Any other singers out there feel cheated?

[tpalen7]

This isn't coming from me, but my girlfriend. With the news of RB2, I've been very excited with all the changes. New drums, new guitar - no new mic? New drum trainer in RB2 - nothing for the mic. I know they said they have improved the quality of the software, which is still to be determined, but she wishes there was something that would make the singers exicted, because I can't wait to get my hands on those drums.

[BStu78]

We get Journey.

[Reveries]

theres nothing to change with the mic, its already good as it is.

[killerewok]

I mean, the only thing they could do with the mic is add buttons, and Mad Catz is doing that for the singers. I think the mic is good enough as it is. Although, if you look at the pic on RockBand2.com, it does look like there is a button on the side for tambourine parts. My GF uses the X button (PS3) for the tambourine/cowbell, so that would be nice. Other then that, there really isn't anything outrageous they can do to the mic.

[sparki1980]

theres nothing to change with the mic, its already good as it is.

idk, I like the Mad-Catz mic... it has the controller buttons on the mic so you don't need to have a controller too. I feel HMX could have at least done that much.

But I'm pretty sure it's impossible to be "cheated"... as no one has bought it yet.. and we know this info before we are able to buy it. I may not feel as excited about the RB2 Mic as I do the new guitars or new drums.. but we're not cheated.

[tpalen7]

theres nothing to change with the mic, its already good as it is.


The mics quality wise are garbage. The RB mic is useless. I've used mics from Karaoke Revolution, they don't quite seem to work perfectly. SingStar mics are not compatible. Now she's using a High School Musical mic. The madcatz mic's are being released but not until much later and as far as i have seen, there are no other options.

[blackplastic22]

If you think RBs mic is useless you must have got a faulty one.

[moneyp]

The mics quality wise are garbage. The RB mic is useless. I've used mics from Karaoke Revolution, they don't quite seem to work perfectly.

A good craftsman never blames his tools. :)

[Sveppi]

It's a mic......what is there to do really?

[Reveries]

If you think RBs mic is useless you must have got a faulty one.

for real. mine works perfect. also adding buttons IMO would just make it seem more like a lame little toy....but then again rock band is just a toy.

[trg007]

I don't care if the mic is the same one, as long as they fix this problem:


Q: "Will there be any improvements on vocals? Will there still be talky parts, and, if so, will they be fixed or easier to hit than they were in RB1?" - Lady Sia..

A: Yes, on multiple fronts. We've improved the balance for pitched vocals, and completely rewritten the non-pitched talky detection. Rock Band 2 has drastically more reliable talky parts.

[Ragin_Caucasion]

I don't really think that there is any thing else that could be improved for the mic, though I do think that HMX did mention something about a better quality microphone. Gameplay wise, though, they are allegedly fixing talkies and they'll probably be other little things added. Here's hoping vocalists also get an actual practice mode, too.

[Touwe]

rockband mics work perfectly fine, the game itself was the only thing causing problems and that is only for certain people

practice instead of complaining and you'll do better

[Bakkster]

idk, I like the Mad-Catz mic... it has the controller buttons on the mic so you don't need to have a controller too. I feel HMX could have at least done that much.

Give me a standard microphone over a microphone-controller combo any day.

The only two updates I would ask for are continued improvement of pitch/talky detection, and improved vocal practice (aka, way to practice only one section of a song).

[sparki1980]

adding buttons IMO would just make it seem more like a lame little toy....but then again rock band is just a toy.

Yea the concern for the "feel" of the mic is nullified when I'm forced to find where the controller walked off to btwn songs. Adding buttons might make it a tad more toy-ish, but the guitar has no strings and 5 colored coded buttons along with a d-pad and some other console specific buttons... so I'm not really offended by the mic being more toy-ish and adding buttons...

Another little thing they could do is make the mic wireless.. why not? how much power is it drawing anyway? (I really don't know, but I'm guessing not much).. maybe adding the wireless components makes it an impractical price point.. and that's fine with me...

Other than that.. I don't see much more they can change.


Give me a standard microphone over a microphone-controller combo any day.
You mean a standard mic with a controller on the side vs a combo of both together? I just think it's more efficient.

[tpalen7]

Yea the concern for the "feel" of the mic is nullified when I'm forced to find where the controller walked off to btwn songs. Adding buttons might make it a tad more toy-ish, but the guitar has no strings and 5 colored coded buttons along with a d-pad and some other console specific buttons... so I'm not really offended by the mic being more toy-ish and adding buttons...

Another little thing they could do is make the mic wireless.. why not? how much power is it drawing anyway? (I really don't know, but I'm guessing not much).. maybe adding the wireless components makes it an impractical price point.. and that's fine with me...

Other than that.. I don't see much more they can change.

Wireless would be great. I had to get USB extension because the cords on everything corded are so freaking short. And regardless of what everyone is saying, a good mic really makes a difference at how well you do. I've played with my girlfriend long enough to know when she does bad on a song she normally does great on, there is a problem. I would like to see wireless, better quality, and definitely get rid of the jumpy arrow that destroys her when she is on expert.

[momo217]

It would've been cool if RB2 allowed for a couple of mics to be used for back up vocals. You wouldn't even had to award any points for it really. Just the coolness of having all the band members sing a chorus or a line when needed. U would need mic stands but those aren't very expensive.
Especially with songs like So watch you want or the Linkin Park track, which have 2 or more vocalists. This idea would rock.

[Dzhokhar]

If only one Rock Band controller type could be wireless, I would want it to be the microphone...

Having a controller built into the mic, on the other hand, is a terrible idea (mostly because it would make mods basically impossible).

[Bakkster]

You mean a standard mic with a controller on the side vs a combo of both together? I just think it's more efficient.

I like buying a cheap mic that can always be used as a mic, rather than another controller.

I'm actually using my RB mic on my computer, since my headset mic died. It works great.

[bigdug13]

Hopefully the talky stuff gets fixed. I annunciate the words and everything during the end of "The Hand that Feeds" and I still always end the song with flashing red and my microphone at the bottom of the bar.

Any song with talky parts automatically means no 100% expert as well, even when I sing the rest of the song to perfection.

Honestly, I'd rather have talky parts not be a part of the score altogether. I want to be judged as a singer, not as a rapper.

[HollywoodTX]

Has anyone tried TAC (The Ant Commandos) version of mic? I do like the idea of no cord.
http://store.theantcommandos.com/product-p/mic-wl-blrd.htm

[stewpidaz]

as everyone else has said, not much to improve with the mic...but what do you mean by new drums and guitar? I mean, it's gonna be the same instruments used for RB2, nothing new as far as instruments

[stewpidaz]

lmfao, bigdug the talky parts are the easiest part of any song to 100%...I mean you can technically just yell even and get everything, the only thing i think is you can't be mumbling cuz that kind of makes you get less points, if you sing just be kind of loud and make sure you're holding each note to it's full value

[AMac2002]

I totally wish there some opportunities for singers to improvise or SOMETHING other than sing the exact notes given. Maybe you could get some little Harmony mode, and for one phrase you have to sing different notes that they'd give you to make a harmony with your backup singers... whatever im just rattling off and idea, but something more would definetly be cool...

[trg007]

lmfao, bigdug the talky parts are the easiest part of any song to 100%...I mean you can technically just yell even and get everything, the only thing i think is you can't be mumbling cuz that kind of makes you get less points, if you sing just be kind of loud and make sure you're holding each note to it's full value

Please, grab your RB mic and see just how "easy" it is to get 100% on Sabotage, Timmy, Next to You, and Ballroom Blitz on Expert before you say things like this. :)

[metaphor_]

I'd love to see improved microphones - sensitivity can be improved; at this point either the mic is too quiet, or it starts clipping like crazy - not a very good range of input from it. This is common across all video game mics, whether it's the logitech headset, the RB mic or (from what I'm told) the singstar mics.

The harmonizing mode is a great idea too! It could take a ton of work though, as the programmers would have to program every chord in for every note... though they could just set up "harmony passages" set up to recognize harmonizing notes for specific passages only. (The low tech route is to use easy mode ;) e.g. Heroes moulin rouge style)

[sorgen]

I really don't know what they'd add a new mic or mic updates for. There's really nothing to do with it. The *only* thing i could see them doing is, when there's a player singer, to replace the real vocals with the player's vocals. or at least put the player's vocals to like 80% of the 'vocal' sound and the real vocals to 20% of the 'vocal' sound

[DethBoxx]

I think they should add a motion sensor to the mic so you can shake it for percussion sections, instead of hitting the mic. Hitting the mic is a bad idea and probably contributes to some people having problems with their mics. You shouldn't hit microphones...ever.

[Kaptankrunch92]

This isn't coming from me, but my girlfriend. With the news of RB2, I've been very excited with all the changes. New drums, new guitar - no new mic? New drum trainer in RB2 - nothing for the mic. I know they said they have improved the quality of the software, which is still to be determined, but she wishes there was something that would make the singers exicted, because I can't wait to get my hands on those drums.

There's no reason to change the mic...its a mic...I just wrapped mine in duct tape to make it look cool. the drum trainer is awesome...a singing trainer? is that what ur thinking? you can do that yourself, learn how to sing notes on key without the game...look you can sing...now learn how to stay on pitch with good tone...look at that you did a lot of it urself. There no guitar trainer...why am I not angry about that...oh yeah there's five buttons lol.

