The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: ahofle on August 09, 2007, 03:05:42 pm

Title: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on August 09, 2007, 03:05:42 pm
Based on an idea in this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=69805.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=69805.0)

...I threw together a small application which allows you to set a hotkey which, when held down, allows you to control your windows wave output volume using a mouse device (spinner, trackball) and/or keyboard device (joysticks/buttons connected to a keyboard interface such as IPAC or keywiz).  Basically you can set it up to control cabinet volume using only arcade controls.  It only works on NT/2000/XP/Vista and it requires the .NET 2.0 framework which you can download from microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en).  There are a bunch of apps like this out there, but the ones I've tried are not very cabinet friendly (requires use of the mouse scroll wheel, special 'windows' key, etc).  I hope someone gets some use out of it.

NT/2000/XP (this build does NOT work with Windows 7 and higher):
http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol.zip (http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol.zip)

Windows 7 (ONLY works with Vista/Win7/Win8 and higher):
http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol-VistaOnly.zip (http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol-VistaOnly.zip)


Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Chunce DeLeone on August 10, 2007, 09:25:54 am
YOUR THE MAN DUDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 :notworthy: :applaud:

You Just Made a Tron Spinner Vol Knob!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: unclet on August 11, 2007, 08:36:38 am
Thsi is a great little application ..... may I suggest a little update to it ....

For a jukebox cabinet, having a little spinner know would be great for volume, however, having to press the hotkey while turning the spinner knob is not really great (for a jukebox cabinet).    Perhaps you could add an option in this application to indicate whether the HotKey should be used or not. 

Basically, for a jukebox scenario, walking up to the cabinet and turning the knob should always adjust the volume.  Would not want to have to get people to press a hotkey first then turn the knob for a jukebox ...... I understand why you do it for an arcade cabinet, but it just is not that friendly for a jukebox cabinet.

Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Neilyboy on August 11, 2007, 10:21:09 am
Very cool program man!! Once my cabinet is done ill be running this software!
Neil
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on August 11, 2007, 05:54:42 pm
Thsi is a great little application ..... may I suggest a little update to it ....

For a jukebox cabinet, having a little spinner know would be great for volume, however, having to press the hotkey while turning the spinner knob is not really great (for a jukebox cabinet).    Perhaps you could add an option in this application to indicate whether the HotKey should be used or not. 

Hmm interesting...  Are there people out there that have a spinner on their jukebox with no trackball or mouse (it would have to be totally mouseless or else the program would start wildly adjusting the volume around when you used the trackball/mouse)?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: bfauska on August 11, 2007, 06:39:25 pm
I just installed this and it seems fairly cool, one question/request though.  Would it be possible to add z-axis control of the volume?  I don't yet have a spinner but my plans include one running off of the x-axis of a TB controller, the trackball would be x and y and the spinner would be z.  I think this is actually a fairly common approach and would allow me to use a TT2 spinner as the interface for both a trackball and spinner and then use the spinner for volume.  OK I lied, two requests... Is it possible to allow holding down a key for continuous volume control, right now I have it assigned to a joystick and to control the volume I have to tap it instead of hold it down, I suppose if I fine tune the adjustment increment then I could get a solution worked out.

Overall I think this software will save me a bunch of work, I was planning on replacing the wheel style volume control in-line with my computer speakers in the cabinet w/ a knob and that would have either been a complete custom cable or a hacked factory one.

Thank you for a great application, I like it as is and feel that the additions would only make it better.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: unclet on August 11, 2007, 08:07:56 pm
Yeah, I guess a lot of people would not have a hacked mouse as a spinner for their jukebox, although if your application had this ability perhaps more people would hack a mouse for volume adjustment.   It would be pretty cool to have a knob of the jukebox to adjust volume.

Actually, you could do a lot with this program if you wanted to ...... you could allow people to map a certain key to moving the mouse "right" and another key to moving the mouse "left".   This way turning the spinner knob could be used to select a game in a game list, flip through all the various emulators installed on a cabinet, etc ... etc ...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TheBrokentoken on August 12, 2007, 11:06:20 am
Very, very nice.  Thanks for putting this together, as it'll be a huge help to everyone here on the forum!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on August 12, 2007, 09:35:39 pm
you are totally the man... I am glad I posted this thread!!! :)

Can't wait to try it ... my cab is all unplugged but my test / mockup CP is coming together and I'll make sure to set up your app.

thanks again
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on August 12, 2007, 10:21:44 pm
Would it be possible to add z-axis control of the volume? 

I'll look into this.  I know the scroll wheel is reported differently than the X and Y movement (more like a keypress) but I think it should be easy to do.

Quote
Is it possible to allow holding down a key for continuous volume control, right now I have it assigned to a joystick and to control the volume I have to tap it instead of hold it down, I suppose if I fine tune the adjustment increment then I could get a solution worked out.

It works that way already.  Try going to your keyboard control panel and increasing the repeat rate.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Space Fractal on August 13, 2007, 08:29:16 am
Did not work in 64 bit version with Vista Premuim on my work machine.  All Inputs works in debug mode, but it did never change that volume (I have UAC user control disabled).

Otherwice Cool app to see and good use on a arcade cab (maybe on my primary arcadecab, where I use VolumeTray, that works as it should).

A request is been able to remove that config window and send it to the system tray, when you minimize it, after you configurated it. next start should allways start as minimized state.

About around repeat rate problem:
 Do NEVER change volume, directly on PollEvent() events. PollEvent() should even been use to check if key is pressed down or not.

 Instead use a input variable and change that that to 1 if KeyDown() is invoked and 0 if KeyUp() is invoked (and ONLY that).

 Then use a timer event to detect when it time to change the volume and check the variable for the keypress status. Now the key repeat is gone.

About mouse spinner
 Not all jukebox software need that, because it added to that software (like my own MultiJuke), but it would been cool to use a spinner without need to press a key or not (should been user choiseable). If you do that, this app would been suitable for arcade cabs and jukebox cabs (that do not have a touchscreen).



Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on August 13, 2007, 11:59:24 am
OK I added the Z axis.  It seems to work with my mouse scroll wheel.  Not sure how it will work with a spinner hooked to the Z axis though.

