Project $500 Arcade Station
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enderzero
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Oh wait! Next w/e wouldn't work. That w/e is Halloween, the biggest party of the year in IV. It was ranked the best party in the nation in Maxim. Apparently it is fuXing crazy. They close off the entire 6 blocks closest to the water to traffic from Friday night until Monday morning. Should be a rager.
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enderzero
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This guy's eyes are rolling.No that is definitely not what I am saying. I by no means am getting all excited about a giant night on DP. These cheap beer infused party nights are a dime a dozen and very low on my list of exciting evenings. Mostly I have just been staying in or hanging out with a few friends anyway. But Halloween is certainly at least a night (err weekend) to be observed. I am looking most forward to it just as somehting to see. It is supposed to crazy huge and something that gets talked about for the following year. Unfortunatley it seems my digital camera isn't working again, but I'll find a way to get some pix up.
Ok J3RK, I'm gonna look into the audio portion for this plot of mine. I'd like to go with the car speakers as you mentioned. When you get a sec, would you mind explaining to me in somewhat simple terms how I should go about hooking up car speakers to Mobo integrated audio out? What equipment will I need? How does it all connect? How do I power the speakers/amp/etc.? Should I add a sub to all this? Thanks buster!
I'm having discussions with Seth, about the best way to implement sound for as little $ as possible. I'll let you know what we come up with. There's one possible issue with using car-speakers, and that would be the lack of magnetic shielding. This could affect your monitor, so I'm looking for inexpensive, free-air, magnetically shielded speakers. I haven't found a suitable amplifier yet, but that's what I'm talking to Seth about. Are you opposed to building in some small cabinets behind where you're putting the speakers? You could get a lot better audio quality if the speakers were in properly sized enclosures. If done properly, there would be no need for a subwoofer.
Thanks man!
An enclosure sounds like a good idea, but the only problem is the space I have to work with. I've currently left myself with about 6^3 cubic inches of space for each speaker, which amounts to roughly the size of a shoebox. But if I could build an enclosure to increase the quality, I'm thinking I could also line it with metal shielding to protect the monitor. I'll see what I can do.
An enclosure sounds like a good idea, but the only problem is the space I have to work with. I've currently left myself with about 6^3 cubic inches of space for each speaker, which amounts to roughly the size of a shoebox. But if I could build an enclosure to increase the quality, I'm thinking I could also line it with metal shielding to protect the monitor. I'll see what I can do.
Here is the official word from Seth:
I think they normally use 6x9s in arcade cabinets with a reasonable power
amp and usually they boost up the bass frequencies a bit. I think the
speakers are normally mounted in the logo section above the screen and
point down toward the controls. Here is a rough hand sketched diagram:
http://www.eskimo.com/~strohs/ArcadeCab1.bmp
I will look into a small power amp - I did this once before for that movie
preview KIOSK prototype. We even had a subwoofer in the bottom of that
cabinet. (I dont think they do that with arcade games - maybe - but I
think they just use 2 6x9s and an amp that boosts the bass a bit. Free
air speakers are fine because the arcade cabinet itself works as the
speaker box.)
I think they normally use 6x9s in arcade cabinets with a reasonable power
amp and usually they boost up the bass frequencies a bit. I think the
speakers are normally mounted in the logo section above the screen and
point down toward the controls. Here is a rough hand sketched diagram:
http://www.eskimo.com/~strohs/ArcadeCab1.bmp
I will look into a small power amp - I did this once before for that movie
preview KIOSK prototype. We even had a subwoofer in the bottom of that
cabinet. (I dont think they do that with arcade games - maybe - but I
think they just use 2 6x9s and an amp that boosts the bass a bit. Free
air speakers are fine because the arcade cabinet itself works as the
speaker box.)
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enderzero
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PC speakers would definitely be the less expensive way to go. Maybe not as authentic, but it would save you money.
These Logitech Z-3s are only $35. Or the next step up, the Z-3i Premiums are $65.
These Logitech Z-3s are only $35. Or the next step up, the Z-3i Premiums are $65.
The problem with PC speakers is mounting them. They will look silly no matter where you put them. I'd say buy a pair of these at $25 each:
http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce ... 1-1025&N=4
There are a million other types here too, and I've ordered a lot from these guys.
We're working on a suitable amplifier right now.
http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce ... 1-1025&N=4
There are a million other types here too, and I've ordered a lot from these guys.
We're working on a suitable amplifier right now.
First, I'd like to say thanks to all!
Second, I'd like to say that diagram was awesome!
As of now, I may have to take the PC speaker route due to my time, space, and money constraints, Originally, I was planning on using a spare set of altec lansing pc speakers for this project (cost: $0.00), which part of my cabinet design is based on. So if I take the car speaker route, not only will I have space and shielding issues to worry about, but it looks as though it will cost me upwards of $75 - $100...and this ain't Project $600 arcade. But I'm a long ways away from setting up the audio on this thing, so I'm definitly gonna keep all options open and cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks again to the all-powerful J3RK, Tehnderzero, and everyone else involved in the creation of the PC Cabinet diagram. Much more to come...
Second, I'd like to say that diagram was awesome!
As of now, I may have to take the PC speaker route due to my time, space, and money constraints, Originally, I was planning on using a spare set of altec lansing pc speakers for this project (cost: $0.00), which part of my cabinet design is based on. So if I take the car speaker route, not only will I have space and shielding issues to worry about, but it looks as though it will cost me upwards of $75 - $100...and this ain't Project $600 arcade. But I'm a long ways away from setting up the audio on this thing, so I'm definitly gonna keep all options open and cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks again to the all-powerful J3RK, Tehnderzero, and everyone else involved in the creation of the PC Cabinet diagram. Much more to come...
If the speakers are where they were in the diagram, you will likely need no shielding. Also, they are free air speakers, so they won't need cabinets built around them. If they are under the top area, facing down, I think there is more than enough room there. The only difference will be the price. The amplifier will likely not cost much... That could be a future expansion though.
I can tell massive quantities of work were accomplished. Well, I suppose a lot of internal work could have been done. How did the alluminum tapping operation go? Did you guys use measurements, or did you use a motherboard as a template for the holes? This is the sort of thing where Sethlink comes in handy. He'd just have the dimensional specs handy for whatever reason, and give all the measurements to the center of all the holes.
And then, once drilled and tapped, it would be sent off to be brushed and annodized blue for the finishing touch. Hey that would be cool. An arcade cabinet built out of all brushed and annodized 3/8" thick alluminum. We'd call it the SwankBox.
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enderzero
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"they" - pfffft. I thought that little skiing back plane was your baby? Had we known that we had a mini-atx metal plane we would have been goin with that from the beginning. We thought it was AT, but it was stolen... err atx.
We also built the computer and installed the OS and set up MAME.
Also designed the control board layout and built the box.
We got a lot done but had to resort to playing our NES board games on the xbox emu.
We also built the computer and installed the OS and set up MAME.
Also designed the control board layout and built the box.
We got a lot done but had to resort to playing our NES board games on the xbox emu.
Great, you had to get my chicken leg in there didn't you.
I wanna give a great thank you to admiral mcnevin and administrator ender for completely trashing my place and breaking my desktop computer this weekend. Oh and thanks for the help on the cabinet too. And thanks to J3RK for speedy tapping bit info. How in gods name does anyone know that kind of info off the top of their head?
I wanna give a great thank you to admiral mcnevin and administrator ender for completely trashing my place and breaking my desktop computer this weekend. Oh and thanks for the help on the cabinet too. And thanks to J3RK for speedy tapping bit info. How in gods name does anyone know that kind of info off the top of their head?
