If you want to use a Raspberry Pi with Recalbox to create a Bartop or an arcade gate, you can easily configure Recalbox to meet your needs.
You can configure the Recalbox GPIO driver in the file recalbox.conf.
This driver creates two joysticks on the system and directly controlled by the GPIO PINS of the Raspberry Pi.
For this, you don't need a USB hub because you will connect your buttons directly to the GPIO
Many bartops use old LCD or CRT TV monitors using one of the following connections:
global.videomode=default for all your emulators in the recalbox.conf file.global.videomode=default for all your games in the [recalbox.conf] file(./../../basic-usage/getting-started/recalboxconf-file) and modify the settings described in this tutorial.You can select the audio output device in the recalbox.conf file:
audio.device=alsa_card.0:analog-output if you want to force the audio output to the jack.audio.device=alsa_card.1:hdmi-output-0 if you want to force the audio output to the HDMI.You can also choose the sound output in EmulationStation. Press START > SOUND SETTINGS and change the value of the OUTPUT DEVICE option.
You can disable Kodi in the recalbox.conf file by setting kodi.enable=0 in order to remove the shortcut assigned to the X button.
You may also want to change the menu settings:
system.es.menu=bartop, you will have access to a minimum number of options when you press the START button under EmulationStation.system.es.menu=none, no menu will be available.system.emulators.specialkey to nomenu will disable menus in emulators.system.emulators.specialkey to none will disable menus and all special functions in emulators (except the combination to exit a game).