ALL Soft Pad Discussion goes HERE

bboyflames · Trick Member Joined: 24 Nov 2003

hey....i have an ultramix official konami pad..but the sticky stuff at the bottom rubbed off or watever....and now my pad slides like madness....i was wonderig if anyone knew where i could buy something similar so it wont slie and what the name of it would..be by the way i play on hard wood floor...dunno if that matters anywayz thanx in advanced later guyz..

Redwngs13 · Trick Member Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Location: Hockeytown

I have 2 ignition pads and when i store them i stand them up behind a little shelf so they stand straight. Is this bad for them? will the wiring get messed up if gravity is pulling on them? I dont have any place to store them flat...
EDIT: OOPS... just looked back a page, this exact question was just posted like 4 posts before mine.... *feels dumb*

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orangina · Trick Member Joined: 25 Jun 2004

Dont feel bad Lord of the rings!..its hard to slog through all the soft pad discussion 73 pages to find what you are looking for, even if it was just recent.
In my opinion the discussion needs to be broken up into smaller discussion forums..ie care of pads...what to buy that type of thing so its easier.
Regardless. I still dont know the answer to the question if they can be damaged standing up..I dont have a place to lie them flat either. I emailed redoctane twice and they never responded.

xphoguytonyx · Trick Member Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Location: Haltom City, TX

You dont have to read all the pages. read the first page. then the last 2 pages. if u cant find what u looking for , then post it.

Anyway.... Only if soft pads were easy to take care of.
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Jediboy · Trick Member Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Location: PLAINfield, IL

redoctane support is the worst. They never respond to email. Your best bet is to use their live support chat when it is available. That way you at least know you have someone's attention.

orangina · Trick Member Joined: 25 Jun 2004

After 3 tries they emailed me and said its fine to store standing up..so now we know!

Misirlou · Basic Member Joined: 28 Jun 2004

So, I've had my BNS DX pad for 12 days, and the problem with the moving pads inside (the ones the raise the buttons) has already gotten significantly bad. The past two or three times I've played, I've "fixed" it beforehand by massaging them back into place from the outside, but they all drift quite far towards the center by the time I'm done. It's very vexing.

Anyone else have this problem?

I've contemplated cutting all the way through the edges of the internal layers (from the inside) to reach in and duct tape the pads to the vinyl, but this would require cutting through four layers (the white bottom layer, the first clear plastic, the foam with holes, and the second clear plastic). I'm rather sketched out about cutting the foam, as this may drastically reduce its life, even after taped back together. Does this sound like a reasonable plan at all?

I've considered sending it back to BNS. However, I have made a small cut in the exposed white plastic layer, to look inside (about 6 inches, along an edge). With this cause trouble with an exchange?
More to the point, would exchanging it even be useful, or is this a common problem with the BNS pad?

fusionillusion7 · Basic Member Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Location: Texas

Just a few minutes ago, my cousin was playing on my ddr pad and somehow managed to rip a slit down the middle of the pad (just the first plastic layer). It's the slit is about a foot and a half. He said he was sorry and would try to buy me another pad. And i started thinking. Maybe their is a way to fix it? Or perhaps i could use it to make a home made metal pad (i have one in my garage but it don't work >.<)? Any ideas on what i should do with it? Or should i just throw it away?

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Kimchizzle · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 1:02 am Post subject:

Hm. I just bought a RO Ignition 2.0, and it came with a little cord that looks like one that you'd use for speakers or a set of headphones, but smaller. Anyone know what this is for? I can't seem to find any places on the pad or USB adaptor that it would fit in.

_the_legend_of_bag_ · Trick Member Joined: 08 Jul 2004

I'm going to share my story of a RedOctane pad with you all...

Going back to school was actually a good day for one reason: I found my RedOctane pad waiting for me in the TV room. So it shipped and came to me in a week, not bad since I live across the country from RO. I was eager to try it out, so I opened the box and set up the pad as quickly as I could, and turned on the PS2.

My first song was Healing Vision Angelic Mix on light (hey, this WAS 9 months ago!) and for a pleasant surprise, I AA'ed it. And this went on for several months. I first passed MAX 300 on this pad, and I believe I passed MaxX Unlimited too. But anyway, the pad slowly deliclined. The down arrow was being pressable in the center, and the right arrow wouldn't always respond. And finally, six months after I bought it, the pad became unplayable.

As soon as I plugged it in, the down arrow would go into a firing mayhem without me even touching it, and the right arrrow barely responded at all. As soon as I pressed a button, the down arrow would start firing, but only if I stopped the original firing-mayhem.

