XBOX controller mod

[SgtM]

So, I know that some of you have probably already seen or done this. I modded my xbox controller today to work off of USB and the PC. Took about 10 minutes. Pics and related article forthcoming.

[Reyer]

wooohooo

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

heh EZwasnt it?
i love micro$hits simplicity
they try to take a USB and hide the fact that its a USB with lil bits of plastic heh
did ya get the latest drivers???

[Mitternacht]

You've gotta share the tips of the trade with me on that one. That'd be cool to do to the BlueXmod.

[Zephik]

So... does this mean you can use you XBox Controller for video games on your PC with the proper drivers?

You'll have to give us a tutorial or something! I have a few Xbox controllers that I could tinker around with. I wonder if you could do the same with wireless controllers? I have two of those two! lol But no way am I modding them! Logitech rocks when it comes to wireless.

[Produkt]

wait... this is a standard xbox controller... not a 360 controller? just to get things strait... :P

[SgtM]

Ok.. sorry it's taken a while guys. I should have waited to post things. Anyway... as promised, here's the walk through.

What you'll need:
1. An xbox controller. I used the stock one that came with my xbox
2. A USB cable. You'll need the flat (male) end.
3. Soldering skills.

So, we start by prying off the black tabs around the end of the controller. Be careful with this, you don't want to break them because they will need to be replaced. I used a small flat head screw driver to do this. After you have the tabs pryed off, you'll see a layer of protective foil. This can be removed and discarded. Under the foil layer, there will be a tab that can be pryed off to expose the underlying wires. Bend it back, and break or cut it off. Next, you'll see 5 wires. Black, Red, Green, White, and Yellow. Disregard the Yellow wire. Next, it's as easy as cutting and stripping your USB cable to expose the Black, Red, Green and White wires. Strip about an 1/8 of an inch of shielding off of each of the wires. Next, match the colors and solder. Now, you can't just plug in and expect everything to work. You have to download drivers. Those can be obtained here (http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbcd.html). As I understand it, the xbox live communicator can also be used. Drivers are available here (http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbox_other.html). After everything is done, and you have installed drivers and tested, replace the black tabs. Remember you'll need to dremel out a little notch for the USB cable to lay now.

This method ensures you maintain your xbox controller for your xbox, it's just modded so you can use it on your PC as well. It would be just as easy to cut the end off of an extra controller and solder the wires together. I only have 1 controller, so I was kinda hesitant about doing this, but it worked out well. I don't know if this method works for 3rd party or wireless controllers or not. don't have any way to test that. I can't take full credit for this. I found it at OCModShop (http://www.ocmodshop.com/default.aspx?a=223) while checking out xbox mods one day.

Pics:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/xbox/DSCF1853.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/xbox/DSCF1842.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/xbox/DSCF1839.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/xbox/DSCF1849.jpg

[Zephik]

Thnx SGTM! That was not only really fun but very easy too! I just finished mine about 2 minutes ago, it has a 20 foot cable! :D

Also, thanks for the driver links! It would of been pretty darn interesting without them. ^_^

So... what can I use this for? lol I haven't a clue, I just did it for the hell of it. :rolleyes:

+rep!

**DUH! Games! lol

I wonder if I still have Tony Hawk Pro 4... :hurt:

[Omega]

I have one with a 40ft cable (it's nifty as hell) and I use ControlMK to make it emulate my mouse and a bunch of random media buttons. Nifty as ****, absoloutely.

(I made mine before SGTM wrote the article, but nice job Sgt.)

[Zephik]

Omega: Can you give me a quick tutorial on how to work that program? Looking at it... I feel like I am in the matrix. lol

**nvm, I got it :p

**Actually, how do you use it as a mouse?

[.Maleficus.]

Omega: Can you give me a quick tutorial on how to work that program? Looking at it... I feel like I am in the matrix. lol

**nvm, I got it :p

**Actually, how do you use it as a mouse?
Here you go. (http://www.redcl0ud.com/files/XBCD.pdf)

Page 15 of 21.

[Zephik]

Here you go. (http://www.redcl0ud.com/files/XBCD.pdf)

Page 15 of 21.

Thanks!

Okay, I have a request to make to you guys. I attempted to set this up myself, but this is my first time using a game controller and I'm already getting mildly confused. So maybe you guys can help me out a bit on setting it up? The only game I really plan on using it for (for now) is WarRock. Here are the controls...

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/MitaPi/untitled-3.jpg

I'm using just a standard xbox controller and I've already got down the movement controls. So what do you guys think?

[SgtM]

I was actually asking about using the controller in the warrock forums yesterday (I'm sgtrick on there). They said that joysticks will only be supported in the retail version. I want to use the xbox controller as a regular gamepad/joystick in the game. If you figure it out, let me know.

