Playing DDR in an apartment?

There are no DDR AC machines even remotely near me, so I play DDR on console/Stepmania (on pad, not controller/keyboard) very frequently. I recently moved to an apartment with a room on the third floor and am naturally concerned that if I play as I used to, any neighbors or especially those living in the room(s) directly below mine will be able to hear loud footsteps (and possibly even complain to the landlord). I haven't played any DDR in weeks due to this.

Anyone have any suggestions? Or am I hosed?

If you try to step more lightly and play easier songs, it should be ok. I used to play on a third floor and thought I was really loud, but the lady below said she didn't mind as long as it wasn't late. Looking back, I feel bad I played Max 300 Super Max Me Mix on her head like that.

It also depends on the type of pad you use. Foam insert pads will make less noise than a metal pad would, and of course less than a cheap CS bundled pad.

I used to play DDR on the 2nd floor but no one really heard my foot steps when i was playing so it's fine just don't do loud footsteps when playing it

The problem is that I'm used to playing stuff at around Max 300 level.

Is there anything (like, say, a carpet) that when placed between the pad and floor would have a good sound muffling effect?

Well i barely play ddr i play stepmania more though put like a mat under the pad maybe that could help

Is it a fairly old apartment? Mine sort of is, but the most I hear out of anyone above me are some odd creaking noises. Sure, no one's playing Max 300, but maybe the floors are a tad more durable than one would think. Or maybe they'll just think you're... building something with power tools upstairs, I dunno. I don't play a lot but mainly because the panels on mine make banging noises and I'm more concerned about the people on adjacent to me. Curious what everyone else has to say about muffling the sound, though. Only guessing carpet would do so. Unless your apartment is already carpeted?

Maybe just play in broad daylight on weekends and wait until someone complains? Unless there's a rule about hammering noises written in your lease, you didn't know for sure it was out of line... ;>_>

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That's what I did with a fairly heavy carpet that I put over the pad.
Could still play fine and very little vibrations even on hard songs.

Put your pad right next to the outside wall of the apartment so that it absorbs most of the impact.

Alternatively, learn to play on your toes. I can run simple 10s on my toes just fine.

It'll depend on how much your floors reverberate when you step/play. I wouldn't count on it though as you might get a noise complaint from both the second floor residents under you as well as your neighbors. I took my Omega pad to my university last year (I was living on the second floor of my residential hall. Granted, it's not an apartment but still people living above and below me) and I couldn't play in my room because the room would just start shaking, even on lower level songs. I had to haul my pad and setup downstairs to one of the large main rooms and played there, lol. I left my pad at my home setup after that semester.