Support Rock Band, Rock Band 2 & Site FAQ

Rock Band is a new platform to experience music on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Create your band and seek worldwide rock stardom while learning to master guitar, bass, drums and vocals.

The full list of songs is available at http://www.rockband.com.

back to the top

What's a master track?

A master track is an original recording laid down by the artist(s) who performed and/or wrote the track.

back to the top

What is downloadable content?

These are extra songs which are available to play on any instrument and in any game mode. We will be providing downloadable content regularly on the Xbox 360 through Xbox Live and on the Playstation 3 through the PlayStation Store.

back to the top

What is the difference between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions?

The Xbox 360 version is more or less the same as the PlayStation 3 version.

back to the top

Do PlayStation 3 instruments work on the 360, and vice-versa?

The microphone works across consoles. Sadly, drums and guitars do not.

back to the top

Can PlayStation 3 owners play against Xbox 360 owners?

Sadly, no.

back to the top

Where can I buy individual instruments?

You can get individual guitars, drums and microphones for all platforms anywhere video games are sold.

back to the top

I got my copy of Rock Band, but something's not right with it. Can you help me?

For those of you having issues getting your Rock Band controllers to work, try unplugging all of the instruments from the hub and then reconnecting everything securely before restarting the game. This will ensure that your controllers are connected and getting a proper signal. If one or more of your peripherals are still not working, or you can’t find one of the peripherals in your box, you should visit the Rock Band Warranty site for assistance. The Warranty site is designed to guide you through proper controller setup and, if necessary, get replacement gear out to you as soon as possible. Rock Band Warranty Site: http://support.ea.com/rockband/

back to the top

Is Rock Band on the Wii and PS2 the same as Rock Band on the XBox360 and PS3?

Yes! And no. The core game play is the same across all four systems, in that you can play tons of awesome songs on your choice of four instruments, either by yourself or in a full band. Unfortunately, due to hardware limitations, some of the more secondary features, such as a more robust World Tour mode, the character creator, and online game play are not available on Rock Band on the PS2 and Wii.

back to the top

Which systems are compatible with my Rock Band software?

The XBox360, PS3 and Wii Rock Band discs will only work with their specific systems. The PS2 Rock Band disc will work on backwards compatible PS3s as well as the PS2

back to the top

Which systems are compatible with my Rock Band instruments?

Rock Band instrument hardware for the XBox360 and Wii will only work with their specific systems. The PS2 and PS3 Rock Band hardware should be interchangeable, even though the software may not be. Good news! Most any USB powered mic should work with Rock Band on any platform.

back to the top

Do I need a Wiimote to play Rock Band?

You will only need to use a Wiimote to navigate the Wii Home Menu and the Rock Band Home menu. Once you actually start playing Rock Band, you will only need the Wiimote to get back to these specific menus or to navigate for the microphone.

back to the top

2. Microphone

How do I get the microphone to work with Rock Band?

Each USB microphone you plug in requires a standard Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 controller to bind to – you'll need to have a basic controller AND a microphone plugged in to navigate menus and play.

back to the top

What microphones are compatible?

The awesome Rock Band mic, for one.
Most other USB mics should work. Let us know if you find one that doesn’t.
You can also sing or chat on the Xbox 360 headsets.

back to the top

My microphone is echoing / playing back late.

Normally when a TV has a slow display, we compensate by starting to play the expected notes before the player does. See the section on calibration for more details. However, we can't predict freeform vocals, so these can exhibit lag and / or echoing on specific TVs. This primarily shows up on DLPs and Plasma TVs, and certain Dolby Digital™ 5.1 setups.

If your TV has a "Game Mode" or "Low Latency Mode," make sure you have that enabled.
If your audio receiver has adjustable latency, turn that latency off.
If you go through digital, turn off Dolby Digital™ 5.1 from in-game.
If the lag is still bad, try going through analog cables into an external speaker.

back to the top

Why can’t other people hear me singing online?

Simply spoken, LAG. It takes a second to transmit voice over the network, and that's far enough behind to make it sound awful if you're singing. Because of this, we don’t transmit the voice.

back to the top

How do I talk to people online as the singer?