Now my RO pad is taped on top of a $20 pad, and it's working fine for now. I couldn't let the pad go, so I salvaged it and used it in conjunction with another pad to keep the feel of it.

Long storty short, I don't like RedOctane now.
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vsamaco · Trick Member Joined: 08 Mar 2004

Even though the pad is more expensive and is the brandname, it doesn't give any additional durability/quality to more cheaper pads. Disregarding the top surface and foam insert, the build of all ignition pads are the same (soft pad with a sleeve for the insert). They are made in the same fashion in probably the same/similar factory in China. So don't be surprise when your expensive/cheap pad inside surface is riddle with tears, the insert under the arrows move, or the arrow go crazy or dies. Supposely you can reinforce the internal surface with something before hand, but I dunno with what and how... so I just have a bunch of duct tape on top of all my tears.

As for the top surface, there is a difference but the durability is about the same. There is the vinyl type of covering (RO, levelsix, vortz) that is very slippery when wearing socks (sometimes play barefoot for grip). Then there is the sticky plastic covering (BNS, DDRNation). Some people have a preference after playing on a previous pad.

There are two types of foam. The soft(v1.0) 1inch and the hard(v2.0,ultra-dense) 1inch foam. The links are pictures of the different foam. The hard foam fits snuggly inside the mat and gives little leeway when you step on it. This stabilizes the inside of the pad and provides additional durability and sensitivity, so you definitely want the hard foam.

The sensitivity of certain pads may not be the same at the maybe due to the insert under the arrow. I've played on a BNS, DDRNation, and RO and the sensitivity was fine. But when I played on a levelsix, I was putting more effort in my steps. The insert probably softens up overtime though. So this might be another issue when buying a pad.

So whats a good place to buy an ignition pad? If you want the safe route (warranty) then go with a BNS($49) over an RedOctane($99). They are both very good pads but the RO price is not worth it. The levelsix pad v3.1 ($39-$45) is a decent pad but may not be as sensitive as a BNS. If you want the ultra cheap route, than go with the ebay dealer vortzgame v3.0 (2 for $40). *Note, limited supply but they resupply after a week or so. For those comfortable with ebay and no/limited warranty, I highly suggest this option. The price is so unbeatable and most people around these forums has had very good things to say about these pads. If you prefer a BNS style of ignition pad, the seller discount-auction has DDRNation pad($30), which is made by BNS and almost looks like one, but it has the soft foam (I replaced mines with hard foam($10) from levelsix.com) There are tons more places that sells ignition pads but most of the time, they'll have the soft foam or higher price. Your best bet is with the dealers I mentioned above.

If you have a dead pad, here is a guide to try to save it.

The general life of ignition pads is about 6months. If you have broken more than 2 ignition pads or one ignition pad within 2 months or less, I'd suggest a metal pad. Avoid the "hard" pads, they are garbage period

Charly · Basic Member Joined: 30 Jun 2004

Kimchizzle · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:03 pm Post subject:

I got a RO Ignition 2.0 yesterday, and I've used it for maybe ~2 hours (mostly in socks) but haven't modded it. I just wanna ask for clarification on how to do this: Do I unzip it, and apply some sort of reinforcement (duct tape etc) to the underside of the top part, which lies on the foam insert? I'd like my pad to last as long as possible. D=

And also, my previous question, I'll quote it just 'cause:

orangina · Trick Member Joined: 25 Jun 2004

I am not sure but I think that extra little cord is if you are using something other than a playstation to adapt it to ...???
Regardless I do nothing with the little extra cord ..and just play!

Binary Dragon · Basic Member Joined: 04 Jul 2004

Agent J · Trick Member Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Location: Dimension X

ddrwannabbe123 · Trick Member Joined: 27 Apr 2004

Here is my idea to mod a non DX/Ignition pad/mat.

So you want the arrows so you can feel them? Here is an alternative of plexiglass or chairmat's on the arrow and it is relatively cheap. What you do is take a metal clothes hanger and untwist the top. than measure it to the size of the arrow(square) and lay down so it is around the outside of the arrow square. Than tape it down with packaging tape or clear duck tape and Wallah!
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_the_legend_of_bag_ · Trick Member Joined: 08 Jul 2004

A friend and I tried Charly's guide on the pad, and indeed it was the foam causing the problems. It's fixed now, thanks a lot.
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AznCaraboo · Trick Member Joined: 18 Feb 2004

PureBlue · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:29 am Post subject:

Hi,

My brother spilled lemon juice inside the top plastic thingy (there were cracks in it

) and now whenever I plug in the pad, the select button and start button are always being pressed, even when noone is on the pad. I don't know how to fix things like this.

Can someone please give me some help on this?