I recently started messing around with an MVS, making it into a standalone console using info at neo-geo.com and Jamma Nation X.

I also decided to convert a third party SNES pad to use on my CMVS, I chose SNES as I like the design, plus it has a similar button layout to the official Neo joypad and the same colour buttons.

The AES and some MVS boards use a DB15 which is very deep, so it’s not easy to get a female DB15 plug that will fit securely into the socket.

I decided to modify a standard DB15 so that it does fit a lot better, plus it then fits into a DB9 casing, the end result isn’t too bad looking.

Start by cutting the sides off of a standard DB15 female plug.

Now you can pull the metal casing away, it should come of easy as the two support holes either side of it were holding it together.

Not only does the metal casing come off in two parts, but the plastic plug separates into two pieces also.

Pop the pins out, pushing them from the solder side.

A bit later you’ll be gluing these two parts back together, so smooth them off, I have only sliced bumpy bits off, but really you should sand them so that they are nice and flat.

Now you need to cut away the lip around the largest bit of plastic, I started by cutting it away with some side cutters, then smoothed it off with a scalpel blade (can you tell I can’t find my sand paper!)

Now push the pins back into place, but this time they are going in on the opposite side. Just check the following photo. Push the solder side of the pin through the hole.

Nearly finished now, push the two pieces of plastic together as a test fit. You can see that the piece of plastic that has the pins in it has a little lip around where it’s a tiny bit bigger than the other piece of plastic. I cut this away also.

That’s it finished being cut up, and I’ve glued the two parts together now. Then finally glued the metal casing into place.

Here’s how it fits into a DB9 socket now.

I left the glue to set, so here’s one I prepared earlier! Soldered up from my custom pad.

And a comparison shot from an authentic SNK pad plug.

DB15 pinout for pads/sticks

Pin #	Description	Your Wire Colour
1	Common Ground
2	NC (No Connection)
3	Select
4	D Button
5	B Button
6	Right
7	Down
8	(VCC +5v) *
9	(D Button) **
10	NC
11	Start
12	C Button
13	A Button
14	Left
15	Up

* used on some newer Neo pads and sticks, for the purpose of this guide though, it’s not needed.

** not used on regular pads and sticks – used on the mah-jong controller.

Summary of Components

• Female DB15 Plug
• DB9 Housing