senors/control box for a home built pad

[NVWC2006]

since no one exactly gave me any help [url]http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=113450=]here[/url], i'm forced to some alternatives. with the pads i have becoming destroyed by my use, i'll either have to build new ones or buy a new pad, and either way, i think i may go for a metal pad.

i've read through others' topics, and everyone seems to be wiring their pad arrows and other buttons to a control box. i'm not quite sure how this works or how to do it. so i'm wondering if my idea would be any better.

i've opened a soft pad i have up, and am thinking, would it not be a problem just to take the control box from my soft pad, and use that to wire up a new one? i may not be able to hook to USB or other systems right away, but i do have an adaptor (it has a delay for pad use tho, yet not controllers.. that's another topic however). or even, if someone knew how to wire said control box to USB, that'd be even better .

the other big problem seems to be how to make senors.. most designs say to create a switch by taking metal plates soddered to wire, putting them over foam w/holes in it, and compressing the foam w/the foot to make the connection. i like another idea i've seen more; to use actual built pressure-activated switches and put them in the pad. is either one better than the other, and if already build switches are used, and suggestions on what ones to go for? or about what kind of foam or other material to deactivate the switch with?

any help is greatly appreciated![/url]