Newbie alert.

WildPatBev · Basic Member Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Location: Mid-Atlantic

I'm really interested on jumping onto the bandwagon with all you crazy DDR freaks. So, I have an xbox and most likely will get Ultramix. I am worried about what should I invest in as in a dance pad/mat.

I can either get a metal RedOctane pad or should since I'm a beginner, get a soft pad like the Ignition ones. Which one will help me better fastest in the short run because I'm into learning this DDR thing really fast.

Most likely answered, but I just need a quick answer because I'm ordering which ever pad you all suggest tomorrow night along with Ultramix. Thanks all ahead of time.

kablooie13 · Trick Member Joined: 10 Jan 2004 Location: Hamden, CT

If you are relatively serious about DDR, you should suck it up and buy a metal pad right off the bat, as you will want one eventually anyway. If price is no object, I STRONGLY recommend you check out cobalt fluxes, as they are worth the cash IMHO. If you do decide to get a soft pad, get a Red Octane Ignition, as they are the only ones worth dealing with.

You should also look into the XBox version of Stepmania. If you can get that to work, you will love it and you'll save the money with not having to buy Ultramix.
_________________

SKINYAH

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

justindh · Trick Member Joined: 04 Feb 2004

well i'd stick it out untill ultramix 2, and get the bundle with the soft pad. and then save up for a flux instead of going up the ladder one pad at a time
_________________

-Greggles- · Trick Member Joined: 07 May 2004 Location: syracuse, ny

i have a metal pad and i used to have an ignition but if u play alot like i do then it will most likely rip... ignition =

Mooman · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:28 pm Post subject:

the ignotion pad are the best soft pads i've seen/used. although i'm ready to take the next step and buy an metal pad. unfortunately, even the RedOctance ones are way out of my price range, and i don't necesarrily want to buy a pad from a company i've never heard of without a full review. i've heard a lot of good review with CF pads, but i've also heard that they tend to lag with adapters. does CF sell an xbox comaptible pad?

back on subject: the best way to buy a pad and game is one of REd Octane's bundles. i'm probably going to sell (only if i decide against buying DDRMAX 2, but then again i'm going to need pad for DDRE) one or both of my soft pads so i can buy a metal pad. if you have the money to spend, and are serious about playing DDR, then go ahead and get the best that money can buy, but if you are still kinda skeptical, then play a couple of times in the arcade. don't worry about looking stupid, because there is always going to be someone worse than you ot there. think positive...
_________________

Fastest Song: Max 300 (Standard)
Favorite Song: PARANOiA Survivor (Standard)
Most Commonly Played skill level: Heavy/Maniac
The song I hate most: Analyze (see DDR UltraMix SP3)
First crowd of more than 5 people: Fun Factory in Honolulu, Hawaii, near the Ohana East Hotel. About 10 people.

vsamaco · Trick Member Joined: 08 Mar 2004

I wouldn't suggest to go straight for a metal pad until your up to the level of killing an ignition pad in a few months. Sure its sturdier but its not a very wise investment if you are starting out. Would you go out and buy the very expensive golf equipment when you first start out?

If your very strapped for cash, I'd start out with the game w/ cheap soft pad combo and mod the pad. If not, I'd suggest an ignition pad. They're much better than soft pad and last for a decent amount of time, given you get a good one and take care of it. There is a foam insert thats very comfortable and raised arrows to help with orientation, so it should help you learn DDR very quickly. Here is a guide about buying ignition pads. More information about soft pads can be found in its topic. I'd go for a BNS DX because a RO is just way over priced.

Note DX pad is PS2 based, so an adapter is necessary for XBOX. The gameelementals adapter works and goes for $10-20 at walmart. Check out this website for more compatible adapter that won't cause delay. Same applies for ps2 based metal pads like CF/RO.

When you begin to get to more difficult songs and your ignition pads starts die, then go for a metal pad.

Rychan · Contributor Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Castle Rock, CO

usamablackbelt · Trick Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Location: Duluth, GA

Rychan · Contributor Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Castle Rock, CO

I have one modified each way. I can only play a few choice 9 foot songs, but my friends have played all sorts of crazy songs on these ignitions and they keep going (PSMO, Max. (period), you get the point). Places like Home Depot will not round the edges for you but if you take in the measurements then they will cut the size you need. A friend of mine did the rounded edges and the control box shape for me using a jigsaw.
_________________

The "Rychan" Ignition Pad Modification | DeviantArt

dlm · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Location: Columbus, OH

I still don't quite undrestand how this mod works. Are you saying you put both the board and foam inside the pad? Seems like that wouldn't fit. Or are you saying you put the board inside and the foam under?

