DDR on third floor *sigh*

[goudaba]

Hi,
I was a huge DDR player sometime ago, but since then, I moved to the third floor of an appartment building.
My DDR pad is already basically modded(plywood under/ clear plastic over) but I can't play fearing of getting on the nerves on those living on second floor(building owner btw).
Is there any way to add an extra modification to my pad so it won't drive everyone crazy?

Oh, and convincing them to come home and play is NOT a solution.
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[Cutriss]

If the apartment is that tall, it's possible it may be of sufficiently study construction that you wouldn't make that much noise. You might contact the owner to have him help you test the noise level. Arrange it beforehand, call him before you play something tough (Drop Out would probably be best), and see what he says after the fact. He might also be able to give you some tips on how to minimize the noise level (he is a building manager, after all).
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[Septagon]

You could look into a true arcade style pad. If the arrows are slightly below the pad like the one at an arcade, it could reduce the impact and make less noise.

[Kick_The_Butterfly]

this is a joke (u can try it if u want)...take lots n lots of pillows n put them under your pad n see if that works lol
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[AznCaraboo]

Though I have no neighbor downstairs [I live 7th floor], you got to realize your neighbors also [next door on the same floor]. Unless where you play DDR is between another room - I suggest ask them to do the test also =p

Another way is to not stomp as hard and try "flat footing" your songs [though you can't play some songs on flat footed].
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=>Azncaraboo
DDR player since Aug '03

[Rychan]

I've heard that the foam squares/puzzle pieces (similar to what come in the ignition pads) can help to reduce the noise levels.
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The "Rychan" Ignition Pad Modification | DeviantArt

[Khris]

[Akira_247]

if u havent bought a pad already id go get a cheapo soft pad andd do what i did!!! do the same as a panda mod on this site but before you put it on the wood take old towels and cut squares under the arrows so they are slightly raised(helps with the game) and it will make NO NOISE!!!!!! i am not kidding ur roomies downstairs wont hear a thing (except if u stomp like a maniac but ud have to be retarded or u have the weakest sensors on earth). goudaba LOOK AT THIS

[AznCaraboo]

[Akira_247]

if u read my message all the way then u would no what i meant.
but watever thicker wood would help but not that much it really depends on the towels (or something soft) under the arrows because it will reduce allmost all the noise and the rest is covered by the wood!!@!
good luck and follow what cutriss said!!

[Davyinatoga]

Lay your pads over blankets. It'll also help them from sliding, if you're on a rug and you use the right blankets.
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[flammingpants]

OK my friend had the same problem she went to jo-anns and got a 1/2 inch piece of foam the same size as he pad (not to dense), she also got a carpet scrap, chair mat, a piece of visquine plastic about 2 inchs bigger than the mat all the way around. You will need double stick carpet tape, pieces of foam the size of the buttons, and duct tape too. Put the chair mat on the floor double stick the carpet to it put the big piece of foam on top of that and use ducttape to tape it down, that double stick the foam the size of the buttons whee the buttons go, this is just so you can feel the buttons like in the arcade, you don't have to do this. then double stick the pad to the top of the foam. Put the plastic on top of that and use ductape to secure everything, i would suggest black ductape since it would just look cleaner. It is a lot of work but the poeple around my friend hear practically no noise when she plays 9 footers. The pad is had to store b/c you can't roll/fold it but it has so much cuishioning your feet pracically never burt. Hope this helps! Sorry i don't have pis for ya but it isn't my pad. Oh btw she did this with a cheap pad ($20) and it has worked for like a year and a half now.

[Legendary Luke]

[SuRfReAk]

There's rubberized anti-slip mats that you can buy at home depot (come in large rolls, sold by the foot), they're sort of squishy, you could put them under plywood if you mod a soft pad. After all, everyone recommends the mats for home built pads, and the plywood will give you all the support you need.
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[nuttyturnip]

I'm in the same situation (3rd floor); fortunately, the apartment under me is vacant at the moment. I don't really care about my next-door neighbor. For an hour or so each night, he plays loud music, and I haven't complained, so I figure he can put up with my DDR for 1/2 hour to an hour each night.

My apartment is carpeted, and I have an Ignition pad on top of another smaller carpet to reduce slippage. Hopefully, that will be enough to reduce the noise. I don't play at odd hours, so my future neighbors can probably put up with it anyway.

[monkeykins]

Actually, I have had a metal pad and just brought it to my apartment (2nd floor) and tried playing it. Turns out that even with the volume at a fairly low level and trying to step softly, the people living below me came up and told me to cut it out because their walls were shaking. Turns out they have also been hearing Halo 2 for months now, apparently. This naturally sucks. To be fair my roomate has a pretty big sub in the living room, but still... I am also living here next year, with a couple of other DDR players and another metal pad. Now I have to figure out a way to not only allow for DDR, but for music and such for any reason without annoying the people below me.
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[MorningtonCrescent]