Mala LEDWiz Plugin v2 - Now Available! (Videos Added 3/23)

[edge]

Loadman and I are tired, but happy to present the new & improved...

Mala LEDWiz Plugin v2.0

Overview:
The Mala LEDWiz Plugin was designed to be a simple but powerful tool to help light up your control panels.  We tried to make it as customizable as possible, and we are always open for more suggestions.

Features:

• Light up your controls in any RGB color by using the LEDWiz intensity levels
• Light up your controls as you scroll through game lists in Mala
• Light up your game specific controls when you launch a game in MAME
• Set default lighting schemes for other emulators as well - not just Mame
• Over-ride default lighting settings for specific games (ie, NeoGeo games)
• FLASH-N-SPEAK - Plugin will flash and speak each control (FIRE, JUMP, etc) upon game launch
• Flash all your buttons on Mala start, Mala exit, game start, gamelist change, etc.
• Random Attract Mode - Randomly runs one of the many ledwiz animations (LWA) included [THANKS HK!]
• Support for ADMIN buttons:

	User can assign friendly names to admin buttons (ie, Menu, Pause, etc)
	User can make admin buttons stay lit (no matter what game is selected)

• EZ-RGB Data Entry - To help speed up data entry when configuring your panel,  the config wizard will automatically populate the RGB values based on only one input.  For instance, if your RGB has its R wire in input 1, the plugin will automatically input G in input 2 and B in input 3.
• As you configurate your panel in the wizard, you can see your buttons lit up real time.  Make a change and instantly see it!
• Support for up to 16 LEDWiz controllers
• Support for both RGB and Single Color LEDs
• All screens sized for 640x480.
• Microsoft .NET not needed.
• And much more!

v2.0 Release Information:

• Download it here: http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/easytrack.php?id=pluginLEDWiz2.
• Extract in your Mala directory.
• Check out more Mala plugins here: http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/plugins.html.

Here are some other screen shots:

Special thanks to swindus, RandyT and headkaze for all their help.

We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions.
Edge and Loadman

[squirrellydw]

WOW, looks great.  Can't wait to test it out.  Glad to see you took some of my idea's and I really like the Flash and speak

[headkaze]

Great work guys! I was just about to suggest support for admin buttons and "always stay lit", but just realised you already got it

Realtime feedback while you configure your buttons is really handy too. It's a good way to make sure your setting up the right button on your CP while configuring.

The only thing I would suggest would be to use a Trackbar instead of a Horizontal Scroll Bar for adjusting LED intensity.

Mala/LEDWiz users will love this new release

[loadman]

Great work guys! I was just about to suggest support for admin buttons and "always stay lit", but just realised you already got it

And for non RGB Leds you can also have it 'Always lit' Flashing or ramping

Thanks for your support as always HeadKaze AKA GameEX Guru.   

[While I am posting (for users of this Plugin) remember this tip:

If you want the Leds on your LedWiz (and/or other MaLa Plug-in) to update 'on the fly' while your scroll down through your game list then ensure in gui-options-exceptions that the Gamestart event checkbox is ticked. (Note: This may slow down list scrolling on older PC's)

Do not mistake this for the 'LCD & LED' Checkbox as this is for MaLa Hardware not a un-modded LedWiz

[edge]

Thanks, squirrelly & hk, for the feedback.

We are open to suggestions.. so fire away...

hk - I did try the trackbar originally, but I didn't like the way it incremented.  I forgot what bugged me about it most.. It feels so long ago. hehe.  I'll take another look in version 3.0. ;-)

[squirrellydw]

So how does the FLASH-N-SPEAK work??  It's flashing the button and speaking all at the same time correct?
The EZ-RGB can you pick how you have it wired up?  I think I wired mine backwards.
How does renaming the admin buttons work?

Any chance of using the input code like the other plugin does in version 3?

great work

[loadman]

So how does the FLASH-N-SPEAK work??  It's flashing the button and speaking all at the same time correct?

YES -- Hold ESC if you want to skip

The EZ-RGB can you pick how you have it wired up?  I think I wired mine backwards.

