(Part 2) Best products from r/DanceDanceRevolution

Thanks for the info!

With regards to

1. I don't quite have that budget (yet, saving up), what where the places you think would be easiest to save money in the short term that could be added on at a later date? I remember building this pad back in 2004 (I still have it and it still works! Though I busted a wire on it somehow last week, sorting out fixing it atm) for around $150, I suppose it has less metal on it though (and perhaps cheaper wood?)
   
   
2. I'm thinking to use an Arduino Leonardo for my board, as I've seen other tutorials for that, I feel like it might have more flexibility with wiring up LEDs, and they're about as expensive. For those curious, see this article about incorporating it into a pad, this github project for programming the Leonardo, and this link to amazon to buy one (it's a knock-off but it's hella cheap and should work fine).
   
   
3. My thought for build doubles is to have two pads and them be able to separate (for transportation / giving two players space) but also "lock together". I'm debating how to pull that off with that "center section" though: perhaps have a lip on opposite edges (one over and one under)? perhaps with something along the exterior?

Check EBay/Craigslist for RedOctane pads. Still the best foam inserts, and newer ones have USB connectors. No idea whether that will work with the Wii or not, but the Wii does have USB ports...

If the RedOctanes are too pricey, then I'd go with something Konami branded. Those are generally of high quality.

My friends and I wear out pads too damn fast, and we've been unable to find RedOctanes lately, so we've taken to buying this set off Amazon and duct taping it over the RedOctanes. Works surprisingly well with some PS2-USB adapters and a custom AutoHotkey script to support more than two arrows at once. Obviously won't work for the Wii, though...

Put some gripper (shelf liner) below your flux. If that doesn't work, get piece of plywood slightly larger than your flux, tape gripper around the edges, and then also put gripper on the carpet.

Find gripper roll that works best in your situation - https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Grip-Original-Available-Protection/dp/B00MEYZZXW/

Also check if the ones for the drawers works better for you instead of carpet ones - https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Grip-Original-Non-Adhesive-Cabinets/dp/B07D9T39QG/

You'll also want to like "fold over" and have like two layers of the stuff.

(I don't use any of the above brands. You can also try with dollar store.)

I am here for you in your time of need!

Here's what I used:

A USB Encoder: https://www.amazon.com/Reyann-Arcade-Encoder-Joystick-Fighting/dp/B00UUROWWK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522934637&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+encoder ($11)

A VGA cup (double check that yours is 15 pin, some of the very early cobalts were 9 pin, I think): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016FBVIJY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ($10)

With the D-Sub, if money and time isn't a problem, shell out for one that comes with an enclosure like this one: https://www.amazon.com/MyCableMart-15pin-Connector-Repair-Solderless/dp/B01N45B2PV/ref=pd_sim_23_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N45B2PV&pd_rd_r=BDEX1B1V5S71ZSB7YCXH&pd_rd_w=LBp2Y&pd_rd_wg=zzOED&psc=1&refRID=BDEX1B1V5S71ZSB7YCXH

It's a lot tidier and protects your wires a bit. If money is an option and/or you're good at soldering you can get a solder one cheaper. I like these because you just slip the wire in and tighten the screw. The screw is weaker than a solder but that's not going to be the weak point of connection and try not to trip over your wires anyway, please.

You also need a small screw driver and either a pair of wire strippers or a pair of scissors and some precision. The process of wiring it is going to be pretty easy - the USB encoder comes all the wires you're going to need - we'll use the red and black ones. You'll cut off the ends, strip them, and connect them. I can walk you through this process when you get your parts but really you just need a picture of the end product... which I'll get you when I get home.

Previous folks have mapped the pins for us: https://imgur.com/TX7jvnZ

The only important one is that ground. There's going to be a "GND" marked on your DSUB, but don't connect it to that, you need to map the Ground properly. The rest of the pins can be connected to whatever, because you'll be mapping the buttons in Stepmania. Get the parts, I'll take a picture of mine at home and when you have the parts in, I'll have some images of my strip and connection process up in a gallery. Otherwise I'll sell you mine for.. like... $35, plus shipping. It's not worth the price since I haven't bothered to print a box for the encoder yet, so just make your own :D

Hi. This sub isn't visited by many japanese players but hopefully I can point you towards the right direction. First, look to /r/otoge, the japanese language rhythm game subreddit. Keep in mind even then, japanese netizen turnout is very low on reddit.

You're gonna wanna have a chat with Aaron Tokunaga, pretty much the english resource for the japanese scene. Dude quite literally wrote the book on the DDR scene. You can email him at aaron@aaroninjapanllc.com

You might also want to get in touch with Bemanistyle's Japan correspondent, Paul. You can email him at acejay@gmail.com

let the amazing amazon reviews commence!

