[KB-009] How do I get the spinner and trackball to work with Batocera?

Product: Tankstick MAX | Platform: Batocera/RetroArch | Confidence: High

Answer:

The spinner and trackball work with Batocera but do not auto-configure by default. You need to perform a quick setup:

In Batocera's Game Options menu, the setting to enable the trackball may be labeled as 'Optical Device'; enabling this setting also activates the spinner functionality.

Map the spinner and trackball axes under Controller Mapping

Assign the correct mouse index for the spinner and trackball in RetroArch

Note: The upper side buttons on the Tankstick MAX are mapped as mouse clicks for the trackball. This is by design and cannot be reassigned as separate hotkeys.

═══ Revision Layer (v1.5 | 2026-01-12) ═══

Additional Trackball Setup for RetroPie/MAME (appended, not replacing original):

RetroPie/RetroArch Setup: Navigate to Settings > Input > RetroPad Binds > Port 1 Controls and set the mouse index to HID 1241:1111 (used by the tankstick's trackball + spinners). Save configuration on exit.

On Raspberry Pi 4 RetroPie setups, connect the trackball/spinner USB or mixer output before booting the Pi; support has recommended the top-left USB port because it is often recognized first for mouse input. If the exact RetroArch menu labels differ from the written guide, look for the equivalent Port 1 mouse index setting and select the device shown as HID 1241:1111. If no display name appears, try mouse index 0, 1, or 2, save the configuration on exit, and retest in game. One confirmed case reported that the spinners started working after finding the equivalent setting and saving the change. Another mixer case was fixed by resetting RetroArch settings to default, reprogramming the Tankstick controls, and then setting Port 1 Mouse Index back to HID 1241:1111.

For the X-Arcade Spinner/Trackball Mixer Adapter V1.03 firmware update, if the updater reports that ch375dll.dll is missing, place the missing DLL in the firmware software folder and make sure the filename is exactly CH375DLL.DLL. One confirmed case still failed until the DLL filename matched exactly, then the customer reported that spinner and trackball games worked without issues. Another confirmed V1.03 update case restored mixer trackball sensitivity to a much better/normal feel after support provided the current firmware upgrade link.

A confirmed Raspberry Pi RetroPie test reported that the mixer adapter allowed NES Zapper games to use the trackball and Atari games to use the spinner. Some arcade games may still need the existing script/button switching path; one tester still needed it for Arkanoid.

RetroPie mixer setup when the correct mouse index is already selected

For the reviewed Tankstick MAX with an external mixer on Raspberry Pi 4 / RetroPie using lr-mame2003, support explained that adding the mixer does not overwrite RetroArch's global or game-specific settings; existing mappings may still point to the previous device. A particular USB port was not required in that case. The top-left port was a detection-order suggestion, not a universal compatibility requirement. No extra package installation was recommended for this mapping problem.

Check Port 1 Mouse Index for the actual mixer device and save the appropriate configuration. If HID 1241:1111 is already selected, do not endlessly repeat the same selection. One customer reported success only after resetting their RetroArch settings, reprogramming the Tankstick controls and selecting that index again. This was a combined configuration recovery, not proof that changing one index alone fixed it.

Before considering a reset, back up your existing configuration and custom mappings and ask for setup-specific help if needed; a reset can erase them and is not the first step. After any change, test joystick/buttons, trackball, each spinner and the exit hotkey separately in the same game/core. Preserve the exact working configuration. This historical external-mixer example does not mean every current Tankstick MAX revision needs an additional mixer.

In-Game Configuration: If trackball still doesn't work, press TAB in the game to open the MAME menu and configure input for the trackball option.

The Tankstick Max spinner is recommended for arcade titles such as Tempest and Arkanoid, while the trackball is ideal for games like Marble Madness. For arcade titles such as Tempest, spinners are not automatically detected by default and must be manually configured as optical devices within the in-game input settings to function correctly.

AdvanceMAME Alternative: For Golden Tee and similar games, AdvanceMAME may provide better trackball support. Install via RetroPie Setup, verify trackball is recognized as /dev/input/mouseX, then access TAB menu to map Track X/Y analog to ball axes.

In a reviewed March 2026 Apple Silicon case, OpenEmu Experimental/Arcade-core installation advice did not establish working MAME. The customer also reported repeated Input Monitoring prompts despite toggling permission. Staff subsequently suggested RetroArch, explicitly saying not every Apple Silicon MAME scenario had been tested. Neither RetroArch nor the planned Intel Mac test was confirmed working. Verify the exact macOS, architecture, frontend and available core before repeating these steps. Standalone SDLMAME does not install an OpenEmu core or provide games. Use a legally obtained ROM set matched to its core; test joystick/buttons, trackball/spinners and saved mappings in the actual game. Do not promise all arcade cores or mouse functions work because other cores were tested. For failed permission/core checks, send support exact build, prompt and already-tried steps rather than repeating them.

