Rockband & Electronic Drums

[Blanko]

Anyone else desperate to use their 'real' electronic drum kits with Rockband?

I propose we start a fund. I'll start, $100 for the first person(s) to produce a simple and cost-effective way to connect any kind of midi drums to the game.

I've been through the whole XIM/MIDI hero thing. It's not easy, it's not cheap, and it prohibits local multiplayer (lag issue). So this isn't the solution we're looking for.

Furthermore, it's close to impossible to emulate the signals from an xbox controller (as demonstrated by midihero). But it's even more complicated now that it seems rb doesn't uses the standard controller inputs (can't use standard controller to play drums, etc).

So essentially we need to hack the sensors/inputs for the current rb drums. Personally, I have a TD-20 kit. It's got all the bells and whistles. midi out, stereo out (for each drums). I read that a midi-relay might work... but that's pretty expensive (though I'd pay for one if it worked).

Anyway - the offer is out. If anyone wants to join (maybe open an escrow account?), I'd be willing to put up the first $100. This could be huge - lets rally together.

David

[Juichi]

Guitar Freaks/Drumania hooks up to the Yamaha DTX electronic drumsets...it's not impossible. I'm not sure if this is something that needs to be programmed into the game or if you can rig it to work. I think you would need the game to have the functionality to do that and possibly have it programmed for each drumset. They may have to limit to certain drumsets. They would also have to worry about the size of the game. Of course they could take off songs in order to include it. Although they wouldn't need to worry about space issues for the ps3.

After playing on real drums the set that comes with Rock Band does feel a little flimsy.

[Blanko]

Let me be a little more specific about the hack I have in mind:

I don't mean to imply the hack has to be universal. Each person would probably need to dismantle their rb kit and customize the hack for their specific drum kit.

I'm not suggesting we try plug real electronic drums in the xbox. You're right, that wont be possible unless the game/xbox offers supports.

D

[MrFreshness007]

See my thread here:
http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1888

I was able to use my DTXpress cymbal pad as a bass drum. I think this would work with the original ebass pad that came with the kit but unfortunately my test didn't work all that well...most likely due to the fact that the bass pad was already going bad. Once I hooked up the cymbal pad...it triggered bass drum hits perfectly.

I now have my double bass pedal hitting the pad and and get very good double bass triggers. Works great for Epic now!

It may not look pretty but but it is very solid as a bass drum.

[JarethLegend]

I'm working on some things right now. I'm sure I'll get some things working pretty soon. Keep a lookout.

[Aelius27]

Already done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdD2i2r6tFw

More details soon. I'm trying to eliminate the chip entirely and just run the conversion of a PC.

[ClinTrojan]

I think he owes you $100 am I wrong?

[Aelius27]

Well, technically I haven't "produced" anything yet, just shown that it can in fact be done.

[govdet1]

Congratulations to Aelius 27!!!

I saw the youtube site this morning and sent you an email. I will be interested in learning more about how this works. I posted a thread earlier today before I found this one. I will be checking back soon.

Thanks:)

[davidshek]

Personally, I'd love to know if other USB drum kits would work with this game.

Like this one:

http://www.firebox.com/product/1573?src_t=wnw

http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Digital-DX-100-DrumXtreme-Drum/dp/B00009ETK4

I saw someone on Craigslist advertising one yesterday for like $100. It comes with a rhythm game for the PC kinda like the drum portion of RB, so I'm wondering if they would work on RB too. Right outta the box? Pipe dream? :)

It's easily expandable (extra kick drum pedals, hi-hat pedal, more pads) and the pads are all MOVEABLE, a huge plus over the RB kit :)

[govdet1]

I will be hooking it up to my Alesis control pad USB this weekend. I will let you know but I don't figure it will work. (explained below)

The problem that I have is getting the game to identify the USB device as a drum kit controller. Is anyone aware of any controller that will work with the drum mode other than the RB drum model?

I believe that Aelius basically cannibalized one to create his setup, so that the console would recognize his usb input as a drum controller.

If you use a RB controller as your base you should be able to wire female plugs to the wires for each pad and then plug in regular electronic drum pads for each of the RB pads, but I am not sure that will work for the kick drum.

Aelius soultion which is better but more complicated involved converting the midi signal from his kit to a signal that the XBOX 360 recognized as a legitimate drum controller. The only challange here is that fact that the game seems to play different sounds with the same pad(tom/hihat). The only way to work around that is a solution like Aelius came up with.

For those individuals that want a better solution to drumming with an electric kit, I recommend you look into DTX for Yamaha. The songs are not quite as good but the interface with a real kit is the best thing available today. I have been using this setup for the past two years. :D

Later,

[govdet1]

The Alesis USB drumpad will not recognize either. I imagine there is specific chip or mark in the controllers that tell the console what part it is designed to play. The only solution that appears possible would involve using a broken RB drum controller.

Thanks,

[Blanko]

Just saw the video - incredible work.

Would you be willing to help me set this up with my kit? I'd happily pay for your time.

David

[Jack Fuller]

Ok i ripped apart my drums and got all the guts out so now im just waiting for my Roland test drum to get here and ill let you all know how it works.

go here for pics

Ross

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36918

[hdlRandy]

Personally, I'd love to know if other USB drum kits would work with this game.