About around repeat rate problem:
 Do NEVER change volume, directly on PollEvent() events. PollEvent() should even been use to check if key is pressed down or not.

???
This uses windows hooks, not polling.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on August 29, 2007, 02:27:58 pm
for some reason it does not work for me

i map to mouse x.
my spinner is mapped to mouse x

there is also a trackball (x and y mouse) ... conflict?

also it'd be awesome if this could start and minimize as a system tray app

thanks!!!!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on August 29, 2007, 02:57:19 pm
Are you using Vista?  Someone else reported it doesn't work with that OS too.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on August 29, 2007, 03:39:13 pm
no, just xp pro with a bunch of services disabled (maybe thats it)

it does launch and run, just no effect

thanks
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on August 29, 2007, 04:41:28 pm
Try checking on the 'debug mode' checkbox and make sure you are picking up the mouse and keyboard events.  Dumb question but you are holding down the hotkey right? 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on August 29, 2007, 05:36:26 pm
yep

I am assigning the MAME P1 Switch 2 ("ALT", the mame default), from a happ pushbutton plugged to an I-PAC 2.

I will check the debug mode when I get home :)

thanks...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 05, 2007, 12:14:26 am
I am sad this is not working for me :(

the key presses are listed in the debug list, and the mouse x axis value (where my spinner is assigned) changes
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 05, 2007, 10:19:12 am
Just for kicks, can you try a different hotkey (like 'A' or '2' or something, not a special character).  Also make sure your focus is not on the cabvol program when testing (minimize it) because it will think you are trying to set the hotkey if you are focused in that field.  To test, I usually play an mp3 or something that has constant sound. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 05, 2007, 04:36:50 pm
OK! I will do that...

Is there any way to make CabVol.exe start minimized in the task bar?

I know how to add a shortcut to it in the Startup folder (so it starts when windows boots) BUT the UI shows up on top of MaLa frontend...

Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 05, 2007, 05:09:16 pm
OK! I will do that...

Is there any way to make CabVol.exe start minimized in the task bar?

I know how to add a shortcut to it in the Startup folder (so it starts when windows boots) BUT the UI shows up on top of MaLa frontend...

Thanks!!!

Drag a shortcut to cabvol.exe into your startup folder, and then go to the shortcut's properties and select Run: 'Minimized'.  It should then start with Windows and minimize itself.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Space Fractal on September 05, 2007, 06:56:16 pm
You might try to use bass.dll or fmod.dll as a alternative to change the volume, when it dosent work (I remember it can change the main volume, so it should effect other apps as well)? The only problem it may confuce with some Jukebox applications (which many use bass.dll)... The user could try it if it fail witch the normal api.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 08, 2007, 01:14:26 am
IT WORKS NOW!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

thank you thakn you thank you

(configured P2 START as hot key, and set increments to 1000... like a charm!)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 08, 2007, 01:58:00 am
Glad to hear it!  :cheers:
I guess 'alt' doesn't work too well as a hot key for whatever reason.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 08, 2007, 02:08:21 am
this totally rocks...

I just spent about 1 hour playing various games, loving the volume control.
P2 START is a pretty good key for it too... I use P1 START to select items in MaLa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 08, 2007, 09:14:35 pm
weird...

ok so i launch a game
then set the volume how i want it
then play
then exit the game

now

if i launch the same game again
without changing volume
it is LOUD again!

and
if i try to change volume again
it doesnt work all the way (changes but not below a certain value)

whats going on?

i use my spinner and increments are set to 250 i think


does your app controle mame's game volume, or the windows / general volume?  .. why is it changing on game launch?  ... is it perhaps reading the mouse x (spinner) and resetting itself?

...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 09, 2007, 05:17:54 pm
Hmm I'm not sure.  I just tried what you did in MAME and when I exited and came back in the volume was the same.  What version of MAME are you using?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 09, 2007, 06:24:02 pm
i compiled my own 117u3 with high score support and no nag screens

im about to do the same with version 118 and use that
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 09, 2007, 11:59:28 pm
One tiiiny feature request from me... :)


Right now, if by mistake I toggle from MaLa to the cab volume app, focus is on the hotkey field... if I then press a key, it simply messes up the configuration... I just had folks over playing on the arcade and couldn't figure out why it wans't working anymore... it was because the key had been changed by mistake... :(

Could you make it so the text field must be CLICKED to wait for a key change?

Thank you!!!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: postalp123 on September 11, 2007, 10:52:32 pm
Great program Afole, but im having a slight issue with it...

When my cabinet boots up into MAMEwah, your program seems to always boot on top of it in focus, is there anyway to have it stay in the background or even minimized in my tray?

Aside from that, awesome job mate!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 12, 2007, 12:19:18 am
Have you tried running it minimized at startup?

Quote
Drag a shortcut to cabvol.exe into your startup folder, and then go to the shortcut's properties and select Run: 'Minimized'.  It should then start with Windows and minimize itself.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: postalp123 on September 12, 2007, 08:56:08 am
Have you tried running it minimized at startup?

Quote
Drag a shortcut to cabvol.exe into your startup folder, and then go to the shortcut's properties and select Run: 'Minimized'.  It should then start with Windows and minimize itself.

TY Sir! Ill give it a shot when I get home, But im sure that will do it.

Props again for this program.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 12, 2007, 05:35:55 pm
it would be great if the focus was not being automatically set to the hotkey change action though... even if the app will generally be minimized... it would add an extra click to avoid switching the key by mistake :)

right now if i use alt+tab to flip between my apps (mala, cabvol, sometimes a folder open to copy files or notepad to edit ini files...)... well flipping to cabvol and to another app ... changes he hotkey o alt or tab ...

thanks for the hard work! one less hole to make i my cab or wires to solder :)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 13, 2007, 12:10:36 am
I will try and look into that soon.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on September 13, 2007, 11:34:40 am
Alright, try it now:

http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol.zip
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 13, 2007, 09:05:42 pm
you ROCK!

i will try tonight :)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on September 13, 2007, 10:20:27 pm
much better!

thank you
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: csa3d on October 22, 2007, 09:54:30 am
Is there any way you can add a Mute hokey combination to this fabulous little app?

