Arcade Dance Pad interface

[mattudland]

Hey, does anyone have any experience with taking an Arcade Dance Dance revolution pad and hooking it to a computer?  What are the imputs?  Would an Ipac or an Optipac work or would something else have to be bought?

I did a search through the forums and came with a lot on building a pad, but not much on interfacing a "real" arcade pad into a computer.

Just curious, thanks for the info.  An example of the pad I'm talking about would be:

http://www.channelbeat.com/products/parts/dance_dance_revolution_parts/130.html

Thanks again, all and any help is appreciated.

[paigeoliver]

An I-Pac would do it somehow. I would have to open one up first to tell you for sure how to do it though.

[Generic Eric]

Hey, does anyone have any experience with taking an Arcade Dance Dance revolution pad and hooking it to a computer?  What are the imputs?  Would an Ipac or an Optipac work or would something else have to be bought?

I did a search through the forums and came with a lot on building a pad, but not much on interfacing a "real" arcade pad into a computer.

Just curious, thanks for the info.  An example of the pad I'm talking about would be:

http://www.channelbeat.com/products/parts/dance_dance_revolution_parts/130.html

Thanks again, all and any help is appreciated.

$380? Ouch.  <--without shipping I bet.
What is your intention? Besides the obvious "to play the game" answer.  I mean would you be against building one?  I haven't built one, so I can't tell you how easy it is, but from my research, it looks pretty straight forward and easy.

As to how to hook it up, the squares are just giant buttons, so interfacing it to an ipac would be fine, but not to an Opti-pac.  Also,  if you were to buy that particular unit, you could replace the circuit board with a Playstation 2 game pad hack so you could use it on your PS2(if you have one.)  With a PS2 to USB adaptor cable you can hook it up to your PC to play some of the DDR simulators.

I think you could make one cheaper.  If you still have questions post back

[mattudland]

Hey no problem - it's actually not for me, it's for a friend of mine who really really lives for Dance dance (it's sickening.)  And he has broken every pad he's bought, including the Red Octane metal ones and stuff.  Anywho, he seems to think an arcade pad would be the way to go, but he doesn't have the cash to get a whole system so we are buying in pieces.

But until he can afford the big stuff, he wants to be able to use the pad with computer dance dance games.

Anywho, that should do it for my questions, if we end up with it I'll make sure to take a bunch of pictures so we'll know for sure next time.

THanks a lot!
Matt

[paigeoliver]

You do realize that the pad you linked to is going to be a used one that is probably already pretty much worn out (otherwise it would still be out on the arcade floor).

[kspiff]

Also probably worth mentioning that even if the arcade pad is new, they are a maintenance headache.. it would still break frequently (esp. without proper care) and require the occasional replacement parts.

Why do you think they charge $1+ per play at the 'cade?  

[Xan]

broke the red octane metal pad..   I have the hard plastic pad and haven't broken it yet, bit loud tho.  Want to build one of those DIY metal pads when I get my cabinet built.. anyway.. I don't know anything bout the real arcade pads wireing, but all I do with my pad is use a psx->usb convertor to play on PC, tho PC DDR sux   Why your friend playing on PC? Don't see why you couldn't rewire an arcade pad to a crappy psx pad like you can CPs.

[paigeoliver]

broke the red octane metal pad..   I have the hard plastic pad and haven't broken it yet, bit loud tho.  Want to build one of those DIY metal pads when I get my cabinet built.. anyway.. I don't know anything bout the real arcade pads wireing, but all I do with my pad is use a psx->usb convertor to play on PC, tho PC DDR sux   Why your friend playing on PC? Don't see why you couldn't rewire an arcade pad to a crappy psx pad like you can CPs.

You could certainly wire it to either an I-Pac OR a PS controller quite easily. Chances are good that it already has wires all up inside it anyway, that just need to be hooked up to your encoder of choice.

BUT. If it isn't a new one then it is going to be a trashed worn out hunk of junk.

[kspiff]

Yeah, though, it should work with I-Pac.. as a DDR pad is still just a collection of switches like any regular joy or button(just bigger).

[armad1ll0]

the red octane pads probably break easy. I have two broken metal ones myself that were given to me. I was going to take them apart and put in some sort of new switches in there so that it would be more durable. I have not researched it yet.

I would suggest getting the best PSX pad you can find that's durable and then use a PSX to USB adaptor.

