First Build MAME-BOX

[SparkyBearBomb]

Okay so I have been considering this for a while and have now decided to jump into building my own Cab.
I am still in the design phase and will solidly remain here until mid July.

The basic considerations I have are;

1. To be able to run any emulator of my choosing
1.1. Running Emulators are PS1, N64, SEGA and VisualBoy

2. To be able to run Windows games that are controller supported
2.1 Including Steam Games
2.2 Windows OS will be required, Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit selected
2.3 Internet connection required
2.4 Online game-play? not likely

3. Easy to configure front end

4. To be able to act as a high performance Jukebox without conflicting with the emulators
4.1 Selectable internal/external audio outputs
4.2 6mm + XLR combo output port for external audio
4.2.1 XLR output is required to be a balanced signal
4.2.2 6mm has 2 ports and must be configured in MONO left and MONO right ports for easy conversion to 3.5mm jack
4.3 Cab must have a touch screen for the primary monitor

5. To be able to select OS using a physical switch mounted on the rear of the cab
5.1 Must not be able to change OS while power is applied to the PC

6. Must be able to safely shut down running OS

The Luxury considerations I have are;

A. Second screen where the coin door would be

B. HDMI output for external displays mirroring the primary display

C. PowerCON power input connecter (looks like a SpeakCON connector)

D. Power daisy-chain-able (has a PowerCON power out)

E. Power switch controlled by key to prevent unauthorised access (may never get removed but just in case)

F. Front USB ports for controllers and keyboard/mouse if required


I have started ordering parts in for the cab build so I can get sizes to position everything,

The cab will be build into 2 halves with the joystick and buttons separating from the primary screen

The ordered parts are;

Connections:
4x XLR style USB connectors
2x XLR/6mm combo connectors
1x EtherCON connector
1x XLR style HDMI connector
2x PowerCON connectors
5x 2 socket XLR style connector plates

Audio:
1x Radial Engineering ProAV2 Stereo Direct Box

Controllers:
4x N64 USB controllers - Black
1x KEYWIZ board
30x Joystick buttons - white with Tricolour-LED lights built in

Effects:
2x LEDWIZ boards for controlling LED's and Marquee

Still to be ordered
2x  Viewsonic 24" touchscreens
1x Sony Xplod 16cm 2-way separate-type speaker
1x Sony Xplod 32cm In Car Subwoofer
as req Amps
tricolour LED strip lights < 1M
PC https://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=wish_lists&wlcId=240748&action=wish_lists

I am drawing the Cab design in AutoCAD as I am getting it cut with a CNC machine

I am using MaLa as my front end but can't seam to get the Images in the Layout editor to work, any suggestions?

[Typefighter01]

Looks like you are very well organized and you know what you want out of the cab, so good start

It says one of your luxury considerations is a second screen where the coin door would normally be, uhhh, why is that?

[yotsuya]

I wouldn't put a screen where the coin door goes without some sort of plexi over it. Coin doors get kneed, kicked by kids on stools... Something to consider.

BTW, it sounds like you want your USB controllers to be swappable. Make sure you read up on how Windows doesn't like that.

Good luck! 

[SparkyBearBomb]

It says one of your luxury considerations is a second screen where the coin door would normally be, uhhh, why is that?

The jukebox program that I have selected Uses the second screen to show the now playing,
when running MaLa I will have a desktop slide show on it

I wouldn't put a screen where the coin door goes without some sort of plexi over it. Coin doors get kneed, kicked by kids on stools... Something to consider.

Plexi glass was my intention, but I wasn't aware that a coin door received so much abuse, Thanks

BTW, it sounds like you want your USB controllers to be swappable. Make sure you read up on how Windows doesn't like that.

I wasn't aware that windows didn't like the controllers to be swapped being USB I figured that Project 64 (the only emulator using the controllers) would be fine with it.
the keywiz wont be unplugged, I have a PS/2 and a USB version, what one would be better, I am leaning towards PS/2 personally

[Slippyblade]

I wasn't aware that windows didn't like the controllers to be swapped being USB I figured that Project 64 (the only emulator using the controllers) would be fine with it.
the keywiz wont be unplugged, I have a PS/2 and a USB version, what one would be better, I am leaning towards PS/2 personally

PS/2 is NOT hot swappable.  You might get away with it, but that would be a fluke not normal behavior.

[yotsuya]

BTW, it sounds like you want your USB controllers to be swappable. Make sure you read up on how Windows doesn't like that.

I wasn't aware that windows didn't like the controllers to be swapped being USB I figured that Project 64 (the only emulator using the controllers) would be fine with it.
the keywiz wont be unplugged, I have a PS/2 and a USB version, what one would be better, I am leaning towards PS/2 personally

Yeah, it's a problem with the way Windows assigns device IDs. You might set everything up with Windows seeing Controller X as 1 and Controller Y as 2, but when you remove them and later plug them in, even if you put them in the same exact ports, Windows might assign Controller X id2 and Controller Y id1, and this messes up the way your emulator is set up. It's a pain. A buddy of mine just leaves his plugged in all the time, and stows the controllers in his coin bucket. It works perfectly that way.

[SparkyBearBomb]

BTW, it sounds like you want your USB controllers to be swappable. Make sure you read up on how Windows doesn't like that.

I wasn't aware that windows didn't like the controllers to be swapped being USB I figured that Project 64 (the only emulator using the controllers) would be fine with it.
the keywiz wont be unplugged, I have a PS/2 and a USB version, what one would be better, I am leaning towards PS/2 personally

Yeah, it's a problem with the way Windows assigns device IDs. You might set everything up with Windows seeing Controller X as 1 and Controller Y as 2, but when you remove them and later plug them in, even if you put them in the same exact ports, Windows might assign Controller X id2 and Controller Y id1, and this messes up the way your emulator is set up. It's a pain. A buddy of mine just leaves his plugged in all the time, and stows the controllers in his coin bucket. It works perfectly that way.

Sounds like I will also just leave mine plugged in 

As for my button layout I moved one button more to my liking,
not sure how good it will be in practice tho.