165 replies to this topic

[mjr]

I did find out something else about pinup player ....

It puts a line in the ini file Just like a game but it actually works off the system volume Setting that's at the top of the ini file...Is this the way it should work?

 

Are you talking about Player or Popper?  Popper is the one that PinVol recognizes, so if you're talking about Player, that's a whole separate program that isn't recognized.  So if that's the one we're talking about, yes, it's correct that it's using the System setting - "System" is the catch-all for any program that isn't in the list of pinball programs.

 

(Why isn't Player recognized?  Because that's just an add-on for VP, right?  Meaning the volume level would be the one for the VP game being played.  So I'm not sure why you're seeing "System" when Player is active - you should be seeing the setting for the VP game that's launching Player.  Are you launching Player as a separate program without VP being involved?)

[Outhere]

Obviously I said that wrong I was referring to the front end and the same with pinballX they both get recognized like a game but the system volume is what they're using

 

 

Everything seems to be working normal, I guess the reboot took care of whatever weird thing was going on

Edited by Outhere, 27 February 2019 - 05:49 AM.

[mjr]

Everything seems to be working normal, I guess to reboot took care of whatever weird thing was going on

 

Good - if whatever it was comes back, let me know and we can look into it further.

[boslaw]

 

Here you go:

  Found non-joystick device: Zebsboards PinCab Controller, DirectInput type=Gamepad/257, USB usage=1.5

 

Yep, that explains it.  It's declaring itself to be a gamepad, not a joystick - DirectInput considers them to be two different things.  (As does USB - that's the "usage" bit.)  The DI scan that was asking to find joysticks was happily ignoring because of that.

 

Okay, I just added gamepads to the acceptable types in the scan.  The next question is whether the C# DI joystick class will accept this device type.  I think it will, since they're pretty similar types at the USB level, but we'll see... these things are rarely that easy.  Here's a new test version with that change:

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...ol-20180907.zip

 

 

Hi MJR, I updated my Zebs plunger from v1 to v3 (new hardware design). PinVol sees this as a gamepad, but the interesting thing now is that pinvol recognizes the button input called by Zeb as Joystick Button 1 but does not recognize the input called Joystick Button 2. I've confirmed that the button is wired correctly and is sending a signal to the computer - just Pinvol can't see it for some reason. Any thoughts?  Thanks as always for reading.

[mjr]

, I updated my Zebs plunger from v1 to v3 (new hardware design). PinVol sees this as a gamepad, but the interesting thing now is that pinvol recognizes the button input called by Zeb as Joystick Button 1 but does not recognize the input called Joystick Button 2. I've confirmed that the button is wired correctly and is sending a signal to the computer - just Pinvol can't see it for some reason. Any thoughts? 

 

No ideas off-hand.  PinVol just uses DirectInput to handle joysticks and gamepads, so I'd think if it's working at all, it would see all of the buttons.

 

If you look at the log file after a run, you should see a section like this:

 

Joystick devices discovered: 1

  #1 ZebsController (20 buttons)

 

Is that showing up?  How many buttons does it claim to have there?

[boslaw]

 

, I updated my Zebs plunger from v1 to v3 (new hardware design). PinVol sees this as a gamepad, but the interesting thing now is that pinvol recognizes the button input called by Zeb as Joystick Button 1 but does not recognize the input called Joystick Button 2. I've confirmed that the button is wired correctly and is sending a signal to the computer - just Pinvol can't see it for some reason. Any thoughts? 

 

No ideas off-hand.  PinVol just uses DirectInput to handle joysticks and gamepads, so I'd think if it's working at all, it would see all of the buttons.

 

If you look at the log file after a run, you should see a section like this:

 

Joystick devices discovered: 1

  #1 ZebsController (20 buttons)

 

Is that showing up?  How many buttons does it claim to have there?

