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Many years ago, I used to have a Mayflash TX4000 dance pad [1]. It had a simpler sensor construction, similar to how regular gamepad buttons work. Each panel fl

Many years ago, I used to have a Mayflash TX4000 dance pad [1]. It had a simpler sensor construction, similar to how regular gamepad buttons work. Each panel flexed very slightly upward at rest, and had a foil layer on the bottom, which would make contact when the panel was pressed down. This worked surprisingly well, even for "heel-toe" playing (and didn't seem to deteriorate over a few years of quite heavy use). Though, for really fast songs the "stickiness" would become a problem, and you'd start getting a few errant misses. But below, say, ITG difficulty 11 it was fine. I remember reading about more expensive pads like the Cobalt Flux using more sophisticated sensors, similar to (or exactly the same as?) what you'd find in an arcade machine. Are the sensors in this design similar to what that pad used? 1: http://www.mayflash.com/Products/DANCEPADS/TX4000.html http://www.mayflash.com/Products/DANCEPADS/TX4000.html

megameter 6y ago
The CF design, which I own and have been meaning to use again, is actually surprisingly simple(albeit with good materials) and relies on panel flex like the Mayflash, but it uses layers of clear lexan screwed into the platform rather than a steel construction. Both are a lot different from the DDR arcade design which uses a deeper stage with a well for each panel and a sensor lining each side of each well(so, 16 sensors for a 4-panel stage). On an arcade stage, the player can rely a lot more on bounce since the panels don't exhibit "bottoming out". They perform quite a bit differently in expert play and I never got totally used to the feel of the CF, but I would be happy to use it again as a cardio device.
GuB-42 6y ago
Cobalt Flux pads actually have the simplest sensors imaginable: on the bottom of the pad is a large steel plate, connected to the control box. Under each arrow is another steel plate, also connected to the control box using a wire and separated from the base plate by 4 velcro patches, one on each corner. Step on an arrow and the plates make electrical contact. The reason these pads worked so well compared to other home pads is that they used more robust materials: steel instead of aluminum and polycarbonate instead of acrylic. It still had issues though, the wiring and wood screws in particular. Arcade pads use rubber sensors: press the arrow and the sensor get squished, connecting two carbon tracks inside it. These were notably finicky, at least for the early models. They progressively became more sensitive as they wear out, before they fail and get stuck. The linked pad uses load cells, which allow to adjust the sensitivity. I don't know how it works in practice but in theory that should be great for high level play. As for the "TX" series of pad, they come from a long line of questionable quality pads. Some were great, other not so much, but it was mostly due to the build quality and materials rather than sensor design.

megameter 6y ago

The CF design, which I own and have been meaning to use again, is actually surprisingly simple(albeit with good materials) and relies on panel flex like the Mayflash, but it uses layers of clear lexan screwed into the platform rather than a steel construction. Both are a lot different from the DDR arcade design which uses a deeper stage with a well for each panel and a sensor lining each side of each well(so, 16 sensors for a 4-panel stage). On an arcade stage, the player can rely a lot more on bounce since the panels don't exhibit "bottoming out". They perform quite a bit differently in expert play and I never got totally used to the feel of the CF, but I would be happy to use it again as a cardio device.

GuB-42 6y ago

Cobalt Flux pads actually have the simplest sensors imaginable: on the bottom of the pad is a large steel plate, connected to the control box. Under each arrow is another steel plate, also connected to the control box using a wire and separated from the base plate by 4 velcro patches, one on each corner. Step on an arrow and the plates make electrical contact. The reason these pads worked so well compared to other home pads is that they used more robust materials: steel instead of aluminum and polycarbonate instead of acrylic. It still had issues though, the wiring and wood screws in particular. Arcade pads use rubber sensors: press the arrow and the sensor get squished, connecting two carbon tracks inside it. These were notably finicky, at least for the early models. They progressively became more sensitive as they wear out, before they fail and get stuck. The linked pad uses load cells, which allow to adjust the sensitivity. I don't know how it works in practice but in theory that should be great for high level play. As for the "TX" series of pad, they come from a long line of questionable quality pads. Some were great, other not so much, but it was mostly due to the build quality and materials rather than sensor design.