Thanks!
-csa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on October 22, 2007, 01:12:54 pm
Hmm that's not a bad idea.  I'll look into it when I get a chance. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: csa3d on October 22, 2007, 02:02:01 pm
awesome!  you the man.
-csa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on October 22, 2007, 10:53:49 pm
you know... depending on the game. the app sometimes does not work.

I mapped to my spinner (mouse X / horizontal axis) + P2 START hotkey
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: csa3d on October 23, 2007, 09:24:59 am
Hmmm.. that seems odd.  This app shouldn't be hooking into a game, rather into the sound driver I had thought.  I suppose all this could be automated through AutoHotkey, but I liked the simplicity this app offers.

-csa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on October 24, 2007, 11:15:52 pm
I think it is,

but

I think that when a game has a lower screen resolution...
somehow the mouse x values sent by the spinner to the app
are different

meaning... sometimes I can turn volume all the way down
sometimes not... only a little bit and it "stops" reducing

I think it has to do with the fact that the program looks for mouse X values...

ahofle: what do you think?

(thanks!)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on October 25, 2007, 11:48:42 am
I think I may have an idea what's happening here.  The app uses global hooks to capture key and mouse input.  Windows reports the X and Y coordinates of the current mouse event to my app when you move the mouse.  I'm guessing it maxes out at 0 (when all the way left) and a very large number when maxed all the way right.  In this case, the app compares the value to the previous and thinks it hasn't moved and does nothing.  Let me try and think of something to solve this problem.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on October 25, 2007, 11:52:48 am
OK I think I see what's happening.  Try turning on 'debug' mode and move the mouse all the way left.  Once it's at or around zero, try moving it left again.  You'll see that windows reports some negative values and then quickly snaps back up to 0 or so.  Cabvol interprets this as a move to the right of course and increments the volume.  I'll get to this as soon as I can.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on October 25, 2007, 01:23:02 pm
OK ARTIFACT, can you try downloading it again and let me know if that helps?

EDIT: also added mute key
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: csa3d on October 25, 2007, 10:00:39 pm
woot!  Thanks for adding that!
-csa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on October 26, 2007, 11:19:18 pm
HEY HEY you rock my friend!

I haven't had time to try the new version yet sorry
I will do so soon

THANK YOU! this is a very cool app
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Warborg on November 17, 2007, 02:10:53 am
I installed XP Performance Edition on my cab and the app refuses to start, just giving a "failed to execute" error...  Is there some dependency that needs to be installed for this to work properly?

EDIT:  Never Mind, if I had bothered to search BEFORE posting, I would have seen it needed .NET 2.0.  Installed and working fine now...  :)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on November 19, 2007, 12:56:45 pm
For anyone interested, I added 'minimize to tray' functionality so there won't be an item in the taskbar when you minimize now. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on November 25, 2007, 10:40:19 pm
you rock! thank you
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TheBrokentoken on December 23, 2007, 08:36:51 pm
Would it be possible to have the option of not using a hotkey that has to be held down and if in that scenario, only solicit input from the up/down button instead of the axis input?  I'm really wanting to assign the volume up/down/mute to three individual inputs on my i-pac and therefore three pushbuttons on my cabinet and have this work w/o having to hold down yet another button....

Thanks!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on December 31, 2007, 12:14:52 pm
OK I will add this to my list of things to do.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on December 31, 2007, 04:44:29 pm
OK hotkey is now optional (just uncheck the 'Hotkey' checkbox at the top left). 

Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TheBrokentoken on December 31, 2007, 05:34:11 pm
Most excellent, my man!   Thanks so much - this is a great addition to the program and makes it 100% more usable, IMHO!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: M37R01D on January 31, 2008, 12:43:40 pm
Just want to thank you for the wonderfull program,
Its been running great, THANKS
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: roorooroo on January 31, 2008, 02:08:18 pm
Many thanks for this very useful app..will be using it once i get my cab up and running. :applaud:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on January 31, 2008, 02:50:19 pm
Glad some people are getting use out of it.
:cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: M37R01D on January 31, 2008, 09:40:49 pm
Yea man, Besides my frontend (even though Maximus Arcade auto starts your app) it is the single most used application on my machine. Again many thanks.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: BobbyG66 on February 02, 2008, 08:31:42 am
Ahofle,

Thank you VERY much for this app.
I have had dedicated volume keys on my CP for over a year now.
I was only able to get them working recently with this.

Thanks again!
BG66
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ginsu Victim on February 20, 2008, 10:53:02 am
Thanks for this awesome program. I'm currently building a cabinet and wasn't sure how I was going to setup my volume control, but now you've inadvertantly helped me out. (I was searching on spinner info, and ran across this instead)
Great work, can't wait to use it.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bent98 on February 24, 2008, 09:24:08 pm
I cant wait to try this thing out.

Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bent98 on February 27, 2008, 09:27:16 pm
I put this program in startup folder with my mala, but program is maximized. Anyway have it start minimized?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: quarterback on February 27, 2008, 09:44:08 pm
I have a similar question, although I have to admit I haven't yet tested the app.   I have a trackball (mouse) as well as a spinner (mouse), is there any way to differentiate between the two so only the spinner controls the volume and not the trackball?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on February 27, 2008, 10:18:37 pm
I put this program in startup folder with my mala, but program is maximized. Anyway have it start minimized?

It's better to have a shortcut in the startup folder, not the actual program.  Then you can go to the shortcut's properties and select Run: 'Minimized'.  It should then start with Windows and minimize itself.

I have a similar question, although I have to admit I haven't yet tested the app.   I have a trackball (mouse) as well as a spinner (mouse), is there any way to differentiate between the two so only the spinner controls the volume and not the trackball?

