Controller setup issue (set 2 controllers up as 1)

[padderz]

Hi there, first off I'm new to this forum and this is my first post thanks.
I have recently finished my first and only bartop arcade which I haven't uploaded any pics of yet but I have a question relating to possibly setting up custom drivers? For my cab I went for the cheap approach and instead of ordering a usb encoder I painstakingly wired each connection to a dual usb gamepad which is 2 gamepads connected through to 1 usb port. My problem is windows recognises the usb gamepads as 2 different devices obviously this wouldn't seem like a problem at first but the start button is wired to the 2nd so when I set up the controls I always have the problem that I cannot set the start button for player 1 (Sorry if I'm unclear but it's kinda hard to explain). Anyway what I'm asking is if there's any way I can force the computer to recognise both gamepads as just 1 usb peripheral device? So I can assign the start button which is wired to the 2nd pad to the 1p start button.

Padderz

[northerngames]

for mame press tab in game and remap the controls to do what you need for each or all.

[padderz]

Hi thanks for the quick reply, sadly though I wish it were this simple. I completely understand how to config each controller especially in mame. My problem is most emulators will not share the buttons between the controllers, say I cannot use the player 2 start in player 1 controls. Any suggestions on how this can be fixed?

[ron310]

You can hit the tab key, and select the command, press enter, then the button you want to map, then enter again, and then the second button you want to map. You can map multiple buttons to the same command... It should be that easy, unless I'm reading this wrong.

[padderz]

Sorry I think you are a bit confused but thank you anyway. I completely know how to set up config the controls in MAME and many other emulators. The problem I'm having is that the emulators want do not want to share buttons between the different controllers. I'm certain the problem isn't down to the emulators but more the driver I have set up with the controllers. I want to try and find a 46 or so input driver which is just seen as one controller so I have full control  over which buttons do what. The other option I was wondering if there's some kind of program/script which will just take the 2 controller inputs and merge them as one. I'm becoming doubtful that such software exists though so I may just have to go through the pain of rewiring the whole control panel. Thank you for all the help so far though
Theo

[JDFan]

Hmm I think Mame should allow you to set the controller 2 start button as the P1 start - not sure why it is not working for you (or is this some other emulator) -- One other option you could try is Joy2key or similar program that remaps the gamepad button presses to keystrokes and set the button to the default key press for the P1 start.