 

 

My log says the ZebsController only has 3 buttons. I need to map PinVol to Joystick 1 and Joystick 2 but Pinvol is only recognizing Joystick 1:

 

PinVol starting up at 3/10/2019 12:02:11 PM

Scanning for USB devices

  Found non-joystick device: Mouse, DirectInput type=Mouse/1, USB usage=0.0

  Found non-joystick device: Keyboard, DirectInput type=Keyboard/4, USB usage=0.0

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=12.1

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=1.128

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-68.136

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.1

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.2

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.4

  Found gamepad: Zebsboards PinCab Controller, DirectInput type=Gamepad/257, USB usage=1.5

  Found non-joystick device: Ultimarc, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=1.0

Joystick devices discovered:

   #1 Zebsboards PinCab Controller (3 buttons)

Hotkeys assigned:

  Global volume up: Windows+F10

  Global volume down: Windows+F9

  Night mode toggle:  Windows+F7

  Mute toggle: Windows+F8

  Table volume up: F5

  Table volume down: Joystick button 1

  Table volume up 2nd device: None

  Table volume down 2nd device: None

[mjr]

My log says the ZebsController only has 3 buttons. I need to map PinVol to Joystick 1 and Joystick 2 but Pinvol is only recognizing Joystick 1:

 

PinVol starting up at 3/10/2019 12:02:11 PM

Scanning for USB devices

  Found gamepad: Zebsboards PinCab Controller, DirectInput type=Gamepad/257, USB usage=1.5

Joystick devices discovered:

   #1 Zebsboards PinCab Controller (3 buttons)

 

Okay, it looks like it's showing up okay. 

 

I have a wild guess about what might be going on, but I can't test it myself since I don't have the hardware to try.  I'm thinking that maybe the device doesn't number its buttons consecutively from 0 - on inspecting the code, I see I was making an assumption that that was the case, but it's not a requirement at the USB level.  Here's a test build for you to try that removes that assumption:

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...ol-20190311.zip

[boslaw]

This update is still seeing the zebs plunger as only 3 buttons and doesn't recognize joystick button 2:

 

======================================================================

PinVol starting up at 3/16/2019 1:34:19 PM

Scanning for USB devices

  Found non-joystick device: Mouse, DirectInput type=Mouse/1, USB usage=0.0

  Found non-joystick device: Keyboard, DirectInput type=Keyboard/4, USB usage=0.0

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=12.1

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=1.128

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-68.136

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.1

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.2

  Found non-joystick device: USB Receiver, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=-256.4

  Found gamepad: Zebsboards PinCab Controller, DirectInput type=Gamepad/257, USB usage=1.5

  Found non-joystick device: Ultimarc, DirectInput type=Device/256, USB usage=1.0

Joystick devices discovered:

   #1 Zebsboards PinCab Controller (3 buttons)

Hotkeys assigned:

  Global volume up: Windows+F10

  Global volume down: Windows+F9

  Night mode toggle:  Windows+F7

  Mute toggle: Windows+F8

  Table volume up: F5

  Table volume down: Joystick button 1

  Table volume up 2nd device: None

  Table volume down 2nd device: None

Hotkeys changed:

  Global volume up: Windows+F10

  Global volume down: Windows+F9

  Night mode toggle:  Windows+F7

  Mute toggle: Windows+F8

  Table volume up: Joystick button 1

  Table volume down: Joystick button 1

  Table volume up 2nd device: None

  Table volume down 2nd device: None

Hotkeys changed:

  Global volume up: Windows+F10

  Global volume down: Windows+F9

  Night mode toggle:  Windows+F7

  Mute toggle: Windows+F8

  Table volume up: Joystick button 1

  Table volume down: F10

  Table volume up 2nd device: None

  Table volume down 2nd device: None

[mjr]

This update is still seeing the zebs plunger as only 3 buttons and doesn't recognize joystick button 2:

 

I guess that wasn't it then. 

 

Just to make sure I understand properly, when you say it "doesn't recognize joystick button 2", what exactly are you trying?  Could you lead me through the exact series of steps you're attempting?

[mjr]

boslaw - Here, I tried updating to the latest version of SharpDX, the DirectInput library I'm using.  I doubt it'll make any difference, but worth a shot.

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...l-20190316a.zip

[boslaw]

Thanks MJR, I'll try downloading the update you posted, but my steps are:

 

open Pinvol

click the button to map Volume Up

press the  button that is mapped to Joystick 1 on Zebs Plunger v3 - it works

press the button that is mapped to Joystick 2 on Zebs Plubger v3 - it is not recognized

 

I've tested the buttons in zebs control panel and the button presses are recognized there, so I know they are wired correctly and Windows is seeing them

Downloaded and installed the update but no change

[Thalamus]

What happens if you open Notepad and then press that second Joystick2 button of yours ? What character do you see ? If any ? Have you tried to run DiView and see what it says you are pressing ? Maybe it is assigned to something that is used elsewhere.