Well, it depends.  If your spinner is on your mouse 'z' axis (GGG TT2 spinner for example) then yes you can make it separate.  If both your trackball and spinner move the windows cursor's x axis, then it won't be separate.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bent98 on February 27, 2008, 10:21:01 pm
I have a TT2 but the only way to get the spinner to raise and lower volume is too assign it to X if i assign to Z tt2 only lowers volume but can not riase it. Is that a bug?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on February 28, 2008, 01:27:01 am
Sure sounds like it.  I will take a look at that, although I'm pretty positive I tested it with a mouse scroll wheel (I don't have a TT2).  Does your TT2 work in both directions if you use it to scroll a long webpage or text document?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bent98 on February 28, 2008, 07:26:08 am
humm

you know what

Wheel just goes left and right

Is there something I can use to config that?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on February 28, 2008, 10:36:59 am
You may want to give RandyT a shout.  I'm not sure how to put the TT2 on the Z axis.
EDIT: From ggg's website:
"X, Y or Z axis operation can be selected by simply plugging the data cable onto the desired axis connector."
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: rooter on February 28, 2008, 05:56:57 pm
I can confirm that this program doesn't work in Vista 64bit Ultimate Edition.  I even tried to use it in Windows XP compatibility mode.

I'm going to subscribe to this thread in hopes that might someday change.  I would be willing to help test it out anytime as I would love to use this program.

Thanks for the great software idea!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ginsu Victim on April 04, 2008, 08:35:15 am
Hmmm....strange.
I finally have my arcade PC setup. (XP Professional SP2)
Last night I was playing some games in ZSNES through MameWAH. Suddenly I started having extremely loose keyboard control in games. I'd press jump, and a second or two, they'd jump. I'd push a direction and let off, and the character would continue that way for a second or two.
I got out of mamewah and restarted it, same issue.
Then I got out and turned off CABVOL....problem solved. I couldn't replicate this issue, though.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on April 04, 2008, 12:03:00 pm
Hmmm, I'll mess around with ZSNES and see if it happens to me.  Let me know if you figure out how to reproduce it.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ginsu Victim on April 04, 2008, 12:18:34 pm
I'll give it a go later and see what happens. I'm moving the PC into the cabinet finally, so now the real test begins.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ginsu Victim on April 05, 2008, 11:21:42 pm
Well, I tried a few things without Cabvol running at all. I managed to figure out the problem, and luckily, it's not Cabvol related.
For some reason, my PC didn't like me using CTRL, ALT, TAB, etc in my Mini-pac setup. It was creating all kinds of trouble. I remapped everything to purely numbers and letters and have no issues now.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on April 06, 2008, 11:18:28 am
Thx for the update!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: thatitalian on April 07, 2008, 08:04:05 am
Great app! really does makes the whole "control everything from your control panel" experience a lot easier. Simple app, huge help!

THANKS!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: javeryh on April 13, 2008, 10:46:38 am
For some reason I can't even launch this app.  I download the zip, extract it and try to launch the .exe and I get an error... anyone experiencing this or have any ideas what could be wrong?  The exe is a 40kb file when extracted if that helps...

EDIT: I just tried it on my laptop and it worked... I have no idea what the problem could be on my cabinet...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: Ginsu Victim on April 13, 2008, 05:49:29 pm
javeryh: You need .NET 2.0 installed. Click here to grab it (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en)

I quit using Cabvol. It WAS causing problems with my controls for some reason.

I also bought a new sound system for my cabinet that has a volume pod and I mounted it in a hidden location, so I have no use for the program now anyway.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: javeryh on April 13, 2008, 08:03:48 pm
javeryh: You need .NET 2.0 installed. Click here to grab it (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en)

I quit using Cabvol. It WAS causing problems with my controls for some reason.

I also bought a new sound system for my cabinet that has a volume pod and I mounted it in a hidden location, so I have no use for the program now anyway.

That's it?  Sweet!  I'll grab it now and give it a shot.  It's such a pain though because my cab isn't connected to anything...  I need to figure something out...  THANKS!!!    :cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: javeryh on April 13, 2008, 10:11:08 pm
OK, it seems to be working now but I can't set any of the keys.  I'm using a U360 with the harness and it's not recognizing button presses to set everything... any ideas?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ginsu Victim on April 13, 2008, 10:45:52 pm
Aren't those recognized as gamepad buttons, instead of keyboard presses? (I don't own one, and have limited knowledge of them)

Try joy2key maybe? If you don't have it, search on that term exactly.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: javeryh on April 14, 2008, 10:08:13 am
Aren't those recognized as gamepad buttons, instead of keyboard presses? (I don't own one, and have limited knowledge of them)

Try joy2key maybe? If you don't have it, search on that term exactly.

Yes, I think they are.  When I press buttons on the keyboard they seem to work just fine with this app as far as setting them goes.  Hmmm...  I'll try searching joy2key and see what I come up with.  Thanks for your help.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on April 14, 2008, 10:49:20 am
Yeah it doesn't recognize analog joystick input unfortunately.  You'll have to either use joy2key or actual buttons or something.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ideft on May 18, 2008, 06:19:47 pm
will this program eventually support joystick inputs because it would be cool if it did!!!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: ahofle on May 19, 2008, 11:08:11 am
I may look at it again at some point, but it wasn't exactly a quick fix if I recall correctly.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Flake on October 29, 2008, 10:15:17 am
I tried downloading the .NET 2.0 but I had an error stated the version I'm trying to download is incompatible with the version already installed on my computer.  Anyone have any insight on this issue?

Also, assuming I can get this fixed, what exactly are the steps needed to go about getting this application up and running.  I have already put a shortcut in the startup folder so is this all I have to do?  I am using Maximus Arcade as my FE and the spinner will actually rotate Maximus through the different emulators and through the game list so if I am trying to adjust the volume when I'm on these screens will the volume adjust simultaneously while the I scroll the game/emulator lists?  Or does pressing the "hotkey" trump the command in Maximus to scroll through the lists?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 29, 2008, 11:17:52 am
Sounds like maybe you already have a newer version of .NET installed?  Have you tried running it?  If you don't immediately get an error, you don't need to install the .NET framework.
As for the scrolling, yes it will still scroll your frontend while the hotkey is down (this app doesn't consume the input currently).  I suppose it would be possible to do, but I'm not sure if that would be what everyone wants.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: TheShanMan on October 29, 2008, 11:35:30 am
will this program eventually support joystick inputs because it would be cool if it did!!!