[Zephik]

I was actually asking about using the controller in the warrock forums yesterday (I'm sgtrick on there). They said that joysticks will only be supported in the retail version. I want to use the xbox controller as a regular gamepad/joystick in the game. If you figure it out, let me know.

It should work? we aren't using joysticks. Were using modded xbox controllers in place of our keyboards and mice. It's like if we set the A button to left mouse click (fire), the game reads it as if we were pushing the left mouse button. So... in theory, it should work. Hopefully it doesn't pick it up as a joystick!

Do you have your configuration setup yet sgtm? Like I said, I have the movement controls down, but I don't know what to put everything else as. I was thinking of left click as X and right click as B.. but I don't know how efficient that will be or how easy it would be to pick up on without getting confused while i'm being shot to death. ^_^

**btw, I'm Mita54 in the game of WarRock. I've yet to make any mark in the forums so don't expect to see me there somewhere. :p

[SgtM]

Do you have your configuration setup yet sgtm?

Actually, when I took the pics last night, the white wire snapped off. Then the tip on my soldering gun snapped in 2 pieces. I have the soldering gun rigged so I might try and take a shot at getting things cleaned up tonight.

Why not make left click the left trigger, and right click the right trigger. Save the buttons for something like changing weapons or getting in vehicles.

[Zephik]

alright, I did a little bit more thinking on it. This is what I have so far after holding the controller and mentally picturing my keyboard.

A = Left Mouse Click
B = Right Mouse Click
Y = Weapon Change to Primary Weapon (3)
X = Vehicle (F)
Left Trigger = Crouch (C)
Right Trigger = Scope Zoom (???)
D-Pad Up = Mouse Scroll Up (player view)
D-Pad Down = Mouse Scroll Down (player view)
Left Analog Stick = Keyboard Movement
Right Analog Stick = Mouse Movement
Start Button = Esc (Menu)
Back Button = Chat (Enter Key)

Thats what I got so far... I'm a tad bit lost on the rest of the "essential" keys. Also... I'm probably going to run into some trouble shooting so if anyone see's anything that won't work or whatever, please point it out. Also suggestions for the rest would be nice too!

One more thing, lol what is the scope button again? I can't remember... I was thinking it was the right mouse click... but hopefully not. Well... it wouldn't be that bad I guess, I would just have to change the B button to something else.

lol This is so much fun! I'm going to put my mod project on a temp hold and buy a new HSF and GPU tonight for my compy so I can actually play once I have this all figured out. :D

[SgtM]

The scope is right click.

[Zephik]

The scope is right click.

lol dangit...

well I guess I can just leave it. I'll use my trigger for something else. Maybe to switch to using my grenades?

oh by the way... xbox controllers are usually around 2-5 dollars in pwn shops. ^_^

[Ronyx]

i am DEFINITELY gonna do this =D
as soon as i can find....now where did that spare USB cable go....

[Omega]

Omega: Can you give me a quick tutorial on how to work that program? Looking at it... I feel like I am in the matrix. lol

**nvm, I got it :p

**Actually, how do you use it as a mouse?

To use it as a mouse do this:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9830/newbitmapimagepa3.jpg

The top part will make it so that what direction the LEFT THUMBSTICK moves is the direction the mouse moves, and the bottom part is my threshold/dead zone settings which work at a reasonable and controllable pace.

[Omega]

Why not make left click the left trigger, and right click the right trigger. Save the buttons for something like changing weapons or getting in vehicles.



With ControlMK, you can run multiple profiles. I have one for internet browsing and media, where the following settings are:

Left Thumbstick: Mouse
Right Thumbstick: Up, Down, Left and Right keys, each in their own respective direction
+-pad up: Play/Pause
Pad Down: Stop
Pad right: Next song
Pad Left: Last song
Start: Volume Up
Back: Volume Down
A Button: Left Click
B Button: Right Click
Y Button: Mute
X Button: Middle Mouse
Black Button: Browser Back
White Button: Browser Forward
Right trigger: Enter


For WoW, I use completely different things. For instance, I programmed the +-Pad for the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 number keys (for hotbar skills), and other things that make sense for WoW. If I still played FPSes (which I don't with xBox controllers lol) I would make it different for those, too. And once you make the profile and save it, you can switch it on the go.

[Omega]

It should work? we aren't using joysticks. Were using modded xbox controllers in place of our keyboards and mice. It's like if we set the A button to left mouse click (fire), the game reads it as if we were pushing the left mouse button. So... in theory, it should work. Hopefully it doesn't pick it up as a joystick!


Actually, the XBox controller is a gamepad. The only thing that allows you to use it otherwise is ControlMK or a similar application. With the XBCD Drivers, it treats the xBox controller like the Gamepad it is, and ControlMK just emulates any other actions.

