Dance pads with a USB connector are the easiest type to use with StepMania. With very few exceptions, you can plug them into your PC or Mac and they'll work with very little effort.
Comments: Has a built-in connectors for USB, PlayStation, and Xbox.
It has connectable USB, and built in PlayStation, and Xbox connections. You can use this pad with game consoles. For stepmania play, you need an adapter
It's sturdy. The foam insert is the thickest/heaviest of all foam insert pads and the pad slides around less than the others.
This pad automatically maps in StepMania 4.0 and newer.
Note: Some users report that when using the USB connector with AMD-based systems, the pad responds sluglishly. Others report, that this pad does not work with some PCs.
User Comments: This appears to be the GR-DP002 made by gamerose. See comments regarding the thin gamerose pads as they also probably apply. May appear with various other graphic overlays. Made in various single platform and multi-platform configurations. Manufacturer offers 20 and 25mm foam thicknesses in different densities.
Ezrange appears to sell two different versions, one (ultra) which claims a non-slip backing and high density foam and another (elite) that doesn't; another model, claims super high density foam. These pads have a zippered compartment into which you insert interlocking foam pieces. Gamerose also has a thick single piece GR-DP0003 model with 8 round plastic foot pads inserted in a solid piece, which lights up when you step; select/back buttons, if present, are very tiny. Haven't seen this one in the wild, yet.
EZrange XPG Tournament Elite tested under linux 2.6.26-1-686 (debian): USB HID 0e8f:3013 "GreenAsia, Inc.":"USB Dance Pa", MaxPower: 300mA; Simultaneous Up/Down/Left/Right OK (as auxiliary buttons), no EMI disconnects so far (very light use, non static clothing). USB ID is from the chip used inside pad and is shared with one or more other products including PSX:USB converters and "GreenAsia" is from linux vendor id database, and "USB Dance Pa" text comes from HID descriptors? Tested on Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI AMD Athlon64 motherboard (NVidea NFORCE4 chipset).
User Comment: Stepmania 3.9 by default uses DirectInput, which under Microsoft drivers treats this pad as a standard XBOX 360 game controller, making it suffer from the joystick axes problem.
If only one step is down at a time, the controller works normally, but if multiple steps are depressed then the driver reports no steps are depressed. XBCD and XInput have both successfully been used to correct this issue; the former by remapping buttons, the latter by using a software shim between StepMania and the pad.
User Comment: I just bought this dance pad and works great, no problems, works smoothy and very easy to setup on Stepmania. Just plug it in a USB port on windows xp and it will install the drivers automatically, no installation CD required.
#1 Recommended, saves alot of money and reliable. I bought it from play-asia for just 10 bucks + 18.00 for shipping. It's from Hong Kong, so expect it to be about 8 days to your door.
Caffeine Comment: As of 19Jan07, the pad is $10.90. For one pad, shipping is as low as $18.60 to the USA. For two mats, lowest shipping jumps to $45.10. All prices are for www.play-asia.com.
User Comment: This appears to be the GR-DP006 (non-slip) or GR-DP001 (without non-slip). Manufactured by [www.gamerose.com gamerose] in Shenzen, China and is available with various printing on the surface. Made in various single platform and multi-platform configurations. Manufacturer reported linux compatiblity (wrong driver, though) on linux usb database. On the forums, however, there have been many reports of driver disconnects due to possible EMI on many systems. These disconnects also happen on windows; however on windows the pad reconnects and is recognized by application but on linux the pad becomes a new unique joystick device which confuses software. Editing udev configuration files to force the device to a specific joystick device is reported to help (but you still miss steps just like on windows).
It has also been reported that the disconnects are due to static electricity and can be eliminated by rubbing with a dryer sheet or avoiding static producing clothing like polyester. Using an external hub has also been reported to solve the problem. 8-button dance area (center not active) plus start/back buttons.
As with other no-name chinese products, there may be one or more actual manufacturers, multiple rebrands, and many product variations that look similar. It is possible there are different USB controllers in some USB models. Gamerose specifically claims to be a manufacturer and offers to customize.
