Soft Pad Troubleshooting

For USB connection with Windows, Mac, or Linux

If you are having trouble setting up your pad or having any issues like one or more buttons are not responding, one or more buttons are triggering on its own, or you can’t connect it to StepMania please follow the troubleshooting steps below. 

  1. Please see our StepMania Guide for information on how to download the game, add the songs, and map the pad controls in the game.
  2. If you have any issues, first check to make sure the USB connection is secure and try a different USB port.
  3. If that doesn’t work then test the pad on a different computer if you have one.
  4. If the pad is still not working properly the next step is to try different software. The recommended software is StepMania, Project Outfox, or ITGmania.
  5. Try resetting your computer and unplugging all other USB devices before trying to set up the pad and “map” the controls. Sometimes other USB devices can cause ghost inputs or interference.
  6. In the StepMania program navigate to Options > Input Options > Advance Input Options > and set “input debounce time” somewhere around 60ms. This can vary depending on your playstyle so test to see what option works best for you. This can fix issues with misfiring or ghost inputs.
  7. Check to make sure the "Monkey Input" option is not enabled. Once StepMania is open, hold the F3 key to open a debug menu, and while holding F3, press 5. Release both keys. You want the “Monkey Input” option to be “off”.
  8. It can sometimes take time for the sensors to relax and flatten out when the pad is first opened. If any of your buttons are not working properly, please leave your pad laying out flat for a day or two. This can give the sensors time to relax and should fix the problem.
  9. There can sometimes be a breaking in period. If you are having issues with a malfunctioning button, try playing a few songs on the pad to break in the sensors.
  10. If you have tried all of this and are still having issues, please contact us at support@ddrpad.com

StepMania Calibration Process

If you are experiencing any problems while playing StepMania like delays or timing issues, please follow the steps below to calibrate the game.

  1. Open StepMania: Launch the StepMania program on your computer.
  2. Access Options Menu: Navigate to the Options menu.
  3. Calibrate Offset: You can use the game's built-in calibration tool (usually a simple left-right-left-right song) to set the global offset.
  4. Alternatively, you can use the F6 key during gameplay to calibrate individual songs.
  5. Adjust Visual Delay: StepMania allows you to adjust a visual delay setting (often accessed by holding F3 and then pressing Y or U during a song) to visually match the notes to the music.
  6. Test and Adjust: Play a few songs and adjust the settings until you find a combination that allows you to hit the notes precisely in time with the music.