Either way... wouldn't that destroy most of the benefit of having the foam at all, as the wood has gotta shock your legs like crazy.

Rychan · Contributor Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Castle Rock, CO

If you have the thinner pieces of foam then you can put the foam under a thinner board, otherwise use about 3/4 inch thick particle board.

Never really caused a problem with my legs aside from sore muscles in my feet every so often, then again I play barefoot in the arcade regularly which I'm sure would stand to do more damage then that. The foam is why they tear, I don't care what brand or how dense it is.
_________________

The "Rychan" Ignition Pad Modification | DeviantArt

VxJasonxV · Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 1:14 pm Post subject:

dlm - Believe me when I say this mod has been THOROUGHLY tested by myself, Rychan, and numerous others.

And by thoroughly tested, I mean it.

I've passed 10 footers (more than just bag and sakura

).
There was a very stream heavy Days Go By edit involving lots of 1/16ths, and at LEAST 5 or 6 different people played it, almost at least 2 times each as well

.

If done correctly, it works.
_________________

Amusing Pictures: lolddrfreak | Road of LoQ

WildPatBev · Basic Member Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Location: Mid-Atlantic

So, is there really a difference between the metal pad of RedOctane's or their Ignition soft pads?

I mean I'm just going to put the pad in my garage and practice. If I modded the soft pad with that wood board mod, would the metal pad still help me learning faster?

You kinda get me? I hope so. Overall, the question is: What is there that's better than that metal pad over the soft pad with the wood mod?

Mimicpsycho · Basic Member Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Location: Virginia

the pad , almost makes the game. Weel, kinda like i started on a sucky pad and quickly broke it and moved up to a red octane 5.0 , i still have it and it has been working perfectly for over 7 months now. However i want/suggest a metal pad because it is more Arcade like and thats what really matters

and i relize that i can do max300 and get a B at home and i cant even pass it at the arcade because the pad is so different, i would try and get a metal one ASAP

thats just me
_________________

"Ever Had Your Azzhole Licked by a fat guy in an overcoat!?" -Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back

Cyd · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:52 am Post subject:

Noobus Kahn · Trick Member Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Location: CA

if i were you, i would just buy a crappy soft pad for $40 and wait a month or two until Ultramix 2 comes out. then if you decide you like ddr a lot, then you should invest in a Cobalt Flux. The reason i say this is because i have a Red Octane metal pad and i like it ok, but it sometimes misses and messes up and stuff, and I hear that a CF is sooper dooper oober. (i wish i hadn't bought the RO and just saved a little more for a CF)

diddrstrait · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jan 2004

Noobus Kahn · Trick Member Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Location: CA

im pretty sure my metal pad has sheet metal. the problem isn't the sheet metal though, its just the flimsy plexiglass they use that pops up and sometimes doesn't fully go down to make contact with the ground sheet. all i know is that from pix of a CF it looks like it is designed a lot better, and is more compact, with arrows that stay down and are stronger, more like a real arcade pad.

StormPhoenix · Basic Member Joined: 09 Aug 2004

Hi, I just played DDREXtreme in an Arcade about a week ago, and I fell in love. A few days later, I played it again, and I decided a had to have it. So I've been researching metal pads for countless hours, but it seems that there are so many crappy ones out there, I don't want it to break or anything. CobaltFlux is very expensive, but it might have been a possibility if there was a way to play it on xbox (which is what I'm getting the pad for). So I've heard a lot of people talking, and I know to get Plexiglass arrows, and to avoid aluminum to copper contact systems. I really am wanting to get one of the 3 inch thick ones with the trick bar, because it looks the most arcade-like. So could someone please give me a list of really good quality metal pads that will: Work on xbox; not break fast; and don't need modding. I am only 14, so I wouldn't know how to do any modding like replacing the aluminum with sheet metal. Here are a few sites i was considering:

http://gameenhancer.net/Game-Enhancer.html
The trick bar versions on this site have aluminum contacts, so i don't know about those, but the 1.5" thick ones have metal contacts.

http://www.redoctane.com/redoctanemetalpad.html
I have no idea what contact method this uses, but it's got the good arrows.

http://www.buynshop.com/productinfo/44/VG-DDR-AMPD/
This is another trick bar pad with good arrows, but I think it has aluminum contacts.

If anyone can help me out, please do. This is a huge desicion, and I don't want to screw it up.
_________________

So many pads... so confused...