Keyboard Encoders

[Skippydzg]

What would the best keyboard encoder for a two player setup with 30-40 buttons on it? The IPAC 4 looks promising, but is there anything better?

[SirPoonga]

why so many buttons for 2 players?

keywiz does 32
www.groovygamegear.com

[mahuti]

Perhaps he means inputs.

2startbuttons + 14 buttons + 16 joyinputs= 32

plus maybe some admin buttons. (bleghh)

If you use the keywiz you can make permanently shifted buttons with a little extra wiring as well.

Randy used to have diagrams showing how to do that... with his new store I'm not sure if they're still up.

[Havok]

Perhaps he means inputs.

2startbuttons + 14 buttons + 16 joyinputs= 32

plus maybe some admin buttons. (bleghh)

If you use the keywiz you can make permanently shifted buttons with a little extra wiring as well.

Randy used to have diagrams showing how to do that... with his new store I'm not sure if they're still up.

He's still got a lot of good info there. I have a KeyWiz - it works great. Here's a link to a bunch of FAQ's:

http://www.groovygamegear.com/Page3.html

[Lilwolf]

2 8 way joysticks have a TOTAL of 8 inputs.

8 buttons each

4 admin / coin buttons

so 16 + 16  + 4 = 36

8 buttons is overkill... 7 is really all you need.

[Lilwolf]

heck, I would consider getting a keywiz eco + ide header and wait and see about other controllers. 

analog controller?  you get a few extra buttons with one.

keywiz49 + a keywiz eco is a GREAT combo and gives more functionaty.

btw, I have an IPAC4 and their great... but I think its a bit much for most 2 player control panels.  And if you have that many... you might consider going to frankinpanel classes   but with all real frankenpanels you will want a few specialized controllers that might have a specialized encoder that will give you extra connections.

[cholin]

Get a minipac.  Player 2 has 8 buttons, player 1 has 6... great buy yet not very popular for some reason....

if you can split an IDE cable...  not that hard, just annoying.  If not wait till I produce some breakouts   But seriously I recommend the minipac as a general buy.

[mahuti]

2 8 way joysticks have a TOTAL of 8 inputs.

8 buttons each

4 admin / coin buttons

so 16 + 16  + 4 = 36

8 buttons is overkill... 7 is really all you need.

Ooops, yep, mybad.

[SirPoonga]

2 8 way joysticks have a TOTAL of 8 inputs.

8 buttons each

4 admin / coin buttons

so 16 + 16  + 4 = 36

8 buttons is overkill... 7 is really all you need.

Being a math major I might be wrong, but 2 joysticks, as you said, = 8 inputs.
So it's 8 + 16 + 4 = 28 
Ipaq has 28 inputs for a reason

I was curious cause it sounds like with that many inputs he could be either planning for console emulation or maybe a dedicated 4way where he can double up on inputs.

[mahuti]

= Art major.

[Skippydzg]

Yes, it will be console emulation as well as arcade emulation.  I have 40 buttons and two joysticks....does the IPAC 4 have enough inputs to make this work, or will I have to buy a different encoder?

Since you guys are curious, this is a custom project for many different types of video game emulation. I will be adding it to the projects list when it is done, of course. It will run all of the usual emulators, as well as the games DRUMMANIA, BEATMANIA, DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, POP n MUSIC, and GUITAR FREAKS. These are all music based arcade games.

Anywho, that's the reason we need so many buttons. Yes, that is our final decision ^_^ We're not going to change the button layout we planned at this point.

But back to the point, would it be better to buy one keyboard encoder for this or two smaller ones? The layout is 2 players. 1 Joystick for each player. About twenty buttons per player, which already includes the admin buttons and whatnot.

So what's the best for ease of use? Price really isn't too much of an issue, but I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount.

[Havok]

Get the Keywiz Eco - with the Shazaam feature you have 56 inputs, more than enough. There are limits with the additional 24 Shazaam inputs, but it will fit the bill, for only $23.

[mahuti]

If you have the cash, the easiest option is probably the Ipac 4.

[Tiger-Heli]

Get the Keywiz Eco - with the Shazaam feature you have 56 inputs, more than enough. There are limits with the additional 24 Shazaam inputs, but it will fit the bill, for only $23.

Be VERY careful using those 24 Shazaam inputs for action buttons.

I-PAC/4 is fine if you have the cash.

Two GP-Wiz Ecos will get you 64 inputs for $46, but your emulators have to support gamepads - sounds the closest to what you are wanting, though.

You could also use one KeyWiz Eco, and one GP-Wiz.

There are lots of options - See http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm

[SirPoonga]

Yes, it will be console emulation as well as arcade emulation.  I have 40 buttons and two joysticks....does the IPAC 4 have enough inputs to make this work, or will I have to buy a different encoder?

Since you guys are curious, this is a custom project for many different types of video game emulation. I will be adding it to the projects list when it is done, of course. It will run all of the usual emulators, as well as the games DRUMMANIA, BEATMANIA, DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, POP n MUSIC, and GUITAR FREAKS. These are all music based arcade games.

Anywho, that's the reason we need so many buttons. Yes, that is our final decision ^_^ We're not going to change the button layout we planned at this point.

Button layout does not eqaul number of inputs needed.  even with 40 buttons maybe you only need 32 inputs.  Can you double up stuff?  my guess is yes as music games generally suck with buttons and need a native controller (like a dane pad through a usb converter).  Even if it needs buttons like beatmania it can share the inputs with player 1 push buttons.