Beginner questions about jpac and ipac and general stuff. Yes I searched!

[boogieman]

I have been really really reading as much of this stuff as I can for the last two weeks, so forgive me if I still am a little green lol.  A little background:  I have recently started my first mame cabinet project.  I will be using an old JAMMA cabinet.  It's quite a cool cabinet, a namco one that has speakers running the length from the control board to the marquee.  I plan on making a 2 player 8 button setup, then in the future if need be make a 4 player board with trackballs/spinner/misc. fun toys.  Anyways, I will be picking it up in a few weeks and have a few questions.

From what I gather the JPAC unit basically lets you plug your arcade game/monitor/controls into a PC without cutting a bunch of wires and such.  You still need a video card supporting the slower refresh rates of the arcade monitor.

So for the questions:

1. You set the refresh rates up in mame itself, or whatever emulator you are running (say one for sega genesis for example)?

2. Lets say I want a 4 player control setup... How the heck does that work, do I get one of the IPAC units and tie into the JPAC?

3.  Does anyone have any tips with my setup?

I really hope to make this as pain free as possible.  I figure I need a JPAC, computer with compatible video card, sound amplifier.  I know I will need lots more customization and such but to get a general setup will these things get me started?

[CheffoJeffo]

1. You set the refresh rates up in mame itself, or whatever emulator you are running (say one for sega genesis for example)?

Good place to start:

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Arcade_Monitors

I always recommend the ArcadeVGA card as is it is quick and easy.

2. Lets say I want a 4 player control setup... How the heck does that work, do I get one of the IPAC units and tie into the JPAC?

No need to tie anything into the JPac -- just plug in the IPac (making sure to reconfigure the key mappings to match P3/P4).

[divemaster127]

If you do need these items I am the authorized reseller for ultimarc products on the forums plus I stock these items in the states.  Send  a pm if you need a quote
dm

[boogieman]

CheffoJeffo,
Cool, I guess I didn't think about it, but it makes sense!  Basically the JPAC and IPAC would be similar in concept to using two peripherals on a computer.  Thats great!  (err... thats way oversimplified but anyways... )

Divemaster, I will keep you in mind.  Do you have a website or is the best way to get ahold of you here at the forums?

Thanks!  Man oh man I cant wait till May 9 or 10, thats when I am supposed to get the arcade machine!   

[protokatie]

Divemaster, I will keep you in mind.  Do you have a website ...

Tempted...

Tempted.....


Body twitching....


Ok, Ill be good and keep my mouth shut...


And boogie, care to expound upon the arcade machine you will be receiving?
Curious minds have curious anticipations.

[boogieman]

I wasn't exactly sure what game it was, soul something (only saw it for about 30 seconds as it was behind another unit), but I did an ebay search and found it.  This is the exact game I am buying (not the ebay one, it's just an example). Soul Edge

Looks like its already set up for 8 buttons per player, which is good.  I suppose now phase 1 will be getting it playing with mame, phase 2 will be to modify the control scheme and cabinet to make it my own!

So... I did a bit of googleing and found this: Adapter
Is this something I have to worry about, since it seems to have extra pins?  I understand  that the extra pins are for the additional controls, and these extra buttons can be wired into the screw terminals of a JPAC, but will this physically fit the JPAC connection?   

Not sure about the tempted... tempted... and body twitching thing... hope I didn't do a no no 

[paigeoliver]

The thing you just linked has no use for you when it comes to mame, none whatsoever, that is for wiring up the extra harness on Namco boards, nothing more.