Post #1 · Posted at 2025-02-11 01:10:50am 3 months ago
 Keito Sithuro | |
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Hello, sorry if this isnt a appropiate question to post in here. If it is, please id love to me directed to the right places ^^
Anyways, I been thinking about doing a custom wood PIU pad, but I been pretty confused on the PCB part. I have seen a lot of people using varied controllers--such as plain PS2 controllers, PS2-PS3 (seemly) custom controller PCBs, and others recommending Arduino, but I have very little information on how to handle PCBs and Im afraid of buying the wrong ones and just not knowing what to do with them.
so I got a few questions:
1. Which PCB should I use? Should I just buy some chear PS2 controllers and use it? if yes, how should I connect and set the cables correctly?
1.1 if Arduino is the better choice, which one should I use and how can I handle it? I have visited the site and there was so much stuff in there, so I naturaly got very very lost and didnt know what to look for. Also heard about the fact that you need to program on it to make it work at all, and I dont know a single line of code in C++.
2. If I do double pads, do I have to buy another PCB, or can I somehow wire them to the PCB on player one?
sorry if these are too many questions, bu I really dont want to fuck this project up and buy unecessary stuff... all awnsers are appreciated!
Anyways, I been thinking about doing a custom wood PIU pad, but I been pretty confused on the PCB part. I have seen a lot of people using varied controllers--such as plain PS2 controllers, PS2-PS3 (seemly) custom controller PCBs, and others recommending Arduino, but I have very little information on how to handle PCBs and Im afraid of buying the wrong ones and just not knowing what to do with them.
so I got a few questions:
1. Which PCB should I use? Should I just buy some chear PS2 controllers and use it? if yes, how should I connect and set the cables correctly?
1.1 if Arduino is the better choice, which one should I use and how can I handle it? I have visited the site and there was so much stuff in there, so I naturaly got very very lost and didnt know what to look for. Also heard about the fact that you need to program on it to make it work at all, and I dont know a single line of code in C++.
2. If I do double pads, do I have to buy another PCB, or can I somehow wire them to the PCB on player one?
sorry if these are too many questions, bu I really dont want to fuck this project up and buy unecessary stuff... all awnsers are appreciated!
Post #2 · Posted at 2025-02-11 03:56:26pm 3 months ago
| razorblade | |
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I would prefer to use raspberry pi pico. They are cheaper, require less space than Arduino and easy to use. There is downloadable custom firmware online to flash to pi pico. Search for gp2040-ce github to download the firmware.
You only need one pi pico good for 2-player pad.
You only need one pi pico good for 2-player pad.
Post #3 · Posted at 2025-02-12 06:04:38am 2.9 months ago
| Keito Sithuro | |
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Quote: razorblade
I would prefer to use raspberry pi pico. They are cheaper, require less space than Arduino and easy to use. There is downloadable custom firmware online to flash to pi pico. Search for gp2040-ce github to download the firmware.
You only need one pi pico good for 2-player pad.
You only need one pi pico good for 2-player pad.
Had a look a them right now. they look great and cheap!
Now more questions since I know very very little about these:
1. What do I do with the files exactly? Like, how do I manage these PCBs correctly?
2. How do I wire both pads together? I have little idea on how to manage the wiring inside as well so, I have little idea on how id do it (without it looking like a mess)
3.How would I go about connecting the cables? Like, how do I know exactly where to plug them and how will they work?
really sorry for the plethora of questions, just really intimidated on PCB boards and wiring.
I really want to make sure it all goes smoothly.Post #4 · Posted at 2025-02-12 05:02:06pm 2.9 months ago
1. You only need one file exclusive for that model you like. When you first connect the pcb, it will automatically open a window explorer displaying a blank content of the pcb storage. You just drag a firnware into that window, closes and flashes the firmware itself until it is done. To check if the firmware already flashed, open the windows' --> control panel --> game usb controller settings and it should display the controller name (xbox360 controller on default).
2. If you prefer to not wire in the board, i suggest you to choose the board with yellow header welded already so you just connect the male pin to the board. Look for the wiring guide in the gp2040-ce github page. You will see which button each pin is connected to.
For your setup, you only need to wire 6 pins (5 buttons and one common gnd) for one player pad... or 12 pins (10 buttons and 2 common gnd) for 2-player pad. Don't forget to map them in stepmania input mapping afterward.
2. If you prefer to not wire in the board, i suggest you to choose the board with yellow header welded already so you just connect the male pin to the board. Look for the wiring guide in the gp2040-ce github page. You will see which button each pin is connected to.
For your setup, you only need to wire 6 pins (5 buttons and one common gnd) for one player pad... or 12 pins (10 buttons and 2 common gnd) for 2-player pad. Don't forget to map them in stepmania input mapping afterward.
Post #5 · Posted at 2025-02-13 01:30:34am 2.9 months ago
| Keito Sithuro | |
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Im sorry, Im confused with a lot of these words 
The pins in question would be all the 4 sensors on each pad right? im kinda aware on how to set it up, but im a but confused on the "pins" part. The pins in question would be the wires. correct? I saw that one would need to join all the wires together in a single cable, and im not very sure how that would work.
Also, what would the GND be? what is its importance? And I had a look at the site with the documentation for the wiring, and I saw several other boards. Would those other boards be as useful or is it best that I use the GP-2040-CE?
What does it mean to "not wire" it? what else would I be doing with the board? The best tutorials I have seen use some kind of extra cable im not really sure of. Id imaged id have to solder the cables to those little slots, right? What is the "yellow header"? Is it the 2 yellow circles on the board? What is their exact purpose? (if they have one and im not mistaken)
The pins in question would be all the 4 sensors on each pad right? im kinda aware on how to set it up, but im a but confused on the "pins" part. The pins in question would be the wires. correct? I saw that one would need to join all the wires together in a single cable, and im not very sure how that would work.
Also, what would the GND be? what is its importance? And I had a look at the site with the documentation for the wiring, and I saw several other boards. Would those other boards be as useful or is it best that I use the GP-2040-CE?
What does it mean to "not wire" it? what else would I be doing with the board? The best tutorials I have seen use some kind of extra cable im not really sure of. Id imaged id have to solder the cables to those little slots, right? What is the "yellow header"? Is it the 2 yellow circles on the board? What is their exact purpose? (if they have one and im not mistaken)