So, if you're playing a game that allows joysticks, you can either use Keyboard/Mouse emulation or true Joystick use.



Actually, when I took the pics last night, the white wire snapped off. Then the tip on my soldering gun snapped in 2 pieces. I have the soldering gun rigged so I might try and take a shot at getting things cleaned up tonight.


That's unfortuneate. =/



i am DEFINITELY gonna do this =D
as soon as i can find....now where did that spare USB cable go....

It's definately worth it. The hard part, I'd say, is putting the wires together if you don't have the proper tools (which I don't, I stripped wire with my teeth and attached the wires with masking tape.... I'll redo it some time).

[Zephik]

It's definately worth it. The hard part, I'd say, is putting the wires together if you don't have the proper tools (which I don't, I stripped wire with my teeth and attached the wires with masking tape.... I'll redo it some time).

LoL

Thats how I put my $1k Bose System together! :D

Actually I did that for this mod too, my wire strippers don't have small enough stripping holes for the tiny wires.

[Omega]

LoL

Thats how I put my $1k Bose System together! :D

Actually I did that for this mod too, my wire strippers don't have small enough stripping holes for the tiny wires.

I really wish I had converted the normal little dongle though, because the controller I'm using is mediocre (it's my 4 or 5-year old one) and with the dongle, I could use anything, practically.

[Zephik]

I have a pair or Wireless controllers from logitech that are sweet as hell. But for some reason they didn't want to make it so they separate like most other Xbox controllers do. They probably aren't USB interface anyways.

**I just tested out Tony Hawk Pro 4 (shut it, it was free) with the gamepad and I have to admit, using the gamepad is WAY more fun that using a Keyboard and mouse.

I can't wait to try out WarRock (if it works).

[Ronyx]

i just did mine, soldered the wires correctly and followed the instructions but when i try to plug it in (after i've installed the drivers) windows says "this USB device has malfunctioned". Anyone else have this problem? What can i do to fix this?

[Ronyx]

one more thing, i've read that you could hookup the white USB wire and yellow Xbox wire and that solved the problem for some people.

could the fact that my USB didn't have a black wire but instead had a blue wire affect this? i hooked up the blue to black wires. now i'm off to try switching the white to yellow connection.

[Omega]

White to yellow will not do ****...

The White Wire is Data-, a USB Standard. The Yellow wire is only a relay used for lightguns and is relatively useless (why it's on normal controllers, I have no idea)

[.Maleficus.]

i just did mine, soldered the wires correctly and followed the instructions but when i try to plug it in (after i've installed the drivers) windows says "this USB device has malfunctioned". Anyone else have this problem? What can i do to fix this?
I had the same problem with my flash drive. I don't know why, but it didn't work in 2 of my moms USB ports. I guess, just try plugging it in to a different one, and see how that works.

[Ronyx]

White to yellow will not do ****...

The White Wire is Data-, a USB Standard. The Yellow wire is only a relay used for lightguns and is relatively useless (why it's on normal controllers, I have no idea)

i challenge that, it did do ****. i rewired it and am using the Xbox live headset as i'm typing this. I'm guessing it's for certain USB connections only. Ones with a Blue cable are the ones where you have to hook up the white wire to the yellow one. Just a heads up for anyone who might be having the same problem =] Some people say that the yellow wire is for the Rumble, other says it's for the Xbox to pick up that a controller is plugged in. I'm guessing that was the problem. The yellow wire wasn't hooked up and the USB couldn't pick up anything connected. The signal was there but when the yellow wire was checked nothing was getting through so it gave me a malfunction error.


All that matters is that the problem is solved and that if people have the same problem they know what to do =]

[SgtM]

i challenge that, it did do ****. i rewired it and am using the Xbox live headset as i'm typing this. I'm guessing it's for certain USB connections only. Ones with a Blue cable are the ones where you have to hook up the white wire to the yellow one. Just a heads up for anyone who might be having the same problem =] Some people say that the yellow wire is for the Rumble, other says it's for the Xbox to pick up that a controller is plugged in. I'm guessing that was the problem. The yellow wire wasn't hooked up and the USB couldn't pick up anything connected. The signal was there but when the yellow wire was checked nothing was getting through so it gave me a malfunction error.


All that matters is that the problem is solved and that if people have the same problem they know what to do =]

Are you using a stock xbox controller or 3rd party? I've read that certain 3rd party controllers don't follow the normal wiring scheme hence the reason why wires need to be switched. I'm glad you found your fix.

[Zephik]

Just in case, this helped me.

When I first downloaded the driver, restarted my computer, and plugged in my gamepad I got an error. To fix this, all I had to do was go to System>Hardware>Device Manager>Opened up the USB with the problem>updated my driver using the driver that I just installed. After that, it worked like a charm.