Edited by Thalamus, 17 March 2019 - 05:59 PM.

[mjr]

open Pinvol

click the button to map Volume Up

press the  button that is mapped to Joystick 1 on Zebs Plunger v3 - it works

press the button that is mapped to Joystick 2 on Zebs Plubger v3 - it is not recognized

 

Sorry to belabor the obvious, but since I can't actually see you operate the mouse from here, I have to be super tedious about making sure I understand every little mouse click and keyboard tap, so that I'm sure we're talking about the same thing.  So:

 

- I'm assuming that you left out a step between "press button 1" and "press button 2"  - I'm guessing "click the button to map Volume Down"?  

 

- "It is not recognized" - that means nothing at all happens at this point?  

 

I'm afraid I'm pretty much out of ideas about what else to look at.  It really should "just work" since it's getting the input from Windows.  Are you able to look at this in the Visual Studio debugger yourself?  That might be the quickest way to resolve it if you can, since I don't have the hardware to test it with myself - that makes it largely guesswork.  I can point out some things to look at if you want to give that a try.

Edited by mjr, 17 March 2019 - 06:13 PM.

[boslaw]

DIView sees only one of the buttons (the same button that is recognized by PinVol)

 

Zebs controller sees both buttons (buttons 1 and 2 light up in the control panel when I press them)

 

Notepad sees neither button - no input is given when I press the buttons

 

I've never used visual studio - is this free for download? if so, where do I get it and what do I look for once I download?

[mjr]

DIView sees only one of the buttons (the same button that is recognized by PinVol)

 

Ah, that's probably the whole issue, then, since PinVol uses DirectInput.  If DirectInput can't see the other buttons, PinVol won't see them either.  The best bet might be to run it by Zeb and see if he knows what's going on - it might just be a matter of configuration settings on the device.

 

As for Visual Studio, yes, you can download the free Community Edition from Microsoft:  

 

https://visualstudio...m/vs/community/

 

If you haven't used it before there can be a bit of a learning curve, so you might want to hold off on that until checking with Zeb about device configuration.  I don't think you're going to find anything with Visual Studio other than confirming what we already know, now that we know DI itself can't see the button.

[knightrdrx]

I should turn my lepai amp total volume knobs to Max for both mechanical and game sounds and leave it? That won't damage the system? Then adjust windows master level with this. I certainly want to leave the knobs in one position permanently..thus goes for bass and crossover and sub vol...
It can control master volume for a pic soundcard and the onboard soundcard simultaneously?

[mjr]

I should turn my lepai amp total volume knobs to Max for both mechanical and game sounds and leave it? That won't damage the system? Then adjust windows master level with this. I certainly want to leave the knobs in one position permanently..thus goes for bass and crossover and sub vol...

 

You *can* turn it all the way up to 11, but you probably don't have to; just turn it up high enough that it's as loud as you think you'll ever want it.  Try this procedure:

 

- Turn the amp volume knob down to a low level

- Set the Windows master volume to 100%

- Play some suitable test sound (a music track, pinball game, whatever you want to use as a test) and leave it playing

- Now turn the amp volume knob up until the sound is as loud as the loudest you think you'll ever want

- Done, leave the amp volume level there from now on, and control the level via the Windows master volume and/or PinVol

 

It can control master volume for a pic soundcard and the onboard soundcard simultaneously?

 

Right.  You just have to select both sounds cards in the "Select audio devices" section.

[knightrdrx]

I don't have numbers I have 2 virtual pin amps but when I did have it on full..I couldn't go much higher than 40 on Windows master and the pup packs with ost soundtracks were blasting and I had to drop music part down to 60 in the pup editor...the guess the amp is merely a boost so it doesn't make quality worse having it low and windows high..I learnedmusic mixing once and kept synth rack modules on max and used the board as a final volume conrrol . A table like comet is super loud and be adjusted in the menu so that's a good place to tweak too I think
I'll try it thanks..I just need to make up my mind so I can finish already

[mjr]

guess the amp is merely a boost so it doesn't make quality worse having it low and windows high..

 

Exactly - in fact, you're better off that way, since an amplifier is always going to amplify noise in addition to signal.  For a given desired final output loudness at the speakers, you're better off with a louder signal and less amplification than vice versa.

[knightrdrx]

Glad you said that..I will fix it later.thanjs