Hold down one of the big shoulder triggers as the singer to talk. You only have to do this to chat to your band when you’re onstage: outside of a song you can talk normally.

back to the top

I can’t hit the high / low notes in [song name here].

What you want to do is octave wrap. Without delving too much into music theory, you get the same note by singing at twice or half the frequency. If you shoot quite a bit higher or lower than the note you need to sing, you’ll see the arrow wrap around to the other side of the staff. Then tweak your voice a bit up or down in the other octave by watching the arrow. It’s tough at first, but you’ll get a feel for it.

back to the top

Is it OK to swing the microphone around by the cord like a windmill?

Never swing your microphone around by the cord! Do that too often and the cord will come loose inside of the microphone, which leads to a crackling sound or no sound at all. We’re not trying to be spoilsports or anything, but be nice to the cord, OK?

back to the top

3. Guitar

What does the effects switch change about gameplay?

Nothing, really. Like the whammy bar, it's mostly about personal expression

back to the top

I’m having trouble triggering overdrive on the guitar...

You may be holding the guitar too vertically. Try holding the guitar more horizontal.
You may be holding the guitar with the face a bit upwards. The tilt sensor won’t work if the guitar is too flat.
You may need to contact EA’s customer support. In the meantime, the Back / Select buttons also trigger Overdrive.

back to the top

You get extra points for whammying every single note, right?

God no. Please stop that. You get extra energy for whammying energy phrase sustain notes. Whammying anything else is just for artistic expression / annoying your bandmates.

back to the top

4. Drums

My leg gets really tired when I play drums in Rock Band. Any tips?

Good foot pedal technique is all about moving your foot as little as possible. Try not to keep your foot floating in the air. This is guaranteed to tire you out quickly. Instead, leave your foot resting on the pedal at all times. Once you’re comfortable with that, practice keeping your foot fully down after every hit; Don’t raise it back up until just prior to the next hit. If you can do that, you’ll find using the pedal much less tiring. Similarly, make sure your stool / chair isn’t too low. You don’t want your knee to be higher than your hip in a resting position.

back to the top

How do I keep my drum kit from sliding around?

Try getting a little closer to the pedal. It moves less if you press down like tapping your foot, rather than pressing forward like flooring a gas pedal. Stick something heavy behind the drum set.

back to the top

What do I do if I don’t have space in front of the TV for the drum kit?

Coffee Table Mode. Put the drum pads directly into the drum feet (without the legs). Then put that on top of your coffee table. The kick pedal goes on the floor beneath the coffee table. You might want to brace the pedal against something heavy.

back to the top

Can I just plug in and use an regular electronic drum kit?

We'd love to do this too, but no.

back to the top

5. Bands

Do I have to have 4 people to form a band?

You can form a band with as few as 2 people.

back to the top

Do all band members have to be present to play as that band?

Nope. Only the designated band leader and one other player (who can be a substitute) need to be present to play as that band.

back to the top

Can I change leaders of a band?

No. The founding member of the band is the leader, and cannot be changed.

back to the top

Why can't I find my band?

The leader needs to be signed into the same profile, on the same instrument, that started the band. They will have to select the same character, too.

back to the top

Can I form a one-man-band?

No. Ok, you sort-of can if you pretend that you are two different people. Setup one character with a guitar or drums, the other with a controller and microphone. Then just play as if you were two people. One last thing; ignore the percussion notes as the singer. They’re just a bonus... you don't get penalized for missing them.

back to the top

How do you add artwork to clothes and instruments?

Scroll through your closet or the instrument store looking for an “Add Art” button to pop up on the help bar. The exact button varies by instrument. Not everything has space for more artwork, though, and you can only add art to things that you’ve already purchased.

back to the top

6. Calibration

The timing of the game seems to be off. What do I do?