Hey. I have the same pad. My control box broke, so I have mucked around with this quite a bit. (removed control box, and I am using the insides of a PS controller for inputs)

I used some wire cutters and cut around the connector in the front, so I was able to get into my pad that way, I will share what I learned, so it will be easier for you.

the wires all just go to the front of the dance pad, to the 15 pin connector.
there are two wires for each panel, a ground and a signal. When they connect it registers as a press.

Do not use a normal VGA cable to connect the pad to the box (or anything else), as normal VGA cables can connect some of the pins used for signal to ground.

I used something like this for the breakout of the pins:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014L9XAGG

These are the pins:

1. • (unused)
     
2. Down panel signal (purple)
   
3. Up panel signal (green)
   
4. -
   
5. Right panel signal (white)
   
6. Left panel signal (yellow)
   
7. -
   
8. Ground (This has a wire going to every panel, and is soldered together behind the 15-pin connector.)
   
9. -
   
10. "A" panel signal (black)
    
11. "B" panel signal (red)
    
12. -
    
13. -
    
14. -
    
15. -
    
    
    Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

I play on carpet, and I put velcro tape on the bottom of my cobalt flux and it doesn't move at all now. The velcro hooks into the carpet and keeps the pad in place. This is the stuff I bought if you're interested

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074ZGR6QK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It should definitely be possible, but now's the time to admit that while I have built a box, I still don't really know electrical engineering fundamentals. I followed the advice of the people more experienced than me and used this and this (For PS2 you'd replace that with an old board from a PS2 controller). I can't find a D-SUB connector like mine that will fit your 7 pin pad, however I wonder if you could cut off the end and strip the wires in order to wire them into your board directly and skip the D-SUB altogether. If you tried this and it didn't work the damage would be either irreparable or at best annoying as all hell to fix.

Mats like that slide around too much on harder songs -- but you can fix that problem by duct-taping em to a spiked office mat (assuming you're playing on carpet). That kind of setup works great across all difficulties, although you'll need to get a new DDR mat every 4-8 months since those soft mats wear out quickly.

What software are you using?

If StepMania then this is what I used.

https://amzn.com/B00FBM3JEG/

Simple and effective.

I used the drivers and instructions found here to set it all up. https://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Controller:DualShock_2

Then in StepMania under Controls/Advanced Controls you set "Axis Fix" to "yes".

Gotcha. I'll see if this guy will come down a bit and see what happens. Also, any tips on PS2 -> USB adapters? His is PS2 and I plan to use it on Stepmania on my Mac. This one looks promising: http://www.amazon.com/Playstation-PSX-Converter-Ports-Super-2/dp/B001DU25UO/

I'm pretty sure that got assembled wrong. http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Metal-Arcade-Dance-Handle-PC/dp/B000IBS78S/ref=pd_sim_sbs_vg_1

I thought that was how they are branded in the UK with the stay cool logo.

Went by these type of adverts, https://www.amazon.com/Konami-Stay-Cool-Non-Slip-Dance-Pad/dp/B004HJT63M

I am go as far to say 90% of the chance that Reyann Easy board is faulty. I had 2 of those before, 2nd one as the replacement of the first. These boards break pretty easy in general but that brand is BAD. If you got it from Amy-Happy-Mall do youself a favor and return it.

​

I bought myself a pair, 1 for backup in case the first one fries - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CKN59L9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm in the same boat, I recently started looking because I wanted to get back into it. I couldn't find anything for the latest version of consoles, so I ended up getting the Wii version. DDR2 is the highest rated on Amazon, and there's a bundle for $50: http://www.amazon.com/DanceDanceRevolution-II-Bundle-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B0050SVFWE/.

Didn't occur to me to jam all the ground wires into the single screw terminal for pin 1 (CF ground pin) on the breakout box... I'm not sure if they'll fit, but I'll give it a try tonight. Or I could put two in the terminal for pin 1, and two in the terminal marked ground.

This is the breakout box I'm using. And this is the USB board.

https://www.amazon.com/Polycarbonate-Sheet-Transparent-Standard-Tolerance/dp/B00CPRCQ9E

These are 1 sq ft sheets (they are actually slightly less than 12”) but you’ll have to trim them down

Oh gosh, totally forgot to reply to this. It's this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y8JCJNU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have at it: Dance Dance Revolution X2 Bundle - PlayStation 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DC8GJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LHPSDb5D43PDM

Here is the mobile version of your link

https://www.amazon.com/Playstation-PSX-Converter-Ports-Super-2/dp/B001DU25UO

Bought this one less than a month ago, works perfectly... jumps, hands, you name it. I'm not sure how/if it handles two pads at once, though.