[kspiff]

I would suggest building one.. I have a metal MyMyBox pad and they are pretty sucky, too, without substantial mods.  Everyone who has tried both seem to agree that you can get better results making a DDR Homepad.  You can do whatever you want that way: lights, 6 or 8 buttons, raised platform, one-piece dual setup, custom graphics, increased durability, etc.

That is if you are willing to do this for your friend :/..

[Molloy]

I've heard very positive things about the Logic 3 dancemat. Takes up to 20stone weight so it's pretty hard to break.

http://uk.specialreserve.com/reviews/info.php?code=GG4468

[paigeoliver]

I've heard very positive things about the Logic 3 dancemat. Takes up to 20stone weight so it's pretty hard to break.

http://uk.specialreserve.com/reviews/info.php?code=GG4468

Is there a US source for those and do they work correctly with the Playstation to USB adaptor. and if so, which adaptor?

[SirPoonga]

This works well I here for pads.  My roommate has this, but no pads to try with.


http://store.yahoo.com/adux/dualusb.html

[mattudland]

Anyone else notice this on the Playstation USB converter link you posted Poonga:

Under "Specifications" it says:

Is NOT compatible with dance pads for the game Dance Dance Revolution

So, um, any confirmation on that it does actually work or not?

Thanks for all the feedback and comments guys, the used part of the arcade pads sucks...  I wonder how much they are new?  Anybody?

Thanks,
Matt

[Hoe]

Thouse adaptors have d-pad problems. They don't allow up+down, left+right, to be pressed at the same time- which is why they work fine with a controller, not just a dance pad.

[bionicbadger]

Anyone else notice this on the Playstation USB converter link you posted Poonga:

Under "Specifications" it says:

Is NOT compatible with dance pads for the game Dance Dance Revolution

So, um, any confirmation on that it does actually work or not?

Take a look at this page:
http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/adapter.php
it lists compatability of PS2 to USB adaptors for step mania and says if there are know problems like no up+down / left+right at same time.

[SirPoonga]

Anyone else notice this on the Playstation USB converter link you posted Poonga:

Under "Specifications" it says:

Is NOT compatible with dance pads for the game Dance Dance Revolution

So, um, any confirmation on that it does actually work or not?

Thanks for all the feedback and comments guys, the used part of the arcade pads sucks...  I wonder how much they are new?  Anybody?

Thanks,
Matt

I know, I said I hear it works well.  But I have no way of testing my roommates.
When a friend brought his over once he used the psx to lpt convertor he made.  You can find schematics all over the place.  I forgot what driver he used for xp as dpadpro is not xp worthy.
That worked great.

[StephenH]

From what I have heard, the arcade dance pad consits of switches (4-8 of them).    You could hack the wiring, and connect it to an I-Pac, KE72, or other key encoder.

The other issue is the lights under the arrows.    For these, you need some sort of output from the computer, and software to control this, and some sort of high amp power out, at the proper voltage.

[mattudland]

That's great stuff guys, I'll report it all off to my bud and see if he thinks it's all worth the hassle...

If it's a go, then I'll make sure to let you guys know what's going on with the project!  If it's not, good luck to the poster of the future who decides to tackle a dance dance arcade setup!

Thanks again for everyone's help,
Matt

[SirPoonga]

You could also build your own, hack it into a pc game pad.

www.angelfire.com/d20/ddrhomepad

Click on EVERYTHING.  The site isn;t organized well.  Lonk are  hidden through one picture, good info on another.  kinda annoying.

[armad1ll0]

I started a project to rebuild a Redoctane Metal pad with "cherry" microswitches. The terminal can be cut off and the cherry switch fited in there for more feel and durability. I don't now how long the switch will last since it's a tight fit. a 200# dude may break it. We'll see.

I think that it can fit and 6 additional soft joystick springs will ensure that the plates come back up. I'm also shaving and hand fitting the plates so that they move nicer.

[bionicbadger]

Anyone else notice this on the Playstation USB converter link you posted Poonga:

Under "Specifications" it says:

Is NOT compatible with dance pads for the game Dance Dance Revolution

So, um, any confirmation on that it does actually work or not?

Take a look at this page:
http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/adapter.php
it lists compatability of PS2 to USB adaptors for step mania and says if there are know problems like no up+down / left+right at same time.

I found another page with even more info on Playstation to PC adaptors for various games, not just Step mania.  Look here:

http://junta.cromas.net/adapters.html