Some TVs, especially high-end TVs, have trouble keeping the audio and video in sync with each other. In other words, the audio and video aren’t playing at the exact same time. You probably wouldn’t even notice this when watching a movie or TV, but if you’re trying to play a rhythm-based video game, it will be VERY noticeable and problematic. If it seems as though you’re hitting all the notes correctly but the game says that you’re not, you may need to try calibrating. Calibration can re-synchronize the video and audio.
Before you start calibrating, check to make sure that your console is running at the highest resolution your TV supports. If there are component or HDMI inputs, use those to connect your game system. This is important. Using composite cables with a high definition TV will result in worse lag, as the TV buffers up some of the video to perform filtering on it. Then check the console’s available resolutions, and set them as high as your screen can handle.
Next, check your TV for something called a “Game Mode” setting. If available, this sets your TV to the lowest possible lag. You may have to dig around in your manual to find it. Not all TVs have this option.
Now you’re ready to calibrate. Go into Rock Band, and go to Main Menu> Options> Calibrate System. If you know what type of TV you have, select it here. Now go back and try your new settings in the game – This should work most of the time, but different brands do have different lags. If the timing still seems off, try going back into Calibrate System and select “Manually Set.”
Adjust Audio / Video sync. This will determine how far apart the sound effects and the visual display are on your system. Move the slider to the left and right until the little icon is passing through the target at the exact same time that you hear the accompanying sound effect. This can be tricky, so sometimes it helps to move the slider way out to the right, then figure out where on screen you hear the click. Move the slider back to that point.
Lag Compensation. This figures out how long it takes between when you send input to the system and when the system receives it. You should try the auto compensation first, before attempting this manually. Strum, drum, or hit a button as the icon crosses the target in the middle of the screen. If that still feels off, you can adjust that number up or down a little bit with the manual option.
Overscan. If you've got black borders around your TV (where it doesn’t seem like the game image is taking up as much of the screen as it should) check this option to enlarge the game image. Checking or unchecking the overscan box won’t affect your sync at all, it’s just an aesthetic thing.
Okay, you’re done! If it STILL feels off, just go back and try playing around with the variables manually until you find something that “feels” right. In extreme cases, try going through an external audio source, or turning off Dolby Digital™ 5.1. We have yet to find a TV setup this won't work for.

back to the top

Rock Band 2

1. Overview

What is Rock Band 2?

Rock Band 2 is the follow-up to the smash hit videogame, Rock Band. Choose between vocals, guitar, bass, and drums and play along with 84 of the biggest and best songs in rock and roll history, as well as Rock Band’s ever-expanding library of downloadable content. You can also take your band on the road and tour different cities and venues using our World Tour mode, which now allows you to rock online with bandmates from around the world!

back to the top

Can I use Rock Band instruments with the Rock Band 2 game disc?

Yes, all of the instruments are cross-compatible between the original Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

back to the top

Can I use Rock Band 2 instruments with the Rock Band game disc?

Yes, all of the instruments are cross-compatible between the original Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

back to the top

Can I transfer my band from the original Rock Band to Rock Band 2?

Unfortunately no. While many things cross the divide between Rock Band and Rock Band 2, character and band saves do not. That being said, the character assets you used to create your band, and all their favorite venues, will be available in Rock Band 2, along with all new places for them to visit and clothes for them to check out.

back to the top

Can I buy individual instruments?

Yes. Rock Band 2 hardware is currently being sold as standalone hardware for the Xbox 360, allowing users to pick and choose what gear they buy for their Rock Band setup.

back to the top

What will the full bundle include?

We haven’t announced bundling options or pricing at this time. Check back soon for more info!

back to the top

2. New Features

What are the new features of Rock Band 2?

Rock Band 2 features a ton of new modes, expanding and improving upon the revolutionary gameplay found in the original Rock Band.
Our “Battle of the Bands” mode now allows you to compete in challenges against every other band playing online. With new battles posted daily, it’s every band for themselves!
World Tour mode is now online, allowing you to play a persistent campaign with players from around the world!
Want to dominate the competition at drumming, or transition from playing Rock Band drums into real drums? Rock Band 2 gives you the Drum Trainer, a tool that gives you the basic building blocks that every drummer needs to become a bona fide star. You can also just bang away with wild abandon in Freestyle Mode!
We’ve overhauled our Quickplay menu to allow you to sort through the immense number of songs (we’re planning to have 500 songs available for Rock Band on disc and for download by the end of this year.) You can now also make setlists of multiple songs, meaning there’s no more starting and stopping to debate the next tune- less talk, more rock!

back to the top

What are the new features of the guitar/bass?

Stunning new sunburst look for the Fender™ Stratocaster™ body
Realistic wood-grain look for the neck and headstock
Completely Wireless
Softer, Quieter Buttons
Improved internal components
Sturdy, redesigned strum bar
Built in “auto-calibration” tool- an internal microphone and photo sensor work with our Rock Band 2 software to give you the best A/V settings for your system – no more worrying about lag!
Premium peripherals- Rock Band is all about choice. With that in mind, we’re working closely with 3rd party developers to make other guitar peripherals that will work with our game. Check online or with your local retailer for information about the MadCatz Precision Bass controller, full sized guitars, and other options coming soon.
Cross compatibility- Since we believe in an open platform philosophy for controllers, we will be working with other peripheral manufacturers to make other guitars compatible with Rock Band 2.

back to the top

What are the new features of the drums?

Completely Wireless!
New metal-reinforced kick pedal
Softer, quieter, more responsive pads
Velocity sensitivity- the harder you hit the pads, the louder your drum fills get, allowing you to express yourself even more!
New aesthetic changes
Height-markers on legs allow you to set your drum height perfectly each time
Expansion ports allow you to add on up to 3 cymbals for the ultimate authentic drumming experience
We are also working closely 3rd party developers to provide other drum options for Rock Band 2. The Ion Drum Rocker, our premium drumset, is available now. This real life e-drum kit provides the ultimate in rock gaming perfection. For more info, go to http://drumrocker.com/

back to the top

Where can I get cymbals?

Our cymbals are being designed and sold by MadCatz. They should be available this fall at retailers and online. Check back for updates!

back to the top

What’s new about the characters? In-game store? Clothing, hair, ink, etc.?

Rock Band 2 builds on the success and the in-game world of Rock Band. With that in mind, we’ve kept all of your favorite character assets from Rock Band and piled on another store full of all new options. In Rock Band 2, you can find these new options under the “Thrift Threads” store, chockful of all new outfit options. Additionally, Rock Band 2 provides other new ways to customize your character. We now support facial piercings, bandanas, masks, eye patches and much, much more in our character creator. We’ve also added some great art to make new tattoos for your characters or logos for your in-game band.

back to the top

Will I be able to play songs from the original Rock Band in Rock Band 2?

Yes! In an industry first, Rock Band 2 allows you to export many of the songs from your original Rock Band disc to your console, so you can keep your back catalogue of 55 of the best songs from the original Rock Band track list. In addition, Rock Band 2 is the first game to have cross-title support for downloadable content, meaning that any songs you bought for Rock Band will work in Rock Band 2- you bought them, they’re yours, end of story.

back to the top

How do I transfer my songs?

Insert your validly purchased original Rock Band disc and update your title. This will add an “export disc” option to the Extras tab on the Main Menu of the original Rock Band. Click this option and follow the onscreen instructions. **Note: there is a charge of 400 Microsoft Points to re-license the songs for use in Rock Band 2. You will need to be online to purchase the license key for these tracks**

back to the top

Do I have to rebuy my downloaded songs to play them in RB2?

Nope! Rock Band 2 is the first game to support cross-title DLC, allowing you to play all of our downloadable content in either the original Rock Band or Rock Band 2 without any need to repurchase or re-download.

back to the top

Why can’t I transfer "Run to the Hills," "Paranoid" or "Enter Sandman"?

In order to allow you to play songs from the original Rock Band in Rock Band 2, MTV Games/Harmonix had to re-license each track individually. Some licenses were not available at this time. That being said, with 55 songs from the original Rock Band, 84 original master recordings on Rock Band 2 and hundreds of songs available as downloadable content, we’re confident you’ll be happy with the music library available… especially since it’s by far the biggest available for any rock music game.

back to the top

How do I unlock songs in Rock Band 2? What modes allow me to do this?

You can unlock songs in Rock Band 2 in a few ways: the two simplest methods are through World Tour or through Tour Challenges. In each of these modes, you play through sets of songs and, as you progress, you can unlock more songs, all of which populate into your Quickplay setlist. If you’re more of a “Quickplay warrior” than a campaign player, there’s also an unlock all code floating around the internet…

back to the top

How can I create a setlist?

