DDR Dance Pad Question

[billchase2]

i have a dance pad for my PC that i use with stepmania (a clone of dance dance revolution). the pad i have is a bit older and uses the parallel port. i was wondering that if i were to purchase a parallel to usb converter and plugged it in to my powerbook, if it would work. would i need to download any drivers for it?

i figured it'd be a good idea to get this information before ordering one.

[DougTheImpaler]

You'd probably have better luck getting a USB dancepad.

[srobert]

Or a ninja death-death revolution cubed pad.

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=115933673&s=143455&i=6186596

I love that podcast :D

Sprry I couldn't be more helpful.

[puckhead193]

what do u plan on doing with it?

[billchase2]

i'm just planning on playing on it with friends and such. it'd be nice to not be constricted to just playing in my room where my PC is. if i could get it to work with my powerbook, then we can use it anywhere.

why would i be better off just buying a usb version?

[DougTheImpaler]

why would i be better off just buying a usb version?

No compatibility worries. :D

[billchase2]

lol yeah, but wouldn't it work just the same if i got a converter? i'm just looking into this because it'd be cheaper.

[CubeHacker]

Just build your own like I did. Its far more rewarding and fun, the quality is 10x better, and you can use any interface you want (I used USB). Its not all that expensive either - I believe I only spent like $100 on materials. Those parallel -> USB converters cost like half of that anyway.

[guifa]

The pads that I see for PCs, can any confirm that they work on the Mac without any trouble? I've been looking into buying one but was always worried I?d get it and the pad wouldn't work

[billchase2]

i've found the converters for like, 10 bucks online... quite a bit cheaper than $100. i'd love to build one of the custom ones but it's out of my budget right now.

and yeah, would it work?

[billchase2]

anyone have any other answers, ideas, or tips?

[Andr01d]

I got a couple of PS2 controller dancepads that i connected to my Macbook Pro with a converter, and i must say i'm having some trouble getting them to work, because i dont have drivers. What happens is when you hold down a button it registers that as 50 button presses per second, the drivers should probably convert that signal to a " HOLD" signal... but as i said, i can't find any.

[cube]

I got a PS2 dancepad and a converter and it doesn't work. The standard PS2 controller does work, though.

[apfhex]

I have a PS1/PS2 to USB converter that works fine with my pad.

I should think a parallel to USB converter would work without additional drivers, but no guarantee.

[Sutekidane]

Not all converters work the same way. You're better off finding a USB dance pad, your older one will probably die soon anyway given to their legendary unreliability.