Agreed.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Flake on October 29, 2008, 12:25:54 pm
Sounds like maybe you already have a newer version of .NET installed?  Have you tried running it?  If you don't immediately get an error, you don't need to install the .NET framework.
As for the scrolling, yes it will still scroll your frontend while the hotkey is down (this app doesn't consume the input currently).  I suppose it would be possible to do, but I'm not sure if that would be what everyone wants.

Well OK I have tried using the application anyways even after I got that error but am not sure if I "installed" it correctly.  So out of the kindness of your heart explain the steps needed to "install" the application and have it run correctly?

All I have done so far is to extract the application on my desktop, put a shortcut in the startup folder and thats it.  There must be something more to do since its not working for me.  Kinda noobish here on software so please do be kind to my fragile ego if I am missing something. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 29, 2008, 12:51:25 pm
There is no installation process, just manually run the cabvol.exe application by double clicking on it.  It should open up with a configuration window like the screenshot on the first post of this thread.

I'm still not sure how worthwhile it would be to add a bunch of joystick handling code to this, given that there are already tools out there like joytokey to convert joystick input to keyboard presses.  Also, are there really that many people that have an analog joystick but no trackball, spinner or digital arcade sticks?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TheShanMan on October 29, 2008, 02:06:28 pm
I don't know, but in my case it's because I have swappable panels. Yeah, I know that's a very uncommon approach. I can understand you not wanting to add it, though I probably wouldn't bother with your app otherwise. I know I can use joy2key, but unless there is a REALLY good reason to get it, figure out how to configure it, and keep it running all the time JUST so I can use this app, I won't bother. But if you really prefer not to handle analog sticks then don't worry about it - I just wanted to add my vote for that but I'm not going to die without it.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 29, 2008, 04:49:12 pm
It's not that I prefer not to handle it, it's just that it isn't easy since joystick input isn't handled by the core windows SDK (like keyboard and mouse input is) so it would be a good deal more work I'm guessing.  I may get to it eventually though.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TheShanMan on October 29, 2008, 04:57:18 pm
I understand that and that's all I was referring to - didn't mean to imply that you had a motive here. :cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: headkaze on October 29, 2008, 07:06:35 pm
Hey ahofle if you want PM me and I can help you add joystick support using DirectInput.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 29, 2008, 09:08:50 pm
Thanks headkaze!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Flake on October 30, 2008, 09:25:57 am
I'm up and running now with your application - thanks!   :cheers:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: LLUncoolJ on December 18, 2008, 12:59:31 pm
I can confirm that this program doesn't work in Vista 64bit Ultimate Edition.  I even tried to use it in Windows XP compatibility mode.

I'm going to subscribe to this thread in hopes that might someday change.  I would be willing to help test it out anytime as I would love to use this program.

Thanks for the great software idea!

Same here..unable to get the app to work with Vista :'(. I could use this in the worst way if anyone figures it out. All inputs are good on the debugger, just no volume change. Thanks for changing everything for the worst Microsoft. :angry:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on January 20, 2009, 03:37:42 pm
Any hopes for Vista 64 support or is this a dead issue?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on January 20, 2009, 03:59:59 pm
I wouldn't say it's dead, but I don't have Vista (64 or otherwise) so it would not be easy.  Actually, after your post and a quick google, I did find out why it's not working in Vista though as well as some newer volume adjustment code (not based on the winmm.dll stuff which is out dated), so I may give it a stab.  I'm just worried that it then won't work with XP LOL.  Stay tuned.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on January 20, 2009, 05:25:32 pm
I'm sure many Vista user would appericate your effort, please do!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on January 21, 2009, 12:28:22 pm
Well, as expected this new audio API is ONLY supported on Vista and later.  :dunno  I have it integrated with CalVol but I have no way to test it.  If any of you would like to be a guinea pig let me know.  With this version, the volume range is much different (0-100), so you will NEED to change the volume increment and mouse volume increment rates from 2000/1000 to something like 1-5 with this version.  Any feedback would be appreciated.

http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol-VistaOnly.zip
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Blanka on January 21, 2009, 01:48:54 pm
Is there no standard volume keys on the keyboard? On my mac I mapped the iPac shift keys in a way that shift+up and shift+down alters the volume.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on January 24, 2009, 01:18:04 am
HEY I just wanted to say... you rock aholfe!

I was the guy who suggested this program to be created, a couple of years ago :)
Anyway... I had this running all this time, noo problem.

I actually did not have the latest version, and really appreciate this new(er) version... the biggest improvement is the fact that volume rises/falls the same way regardless of the game's resolution (there was an issue before that - where it was stuck at certain resolutions)

My cab is perfect with this - no messy extra knobs to be seen ... just "P2 START + Spinner" to adjust volume.

Again thank you.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 25, 2009, 12:17:22 pm
Well, as expected this new audio API is ONLY supported on Vista and later.  :dunno  I have it integrated with CalVol but I have no way to test it.  If any of you would like to be a guinea pig let me know.  With this version, the volume range is much different (0-100), so you will NEED to change the volume increment and mouse volume increment rates from 2000/1000 to something like 1-5 with this version.  Any feedback would be appreciated.

http://hofle.com/mame/CabVol-VistaOnly.zip

Just picking back up on this thread. ^^^

Does that support V64?

I can do testing for you if you like? I really would love this to work!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 25, 2009, 09:00:26 pm
It seemed to be working as I was able to move the volume up and down but only with the crash of the app on the screen. The volume move up in down in a way where it was either all the way up or all the way down, maybe just an adjustment of the program but I really did not get that far till it crashed.



Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on February 25, 2009, 09:55:17 pm
Did you change the volume increments to something between 1-5 as mentioned above?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 25, 2009, 10:12:35 pm
No... Is that going to make it stop from crashing though?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on February 26, 2009, 12:21:28 pm
Not sure.  It's just a guess, but from your description that's why it's going all the way up or down (because you are incrementing past the maximum with one mouse turn).  I'm pretty sure I handled going over 100 though, so I'm still not sure about the crash.

When exactly does it crash?  When you adjust the volume?  Or right when the program starts?

