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LedBlinky Custom Layouts Tutorial with LaunchBox / BigBox tips


SrfrBoyBobby
Go to solution Solved by RedHoodRobin64,

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I was asked how I create game specific color layouts and call outs using Ledblinky and LaunchBox.  This is my tips and tricks and there may be other ways to achieve the same or better.  Comment and share!

Sorry for the crunchy audio and bad audio mix while BigBox is running.  For some reason the audio got funky when BigBox is running. Probably because the computer was doing 20 things at once.  I also noticed the on screen mame setup stuff is a bit hard to read due to adjusting exposures, etc.  The audio explains it pretty well. Hope this helps and GAME ON!

 LedBlinky Custom Layouts Tutorial  

*Sorry for the really low audio.  I thought the mic was clipping but it was BigBox audio recording issue I had mentioned above.

Edited by SrfrBoyBobby
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  • 2 years later...

I’m away from my cabinet for the next few weeks and won’t be able to use it for reference. I can say that input controller map in LED blinky has to match your Mame inputs.  Your port labels need to match the key input  codes.  You buttons won’t match if these don’t match. The input controller map is referenced in step 1 on the ledblinky setup under how do I get things to work section on the link listed below.

https://www.ledblinky.net/Install.htm

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5 hours ago, SrfrBoyBobby said:

I’m away from my cabinet for the next few weeks and won’t be able to use it for reference. I can say that input controller map in LED blinky has to match your Mame inputs.  Your port labels need to match the key input  codes.  You buttons won’t match if these don’t match. The input controller map is referenced in step 1 on the ledblinky setup under how do I get things to work section on the link listed below.

https://www.ledblinky.net/Install.htm

Yep, you are correct. I figured it out. Your youtube video was a life saver. I have only one issue. I can't seem to get my RGB joystick to light different colors at one time. You select common/ CONTROL_JOY8WAY then choose a color. Under the <Default> for player 1 thru 4, there is no option to select JOYSTICK_1 and color. All four joysticks will be the selected COMMON/ CONTROL_JOY8WAY color. There is no option under the Player 1 thru 4 tabs to assign a JOYSTICK color.

 

20240828_201928.jpg

20240828_202040.jpg

20240828_202020.jpg

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5 hours ago, SrfrBoyBobby said:

I’m away from my cabinet for the next few weeks and won’t be able to use it for reference. I can say that input controller map in LED blinky has to match your Mame inputs.  Your port labels need to match the key input  codes.  You buttons won’t match if these don’t match. The input controller map is referenced in step 1 on the ledblinky setup under how do I get things to work section on the link listed below.

https://www.ledblinky.net/Install.htm

I also noticed your JOYSTICK_1 is assign as ENTER. Why is that?

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I’m glad my video help you. Ledblinky is awesome but can be hard to get right if you don’t have a bit of guidance.
 

I think I have <enter> because I do not have illuminated joysticks. I think I just put a key in there as a place holder. 
 

As for the different colors per stick… I do t have this setup to test but looks like you have to assign the up,down,left,right per player joystick. This is what I can see from ledblinky site and a video or two. I hope this helps and game on!

This image is from ledblinky website

image.thumb.png.4e001036d7df508399c6d15f07c757be.png

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41 minutes ago, SrfrBoyBobby said:

I’m glad my video help you. Ledblinky is awesome but can be hard to get right if you don’t have a bit of guidance.
 

I think I have <enter> because I do not have illuminated joysticks. I think I just put a key in there as a place holder. 
 

As for the different colors per stick… I do t have this setup to test but looks like you have to assign the up,down,left,right per player joystick. This is what I can see from ledblinky site and a video or two. I hope this helps and game on!

This image is from ledblinky website

image.thumb.png.4e001036d7df508399c6d15f07c757be.png

I will give that a go.

Also....Is there a place we can share each others LEDBlinky files? I can't imagine having to program 10,000+ games. This would make things much quicker. I figured if we all had the same iPAC input assignments, this would make things much easier.

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Not sure if there is a place to share the ledblinky files. Unfortunately, I changed my inputs and they do not match mame default because I’m silly like that.