In quickplay, select “create a setlist” at the top of any song select screen, then pick your set and press start! Alternately, you can also use the category headers to pick a themed set which Rock Band 2 will automatically create for you. (Want to play all the songs by Weezer in the game? Just click the “Weezer” header when sorted by band. Want to really play all the songs that start with B for some reason? Click on B when sorted by alphabetical!)

back to the top

How many songs can I put in a setlist?

You can put up to 100 songs in a setlist. Now that’s an epic setlist.

back to the top

What is the drum trainer?

The drum trainer is an all new mode that gives you the core skill set any drummer needs to rock in the real world. With our Beat Trainer, you can learn the basic beat vocabulary for a range of styles. And our Fill Trainer keeps your freestyling in check, turning your wild pounding from noise to music. Finally, our Freestyle Mode lets you go to town without us telling you what to do, and lets you cue up your favorite tracks on your console and play along!

back to the top

Will it really teach me to play drums?

It will definitely give you the skills you need to learn the basics of drumming. If you master all the beats, fills and styles in the drum trainer, you’ll be well on your way to being a real life musician (as if the world needs more of those.)

back to the top

What is Battle of the Bands?

Battle of the Bands is a revolutionary new competitive mode for any gamer playing Rock Band 2 online. Battles are mini-competitions of a fixed length, posted by Harmonix developers for you to compete in with your band. New battles will be posted every day, and these battles will be of a wide variety (score battles, star battles, short sets, epic sets, solo battles, full band battles, genre based battles, streak battles and many, many more!)

back to the top

Do we have to play at the same time?

No. Battles are tracked through online leaderboards. Rock Band 2 gives you real time feedback about how you’re performing against the nearest band to you on your friends list (or on the overall leaderboards), but the bands don’t have to play at the same time. It’s more of a free-for-all, every band for themselves thing, like a real Battle of the Bands.

back to the top

How many times can I attempt to beat my opponent’s score/star rating/other battle setting?

As many times as you like within the battle window! Keep going back to prove that you’re the best. And, if you link your gamertag to Rockband.com, there will be a tool available to update you when someone passes your score!

back to the top

I play on an Xbox 360. Can I battle a PS3 player?

No, battles are platform specific. But you can still all be friends in real life.

back to the top

How does auto-calibration work?

If you have a Rock Band 2 Fender™ Stratocaster™, you have our Auto-Calibration tool built right in! Using an integrated microphone and photo-sensor, Rock Band 2 will auto-calibrate your system through a series of beeps and flashes. Just a few seconds and you’re ready to rock!

back to the top

How can I make my auto-calibration work better?

Auto-calibration, like rock music, works best in the dark. Try turning the lights in the room down or off. Also make sure to hold your Rock Band 2 guitar controller as close to the TV or speakers as possible without touching.

back to the top

Rockband.com

1. Account Linking

How do I link my XBox 360 Gamertag or PlayStation 3 PSNID to my rockband.com account?

Click Link Game from your profile page for the lowdown.

back to the top

How do I unlink my game from my rockband.com account?

Simply click Unlink Game on your profile. A confirmation email will be sent to you.

2. Redemption

How do I get the 20 free DLC tracks?

Register your Rock Band 2 game at rockband.com/bonustracks. You will use the redemption code in the email to download your 20 free DLC tracks in your XBox 360 Marketplace or PlayStation Network Store. You will also receive a reminder at the same email address. Make sure your confirmation email doesn’t get sent to your spam or junk folder.

XBox 360 Code Redemption

Either in-game or on the Xbox 360 Dashboard, press the Guide button to bring up the Xbox 360 Guide.
Scroll left to the "Marketplace" tab in the Guide.
Scroll down and select the "Redeem Code" option on the "Marketplace" tab.
In the pop-up which appears, enter the 25-digit code and press A/Green to confirm.
You should receive a message that you are enabled to download the relevant piece of additional content.
From the Guide, press Y/Yellow to return to the Xbox 360 Dashboard.
On the Dashboard, scroll to the "Games Marketplace" channel.
Select the "Explore Game Content" channel slot. Then press A/Green to select the "Browse" option.
Select "Rock Band 2" from the list of game titles to see the game detail page.
Select "All Downloads" from the game detail page.
Select the newly-redeemed additional content from the list of available downloads.
The download confirmation screen should confirm that there is no charge to download the redeemed content. Select "Download" from the available options.