EDIT: Try grabbing the Vista version again and see if the crash goes away (I made a change that should hopefully help).
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 26, 2009, 05:55:06 pm
Not sure.  It's just a guess, but from your description that's why it's going all the way up or down (because you are incrementing past the maximum with one mouse turn).  I'm pretty sure I handled going over 100 though, so I'm still not sure about the crash.

When exactly does it crash?  When you adjust the volume?  Or right when the program starts?

EDIT: Try grabbing the Vista version again and see if the crash goes away (I made a change that should hopefully help).

HEY! I think we are onto something here, it did not crash this time.

I only had a second to play with it before I got to eat dinner here but will provide more feedback soon after.

The volume still jumps full on or full off so I need to adjust that. Any recommend settings for that?

ps. It crashed when I adjusted the volume before.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 26, 2009, 07:06:10 pm
Ok, here is the results of my testing.

The Program does not crash.

The volume jumps full on or full off with a twist of the spinner.

I can adjust the volume increments from 1 to whatever and it does not make a difference.

If I change the mouse volume increments from anything other than 1, it does not work at all no matter how much I twist the spinner.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on February 27, 2009, 01:02:59 pm
I think I figured out the problem.  Can you try downloading it again and let me know?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 27, 2009, 05:24:15 pm
IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You
Are
The
Man
!
!
!

 :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Vista support is in da hizzy!  :applaud:
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on February 27, 2009, 05:55:08 pm
Thanks for guinea pigging. :)
I'll update the main post and add 'official' Vista support.  :cheers:

I still need to get to adding joystick support (headkaze sent me some code for that).
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Visitor Q on February 27, 2009, 06:26:32 pm
Anytime man, works awesome!

Thanks Much!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: smalltownguy on March 21, 2009, 08:58:25 am
Thanks for the application, it's very useful. I have a question for the group, maybe someone can help me:

I'm running Mamewah FE as a shell. I can't seem to get CabVol to start when the computer boots. When I exit Mamewah to explorer, then CabVol starts when the desktop loads (and stays running for future sessions of Mamewah) but it won't load on startup. I've tried putting a shortcut in the startup folder (which is where it is now) and also tried loading it via Mamewah, by entering the executable path in the 'applications to run on startup' entry in the mamewah.ini file. No luck.

What am I missing? I'd really like to use the application for volume control, but if I can't get it to go on startup, I'll have to seek other options. I don't really want to go away from mamewah as a shell, b/c this cabinet will be placed in a family member's bar, and requires the ability to 'fix things on reboot.'

I can get VNC to start up properly on reboot (because I can log into the cab remotely whenever it reboots), so I know that I should be able to get this program loading at startup.

Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: Bender on May 22, 2009, 02:12:07 pm
had some issues getting my media conrtol buttons to work inside a FE Shell

so I got this little gem mapped the volume and mute keys unchecked the hotkey button and had it run on the FE  startup and Bibgo! volume control with my media buttons :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:

Thanks Ahofle!

Great work
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: Bender on June 10, 2009, 04:13:43 pm
anyway to get  this program to automatically quite when I exit the FE?

when I'm working on the system I end up with like 20 copies of this open
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: csa3d on June 10, 2009, 05:41:02 pm
anyway to get  this program to automatically quite when I exit the FE?

when I'm working on the system I end up with like 20 copies of this open

I'm running an pre-launch command to a batch file, which includes a call to taskkill (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb491009.aspx) to ensure that various PC apps are closed upon running in "arcade mode".  I'd imagine you can you this upon exit to do the exact same thing going to "PC Mode"

-csa
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on June 20, 2009, 01:08:31 am
Hey heyyy

So I just rebuilt the PC inside my cab, and for SOME REASON CabVol.exe crashes when I launch it...

Do I need to install some C++ runtime redistributable, or something like that?

Windows XP "out of the box" SP3

THANKS!!

I was the original poster who requested this beautiful app you biult :)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: Bender on June 20, 2009, 08:11:13 pm
.Net 2 Framework, I think you need that
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ARTIFACT on July 25, 2009, 05:02:06 pm
Will try! oups...

Funny I know .NET well, just forgot to install it on the cab box after I reinstalled everything
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ummon on September 30, 2009, 10:52:41 pm
This stopped working on my cab. The settings haven't changed. It's running. But no response. Got rid of it and re-d/l'd and started and still nothing. I notice the settings remained, so it seems it's accessing some registry?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ummon on September 30, 2009, 11:09:59 pm
Je-sus.....I just brought the window back up, and un-clicked and clicked mouse directions, put away, and now it works. Okay. 'mute' still don't work, but at least the volume goes up an down.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Lewis Black on October 01, 2009, 09:12:25 am
I can't believe I missed this app until just now.  Very nice work! 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TxGlenn on October 03, 2009, 12:53:04 pm
What would cause the KeyDown event to not register until I release the button?

In the debugger, I press my Hot Key and nothing happens.  When I release it, I then see KeyDown, the new coordinates of my mouse, and KeyUp, all at once.  The result is a working CabVol app, but only when I repeated hit the Hot Key as I'm spinning the spinner...holding the Hot Key down while spinning has no effect.  I am using an Ipac4 encoder.

Thanks
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 03, 2009, 11:47:47 pm
Sounds like you are using the player 1 start button as a hotkey (which is a no-no).  The IPAC does not send a keydown for the special 'shift' key until you release it to allow shifted functions like 'esc'.  Try using a different hotkey like 2.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: tony.silveira on October 04, 2009, 06:07:51 am
how did i miss this app?  it sounds awesome and i'll be adding it shortly.

i do have a suggestion if you are still working on it; emu specific config files.

sometimes when i play games, i'll be listening to music or have sirius radio streaming.  it'd be great to be able to reduce the emu volume (for those that support it) vs. the entire system volume.

maybe even have two hot keys; 1st hot key lowers system volume, 2nd hot key lowers volume based on which cfg file is loaded up.

thanks, t
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Ummon on October 05, 2009, 05:33:06 am
Sounds like you are using the player 1 start button as a hotkey (which is a no-no).  The IPAC does not send a keydown for the special 'shift' key until you release it to allow shifted functions like 'esc'.  Try using a different hotkey like 2.

