Cabinet lights option in Stepmania...

RedXXX · 09-04-2006, 12:06 AM

Ive noticed that there is a cabinet lights option embedded into stepmania. And there seems to be a functioning program behind it as when you turn the debugging on it tells you if the lights would be on or off.

Im just curious about this and think it may be the nerdiest thing, but i think it can add alot to the home ddr setup if these could be used.

Has anyone else seen this option and if you have, do you know how to utilize it?

TougaKiryuu · 09-04-2006, 12:21 AM

get the parallel I/O light driver and add it into the program thing then start plugging parallel lights into your compy and watch it become more colorful

RedXXX · 09-04-2006, 12:33 AM

Any schematics on running this? and if so, would some sort of amplifier be needed to run 12v halogen lights? and the neons?

This seems like a good idea for a realistic homemade cabinet. Especially if you can pick up a used Solo cabinet. They run for about $300 from channel beat.

TougaKiryuu · 09-04-2006, 12:56 AM

dood o_o they make USB parallel I/O lights.

jonphamta · 09-04-2006, 01:28 AM

link plz

i think CNhlor did this

TougaKiryuu · 09-04-2006, 01:28 AM

of course charles did it ^^ but you can buy ACTUAL usb port lights that work with that driver from radio shack

RedXXX · 09-04-2006, 02:37 AM

Question...

Do you know what contacts power the lights?

Ive installed the driver, but I cant seem to get a current from any of contacts.

RedXXX · 09-04-2006, 02:40 AM

Also, has this been done to success before by any chance? And would using relays to power the lights to cause less draw from the pc be a good idea?

as you see im very interested in this one

TougaKiryuu · 09-04-2006, 02:44 AM

o_O please tell me your not randomly probing your computer with a voltmeter.....

RedXXX · 09-04-2006, 03:47 AM

Well, Ive looked at a couple websites, and theres one that shows you about powering led's via parallel, but he uses a ceartin program to do so. but he has the lights directly into the parallel port itself, so i see no harm in it. (yes I am using the same contacts as him)

jonphamta · 09-05-2006, 01:07 PM

I cant find this USB board you speak of

RedXXX · 09-05-2006, 02:57 PM

Well I cant find any usb thing... The best I can think of would to use trial and error and build a system that runs directly from the parallel port.

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/csppleds.asp

This makes everything about this look very much possible. only problem... getting the current to power something. I dont think I'm doing anything wrong

jonphamta · 09-06-2006, 02:38 PM

I hear theres a way to make a lighting 'pulse' system not by the computer itself, but the beat of whats on. How can you do that?

RedXXX · 09-06-2006, 11:01 PM

Well, there is the lights that pulse to sound. You can get those in many cheap lighting things... speakers w/neon, party lights, etc..

But they light up to just about every sound, and good ones will just be way more expensive than needed.

RedXXX · 09-16-2006, 06:59 PM

http://www.cnlohr.net/

Here it is, I found and answered my own question.