As for the different colored wires? I haven't a clue, mine is a microsoft made controller and the USB cable I used was for my old wireless device. It was like the same shape as the ones for PSP's, whatever you call those. It had all the colors and an extra yellow one. Which I snipped off as I didn't need it. The thing that I would guess with different colored wires... is that they are just different colored but they are for the same thing. Thats how my Bose system was. You just had to figured out which wire was for what and not think about the colors when they didn't match up. ie trial and error.

Glad to hear you fixed it Ronyx! Have you played any games with it yet? Once I get my HSF and GPU, a couple of us here on TBCS should play some WarRock together with our new gamepads! :p

[SgtM]

Ok, so I got the wiring fixed. Damn soldering gun pissed me off. I even got the controller working, and played a round of war rock. I got owned! I think I might need to turn up the mouse sensitivity. All that's left to do is test it on the xbox to make sure it still works there, and then put the plastic back on.

+rep to Omega for recommending ControlMK.

[Ronyx]

Ok i'll try to explain, i just woke up so i might be a bit confusing so hear me out here. The Xbox controller has two bits, the end connector with it's own small piece of wire which can come off connected to the main wire and subsequently the Xbox controller. A long time ago i bought Spiderman 2 and it came with a custom controller. I used the end bit from the Spiderman controller and hooked it up to a normal Xbox controller. Does that make sense?
I'm guessing that's what screwed up, if what you say is true then the custom end bit has some weird wiring and that's why it couldn't pick up the controller.

I also have an Xbox live headset (my subscription ended at the start of 2007), and i don't have a decent microphone for my computer. Then i saw this thread and voila, problem solved. Now my only question is. ALL the sound goes into my Xbox communicator instead of my speakers. How can i make it so that only certain programs transmit sound into my Xbox communicator while others send the sound into the Logitech speakers? Basically i want to have Team Speak running and all the sounds sent from the program sent into my headset while my normal game music (be it WarRock, MU or WoW) sent to my normal speakers? Anyone know how this can be done?

I was now thinking of maybe getting Halo on PC and playing with the controller in that. Although i am way faster with a mouse then i am with a stick...

P.S. I'm guessing the next step for me would be to create an Xbox USB cable. I have all the appropriate parts. Lucky for me my dad let me use a USB extension cable which had a male and a female end. I cut it in half and used the male for the controller mod. Now it's time to use the female for a USB - Xbox mod. Lucky for me i just ripped the wires off the insides of the plug and soldered the wires from my USB to my controller, much simpler and also because i didn't have a dremel. Now if i'm lucky i'll somehow get that hooked into my Xbox and just solder the female USB to it and not have to kill another poor controller for my devious deeds lolz.

Sorry for the long post, like i said i just woke up. I tend to babble a bit...

[Zephik]

Really weird... XBCD works just fine, but ControlMK wont work for me anymore? I checked to see if the drivers were installed and they are. I even uninstalled and then reinstalled. I don't know whats with that... but without ControlMK I don't know how to program the controller. Any ideas?

[Ronyx]

In case no one has posted the link to ControlMK
here it is: ControlMK (http://www.redcl0ud.com/controlmk/ControlMKv0232.exe)

[SgtM]

Ronyx.. there's supposed to be something in control panel to correct the audio problem. I dont have my headset near me to figure it out ATM though. SnowFire.. not sure what could be going on there. I actually had a problem where my mouse pointer went away until I did a system restore back before I installed xbcd and controlmk. Try that.. it may work.

[USERX15]

Hmm maybe i should do this with one of my older controllers thats slowly braking. I dont have a soldering thingy though. It would be pretty useful since I have a N64emulator on my PC and playing Diddy Kong Racing with keyboard is a little harder than with a controller. lol.

[SXRguyinMA]

I got an xbox controller form a friend last night for free but the end is round, about the size of an s-video end. will this still work? :?

[Collinstheclown]

That's the quick disconnect, aka the break away cable. You need the other piece of it to use on an Xbox. If your gonna hack a USB cable on it then it will be fine.




-CollinstheClown

[SXRguyinMA]

ok sweet :up:

[SgtM]

That's the quick disconnect, aka the break away cable. You need the other piece of it to use on an Xbox. If your gonna hack a USB cable on it then it will be fine.




-CollinstheClown

Yep, you can chop that end off, strip the wires back, and twist them together if you want. Secure it with some electrical tape and/or shrink wrap.

[SXRguyinMA]

I did it, it works, and those drivers work for win 7 too. too bad COD MW2 doesnt support pads lol

[SgtM]

You can program it for keyboard functions.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

http://xpadder.com/
been using it for a long time
supports quite a few controllers :)