I think maybe something similar is happening with mine. Maybe not, but what's happening is this: I have '5' (coin up) as hotkey, and I'm finding I have to press it twice, holding it down the second time, for it to be active. Works, so fine, but weird.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: TxGlenn on October 05, 2009, 01:52:34 pm
Sounds like you are using the player 1 start button as a hotkey (which is a no-no).  The IPAC does not send a keydown for the special 'shift' key until you release it to allow shifted functions like 'esc'.  Try using a different hotkey like 2.

You nailed it.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: jeffremiller on October 14, 2009, 08:41:58 am
Any chance of adding a drop down for use with multiple sound cards?  Would be nice to be able to control Cab volume and ambience volume for the same spinner with different hot keys.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: syph007 on October 15, 2009, 09:33:28 am
I gave this a try last night, and it seemed at first to do exactly what I needed but then I hit a snag.  I was hoping it would basically control the volume slider in the sound control panel, but it doenst appear to.  This didnt at first seem to be an issue, I cranked the sound louder than I wanted, then used the util to dial it down to what i wanted.  Perfect.. except after a reboot teh vol was back up to max and I have to dial it down again with the util.   So it doesnt seem to save and apply the current volume between boots.  At least I couldnt figure out how to get that to work.  I'm going to have to look for a util that actually contorls the system volume slider as that would do what I want. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on October 16, 2009, 12:16:43 am
It adjusts the wave volume only, not the master volume.  But the end result is the same for mame and any other games.  It does not 'save' the volume, windows should do that.  It sounds like something else is resetting the volume?  Have you tried manually adjusting the volume (not with cabvol) and rebooting to see if it stays?

As for the multiple sound cards feature, it's pretty unlikely that I'll find the time for that one to be honest.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: Nataq on November 27, 2009, 03:21:22 am
Edit: Found out that problem below had nothing to do with cabvol... still, just because I wondered and others could too I will leave the trace here.  :)

Hey ahofle, a question for you. It seems like since I installed volcab I have strange problems with World Class Bowling. Sound stutters, goes up and down and I am experiencing slowdown in the game. Now even if I dont run cabvol I still have the problems that I didnt had before... My machine ran the game flawlessly before. I am using the trackball for volcab but obviously not holding my hotkey (player 2 start) down while playing. I have noticed another thread mentionning the same problem with World Class Bowling and the guy was also using volcab : http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=91851.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=91851.0)

My question is : Even if not running, is there any trace left by volcab on the PC that can be undone ? Does volcab plays with any registry entries and if so wich ones ? How would we go to "reset" everything like if cabvol was never used ?

Thank you!

Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on November 29, 2009, 02:54:45 am
It adds a few settings to the registry, can't remember the exact spot off the top of my head.  Just search regedit for cabvol. 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: metahacker on January 07, 2010, 04:58:57 pm
Edit: Found out that problem below had nothing to do with cabvol... still, just because I wondered and others could too I will leave the trace here.  :)

Hey ahofle, a question for you. It seems like since I installed volcab I have strange problems with World Class Bowling. Sound stutters, goes up and down and I am experiencing slowdown in the game. Now even if I dont run cabvol I still have the problems that I didnt had before... My machine ran the game flawlessly before. I am using the trackball for volcab but obviously not holding my hotkey (player 2 start) down while playing. I have noticed another thread mentionning the same problem with World Class Bowling and the guy was also using volcab : http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=91851.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=91851.0)

My question is : Even if not running, is there any trace left by volcab on the PC that can be undone ? Does volcab plays with any registry entries and if so wich ones ? How would we go to "reset" everything like if cabvol was never used ?

Thank you!



you sure you didnt enable triple buffering or vsync or something?

ive had this exact problem before (with this exact same game)....
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: surface tension on March 04, 2010, 03:03:49 am
First of all, great work on this app. Thanks.

Has anyone got this working on Windows 7? I am running it on Windows 7 64-bit and it works just fine within the windows environment. But when I launch MAME or even GameEx for that matter, the buttons don't appear to register. I'm running the Vista build... should this work the same way in Windows 7?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on March 08, 2010, 05:57:48 pm
I haven't tried it on Win 7 yet.  My wife has it on her netbook though so I'll take a look when I can.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: surface tension on March 10, 2010, 04:46:29 pm
Thanks. I know you don't want this app to haunt you!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on March 10, 2010, 04:55:18 pm
I'm just a little surprised to hear it doesn't work in Win7.  I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried it before.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: jtslade on March 11, 2010, 08:33:44 am
anyone having problems with CabVol and Hyperspin 1.0/ the loss of focus specifically while in HS frontend 1.0
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: surface tension on March 12, 2010, 04:21:24 am
anyone having problems with CabVol and Hyperspin 1.0/ the loss of focus specifically while in HS frontend 1.0
When you say "loss of focus", do you mean it simply doesn't react to the programmed keypresses... but then it's fine when you go back to the windows desktop? How about when in MAME? What OS are you running?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: surface tension on March 29, 2010, 04:29:01 am
I haven't tried it on Win 7 yet.  My wife has it on her netbook though so I'll take a look when I can.

Did you ever get the chance to look at this?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on March 29, 2010, 09:50:36 pm
I haven't tried it on Win 7 yet.  My wife has it on her netbook though so I'll take a look when I can.

Did you ever get the chance to look at this?

Just tried it in 64bit Win 7 and it seems to work fine in MAME.  I was only able to try using the keys to increment/decrement because the touch pad doesn't register while the hotkey is down, but I didn't have any problems.  Have you tried using keys?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: surface tension on March 30, 2010, 04:49:52 am
That's strange. I was also keeping it simple using keys for vol+/- without a hotkey. I will have another play around with it on the weekend and report back.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/button
Post by: Bender on May 16, 2010, 12:52:53 pm
Sorry to bring this up again, but can someone let me know what the command line would be to quit this program?

Thanks a bunch!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: mamefreak2 on May 06, 2012, 09:02:56 pm
Hi,

Hope nobody minds me bringing up this old thread but I'd really like to use this app.

I'm using a Griffin Powermate for my volume control and in Windows it works perfectly. Unfortunately though the software needs windows to run and so it doesn't help me when I've shelled my front end.

