N64 Controller Not Working With Emulator?

I so I use Project64 for my ROMS and a while back I got an N64 controller adapter; nothing special it just says N64 Controller Adapter for PC USB. But even after a plug in all of the keys the joystick doesn't even send a signal, and the arrow keys move slow especially during game like Zelda where I can hardly push on. What can I do? Im tired of trying to use other clients cuz it doesnt work. So what else is there? All I wanna do is play my Majors Mask and Paper Mario in peace.I have watched videos and I have been doing everything that they say and I have tried using 2 different controllers, but nothing fixes the slowness!