What can be done about downstairs neighbors?

[PedanticOmbudsman]

Is there any way to keep your steps from making noise in the apartment below? I'd never played DDR before a few days ago, but already I feel sick at the thought that I might not be able to play anymore if they keep complaining to the manager. I'm currently using a GameStop soft pad on thin carpet. I don't stomp, but I imagine that regular steps carry through audibly, and the jumps are probably pretty bad.

This is after years of me being quiet and putting up with them blasting the worst music possible up through my floor, rattling my walls and knocking stuff of off my shelves -- and then they get upset about some footsteps on the ceiling.

Even though I only got the game a few days ago, I'm so desperate that I'd order a Cobalt Flux right now if I thought it'd solve my problem -- but I've heard that they're even noisier. I'll do whatever it takes. Moving to a downstairs apartment would take weeks because of my work schedule and the messy condition in which I live (clearing floor space for my pad was a challenge), so that will be a last resort, but not absolutely out of the question.

I'm pondering knocking on their door, apologizing for the noise, and asking them if there'd be certain times of day when they're not around and thus wouldn't be bothered -- but I'm not especially good with people.

Please help. This is really bad.

[Footstep]

Perhaps you can buy the CF.It shouldnt make any noice.Worse come to worse,use it to makie them stop blarring the sterio.
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So what if we cant PA.Least were cute

[Finel]

Put a rug (possibly more than one) under your pad. It's cheap, its easy. That, or move to the 1st floor
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[PedanticOmbudsman]

I'm wondering if a yoga mat would provide a good amount of sound dampening. Anybody tried something like that?

Switching apartments would be a major project, so that won't help in the short term. I'll probably be looking into it for the future, though.

I don't have to work again until Wednesday, and I was really looking forward to getting a ton of DDR in before then.

[Slowpoke]

Do NOT buy a CF. I live in a 3rd floor apartment, and I ended up giving mine away after about week because it was so much noisier than a soft pad.

[PedanticOmbudsman]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I did some searching and found this thread with some more ideas.

For now, I'll try various soft cushiony things underneath. I'll save the Cobalt Flux purchase for the future when I can move into a 1st floor place.

(Hmm. I wonder what would happen if I put the pad on my bed.)

[Slowpoke]

[FujiFlame]

I live on the third floor. Talk to the people beneath you. For example, I found out that he works until 7PM and is almost never home on weekends, and he just comes up and lets me know if it bothers him. And as far as the "get a cobalt flux" goes...sure the noise from each step nearly directly onto the ground thru a soft pad wouldn't exist, but it would shake the building as a whole, and a lot.

[Fr0sty]

Try this:
First get a wooden board (some of that cheap recycled wood stuff) and duck tape your soft pad to it or industrial-staple it or whatever. Then, if you still think it's loud, put a rug and/or flat cushiony material under that to absorb the shock.

[PedanticOmbudsman]

Well, I found a thick foam exercise mat, paid $50 for it, took it home, and realized it wasn't nearly wide enough.

Sooooo...... I hope that Play It Again Sports accepts returns. I guess I shoulda measured first.

Off to look for a bigger mat...

[xequar]

I live in a second floor apartment, so here's my two cents.

Instead of trying to muffle the sound, which I have found to be problematic at best and dangerous at worst, consider instead changing WHERE in the apartment you play. If you have another TV, this will be a bit easier to do. Look at the floor plan to your apartment and where the walls are placed. You'll want to look for a space that is close to two load-bearing walls. In my case, I use the arch between my living room and dining room. The floor will be stronger in such a spot, as opposed to the relatively weak floor in the middle of a living room, which is where most people want to play. Most floors are actually somewhat flexible (moreso in older buildings), so by playing on a stronger part of the floor, you will reduce flex and the walls can absorb the impact more. As a way of a test, you can actually try just jumping as high as you can in a spot and landing as hard as you can. In weaker spots of the floor, you will actually feel the floor move under your feet and hear stuff move. In stronger spots, you won't hear nearly as much, and it will feel more stable.

This pic is of the floorplan of my apartment and some recommendations.

And of course, check with the downstairs neighbors the first time you try it. Good luck.
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[sLiTfAcE]

Get one of those thick foam Red Octane Ignition pads I think they are called off ebay for cheap or something, they are really quite or just put some thick strong foam under your pad since it will absorb a ton of sound like mad, trust me because i ddr upstairs at like 12pm while parents sleep across the hall and my brother is downstairs and no one has noticed yet....
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[godofgamecube45]

You answered your own question you will find that most ppl are very understanding and im sure you guys can find a time that will work for both of u trust me im sure they'll agreee
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Whats the matter? Afraid of the dark?

[duffblue]

Another thing you could do is ask them if they want to play... I guess that would be ok.

My list of things you should try.

1.Ask if they would like to play
2.Buy a bigger exercise mat like you said
3.Kill your nieghbors
4.Get Gigantic speakers and put them to the ground like in the Simpsons and play a song with alot of bass.

[kmoyGTI]

Wow, I feel bad for you.

My reccomendations:

1. Buy some soft material (I'd reccomend foam), and place underneat your pad. Sort of like the Red Octane Ignition dance pad.

2. Talk with them and be kind and work things out. Figure a time when you can play while they are gone.

3. Move to the first floor.

4. If they still complain, then that's when you should get mad. Annoy them as much as you can. Bang on their doors at 3:00AM. Leave a bag of feces on their doorsteps. Be Creative.

5. Just move far far away...

[Zordon of Eltare]

like dubz said, instead of buying a CF, actually buy the Ignition dance pad. It is cheaper now and I own one, and ever since I got it, my upstairs neighbors have stopped giving me dirty looks (My apartment has a garage under me )
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[tis kelly]

Also, leases tend to state exactly when noise ordinances go into effect. For example, I can't play between 10pm - 8:00am. If I play outside of that time frame, my neighbour legally can't complain (or if he does, nothing can come of it because I'm legally entitled to do whatever the hell I want during that time period).

Other than that I would recommend going the easiest route and simply asking your neighbours what times they are typically gone or what times they would be comfortable with you playing. If you're straightforward and explain exactly what it is you're doing, they probably won't have a problem with it.

[Phr34k_TeN]

i'm not sure if this will be of any help but u can try keeping ur feet closer to the mat (red octane ignition recommended) and try jumping really low. it might affect ur performance but at least u wont get yelled at (learned from experience ) of course if u already keep ur feet close to the pad then that makes this post pointless...
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