I've shelled Hyperspin and I'd really like to be able to use this. I'm using Windows7 64 bit and I downloaded the Vista and above version of this. I programmed it using the Griffin with the Griffin powermate software running. The volume adjustment and mute adjustment seemed to work. I unclidked the hotkey option because I don't want it:
 (http://i47.tinypic.com/2eyyu52.png)
Once I turned off the Griffin powermate software though, this didn't work. I no longer had any volume control. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong here?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on May 07, 2012, 03:54:43 pm
Hmm, what does the Griffin software do?  Does it emulate keyboard clicks when you move the spinner left or right?  Is it possible to just add it to Windows startup so it's always running?  If I'm not mistaken the Griffin is actually a joystick device is that right?  Unfortunately, cabvol doesn't support joystick devices, only keyboard and mouse.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: mamefreak2 on May 07, 2012, 04:09:26 pm
Hmm, what does the Griffin software do?  Does it emulate keyboard clicks when you move the spinner left or right?  Is it possible to just add it to Windows startup so it's always running?  If I'm not mistaken the Griffin is actually a joystick device is that right?  Unfortunately, cabvol doesn't support joystick devices, only keyboard and mouse.
Someone on the Hyperspin board mentioned that he was using your app to work with Cabvol.

The Griffin Powermate is essentially a spinner with a nice glowing blue light. You can program macros into it etc... But it works well as a volume knob. When you press it, it mutes. Problem is that the Griffin powermate software requires that you have windows running for it to work. I've shelled Hyperspin so it's not going to work for me and that's where Cabvol comes in. The guy said he got it to work with the Griffing device.

When I went to program cabvol, I was able to input volume increment key values but ONLY when the Griffin Software was running. Once the Griffin software was turned off, it no longer seemed to capture it. The Griffin Powermate is plugged in via a USB cable into my computer. This is what it looks like: http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/powermate (http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/powermate)

So like I said, my problem is, once I shut off the Griffin software cabvol doesn't seem to pick it up. Any ideas on how to make this happen?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on May 09, 2012, 09:56:42 am
Are you sure it requires that Windows be the shell?  Can't you invoke the Griffin software when Hyperspin loads?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: mamefreak2 on May 09, 2012, 10:20:37 am
Are you sure it requires that Windows be the shell?  Can't you invoke the Griffin software when Hyperspin loads?
Unfortunately yes, it does require Windows to work. I have shelled Hyperspin and then opened the Task Manager and run the Griffin software. Nothing happened unfortunately. And this is consistent with what I heard from others that it needs Windows running in order to function.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on May 09, 2012, 04:47:11 pm
So does the Griffin do anything without its software running?  On other words, does MAME or any applications besides CabVol recognize any input from it? 
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: mamefreak2 on May 09, 2012, 06:42:38 pm
So does the Griffin do anything without its software running?  On other words, does MAME or any applications besides CabVol recognize any input from it?  
No, it doesn't do anything without the Griffin software running. And the Griffin software won't run without Windows. But the spinner shows up in my hardware devices even when the software isn't running.

How can I map cabvol to the spinner? I'm actually trying to finish my computer off tonight so I can get it into my cabinet this week. Any immediate help (if it's even possible to get it to work) would be appreciated. It seems somebody else was able to do this so I'm hoping you can help me.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on May 09, 2012, 07:16:56 pm
So when you spin it it doesn't move the mouse cursor or press any keys?  If not, I don't know of any way to get CabVol to recognize it. :(
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: mamefreak2 on May 09, 2012, 07:57:45 pm
So when you spin it it doesn't move the mouse cursor or press any keys?  If not, I don't know of any way to get CabVol to recognize it. :(
Ah that sucks. Oh well, nice try anyways. Thanks.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: zanna5910 on September 26, 2013, 01:02:05 am
Sorry to dig this up, but any chance in a "start minimized" option?
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: ahofle on September 26, 2013, 01:10:59 am
Yep just create a shortcut to it and set it to run 'minimized'.  Then drag that shortcut into your startup folder.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: zanna5910 on September 26, 2013, 12:56:50 pm
Yep just create a shortcut to it and set it to run 'minimized'.  Then drag that shortcut into your startup folder.

Gracias.   You learn something new every day.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: IG-88 on January 04, 2014, 10:37:47 pm
Hey ahofle! Fantastic little piece of software you've made here. Wiring volume pots, taking apart speakers, drilling holes in cabs mounting hardware ect ect is a thing of the past for me thanks to this! You have made my life a WHOLE lot easier. Many thanks!!  :cheers:  Downloaded and installed in about 2 min. Works like a champ. Only wish I had found this earlier!
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: flaviometal on March 19, 2014, 01:26:25 pm
Excelent work, ahofle! 

Question: is there a way to make this work with a "non-keyboard based" arcade controler? Make the software recognize a gamepad or something? I've tried with Joy2key without success...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: newoski on January 18, 2015, 09:54:43 am
Hi,

Not sure if this is still being developed, but it would amazing to have a setting to only allow 1 instance of the app to be running. I have it in a startup script for HyperSpin, which means that during testing, I end up with tons of instances of the app running (as I close and re-open HyperSpin)
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bulbousbeard on January 18, 2015, 12:25:34 pm
Can someone help me understand the point of this program?

Don't J-PAC/I-PAC encoders let you map buttons to volume controls anyway?

Is it mainly for mice? I guess I can see it if it's for mice.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: EMDB on January 18, 2015, 03:48:11 pm
Not everybody uses an I/J-PAC...
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: bulbousbeard on January 19, 2015, 12:33:08 am
I'm adding native support for this into Big Blue, so you'll be able to map keys to volume up, down, and mute without needing a separate program.
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: HHH on July 28, 2017, 06:22:37 am
Hi, first of all thanks for this good program

but it doesnt work in Windows 10 for me
Title: Re: Here's an app to control volume with your spinner/trackball/joysticks/buttons...
Post by: JRobATL on May 19, 2020, 10:21:46 pm
Just wanted to say thanks for creating and sharing this! You're still helping newbs like me to this day. Just downloaded it onto my Win 10 Mame cpu and it worked like a charm..  :cheers: