Mala hardware vs. LED Wiz

[rooter]

I was considering buying the hardware offered by the Mala team (http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/hardware_order.html) to light the buttons in my cabinet.  Having them build it and ship it would cost twice as much as ordering the LED Wiz (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=82&products_id=239).
Both are 32 port USB lighting options and use the same plugin for Mala.  Is there any reason that I am missing that would make me want to order the more expensive option?

[BobA]

I think the Mala hardware includes LEDs and Resistors.

[rooter]

I see.

Maybe I should have mentioned that the Mala hardware is $110 w/shipping and the Led Wiz is $50 w/shipping.

Thanks for the help!

[Kaytrim]

Groovy Game Gear has the RGB LEDs allowing you to change the lighting color scheme if you so choose.  Or you can get the standard color LEDs from their site and the resistor is included.  You can also get the translucent buttons to make this work as well.  One thing to keep in mind though that the full set is $6.49 for each button.  Also depending on the number of buttons and how you want to light them it could take 2-3 LEDWiz boards.  It all boils down to how you want to bling up your cab.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[AndyWarne]

Our PAC-Drive boards work the same way as Mala Hardware except that they handle 16 LEDs instead of 32 per board (the maximum number without using an additonal power source). The PAC-Drive is compatible with Mala without the need for a plug-in.
Andy

[Green Giant]

Our PAC-Drive boards work the same way as Mala Hardware except that they handle 16 LEDs instead of 32 per board (the maximum number without using an additonal power source). The PAC-Drive is compatible with Mala without the need for a plug-in.
Andy

But does the pac-drive have all the features as the ledwiz plugins?

Also, I am pretty sure the mala hardware does not support every color possible.  The ledwiz can light each color,rgb, from 0 to 100% giving you every color imaginable.  I don't think the two plugins for the ledwiz support the mala hardware.  The support for the mala driver is built in, but I am also pretty sure it doesn't have the same feature support as the ledwiz.

What are you looking to do with your leds?  That will really help out alot.

[rooter]

I was considering lighting the buttons Knievels way (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=30565.0) with two LEDs per button.

I'm not sure if lighting just one of the LEDs in a button at a time would create an interesting effect, but I think that it might.  I have 16 buttons and the trackball that I would like illuminated.  With this set up, I would definitely need the 32 ports.  That would be 14buttonsx2 port controlled LEDs and 2 buttons + the trackball which would have two LEDs each splitting a port (31 ports in use).

Can I just split the outputs with these boards?  I'm thinking that I would need to use an external power supply to get this done, but that doesn't sound like a big problem.  Or does it?

The RGB buttons do sounds tempting (and expensive).  Do they look (almost) as good as Knievel's double LED setup?  It sounds like they could be easier to control and have more options.  It's so hard to tell what these things look like just from photographs.
 

[BobA]

How do you plan to sequence the buttons?  Are you going to light them on a per game setting or cycle them all in patterns or both? 

[Green Giant]

I was considering lighting the buttons Knievels way (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=30565.0) with two LEDs per button.

I'm not sure if lighting just one of the LEDs in a button at a time would create an interesting effect, but I think that it might.  I have 16 buttons and the trackball that I would like illuminated.  With this set up, I would definitely need the 32 ports.  That would be 14buttonsx2 port controlled LEDs and 2 buttons + the trackball which would have two LEDs each splitting a port (31 ports in use).

Can I just split the outputs with these boards?  I'm thinking that I would need to use an external power supply to get this done, but that doesn't sound like a big problem.  Or does it?

The RGB buttons do sounds tempting (and expensive).  Do they look (almost) as good as Knievel's double LED setup?  It sounds like they could be easier to control and have more options.  It's so hard to tell what these things look like just from photographs.
 

For powering the ledwiz, you will run a 5v line off your computer power supply to the ledwiz.  It is extremely easy and has been explained many times on the boards.

I have a few videos showing the ledwiz lighting the rgb buttons on a per game basis to the original game colors.  Personally I think they look better, maybe not my whole cab but the lighted buttons, than knievels setup.  You can't really compare in my opinion as his just light up everything a nice glow where mine light up just the buttons used for the game in the original colors for that game.  But they cost an arm and a leg and you would need two ledwiz's to get the full effect.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67770.0

[loadman]

I have all three.

Mala Hardware, Led-Wiz and a Pac-Drive

I may have a problem         

If you don't want RGB colors etc then Pac-Drive/MaLa hardware is a cool choice.

[Green Giant]

I have all three.

Mala Hardware, Led-Wiz and a Pac-Drive

I may have a problem         

If you don't want RGB colors etc then Pac-Drive/MaLa hardware is a cool choice.

You are just getting crazy big spender.

But it all comes down to price.  My method with the ledwiz and electic ice ran me $225.

The pacdrive/mala hardware is much cheaper and knievels method is the cheapest at probably under 15.

[youki]

Personnaly , I have been really impressed by the quality of the Led-Wiz .