Playing Pad on StepMania - Here is How...

[ZanasoBayncuh]

First things first, USB port = NO. They are either hard to find and unreasonably expensive, or completely ineffective because of delayed reaction.

So here is THE BEST way to get your StepMania pad ready:

This is the first item that you're going to want to get, it is a Parallel Port Adapter, it goes straight from a PlayStation controller port into the Parallel Port (which printers normally use). It's cheap, easy to obtain, shows up in the mail pretty quick, and is the most effective method of PlayStation controller to PC use available.

The only drawback is that you must download a driver for it yourself, I've made this part simple by hosting the best one available (works with all forms of Windows, to my knowledge) on my own website (this is because the download list is down to a single mirror and who knows how long that one will last?).

This is the best driver for use with the Parallel Port Adapter. This driver is called PPJoy and is completely customizeable with use of the PlayStation controller. This makes it very useful for emulation activities as well (such as FCE Ultra or ZSNES). Though I have heard of some slight problems setting up the controller properly... this is usually from excitement and impatience towards finally being able to throw down with some expert quality timing on StepMania with a pad... but here is the low down on how to set up a controller properly:

You are going to want to set up your controller like this, PlayStation Pad / DirectPad Pro, and of course be mindful of which LPT Port you are using. Usually it'll be LPT1 so most won't have to worry about this.

Once you choose to do this wait for a moment, your computer should tell you that it has found new hardware... first it will detect "Parallel Port Joystick 1" then for "HID-compliant game controller". Install these without second thought: Install automatically, Continue Anyway.

It's easiest to just go ahead and set a custom interface for the entire controller type rather than this specific one... this is just in case you are able to lay out multiple connections in the future.

Whether you are setting up for just the pad or an actual controller as well, NEVER use Axis... EVER. Axis is usually based on a pivot - such as an actual joystick. Using axis generally makes jumps work incorrectly due to pivot. So we'll be setting the Axis to ZERO (0, make sure!). If you are only setting up for the pad then set it up for 4 buttons, if for the controller as well then 14/16 (PS1/PS2), I honestly recommend to go ahead and set up for the actual controller... it just seems to make sense *shrug*. (Why 16? Press the Analog Sticks down, they are also buttons). And honestly, I'm not sure how to set up the POV Hats (the two Analog Sticks) so I set it to 0 and just forget about it, I haven't run into a use for them yet anyway and I'm not about to try to get used to playing N64 emulators with a PS2 controller (no !@#%ing way).

Next there will be a page in the window for mapping the axis, but since we've set them to 0 there are no axis to be set and everything is grayed out, you couldn't do something here even if you wanted to. Moving on...

Final step, mapping the buttons, only a true idiot could do this part wrong. There will only be so many slots adjustable as how many buttons you selected for the controller to have (i.e. if you selected four then only the first four slots will be accessible). This is TOO easy, hit that little "Scan" button on screen, then press the button on the controller. It does NOT matter if you hit them in order or if they match the button number in the window, as long as it has mapped the button at all, it'll work correctly. Just don't map duplicates (there is no reason to have the Down button mapped twice, EVER).

And that's it, go into StepMania and set up for Pad use. The only thing I should warn users about is that if there is a controller set up in PPJoy and there isn't a controller plugged in, SM will lag, all you must do to fix this is to remove the controller from memory temporarily like displayed above (removing from system requires reinstallation of the Parallel Port Joystick 1 and HID-compliant game controller) or simply attach a controller to the port - ANY controller will work. Not sure why this lag issue comes up, I guess it is because the program is detecting the controller when it isn't plugged in, *shrug*. Enjoy.

Sorry Mods, I have NO idea why this posted twice, maybe my internets are being lame?

[Daniel]

They don't make printer ports anymore.

[Akkaraju]

Yeah, I haven't seen a printer port on a new computer for years now. And if you set up a powered USB 2.0 port to a higher frequency you can get close to the same responsiveness as a parallel port cord.

My USB and Printer port cords both have pretty much the same timing as my PS2 does, so I don't see why a USB is completely horrible option

[SulferDragon]

Originally Posted by Akkaraju

Yeah, I haven't seen a printer port on a new computer for years now.

Wow, really? My brothers just got a new computer about six months ago, and it has a printer port. It's not a cheap comp either. I have no idea what company makes it though.

Thank God it has one, because playing SM on my other computer doesn't go over very well.

Originally Posted by Akkaraju

so I don't see why a USB is completely horrible option

Because buying USB adapter's is so dang risky. Maybe it's time I should go, and get one people say is good though.

[Lyth]

Or you can avoid the dilemma altogether by buying a pad with a dedicated USB connector. Most of the newer pads I see on the market today have USB connectors.

Computers still have printer ports for legacy reasons -- it's the printer cables that are hard to find these days.

[ZanasoBayncuh]

Yeah, the computer I'm currently buying is mostly state-of-the-art. Definitely has a printer port.

The reason that it is a horrible option is because the USB drivers are dependant on different types of memory that are highly susceptible to other things. I've had StepMania lag without dragging the PPJoy response time what-so-ever.