Like this one:

http://www.firebox.com/product/1573?src_t=wnw

http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Digital-DX-100-DrumXtreme-Drum/dp/B00009ETK4

I saw someone on Craigslist advertising one yesterday for like $100. It comes with a rhythm game for the PC kinda like the drum portion of RB, so I'm wondering if they would work on RB too. Right outta the box? Pipe dream? :)

It's easily expandable (extra kick drum pedals, hi-hat pedal, more pads) and the pads are all MOVEABLE, a huge plus over the RB kit :)

I have the Pacific Digital kit (amazon) and with a bit of soldering ot works! I bought some 1/8" phono jacks, mounted them in each drum and connected the cables that come with the drums and VOILA! Extra pads to play on. I will start a new thread and post pics there.

[davidshek]

I have the Pacific Digital kit (amazon) and with a bit of soldering ot works! I bought some 1/8" phono jacks, mounted them in each drum and connected the cables that come with the drums and VOILA! Extra pads to play on. I will start a new thread and post pics there.

Dude that's frickin' awesome! See, now I would plug the one you put over the Red pad into the yellow, so I can use it like a hi-hat and play crosshanded like I'm used to playing on my real kit.

Time to go a-buyin'!

[hdlRandy]

I play cross handed too. The picture is really compressed, but there is color on the white rectangles that correspond to the pad it is plugged into. The pad over the red rb pad is connected to yellow. For "Orange Crush" and "Move Along" it's bass-ackwards, but for the most part it works. Now I have to get un-used to hitting only the Rock Band pads. I'm currently working on replacing the Rock Band pads with something more responsive, so I will post my results if they work out. Oh yeah if you want to know how I mounted the new stuff, let me know. I can give you decent instructions and maybe a few pics. BTW, as a real drummer, do you sometimes find it frustrating drumming in RB? I know I do.

[davidshek]

BTW, as a real drummer, do you sometimes find it frustrating drumming in RB? I know I do.

Not really, actually. Last year when we were in the studio recording our EP, our producer called me a "human metronome" cause I refused to play with a click track, but was always able to keep a steady tempo throughout a 4-6 minute song. Not an easy task!

Most drummers find it extremely annoying to play to a click track, and that's effectively what RB makes you do, play a fixed tempo for the whole song (since the original drum track was most likely recorded to a click!). A lot of people can't do this, but it just comes naturally to me.

[James_E]

See my thread here:
http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1888

I was able to use my DTXpress cymbal pad as a bass drum. I think this would work with the original ebass pad that came with the kit but unfortunately my test didn't work all that well...most likely due to the fact that the bass pad was already going bad. Once I hooked up the cymbal pad...it triggered bass drum hits perfectly.

I now have my double bass pedal hitting the pad and and get very good double bass triggers. Works great for Epic now!

It may not look pretty but but it is very solid as a bass drum.

I have a dtxpress III. I took a 1/4 -> 1/8 inch adapter and tried the bass pad with my real bass pedal. it works.. "sort of". It misses alot of the hits though (ie. hits don't register at all.) I tried it with a cymbal pad as well and the same thing happened. I can get it to register 100% if I play really really hard, but that throws me off as I'm hitting way harder than I'm used to. I tried a cymbal pad too, same thing (inconsistent.)

I ended up going back to the RB drum pedal until I get this sorted out. Any ideas?

[ktm450exc]

From my tinkering around the bass pedal is a fancy on/off switch. So push it down, it completes a "loop". Let it up, it opens the loop.

I ended up cutting a wood block to fit under my Pearl bass pedal, drilled a hole in said block for a momentary switch (normal open), then taped it under the pedal. The wires for the switch came from a headphone extension cord, the male end goes to the RB controller, the female end was cut off to get the wires. There's a few articles around this site that explain it better, I just don't have the links handy.

For the electric bass pad route, there's a circuit that you need to build. But again, there's a few articles here that explain that as well. Here's the Rock Band forum (http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11121) thread for this circuit, the details are on page #4.

[Jack Fuller]

Ok I got my Roland test drum. i pluged it in and BAM worked like a charm. Now to do what I have done you have to pull the XBOX drums apart. you only need the controler part and lead wires to the drums. You splice a 1/4 female end for a 1/4 male end that most e-drums use and there you have it.

[davidshek]

Ok I got my Roland test drum. i pluged it in and BAM worked like a charm. Now to do what I have done you have to pull the XBOX drums apart. you only need the controler part and lead wires to the drums. You splice a 1/4 female end for a 1/4 male end that most e-drums use and there you have it.

Pics/video or it didn't happen! :D

Just messin with ya, Jack. I'm psyched this actually worked, it holds great portent for the future :)

[James_E]

I have my real bass pedal working well now, using the bass pad from my e-kit.

http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=29517#29517

[Jack Fuller]

Follow this link to the pics I have posted so far, I just ordered a full set of Roland drums and once i have them i will post video of it. for now go look at the pics. This is by far the simplest way I have found to do this. theres no messing with the Roland drum. It was just plug in.

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36918