pad specifics question

[des144]

Well one of my pads just decided to crap out. It looks like the top crinkled too much and finally split the sensor right in half Don't blame me though, my dad's a DJ we use them at youth dances and kids + fat ppl = bad. Well you could blame me cuz I use them 10x as much at home but I'm very heavy either lol. I think 1.5 years is good though for that kind of abuse. So now I need a new pad and I'm picky so I have it narrowed down but the site doesn't specify something kinda important.

I was gonna get these high density ones but it doesn't say either way if they have a no slip coating on the bottom. My current broken set (yeah both broke now ) has it and it's an absolute must! Anyone know what type of bottom this model has? also the whole insert thing is confusing but it sounds like it makes it easier to know when you're off an arrow and prevents the exact kind of damage that happened to my pad.
http://www.ddrdancing.com/hidedadarede1.html

Otherwise for the same price after their $20 off on $150 purchases, there's this neat looking set:

http://www.ddrdancing.com/2dadareended1.html

Now these do for sure have the no slip bottom but I've never seen or used these before. Anyone know anything about them? It also doesn't say anything about those plastic protector thingies that the other one has and I don't want them to wear out really fast so it's a real toss up.

[yukihime]

oh gods, these pads are all such a crapshoot ... and most of them are just crap. And that includes the "good" ones like MMB and RO.

The Energy "Deluxe" I've seen cheaper (try Amazon) and it does say it has a non-slip bottom. That's one I haven't tried (how I missed it idk, I feel like I've tried so many pads already!).

Of course, there's actually, at least afaik, no real non-slip bottom - they all move at least a little. Even some metal pads, if you're really going to town, will move.

That site is pretty darned expensive! Then again, so are most of these sites ... and they're pretty much all selling the same darned third-party pads for absurd prices.

That first pad, the DX-45? That looks very similar to a $30 vortz "ignition" knockoff I got on fleabay. In other words, those are WAY too expensive for what you're gonna get.

They're not great as far as sensitivity (at least not for me, but could be a weight/how hard you step issue to). The biggest problem I've had, and a few other people I've talked to have had is ... these inserts.

They're a great idea, but unfortunately most of these pads simply take the insert (it's not plastic in the sense of hard plastic btw, it's more of a kind of really dense almost foam) ... anyway, they're glued for the most part to the underside of the top.

And after a few weeks or if where you live is hot ... the glue will start to slowly let go. When that happens, the inserts shift. Suddenly your up arrow insert is halfway in the middle of the pad, you start ghosting like mad and the pad is pretty much unuseable.

I have fixed one, at least for now until I can get a metal pad, but it wasn't fun and it wasn't quick.

Try looking through the "which pad" thread and use the search here on the forum. And of course, I'm sure there will be more people who will have an opinion, good or bad on these and hopefully some more suggestions!
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[des144]

well I did think the price was pretty ridiculous and some ebay seller has those energy pads for way cheaper but I can't have no friction on the bottom for liability issues. My current no slip ones don't move an inch on tile or wood gym floors, which is often where we are. On super short carpet it doesn't move either but on my room's carpet it'll move like a foot per song. What I should do is cut the bottom off my two broken ones and glue it on to them
The big price difference is cuz they're high density foam. Low density is like $30 even on that site. I don't remember what mine currently are but I could have sworn they were high density. I didn't pay very much for them though so maybe not. Either way I want it to be that hard or harder. Now if they're the same size, I could order low density and just take out my current foam and put it in the new ones if the foam it comes with sucks. I can't find any pads with high density foam anywhere for under $60 each except this one single auction:

actually I'm not gonna post it cuz someone here might buy it before me but it's 2 pads, identical to the first one I linked to, but supposedly version 7.0 (I thought they weren't to 5.0 yet) with high density foam, for the PS2 for $45 can't beat that price! They even have those plastic thingies so ppl know if they get off the arrows hopefully. If they suck, I could afford to try another $50 set and another one too and if the third one's finally good, then I broke even after not buying the $150 set lol. Plus I'm really handy with the Elmer's Ultimate glue and that stuff dries like hardened titanium

[ChilliumBromide]

Maybe be willing to buy the chips from your broken softpads. Pictures and prices plox.


Yukihime basically said everything that you need to know about foam pads - they're not suitable for any public gig. If you want something low maintenance for parties and other gigs so your dad can use them, get Cobalt Fluxes; foam pads are ONLY suitable for personal use. A lot more buck for a lot more bang. Just let me know whenever you're taking them apart or need to do any maintenance and I'll help you out. I'm always available on the site and answer most PM's within 48 hours, or you can just email me at thatlatu@gmail.com
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I used to be active here lol