Basically, whether or not the visuals and program lag, SM can still keep track of timing and step patterns regardless of whether you can see them or if everything else is lagging. It's quite nice... but if you are using USB (pretty much an of them) then you are going to have lag on the controller response as well.

Plus, and final point, USB is more expensive... who needs it?

[Enaress]

Originally Posted by ZanasoBayncuh

Yeah, the computer I'm currently buying is mostly state-of-the-art. Definitely has a printer port.

Im not sure if that is sarcasm or not. What kind of computer is it? The mobo I have bought from Newegg, that costs 250 bucks, does not have a printer port, and it won a Customer's Choice award for February 2007.

[ZanasoBayncuh]

Originally Posted by Enaress

Im not sure if that is sarcasm or not. What kind of computer is it? The mobo I have bought from Newegg, that costs 250 bucks, does not have a printer port, and it won a Customer's Choice award for February 2007.

No sarcasm there at all. Plus, you can get a card with a printer port for nigh on $2 from any old computer part store and it works easily enough. Either way, if you have an LPT port on your computer this is the best bet and the only option that has ZERO lag. I understand that you can tweak USB and use certain software/options/usb types to lessen the lag, but there is always going to be that slight offset... IIDX with an offset anyone?

[SulferDragon]

I'm here to stick up for the fact that this is an amazing product. Works 100% perfectly, and easy to use. Seriously, if you have a LPT port BUY THIS!! I've yet to have any sort of problem, except I can't use my printer when it's configured XD

[ZanasoBayncuh]

Originally Posted by SulferDragon

I'm here to stick up for the fact that this is an amazing product. Works 100% perfectly, and easy to use. Seriously, if you have a LPT port BUY THIS!! I've yet to have any sort of problem, except I can't use my printer when it's configured XD

LOL for I/O problems. Oh well, not hard to fix that problem with the same lag fix I mentioned above. Thx for letting everyone know that you are a satisfied customer

[Daniel]

I think I will get a computer with 2 printer ports. I'm probably going to wind up exploring every way to hook up a dance pad to the PC avaliable.

This looks complicated folks, but it's extremely easy. I set up my flux to a parallel port to a friend's computer, installed the driver without reading a guide, and it worked awesomely.

Zanos: Any tips for installing 2 at once? I haven't tried that yet.

[ZanasoBayncuh]

Originally Posted by Enaress

Im not sure if that is sarcasm or not. What kind of computer is it? The mobo I have bought from Newegg, that costs 250 bucks, does not have a printer port, and it won a Customer's Choice award for February 2007.

Customer's Choice Award = $250, there's your reason, nothing more. I'm getting a dell, inside it's almost all SATA (one IDE and that's all) and it's all super upgraded. I'm going to be buying it from a good friend because he has several of them (they were used for LAN gaming in his store). It has a printer port, I know this for a fact because I did a Super Metroid speed run in the store once, using the PPA for ZSNES is ftw.

Originally Posted by Daniel

I think I will get a computer with 2 printer ports. I'm probably going to wind up exploring every way to hook up a dance pad to the PC avaliable.

This looks complicated folks, but it's extremely easy. I set up my flux to a parallel port to a friend's computer, installed the driver without reading a guide, and it worked awesomely.

Zanos: Any tips for installing 2 at once? I haven't tried that yet.

#1 spell my friggin' name correctly. HAHA... "laugh with me."

#2 Normally, you won't find a computer (even an old one) with two printer ports, you'll probably have to take up another card slot on your PC to do this, but most people have extras.

#3 This is EASY to do, same steps, just add something extra:

After you've already added your first controller with the steps above, you should return to this screen. With the slight exception that instead of it having that large blank space, it'll list your first controller. Now use that "Add..." button.

The ONLY thing that you'd need to change here is the LPT port number. For a second parallel port this will ALMOST ALWAYS be LPT2. I've only seen ONE computer use LPT1 and LPT3, this is NOT normal, and probably won't happen to you.

After that, just repeat the steps above, unless you chose to "set a custom mapping for this interface type"... if you did that, then you're already done. Freakin' simple. Two player SNES "Sunset Riders" anyone? j/k I'm bored of that game.

[[x]Pepe[x]]

ACTUALLY:
I use a PS2 to USB adapter (I believe Dragon is the brand), and I experience ABSOLUTELY NO delay, or even bugs for that matter. The computer reads jumps, timing is always correct, and it works excellently...


So it's either my adapter is of high quality, or I'd only notice the difference if I start to platy Level 10+ songs... :P

[SulferDragon]

Originally Posted by Pepe

ACTUALLY:
I use a PS2 to USB adapter (I believe Dragon is the brand), and I experience ABSOLUTELY NO delay, or even bugs for that matter. The computer reads jumps, timing is always correct, and it works excellently...

That's definitely the reason it works so well. It's all in the name. Where can I get one?

[Lyth]

Has anyone tried this with a IIDX controller? I'm interested in knowing.