 I manually programmed a 1000+ mame games with call outs.  It took me a few years but the results are amazing. It takes me a few minutes per game to setup a control profile per game and I usually did this as I test the game. Maybe look at rocketblinky https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=150224.0 . It’s a setup tool that is supposed to work with ledblinky. It has been mentioned in the forums it works with launchbox. See below

 

I also use generic profiles for console systems (I.e. snes, nes, etc) and have a few go to games I copy over and over to match or have a good base. Games like 1942 will match or be similar to many flying shootumups. MSX / Neo geo I copy the base file and add the call outs per game. 
 

Here is an example of by generic Xbox controller layout for I use for Steam games and I change it if needed.  

image.thumb.jpeg.9ff26275293e8b064f41d5451fe2f4e1.jpeg
 

I also tend to use a game like Street fighter II for the base of other fighters or mame games. This way I don’t have to setup the common buttons over and over. 

image.thumb.jpeg.7a5ca1750d74746bf2f4a887fdfc4959.jpeg

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1 hour ago, SrfrBoyBobby said:

Not sure if there is a place to share the ledblinky files. Unfortunately, I changed my inputs and they do not match mame default because I’m silly like that.

 I manually programmed a 1000+ mame games with call outs.  It took me a few years but the results are amazing. It takes me a few minutes per game to setup a control profile per game and I usually did this as I test the game. Maybe look at rocketblinky https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=150224.0 . It’s a setup tool that is supposed to work with ledblinky. It has been mentioned in the forums it works with launchbox. See below

 

I also use generic profiles for console systems (I.e. snes, nes, etc) and have a few go to games I copy over and over to match or have a good base. Games like 1942 will match or be similar to many flying shootumups. MSX / Neo geo I copy the base file and add the call outs per game. 
 

Here is an example of by generic Xbox controller layout for I use for Steam games and I change it if needed.  

image.thumb.jpeg.9ff26275293e8b064f41d5451fe2f4e1.jpeg
 

I also tend to use a game like Street fighter II for the base of other fighters or mame games. This way I don’t have to setup the common buttons over and over. 

image.thumb.jpeg.7a5ca1750d74746bf2f4a887fdfc4959.jpeg

Great looking setup! I need to see if I can program these assignable COB LED lights on the T-Molding.

I'm also doing something similar to your cabinet. I'm building a dual screen 50" cabinet. I just got it from the CNC shop.

20240712_160705.jpg

20220501_065309.jpg

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Posted (edited)

Looking great. Make sure to post pics of it setup with the dual screens! 
 

I setup pixel LEDs at my knee level and on the back cabinet lights. I tried to split it left, top and bottom but it didn’t like me having that many led controllers. The 4th one would not be recognized and created conflicts so I just mirrored left/right and top/bottom had enough available channels  so I was able to keep those separate. FYI, i had to do some messing around with games the have punctuations in the titles like “:” (mainly steam games). Being away from the cabinet I can’t remember exactly how I tricked it but I can look at that in the future. Remind me in a few weeks when I return to my cabinet or I might forget. 
 

I used the Ultimarc nano-led controller. I can control about every 3” individually. I usually use a gradation  on the back and reflect on the wall. LEDs without diffusion can be harsh directly in the eyes and the diodes look a little spotty. 
 

Here are some examples of how my cabinet lights look.

image.thumb.jpeg.a48470f585aabb03bba9630a9ed1a029.jpeg
image.thumb.jpeg.e5832336b9f8f4646d62ca9812ebe261.jpeg
 

image.thumb.jpeg.d3d1bd5a1e0efe294b3e31013eda6dc0.jpeg
 

I put a the knee LEDs in an aluminum u shaped stock I bought at Home Depot. Painted the outside of the channel black to blend into the cabinet.  I am planning on 3d printing a diffusion to smooth it out but haven’t had a chance yet .

image.thumb.jpeg.847d7666d0b8ad335a5fd888eb3589fc.jpeg
 

 

Edited by SrfrBoyBobby
Fixed incorrect mirroring description
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