Reply to Beatmania Controller Review

I have been using this controller for awhile now and thought I'd post my thoughts on it. If you are looking for a cheap responsive controller that can take the abuse of some hectic mash session, take a look at this. Strolling through my local Goodwill, I found this:



A U.S. Playstation 2 Konami Beatmania IIDX Controller.

The PS2 controller has 7 keys, the PS1 has 5. The PS2 U.S. version has a rounded end near the turntable. The keypad can be ejected out and switched for a right hand or left hand profile. There is also a standard RCA female jack. I've read posts on the Internet of a foot controller being enabled in BMIII, but never sold. You can plug in a pedal from the Drummania or Rock Star into it.

DO NOT get the Rave Discman controller, gamers seen agreed on this fact.

I bought a PS2 to USB converter off ebay for less then $5 USD. When the converter is plugged into my PC, it autodectects a gamepad. Plugging the controller in, I am able to send the gamepad HID data though Glovepie and convert to MIDI or keypresses. Bome's would be another good option.

The 7 "piano" buttons are of very good quality and since they are built as a game controller, seem to have durability and responsiveness in mind. They are spring loaded, I've never had a key stick. Held, they send a continuous signal. They seem to have been made for hotcue mashing.

The Start and Select buttons also have a good response, but since they are recessed are not as good for
beatjuggling and hotcues. I use them as modifiers to switch which deck it controls.

The "turntable" wheel is kinda a joke. It is not velocity sensitive and doesn't work like analog knob. It controls the Y-axis, but merely maxes out the positive or negative value. It's also very tight, and doesn't spin freely. There are mods to make it more sensitive.

References:
http://faqs.ign.com/articles/576/576785p1.html
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/928431/42176
http://vjarmy.com/wiki/index.php/CS_General_Info
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modi...r_s-turntable/

My personal Glovepie script: