Newb question about plugins and pads

[Darth Vivec]

First of all, I'm technically new to this whole world of emulating N64, so the questions had to came and so they are here:

1 - Is there a "better" Sound/Graphic/Input plugin or it depends of the ROM? Which are recommended ones?

2 - This is a little more indirect. I have a thing to use PSX/PS2 controllers on PC via USB, Super Dual Box Pro, but I can't find the drivers (maybe I lost them, IDK...). I already have them as I downloaded one I found on the web, the point is, I can't or I don't know how to configure the analogs to be the Analog Stick and the C-Buttons (ala GC). Any help?

 

[Tre]

1: It is almost always a case of "Each rom has it's prefered settings", but as a blanket plugin for video, you can't go wrong with Jabo's Direct3D8 1.6 for the video plug in. You can try other plugins, such as Glide64, and others, but they all have their own tweaks and settings you'll have to change to get the most out of it. If you are new to emulating N64, you should try to stick to the basic plugins as much as you can (unless you find you aren't getting good emulation, or you really want to explore the difference between plugins). I don't recommend too many plugin changes, because each plugin you change WILL write to your registry and some graphic plugins will conflict with others, even if you aren't using them or have them in the folder anymore.

For sound, I am using Azimer's HLE Audio v0.56 WIP 2. The reason for this is that I need to be able to output my sound to multiple speakers, and this was the only one that did it. Also, it removed a lot of the pops I got with the default plugin.

2: N-Rage's Direct-Input V2 1.83 is ~generally~ the best for handling what you're asking for in regards to a PSx/PS2 controller. I have a Radio Shack brand USB adapter that works just fine for the setup you desire. Install N-Rage's plugin and open up the settings and configure the controller. You should configure your main C-Buttons to the controls you will use MOST (Ie. If you use the stick more, then make THAT the default scheme). Then once that's done, set up "Macros" for the alternate buttons. The macro option for N-Rage (an advanced feature) will let you map a key more than once to another button. What I mean is that you could have your C-Buttons mapped to the Right-Stick, and ALSO mapped to Triangle, Circle, L1 and R1... which I had done.

It's rather easy to figure it out.

 

[Doomulation]

...I don't recommend too many plugin changes, because each plugin you change WILL write to your registry and some graphic plugins will conflict with others, even if you aren't using them or have them in the folder anymore...

What? That's nonsense. Plugins do not interfere with each other.
Also, the answer is really pretty much depends. There are some truly great plugins out there such as Glide64, which emulates pretty much everything. But some games just require different plugins. And it also depends on your graphics card.
Anyway, there's a list out there for n64 games configuration. The old one is from bighead. You can check it out when in doubt.

 

[Darth Vivec]

Thanks, I've got it clear now , I'll be investigating wich ones work better for my PC and my interests. As for the input, the problem I've got is that the analogs are not recognised by any emu/plugin (I've tried it on ZSnesW with no luck either). My brother used it to play PES on PC so I'll ask him directly how this pad works...

 

[Tre]

What? That's nonsense. Plugins do not interfere with each other.

Actually, it's not nonsense. I had added and tested out multiple video, sound, and input plugins to see what worked best for me. And after that, because so many instances of different plugins and altered settings remained in my registry, it slowed down PJ64 horribly. I had perfectly acceptable speed for Ocarina of Time before I did my tests (mostly to explain how to change plugins for non-3D accelerator card users) and afterwards my speed bottomed down to almost half of what it was. I cleared that up by deleted the instances of the (then removed) plugins that built up... and vola! It was back to full speed again. So I know I'm not talking jibba jabba and pulling false facts from my arse.

Darth: Have you checked to see if the analog sticks are actually showing up in Window's Gamepad controllers? If they aren't showing up, and not working then there's your problem. But I would ask your brother how he got it to work before as well... though it should be straight forward.

 

[Darth Vivec]

I finally asked my brother...I didn't press the ANALOG button :doh:, I imagined the answer would be stupid but not so much XD

 

[Doomulation]

Actually, it's not nonsense. I had added and tested out multiple video, sound, and input plugins to see what worked best for me. And after that, because so many instances of different plugins and altered settings remained in my registry, it slowed down PJ64 horribly. I had perfectly acceptable speed for Ocarina of Time before I did my tests (mostly to explain how to change plugins for non-3D accelerator card users) and afterwards my speed bottomed down to almost half of what it was. I cleared that up by deleted the instances of the (then removed) plugins that built up... and vola! It was back to full speed again. So I know I'm not talking jibba jabba and pulling false facts from my arse.

I don't see how they can interfere with each other. The registry is a storage, nothing more, nothing less. There has to be something else, some connection as to why this happened, but I disgress.

 

[Tre]

I'm not entirely sure why it was like that for me. But when I cleared the registry entries out, then ran it with the default plugins being the only one in the plugin folder it ran fine again.

And congrats that the analog button was the only problem. I didn't even think to suggest that. Glad it's working for you Darth.

 

[squall_leonhart]

lol Sorry Tre but it sounds farfetched to me as well, and all the plugins i test and stuff haven't slowed me down.

 

[Tre]

Then it was just my dumb luck. *Shrugs* I know what happened in my instance. But it doesn't matter anymore, since I got it working again the way I stated.