4?

[dweebs0r]

What about the GP-Wiz 32 input USB?

Link

You can keep adding up to 4 of these (128 inputs!)

[NoOne=NBA=]

What about the GP-Wiz 32 input USB?

I suggested that above.

I would couple it with a keyboard encoder though because you may run into some older apps that only use keyboard input, or that need keyboard input on certain quick-keys (i.e. F9 for screenshot, etc...).

If all you have are gamepad encoders, you may find apps that you can't run properly.
If you have a combo of a keyboard encoder, and gamepad encoders, there shouldn't be anything that you CAN'T run.
You may have to remap the keys to match your encoder outputs, or remap your encoder outputs (by loading custom keysets) to match the specific app.

[Otraotaku]

A hacked keyboard is a great solution - if you're only going to have a couple of buttons and one joystick.  I've done it for a couple cabs now.

For a lot of buttons, get an encoder.  It's plug and play, no soldering involved (unless you get one of the solder models) and most are set up out-of-the-box for use with a very popular emulator.

Thanks you pretty much answered my question without any Dumb remarks.... ^.<

[Otraotaku]

this should give you an idea of what im trying to do... Im not sure if a keyboard hack is a good subsitute for the Joysticks thats why I say 50-60+ but like I said you should be able to get a better idea over all... Ive tried other routes in order ways to play games, but E-M-U-L-A-T-I-O-N seems to work best...

so anyone with a familar product and idea price that could be used to hook up to my existing keyboard or whatever else would be easier... thanks!

[NoOne=NBA=]

Given that setup, I would put the P1/P2 and admin controls onto a KeyWiz or I-pac, and the P3/P4 onto a GP-Wiz.

The KeyWiz will run you from $20 for the solder version to $35 for the Max version (that one has screw terminals and keyboard pass-thru).
The GP-Wiz will run you $20, I think.

That setup will let you utilize shifted functions for all your admin keys, so you get a 2 functions/button package.

As long as you don't have any software that requires keyboard input only, or gamepad input only, you should be set right out of the box.
You would need to do a little remapping for the P3/P4 sticks and buttons, but everything else should be set.

[slicer_d]

Can I ask why you need so many buttons?  9 buttons for player one and two seems a little over the top.  If you were hooking it up to a console I could see using 8 buttons but if you are just using it with mame 7 buttons should be more than enough.  Also player 3+4 should only need 3 or 4 buttons each and with the layout you have them at now nobody would want to play with them anyway.

Really you need to do some more reading.  Go do research on I-pacs and Keywiz and just read the boards for a while. Remember measure twice cut once.  Its better to take a little while making a CP you really like then to make one that sucks and have to redo the whole thing.

[Otraotaku]

Can I ask why you need so many buttons?  9 buttons for player one and two seems a little over the top.  If you were hooking it up to a console I could see using 8 buttons but if you are just using it with mame 7 buttons should be more than enough.  Also player 3+4 should only need 3 or 4 buttons each and with the layout you have them at now nobody would want to play with them anyway.

Really you need to do some more reading.  Go do research on I-pacs and Keywiz and just read the boards for a while. Remember measure twice cut once.  Its better to take a little while making a CP you really like then to make one that sucks and have to redo the whole thing.

Thanks for the HEADS UP... ^.< do you have another  CP Setup I should look at? thats close or simlular? Iwould like to use it for general Emulation as well ,thats why I have an enourmous amount of buttons

[Otraotaku]

OKay I did what you said,I looked into the IPAC and Found That PLayer Button Wise it Has the Perfect/exact amount! But im still confused on how it is installed, Programed, and used?

can other buttons be bound to things like Shortcuts and EXE.s? say I dont use Coin 2/3/4? or 3-4 P. Buttons 8?
and like saiy i want to pull up the Internet? (push button)?
does it plug directly into your Existing Keyboard?
and what Goes out that plugs into The cherrys?

I am really interested, and plan on Building a Cabinet in a matter of 4-5 weeks with the cabinet style in mind... I just need to know more about the Controls to get ready to start buying Needed Supplies,

Thanks!

I also wanted to add just because Ive been here for a while does not mean I Looked into a Creating My own controls for "EMULATION" I must admit I have created/soldered my own DC hack but Id rather go with the Computer Emulation... and dont forget This is also a  Great Forum For Original Arcade Support too... ^.^
and.... thanks again, for all your guys's help so far!

[Tiger-Heli]

Thread continued here.