It's a tool that makes set-up quicker if you have wired in sequence (which is common) Like 1R2G3B 4R5G6B etc...  But don't worry you can turn Easy RGB off and allocate it any way you have it wired

How does renaming the admin buttons work?

You will have to try it and find out

C'Mon Download it and have a play..   

And try Arzoo's masterpiece too 

[squirrellydw]

Very cool, I will hopefully test this out this weekend.  I just have to install my computer then I can start setting everything up.

[arzoo]

Guys - Excellent Job 

One suggestion - it would be cool if the config app lit the LED on the fly as you changed the input value (the way it works for the intensity slider). This would make it real easy to see which LED is wired to which port.

[loadman]

Guys - Excellent Job 

One suggestion - it would be cool if the config app lit the LED on the fly as you changed the input value (the way it works for the intensity slider). This would make it real easy to see which LED is wired to which port.

yeah.. Nice Idea.

* As you now know the way it works now as is as soon as you allocate a LED it stays lit at the intesity you set.
* But your Idea has merit  (Just having the selected Led lit)

Maybe have both with a Button to change Modes?
Eg
1) All Allocated Leds on
2) Only Selected LEDS on 

[arzoo]

Guys - Excellent Job 

One suggestion - it would be cool if the config app lit the LED on the fly as you changed the input value (the way it works for the intensity slider). This would make it real easy to see which LED is wired to which port.

yeah.. Nice Idea.

* As you now know the way it works now as is as soon as you allocate a LED it stays lit at the intesity you set.
* But your Idea has merit  (Just having the selected Led lit)

Maybe have both with a Button to change Modes?
Eg
1) All Allocated Leds on
2) Only Selected LEDS on 

I can just never remember which ports are wired to which LEDs. That's because my EI buttons are all wired with the Blue to one device and the Red/Green to the other. In retrospect, this was a really bad idea - but my thinking was that I wouldn't be able to animate across devices, so this way I can at least sequence all the buttons in Blue. In fact, it was this bizarre wiring design that motivated me to create the LEDBlinky - it's the only LED-Wiz driver that can handle my dumb design. 

[southpaw13]

I'm at work so I can't test, but I have been reading the differences between the two plug-ins.  One question, I set up my NEO-GEO driver through Mame to use the bottom 4 buttons on my CP.  This plugin will work since I am not doing an individual game mapping right?

Thanks for all your hard work.

[loadman]

I'm at work so I can't test, but I have been reading the differences between the two plug-ins.  One question, I set up my NEO-GEO driver through Mame to use the bottom 4 buttons on my CP.  This plugin will work since I am not doing an individual game mapping right?

Thanks for all your hard work.

You can have it individual (with a config file for the games you want to be diffrent) or global

Have a play (it will be clear to use it I think)  and ask if you get stuck

[swindus]

Great! Will update the MaLa page soon!

[loadman]

Further about the attract mode....

1) It will refresh every 10 secs and pick another random LWA animation file (found in the LWA folder)
2) To trigger attract mode at the moment requires your MaLa screensaver to be enabled as that is what is what triggers LED attract mode. FYI In the next MaLa version you won't be compelled to run a Picture or Video screen saver you can just trigger the Plug-in.. (see attached Pic)

[edge]

I finally was able to take a few movie clips of the LEDWiz in action.  Keep in mind - since my wife doesn't value all this cool arcade stuff, I had to get my son in the action.   

Dynamic gamelist and LED screen saver mode:


Closeup of Mala LED screen save rmode:


As you watch this clip, imagine a computer voice speaking "Hook left" then "Hook Right". 


I also updated the download link.  Swindus added the LedWiz v2 download to his plugin page.

[squirrellydw]

very nice, worked fine with my 3 LEDwizs.  1 question and 1 suggestion.

question, how do I make it speak the button actions?  It speaks the game when launched but not the button actions?

suggestion, for idiots like me,  I wired my LEDwizs backwards. For me BLUE is 1, GREEN is 2 and RED is 3.  Anyway to make the EZRGB able to flip so I could use it in the future?

[loadman]

question, how do I make it speak the button actions?  It speaks the game when launched but not the button actions?

Do you have path controls.ini set in mame.  When you have that done the refresh your mamin mame game list...  Also it only works for mame games I think

[squirrellydw]

thanks, had to refresh

[edge]

suggestion, for idiots like me,  I wired my LEDwizs backwards. For me BLUE is 1, GREEN is 2 and RED is 3.  Anyway to make the EZRGB able to flip so I could use it in the future?

hehe... a ReverseEZ option?  I will add that to next version.

[squirrellydw]

sweet, and maybe part of the LEDwiz blinky?

I planned on remapping the control inputs on a game-by-game basis, I needed a LED plug-in that could handle these dynamic changes - hence LEDBlinky was born.

[Timoe]

Great, something new I need to mess with now.  I hope you're ready to do some tech support Loadman.

Last night I successfully unmodded my Led-Wiz and upgraded to Mala RC9

I want to try your plug in because I really want to utilize the intensity level options that the led-wiz offers.  I also want to use the blinking start button on credit insert option that the ledwiz can do.

I got it hooked up and I used the ledwiz configurator but when I start Mala it tells me that "file not found"  Even though it properly lights the controls for the games.

It would be cool if the configuration could be accessed within Mala, like the gamelist and layout editors.

I'm also having trouble getting the attract mode to start.

[loadman]

I got it hooked up and I used the ledwiz configurator but when I start Mala it tells me that "file not found"  Even though it properly lights the controls for the games.

What the?  what excatly is the message?

It would be cool if the configuration could be accessed within Mala, like the gamelist and layout editors

Trust me that won't happen.  Only MaLa hardware or a Mod-ded LedWiz will be nativley supported by MaLa. Having said that operation via a Plug-in is pain-less    I'm sure it's something simple 

I'm also having trouble getting the attract mode to start.

Attract mode isn't triggered the same way as when you had your Led-Wiz modded.
You need to enable a screen-saver (this will enable the Led-Wiz attract mode).
You can either:
1) Plug-in Only
2) Picture Screen saver
3) Video Screen Saver

[Timoe]

I got it hooked up and I used the ledwiz configurator but when I start Mala it tells me that "file not found"  Even though it properly lights the controls for the games.

What the?  what excatly is the message?

I start mala

it reads my speach ini file

it doesnt play my start up video

then in a small dialog box that says "Mala" at the top it reads:

"The file couldnt be read"

I hit enter and then everything is fine

My leds are lit properly.  Is there a directory path I need to set for the lwa files?  if so which ini do I set it at?

thanks again loadman

[loadman]

it doesnt play my start up video
then in a small dialog box that says "Mala" at the top it reads:
"The file couldnt be read"
I hit enter and then everything is fine

This could be a Bug with RC9 videos.      see post here
Try turning off start-up video

My leds are lit properly.  Is there a directory path I need to set for the lwa files?  if so which ini do I set it at?

No just make sure the lwa forlder with the lwa files in it is in the plugin folder (see pic)

[loadman]

As you watch this clip, imagine a computer voice speaking "Hook left" then "Hook Right". 

Edge, Love your work but you need to set-up a better MaLa layout. Your Forum pic uses the boring MaLa default layout and these vids show you with the 'Blue' layout but without any Picture snap or Videos in the frame.  Don't make me come over there   

JOKE 

Anyway...  For all to enjoy:

Here is video of MaLa speaking (flash'n speak) with audio.  

[edge]

Edge, Love your work but you need to set-up a better MaLa layout. Your Forum pic uses the boring MaLa default layout and these vids show you with the 'Blue' layout but without any Picture snap or Videos in the frame.  Don't make me come over there   

hahaha... Loadman - I have been too busy programming (and learning) Delphi that my cab has been neglected.

I know - I need to get my snaps/videos on there.  I am so embarassed.  haha.

[Timoe]

okay I need to get serious now.

My mala led attract modes are not working

my screensaver does not work in mala

and my text/speech/flash doesnot work

[Timoe]

I really want to get the attract modes working.  This is probably the most important to me

I have tried all three options in the pic below:

send plugin event only
Screensaver
and both options unchecked

When I leave all the controls alone in the front end, I wait for 7 seconds then I hear the "screensaver" noise, the screen flashes black for a milisecond and nothing happens

meanwhile all my controls are lit correctly for the game (note: when scrolling through the games sometimes my trakball will light up in addition to the buttons for games that do not use a trackball)

[Timoe]

When using the flash and speak option  the game starts, my speach plugin says the name of the game and then the ledwiz plugin says the name of the game again but not the name of the controls and the controls dont flash.

[Timoe]

could my attract mode issue be some sort of conflict with a windows xp screensaver setting or something?

obviously my snaps and video previews work in the front end.

obviulsy my controls.ini is in the right directory cause its lighting the correct controls for each game.


should I try Mala v1.0 RC8?

[edge]

should I try Mala v1.0 RC8?

If you could try RC8, it will help us narrow down your prob.

I am thinking something is going on with the screensaver mode in RC9.  I had a similar issue (after 10 secs, I get file not found - although I now my snaps are there).

Don't worry - we will figure it out together.  Plus swindus gets back from vacation (or he already may be back?) so he'll jump in as well.

[loadman]

When using the flash and speak option  the game starts, my speach plugin says the name of the game and then the ledwiz plugin says the name of the game again but not the name of the controls and the controls dont flash.

Dude,

Don't use the speech plug-in and led-wiz option of the together or when you get it working it will say the game name twice

I really want to get the attract modes working.  This is probably the most important to me

Have you tried it on another PC yet?  I remember going down a similar road with you before Timoe ad wasn't the cause that you scalled down win xp on your cab?

[Timoe]

When using the flash and speak option  the game starts, my speach plugin says the name of the game and then the ledwiz plugin says the name of the game again but not the name of the controls and the controls dont flash.

Dude,

Don't use the speech plug-in and led-wiz option of the together or when you get it working it will say the game name twice

I really want to get the attract modes working.  This is probably the most important to me

Have you tried it on another PC yet?  I remember going down a similar road with you before Timoe ad wasn't the cause that you scalled down win xp on your cab?

Yeah, I already planned on removing the speach plugin.  I just havent done it yet.

I reinstalled Win XP after I had all those problems before (thanks loadman btw) and this time its the standard winxp (not stripped down)

can you hook me up with Mala RC8? I deleted my self extracting file when I got RC9.

[loadman]

can you hook me up with Mala RC8? I deleted my self extracting file when I got RC9.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64825.msg649838#msg649838

[Timoe]

Heres some more info on my situation.

The first time I start mala after a reboot - it tells me that it cant find ledwiz.cfg.  After I quit mala and restart mala it finds it.

It even plays the "ramp up.lwa" sequence (I'm not sure that is really a .lwa, maybe just an effect?)

then loads mala.  I removed the speech plugin but it still doesnt play the flash and speak or the attract modes.

[loadman]

Heres some more info on my situation.

The first time I start mala after a reboot - it tells me that it cant find ledwiz.cfg.  After I quit mala and restart mala it finds it.

It even plays the "ramp up.lwa" sequence (I'm not sure that is really a .lwa, maybe just an effect?)

then loads mala.  I removed the speech plugin but it still doesnt play the flash and speak or the attract modes.

Yeah but you didn't answer my question of what happens if you launch mala from double clicking the mala.exe (Not the short-cut)

I will make you a version with a error log tonight so we can solve this

[Timoe]

the .lwa and attract mode issue is not with RC9, I had the same problem with RC8 just now.

let me go try your direct clicking of the mala.exe

[Timoe]

If I start windows (not in a shell) and then directly click the mala.exe - it works, the leds ramp up and flash.


still no attract mode though.   

[Timoe]

Here are the screen caps of my Ledwiz Configurator options.  Just in case