Multiple keyboards simultaneously?

[mnm1200]

Is it at all possible to connect 3 or more keyboards so that they all operate simultaneously?

[USSEnterprise]

If you split them up between the PS/2 and USB ports, I think you can, but most would have to be USB. Only 1 could be PS/2

[Stingray]

You don't say which OS you're using, but with a Mac you can use as many keyboards simultaniously as you can manage to plug in. Up to the limit of the port that you're using anyway. I think it's something crazy like 128 for USB and 7 for the older ADB port.

-S

[mnm1200]

Well, I didn't say what OS because I don't know yet

Linux or Windows preferably.

Do those Y-splitters work keyboards simultaneously?

[USSEnterprise]

it pretty much works the same with Windows XP and Windows 2000

[mnm1200]

it pretty much works the same with Windows XP and Windows 2000

Which is.......?

[Stingray]

it pretty much works the same with Windows XP and Windows 2000

Which is.......?

If he meant the same as on a Mac I assume means 128ish on USB and 7ish on PS2.

-S

[USSEnterprise]

yep

[SirPoonga]

max number of usb devices is 255.

Of course, you have to be able to power all of them.  The PSU in your ocmputer cna not handle that.  But 3 USB keyboards, it should be able to handle.

Why are you going to  use more than one keyboard?  I hope it isn't for a keyboard hack.  Use  USB gamepads instead.

[u_rebelscum]

Yes or no.  IOW, sort of, depending what you plan to do.

You can physically hook as many keyboards as you want, but Windows joins all the inputs from them into one unit.  IE, pressing an 'A' key on one keyboard looks the same as pressing an 'A' key on any keyboard to mame (and all other apps, AFAIK).

Under no Windows OS does directInput give direct/raw access to individual keyboard inputs.  This is windows bug "security feature" microsoft doesn't want to fix "intentionally included".   

There is a way around the limitation sorry, "feature", recode mame to use RawInput to read the keyboard info, instead of directInput (or win32 API).  Which would only work in winXP.  As I hinted earlier, I don't know of any (non-demo) application that does, ATM.  Zip, zero, zilch.

Aside: shouldn't "directInput" provide direct access to the inputs, not the filtered & combined indirect access to the keyboard inputs?  Or it shouldn't be called directInput?  (I feel the same with winXP & mice, for those who don't know me. )


Any way, what everyone else said, BUT you still cannot have two players using two normal non-hacked keyboards hooked into the same computer, and both use the arrow keys to move their own character.  If that was close to what you were planning, . . . either plan to also edit mame's source or pray I get off my behind, update analog+, and add rawinput keyboard support to it.  (The later does not look likely in the near future .)

edit -- spelling