How to convert a DDR Extreme cabinet to Stepmania (2017)

I stumbled across a great condition DDR Extreme machine for $400 a couple months ago. Unfortunately, it's not completely original as the background animations don't work, which leads me to believe it's one of those 3rd party machines, but hey, it's still DDR!



I've been looking around for current guides on converting the cabinet to Stepmania, but it seems like a lot of guides mention parts that are no longer in production or vendors who don't have anything for DDR anymore. Which begs the question, how does one update a machine nowadays?

My basic train of thought is this...
♦ I'd need to get a J-pac, such as the one here: https://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html
♦ Get the dance mat to interface with a PC running Stepmania using said J-Pac
♦ Change the cabinet's monitor so it'll work with the new computer's video card

I have a feeling that connecting the speakers to a PC is probably not as straight forward as I'd want to imagine, unless it really is just RCA cables to them.

Is there anyone on the cabinet modding scene that could lend me some information on how to properly go about this now that resources and vendors have changed a bit? I'd really appreciate it.

You could check this http://www.hackmycab.com/

While Hack My Cab has information about cosmetic modifications to a DDR cabinet, it doesn't go into actually converting the machine into a Stepmania one. It does tell you how to connect the lights though.

Or is there something I missed?

Then you could be interested in this other, is more extensive, but has more information. It has a PDF version with images avaliable to download

https://zenius-i-vanisher.com/v5.2/thread?threadid=8349

And don't forget Youtube is your best friend as you can find tutorial vids there.

I've ordered a few components and will be starting the conversion once they arrive. I also need to go to Fry's Electronics for three cables. Hoping I don't screw this up.

How have I never seen this site before!!!!

Website is down.