What Dance Pad do you have or recommend?

[GGKoul]

Hello

Having played Stepmania on my keyboard for a few weeks now.  I've decided get a dance pad.  I know a few people are building their own dance pad.  Maybe I will do that in the future.  But I'm wondering what dance pad people are using at home?  

As I've read a few things about them and I'm not sure which one will be best for me.  As I'm not planning on duct taping the pad down.  So which one are people using at home?

And I wouldn't mind seeing some pics of some home made dance pads.

Thanks!
-GGKoul

[Industen]

I'm using 2 Cobalt flux pads with the double bar in between them. This pad is by far the best pad out there. Unless you plan on building your own this pad is the best retail pad. A word of warning though they are very expensive...

[gprime]

I love StepMania  

I was too lazy to build my own so I got mine off eBay:

http://www.gprime.net/images/index.php?path=john%2F2004-01-23

Lot's of pictures of me tearing it apart if you'd like to take a look.

I use it just about everyday and hasn't failed on me yet. Seems pretty durable.

[GGKoul]

GPRIME:  How much did you pay for the metal one you bought?

Industen:  Where did you get the Cobalt Flux Pads?

Thanks!

[SirPoonga]

gprime, what pad is that?
Got the ebay sellers ebay id?

[SirPoonga]

GPRIME:  How much did you pay for the metal one you bought?

Industen:  Where did you get the Cobalt Flux Pads?

Thanks!

GG, google works well
http://www.cobaltflux.com/

[GGKoul]

gprime, what pad is that?

I think he purchased this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21185&item=8107210600&rd=1

As it looks like the one he purchased.  Also, gprime is located in Canada like me and this seller is Canadian based.  Which is always good.

-GGKoul

[SirPoonga]

I that is the case that doesn't look like a good weld on stainless steel.  At least not from someone with experience welding

Otherwise that looks very sturdy and well made.  It also looks like the touchpad part and lighting come from softpads, I've seen that before in the softpads.

[GGKoul]

What's the difference between a 6 arrow & 8 arrow unit? Would you be able to play both Pump It Up & DDR on a 8 arrow unit?

[SkateDetroit]

Build your own! If anything ever breaks you know how to fix it and for cheap. Build it as sturdy and durable as you want. Custom artwork, custom design. Go nuts!

[gprime]

gprime, what pad is that?

I think he purchased this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21185&item=8107210600&rd=1

As it looks like the one he purchased.  Also, gprime is located in Canada like me and this seller is Canadian based.  Which is always good.

-GGKoul

yep that's the guy

[Industen]

A little bit of warning. Those Ebay metal pads are not as good as they look. About 2 years ago I bought similar pads and they bend when you play. The braces are exactly the same as the ones I got not to mention the control box was very unstabble...not regeristing steps and ghost stepping.

Bar none Cobalt flux pads are AMAZING they even drove a SUV over them and they came out unblemished.

NEW: Eleven fully triggerable buttons. (9 on platform, 2 on Control Box)
NEW: Durable, replaceable, laminated decal set.
Heavy-duty metal construction.
Shatter-proof 1/8" lexan surface.
Solid 3/4" melamine baseboard.
Hand made and inspected under exacting conditions.
Six month guarantee.




Oh how I love mine!!!  

[abrannan]

What's the difference between a 6 arrow & 8 arrow unit? Would you be able to play both Pump It Up & DDR on a 8 arrow unit?

No.  You need a center button for Pump it Up.  Plus, the corner buttons are longer on a Pump it Up pad.  You pretty much need a separate pad for Pump.  

I use the Level six Deluxe Dance Mat v3.1 and they work great for me.  They won't break the bank like a CF pad will, but they won't last as long either.

[Ceifeirot]

As for cheaper alternatives, the BNS dance pad with the padding inside works great. You can get it from http://www.buynshop.com/productinfo/44/VG-DDR-ULTDX/ for around $50

They're much better than the cheapo ones, and just as good/better than the red octane one (afaict). Also more portable than the metal ones obviously.

[GGKoul]

Thanks for the responses.

Just a question about the soft dance pads that people have.  Do they side around during use and do they register all the steps?


gprime, how is the metal dance pad you got from that guy?


So there's nothing special between a 8 way pad and a 6 way. right?


Is there any instructions about building your own dance pads?


Thanks!
-GGKoul

[Zathras]

Another vote for building your own metal pads.  I finally got around to installing DWI on my cab this weekend and hooked up the pads with a ps2 to USB adapter and it was like a whole new experience with the cab.  

[GGKoul]

Zathras, do you have any pics of the dance pad you made?  How much did it cost you?  

As I found a BYODP link on this site and the guy said it cost him @ $120 for him to create his own.  And that's how much is cost for me to get one of via ebay.  So I would save on the shipping charges.

Thanks!
-GGKoul

[Zathras]

I PMed you GGKoul but just to share the info:

They were about $100 each if memory serves me correctly but they are tanks that will hold up to anything - I've used them for a couple of years now and haven't had a bit of a problem.  They have been stomped on by all shapes and sizes.

For more info and ideas there is a thread on DDRFreak about BYODDRP
http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=59254

The main page I used when building mine is:
http://www.angelfire.com/d20/ddrhomepad/'

I have some old "in progress" pics of mine up at:
http://www.thatinter.net/ddr/

They are pretty close to what they are now but I replaced the pegboard bottom w/ MDF for some extra rigidity.  The overhang was going to be for a backplate but after using them for a while I decided it wasn't really necessary so I dropped that idea when I switched to MDF


I'll try to take some updated pics with them hooked up to the cab.

[riki]

if you wanna make a home built one.. I have a pretty simple one to build. 1.5" thick full size metal pad (no lights, ... yet).

http://www.mydancepad.com

take care
riki

[Wirehed]

I'm thinking of building my own pad, specifically for use with Stepmania. What PS2 to USB adapter works well with Stepmania?

[BigBri]

I just ordered a tx-2000.  Does anyone have one of these?  Do they light up?