Welcome to the DirectOutput framework R3 for virtual pinball cabinets

Warning

This software has been designed to control hardware which is connected to a computer. This means that there is always a risk that something goes wrong and that your hardware or something else gets damaged. You use this software at your own risk! Dont blame me if your boards go up in smoke, your house burns down or something or someone else gets damaged. You have been warned!

Note

Please take note that this documentation is not yet complete (will probably never be) and that some parts of it might change in the future.

This is the documentation for the third release (R3) of the Direct Output framework which has been released in autumn 2015. Check the History for the list of changes in R3. This software will help you to connect all kinds of fun gadgets which you might have connected to your virtual pinball cabinet.

For a start, here is a small video showing some of the possibilities of the Direct Output framework.

The key features of the DirectOutput framework are:

• Feedback control for Visual Pinball (though B2S.Server)
• Feedback control for PinballX (through PinballX plugin)
• Support of up to 16 LedWiz units.
• Support of any number of TeensyStripControllers
• Support of Art-net/DMX.
• Support of 4 Pacled64 units and one PacDrive unit (including a mix of them).
• Support of up to 16 WS2811 led strip controllers.
• Support of any number of FT245RL bitbang controllers (e.g. SainSmart).
• Multithreaded to ensure optimal performance and avoid stuttering issues.
• B2S.Server integration.
• EM table support.
• Loads of new config options in ini files.
• Extendable object oriented architecture.
• Own more powerfull XML config file format.
• Coded in C#.
• Fully documented code (that is what you're looking at).

If you are new to the DirectOutput framework the pages on installation and tableconfig are a good starting point. If you want to know what hardware you can connect to your system have a look at the Builtin Outputcontrollers and the "Builtin Toys" pages.

Enjoy (virtual) pinball and keep pinball alive!

Swisslizard