Custom Soft Pad Question!

[Meatyguy]

I've been looking for a really cheap way to play DDR/ITG/PIU at my house with shoes that's under about $75... I found one on DDR Freak and I was wondering if anyone on FFR has actually used this methodl. I looked around on the DDR Freak site and found that quite a few members used it and said that it worked but... has anyone HERE used it and worked well?

Please tell me!

P.S.
To see what I mean go to ddrfreak(dot)com and check out the FAQ's and find "Softpad modding" under the category Technical.

PPS: If anyone knows of a good modding (SAFE!) site that shows something similar... please PM me!

[ELRayford]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

You could follow that walkthrough. Just make sure you do not tape any of the pads sensors. Make sure you staple gun it down. You may be able to get those "pin" nails and a hammer if you can't find the staple gun.
All in all this will only keep the pad from moving. So if thats the problem do it up

[Gundam-Dude]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Personally, I'd much rather save up and buy myself a metal pad (Some Cobalt Flux perhaps? rofl). Since I play with bar, I'd probably buy one that comes with a bar rather than using a chair or something.

Or if you're like me and have an arcade near your house that was DDR/ITG/PIU, go there and play a game or two every weekday or something (excluding weekends and holidays of course). I personally have a mall that's a 10 minute walk away from my school therefore I go to the arcade during my lunch period to play ITG, so it's pretty easy for me to get access to a machine. But then again, the most ITG2 machines are located in Ontario, Canada, rofl.

[Psychotik]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Yeah get a metal pad. Soft ones are unreliable.
I have 2 soft pads: they suck anal fluids.

[ddranthony92]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

I bought a metal Pad with a bar off of Ebay for $105 and it worked perfectly except i didn't treat it good enough i kept it standing with the wire dangling and the wire ended up being really crappy.

[Meatyguy]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Guys, I just need a CHEAP pad (not cobaltflux, I know it's great but not for $100-$200!) that I can use with shoes and I think that this is the cheapest alternative!

[ddranthony92]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Guys, I just need a CHEAP pad (not cobaltflux, I know it's great but not for $100-$200!) that I can use with shoes and I think that this is the cheapest alternative!

ummm If you're gonna want a bar its most likely gonna cost more all i can say is keep on checking Ebay.

EDIT: I just looked at ddrfreak.com and idk if having your shoes on would work... i would mod your pad like that if you just want a better pad that you can play with, with no shoes, but wouldn't the shoes just like... rip the material?

[DarkCore]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

First off, if you want a pad that you can use shoes on and actually have it hold up, the Blueshark is probably your best/only bet. Face the fact that you're going to have to dish out a bit more money if you want a reliable metal pad that you can use shoes on. They're certainly not cheap.

Anyway, regarding softpad modding, when I used to play ITG PS2 at home a while back, I actually did DDRFreak's modding guide to both of my Konami softpads. (Yeah, not all softpads are bad, the Konami official ones are pretty damn good IMO.) I was able to pass all the ITG1 11's on it, but anything harder than that would've been really difficult to do. =\ If you're just going to be using the pad for FA songs and stuff up 11's, then by all means go for the softpad mod. (But yeah, you can't use shoes.)

Here are some pictures of mine after they were modded:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/Dark-Core/Music%20Games/PS2%20Softpads/000_1454.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/Dark-Core/Music%20Games/PS2%20Softpads/000_1185.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/Dark-Core/Music%20Games/PS2%20Softpads/000_1186.jpg

EDIT: I just looked at ddrfreak.com and idk if having your shoes on would work... i would mod your pad like that if you just want a better pad that you can play with, with no shoes, but wouldn't the shoes just like... rip the material?

It won't rip the material as it's pretty thick, however using shoes on softpads is really not a good idea at all because it will damage the sensors and screw up the pad.

Another cheap suggestion would be the Ignition 2.0 foam-pad. (Again, you'll have to play barefoot or in socks.) I have friends who have it, and are able to do 12's like Euphoria/Tell/HotN no problem. However, stores are only selling the 3.0 pads now (which suck really bad) so if you want to get a 2.0, you'll have to get one off eBay or another online store.

[ddranthony92]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

^

Nice setup

[Tired_Old_Man]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Everyones missing the part were you make it so you can you use shoes on a soft pad. First remove the edge that goes around the pad, then staple it to a sheet of wood and then you cover it with some strong clear vinyl like a shower curtain liner. Check chris4life s old videos on youtube he used to tear it up on a modded soft pad.

[Meatyguy]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

That's the next question I was going to ask... what pads does iamchris4life use? They don't look like metal and he uses shoes on them just fine...

[Tired_Old_Man]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

That's the next question I was going to ask... what pads does iamchris4life use? They don't look like metal and he uses shoes on them just fine...

In those videos he's using exactly what I said before. A soft pad with plastic on top. Not sure if that's covered on the site you mentioned but I've seen guides on doing it elsewhere.

[DarkCore]

Re: Custom Soft Pad Question!

Even with the plastic vinyl covering the pad and everything, using shoes on a softpad will damage the sensors! Seriously, they aren't made to withstand use while wearing shoes.

iamchris4life doesn't even play anymore, but when he did he used a Cobalt Flux. He used to play on a modified softpad with socks, (I've only seen him use shoes on them in one video which was Bag Heavy/DBL) but yeah...I modded my softpads the same way and they were pretty alright.