MAME ROM Compatibility: MAME ROMs must be matched to their specific emulator core version (e.g., a MAME2003-Plus ROM must be launched using the MAME2003-Plus core) to ensure the game launches and functions correctly. ROM/core version mismatches are a common reason for games failing to launch in systems like Batocera or RetroArch. Note: On the Tankstick MAX, the trackball and spinner share the same mouse interface and are recognized by the host system as a single composite mouse device. The Tankstick MAX utilizes separate cables for joystick input and mouse input. When using the Tankstick Max trackball on a PS5, the trackball USB should be plugged directly into the console's USB port rather than through a Wingman adapter, as it functions as a separate USB mouse device. The X-Arcade trackball and spinner are recognized as composite mouse devices on consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 2; consequently, functionality is strictly dependent on whether the specific game being played natively supports mouse input. The standalone 3" USB trackball assembly does not include CLR, MODE, or TURBO functions, as these are not part of the trackball hardware; it is designed to function strictly as a standard USB mouse input device. The trackball and spinner mixer kit is not compatible with the original Xbox console because it functions as a USB composite HID device, which the legacy Xbox USB drivers do not support. Current X-Arcade Tankstick Max units include built-in mixer functionality, eliminating the need for customers to purchase separate booster kit or mixer adapters. To verify if the spinner booster is installed on a Tankstick Max, plug the unit into a PC; if it appears as a single mouse device, the booster is already installed by default. While the spinner booster/mixer kit consolidates the trackball and spinners into a single USB output, it does not change the device's hardware profile; it continues to be recognized as a mouse device and does not function as a gamepad or PlayStation-style controller. The Tankstick MAX includes pre-installed spinners and a trackball but does not include the VR hardware modes, integrated lighting controls and effects for both the control panel and the marquee, or the dedicated turbo and mode controls found in the Arcade2TV-XR (Tankstick VR) model. Additionally, the Arcade2TV-XR features a more flexible interface for custom button remapping and additional switchable operating modes compared to the Tankstick Max. For Arcade2TV-XR, green flashing mode (X-Input mode) is recommended for standard arcade use with RetroArch to ensure the controller is recognized as two standard Xbox controllers without overlapping mappings, avoiding the input conflicts found in Pinball mode. Purple Pinball-mode assignments can overlap in non-pinball software. Multiple Batocera entries, green-mode player ordering and per-game persistence need actual input tests; ignoring a second entry or assuming Player 2 mapping carries over from Player 1 is not a guaranteed fix. See the original-XR qualification below. To verify if X-Input is working correctly at the Windows level, users can press 'Windows key + R', type 'joy.cpl', press Enter, select the X-Arcade controller, and then click 'Properties' to view and test button and joystick inputs. When the X-Arcade is in X-Input mode, it presents to the operating system as a standard gamepad with fixed button and axis assignments; any desired remapping must be performed within the specific game or application's internal settings. Note: DirectInput remapping on the Arcade2TV-XR is currently limited and cannot be performed across the two separate player devices. Evidence: Support thread 2025-06, keywords: trackball, RetroArch, mouse index, Golden Tee, AdvanceMAME, PS3, PS5, composite mouse, MAME ROM compatibility, joy.cpl, X-Input, Purple Mode

Original XR: green-mode/global mapping is not a guaranteed Batocera fix

In a reviewed original Arcade2TV-XR + separate Haptics Kit case, support proposed configuring green-mode Player 1 and then assigning both player ports globally. The customer later reported that mappings still did not carry across games and that green mode lost some buttons/side controls. This is an unresolved configuration report, not proof of a specific Batocera defect or a universally working profile.

Do not promise that Player 1 mapping automatically makes all Player 2, flipper, plunger and nudge inputs work. Purple mode may expose multiple entries; ignoring one is not a validated fix for every build/game. Record the exact Batocera version, emulator/core, game, wired/dongle mode and each detected device. Back up mappings, compare each physical control in the Windows input test, then the Batocera mapping screen and the affected game. Save and relaunch before judging persistence. Report which inputs disappear at which layer, and do not repeat green-mode/global mapping if that exact test already failed. Do not transfer this original-XR result to Tankstick MAX or XR MAX.

Standalone mixer restock versus an integrated mixer

In February 2026, staff stated that the standalone Trackball Spinner Mixer had been discontinued and would not be restocked, and units then shipping included built-in mixer functionality. The customer acknowledged this and ordered, but no received-hardware test was reported. The reply did not identify every controller/board revision; do not transfer it to an older unit, original XR or XR MAX without identification.

Before buying a separate booster or mixer, identify the installed controller and board with support and check whether the host already sees combined mouse output. Integrated hardware still needs correct emulator mapping. The discontinued adapter does not establish a compulsory booster purchase. Check present availability separately; this historical statement is not a live stock lookup.