3. Merch

What kind of merch can I make with my Rock Band 2 characters and/or bands on them?

You can make t-shirts, posters, buttons, bumper stickers and more with your Rock Band 2 characters and bands. You can also make custom-printed 6” figurines of your characters by using the Bandmate Creator Application.

back to the top

How do I make custom merch?

back to the top

Why can't I make merch with my Rock Band 1 characters/bands?

The custom merch creation is a feature new for Rock Band 2.

back to the top

Where do I get Rock Band Merch (not with my characters/bands)?

You can get t-shirts, posters, and even watches with the Rock Band logo on them from the Rock Band store. You can also order the games, instruments, game guides and more.

4. Photo Creator Application

How do I use the Photo Creator Application?

Go to the Merch Booth and choose a character or band from the dropdown menu to start the Photo Creator. You can also click Take Pictures from your profile page. In the Photo Creator you can pose your character(s), add lighting effects, change backgrounds, add filters and then use the photo to create custom merch.

back to the top

How many pictures am I allowed to take?

You can take as many pictures as you like. They will all save to your rockband.com profile until you choose to delete them.

back to the top

What aspects of the photo can I change?

After taking a picture of your band or character, you can change the background, the lighting effects and even add filters to the picture itself.

back to the top

What can I do with the photos?

You can make custom merch like t-shirts and posters featuring your band and custom-made 6” figurines of your characters.

5. Bandmate Application

What is a 3-D print?

A 3-D print is a custom-printed 6” figurine of your Rock Band 2 character. It is made out of a plaster composite material, similar to ceramic. Your Bandmate, as we like to call them, will be printed with the clothes, accessories, tattoos and instruments your character had when your game last connected to the internet.

back to the top

How many 3-D prints can I order?

As many as you’d like! Order a whole band, or just one rockin’ guitar player – it’s completely up to you.

back to the top

Why doesn't the preview image look like my character?

Your character’s information – what they’re wearing, what they look like, etc. – will get pulled directly from your linked game. We use placeholder images in the ordering process to allow you to create your Bandmate quickly without waiting for long load times while we import your character. We promise that your Bandmate will show up looking like your character and not the preview placeholder image.

back to the top

How do I change the outfit my character will be printed with?

To change the outfit your Bandmate will wear – or their hairstyle, tattoos, or anything else about them – go to the Rock Shop in Rock Band 2 and edit your character. When you come back to rockband.com to order your Bandmate, the website will pull the information about your character from your linked game.

back to the top

My Bandmate hasn't been delivered yet. How long does it take?

It takes around 2-3 weeks, and a tracking number will be emailed to you once it has shipped.

back to the top

Do I have to choose the same instrument my character plays in the game for the Bandmate figure?

No! You can order your Bandmate with any instrument.

6. Legal Documents

Where can I find your Privacy Policy?

Just click here or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Privacy Policy.

back to the top

Where can I find your Terms of Use?

Just click here or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Terms of Use.

back to the top

Where can I find your rules on User Content Submission?

Just click here or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on User Content Submission. back to top

back to the top

7. Other

Do you have a Rock Band 1/Rock Band 2 FAQ?

Yes! www.rockband.com/game_support.

back to the top

I play Rock Band on Expert - can I work at Harmonix?

Playing Rock Band on Expert (or any level) isn’t a prerequisite for working here, although it certainly makes the workplace more fun if you enjoy our games. If you’d like to check out our current job openings, click here.

back to the top

Where can I find out about upcoming DLC tracks?

We announce DLC the Friday before release on the forums and in the News section.

back to the top

I have an awesome idea for a DLC track - can I email it to you?

While we’re sure your idea really is awesome, we don’t have the ability to accept DLC ideas via email. There is, however, a forum discussion specifically about songs you’d like to see in Rock Band. While we can’t promise that we’ll use any ideas submitted to the discussion, we welcome all fans to discuss the artists, songs and albums they’d like to play on Rock Band. To join the discussion, click here.