User Report: Impact Dance Pad has USB connector and it is meant for PC/MAC only. It doesn't require drivers and automatically maps in StepMania 4 and newer. Pad has thin non-removable foam insert for the four directional arrows, rest of the pad has no extra cushion besides the very thin foam base. My overall impression was good, this has to be one of the best foam pads available for PC.
User Report: Works fine and it doesn't reguire any drivers or anything with XP.
Comments: Bundled with "Dance Dance Dance" PC game and comes with with a ps2 keyboard adapter.
User report: Works perfectly. Purchased on eBay.
User report: Has the joystick axes problem because left+right and up+down don't work.
User report: I'm using the PS/2 keyboard version of the pad, and it does not show the joystick axes problem. However, after folding and unfolding a few times, the down-right corner diagonal arrow does not respond, thus Pump It Up play is unusable.
User report: I'm using the PS/2 keyboard version of the pad. It works perfectly, you can press all buttons at the same time. You need PS/2 keyboard to get this pad work. It has button to select Player and Keyboard mode. When you use player mode this enables you to use the pad and keyboard mode enables you to use a keyboard. NOTE: You have to set pad to keyboard mode when you are rebooting computer or turning it on.
User report: I have the USB version (no PS/2 adapter). No joystick axes problem. Configures for one-player automatically. Two-player doesn't work unless you reconfigure the pads with the free program Glovepie.
Comments: The Kraft pad suffers from the Joystick Axes Problem. It can be easily opened up to cross the wires and make the arrows map to buttons instead.
Comments: Sold bundled with the Dance Praise Software or seperately. $24.95 ea. 9 ft cord gives. Foam insert pad.
User comment: It's a nice pad to start with; not the best out there but good enough. Worked fine for me; just plugged it in and it was good to go, no driver or anything else other than setting up key mappings in Stepmania.
Comments: Bought from eBay UK. The wiring is identical to the Kraft pad. This Dance Mat suffers from the Joystick axes problem, despite the controller supporting 12 buttons. This can be fixed either by cutting the traces on the board and re-wiring them with wire and solder or by the aluminium foil method as described in the Kraft dance mat section.
User Comment: This is a multi-platform pad (PS2, Xbox, USB), it has 1 cable with 3 attached connectors. I have only used the USB connector and it worked right out of the box, I only had to map the Start and Back/Select keys Stepmania. No joystick axes problem.
Caffeine Comment: Everything in the previous comment is accurate (except the pad also works with PS1 as well as PS2, XBox, and USB). Here's some more information. As of 19Jan07, the pad is $34.99. For one pad, ground shipping in USA is $5.99, and priority is $8.75. For two pads, ground shipping in USA is $7.00, and priority shipping is $13.80.
User Comment: USB connector works great in Windows XP and doesn't need drivers. The pad is silent when pressing the arrows and has a control box with Select and Start buttons. Also has PlayStation and Xbox connectors, but I didn't try those.
User Comment2: I have heard that with the TX6000 the bar falls off easy, that someone broke it off in 2 days.
Product page says: Protrudent arrow design,(Tx19000 is flat-arrow design)
Pure commercial model, the steel pad is 3 times thicker than TX 6000.
9 pieces stainless steel pads. Firm arcade metal handrail can easily sustain an adult.
Compatible with PS,PS2 XBox and PC USB, Needs No driver softwares.
User Report: This pad works. It looks like the DANCE UK dance mat. It links straight to your USB and does not suffer from the Joystick Axes Problem (you can step on two arrows simultaneously without a problem). Because of the layout of the mat (like dance uk), it may be a bit different from the normal DDR mat, but works nevertheless.
Comment 2: Easy to set up, comes with 3 sticky pads to help prevent sliding of the mat. Still crinkles up easily... Seems like the only one of two you can get in Australia. (Shipped from Australia)
Manufacturers Report: This pad behaves like USB HID Gamepad with 9 buttons. There is no axes problem as both of the axes are non-functional on purpose. There are only 9 buttons (all 8 directions + center) that you can configure as you like. Comes with a mat that prevents sliding.
Manufacturers Report: Logic3 top selling high quality, durable, non-slip Dance Mat Controller for Psone and PS2 consoles. Ideal for use with all dance titles for PSone & PS2 including Dancing Stage series from Konami and Athens 2004: Olympics from Sony.
No information or incomplete information about StepMania compatibility
