Comments on: Game Day: Use Rock Band Drums as MIDI Controller – Windows, Yes, Mac, Soon?

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:40:44 +0000

I have written an alternative (free!) program that you might like to use if you have the Xbox 360 Rock Band 2 drum kit. It detects the velocity of hits and works with the optional Mad Katz cymbals. Sadly, this is for Microsoft Windows only.

By: kim

kim — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:59:26 +0000

RockBand kit, and actually any game controller (including dancemate, Rockband drum, game controllers etc…) can ALL be used with any music software that manages regular MIDI devices.

You need a third party “game controller to usb converter” (about 5$ on ebay)and all your game devices will be detected as a midi device.

Then you need a software that will “transform” your USB input into a virtual midi device :

Mac : Steim junxion, or Gamepad companion
Pc :
http://trip.m78.com/livesticks-e.html

http://www.soundtower.com/synth/midijoys.htm

http://www.otk.it/mjoy/

http://vellocet.com/software/VMIDIJoY.html

http://www.hf.uio.no/imv/forskning/forskningsprosjekter/musicalgestures/resources/multicontrol/index.html

http://www.dioramadesign.net/blog/rejoice-midi-software/

In Reason or Garageband (or just any audio software), go to your audio and/or midi input and output settings and select your controller as an input.

Very cheap, very easy to do, very creative!
Have fun!!

By: mikey

mikey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:33:30 +0000

i got the rock band kit to work on garage band, but i also have Reason 4.0, and i was wondering if anyone knows how to use it on there?

By: Create Digital Music » How to Use Rock Band Controllers (And More) with GarageBand, Mac

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:48:00 +0000

[...] Game Day: Use Rock Band Drums as MIDI Controller – Windows, Yes, Mac, Soon? (and I guess we got our answer!) Leopard Watch: Adobe Updates Premiere Pro, [...]

By: Don Funk

Don Funk — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:47:24 +0000

FYI: How-to use Rock Band drum kit with GarageBand on Mac:

http://billpendry.com/blog/?p=88