So, not trying to be a ***** but Drums were what really needed improvement, guitar needed it a little, but a new guitar for each game is kind of necessary ever since GH1, GH2.



I totally wish there some opportunities for singers to improvise or SOMETHING other than sing the exact notes given. Maybe you could get some little Harmony mode, and for one phrase you have to sing different notes that they'd give you to make a harmony with your backup singers... whatever im just rattling off and idea, but something more would definetly be cool...

Overdrive activation. How do you think guitar/bass feels? we always gotta play exactly what is there at least you got areas where you can yell and say what you want...hell you can even change the words if you like.

[chix0rak]

Hopefully the talky stuff gets fixed. I enunciate the words and everything during the end of "The Hand that Feeds" and I still always end the song with flashing red and my microphone at the bottom of the bar.

Any song with talky parts automatically means no 100% expert as well, even when I sing the rest of the song to perfection.

Honestly, I'd rather have talky parts not be a part of the score altogether. I want to be judged as a singer, not as a rapper.

^^ This.

I've spent nearly my whole Rock Band career trying to crack the code of the talky bits.

I think it has more to do with the timing at the *end* of the phrase. I find if I end the "note" before the official end of the phrase I do better.

I'm very glad to hear they're doing some work to the vocals.

[OFVenda]

.....improved vocal practice (aka, way to practice only one section of a song).

Yeah, I'm with you on this one, big time. One section of a song that needs work, and vox peeps have to go through the song up to that point to practice it.....that's a lot of time to spend to work one tricky section. They do segmented practice for the other instruments; I'd love it if they did it for vocals.

[akspiderman]

The practice mode for vocals is almost pointless because you can't isolate problem areas you have to start from the beginning if you miss a section.

[KaYotiX]

Has anyone tried TAC (The Ant Commandos) version of mic? I do like the idea of no cord.
http://store.theantcommandos.com/product-p/mic-wl-blrd.htm

Id like to know this as well...

[tpalen7]

as everyone else has said, not much to improve with the mic...but what do you mean by new drums and guitar? I mean, it's gonna be the same instruments used for RB2, nothing new as far as instruments


What do you mean? Check out rockband2.com if you don't think there are new instruments coming out - And I don't mean keyboards or something. They've improved upon the guitar and drums and are offering them with the special edition.

[LibertineStripes]

The RB guitar effects added to the Mic in RB2 would be better than using them on guitar.

[tpalen7]

There's no reason to change the mic...its a mic...I just wrapped mine in duct tape to make it look cool. the drum trainer is awesome...a singing trainer? is that what ur thinking? you can do that yourself, learn how to sing notes on key without the game...look you can sing...now learn how to stay on pitch with good tone...look at that you did a lot of it urself. There no guitar trainer...why am I not angry about that...oh yeah there's five buttons lol.

So, not trying to be a ***** but Drums were what really needed improvement, guitar needed it a little, but a new guitar for each game is kind of necessary ever since GH1, GH2.




Overdrive activation. How do you think guitar/bass feels? we always gotta play exactly what is there at least you got areas where you can yell and say what you want...hell you can even change the words if you like.

Unfortunately, you do sound like a *****. How is wrapping the mic in duct tape cool? How could you possibly say that a drum trainer is cool but a singing trainer is absurd? Just to compare your ridiculous comparison, could we all not pratice "real" drums without the trainer, and then, hey look, I can play the drums? Don't you think real singers have vocal coaches? And if I could sort of quote a rock band member here, "This game is called Rock Band, not silly band, so quit being silly.

[PacoL250]

I think Dethboxx mentioned it, but hitting the mics for percussion is just..bad. That's asking for a mic that'll start dying a lot earlier.

Even though they're made by Logitech, the RB mics are most certainly on the crappy end. Heck, most of the time I'm able to nail talky parts much better using my Xbox 360 headset than the mic.

This is only on talky parts mind you; everything else is pretty much okay. So perhaps there is more in-game tweaking needed.

[tpalen7]

I think Dethboxx mentioned it, but hitting the mics for percussion is just..bad. That's asking for a mic that'll start dying a lot earlier.

Even though they're made by Logitech, the RB mics are most certainly on the crappy end. Heck, most of the time I'm able to nail talky parts much better using my Xbox 360 headset than the mic.

This is only on talky parts mind you; everything else is pretty much okay. So perhaps there is more in-game tweaking needed.


I agree. There have been some good suggestions here I think. Adding a second mic for back up singers would be cool. Having a wireless mic would definitely be cool. Not hitting the mic on your hand,leg, or floor is a bad idea, and in practice mode you should be able to isolate sections of song - which i had no idea that it worked like that, I mean, what's the point of a practice mode? I hope Harmonix is listening.