Things You'll Need:
- The Rock Band USB Drum Set
- A desktop or laptop computer running Windows XP
- Any audio recording/sequencing program that supports MIDI
- Joy2Key 3.7.4 Software (free)
- A quality soundcard, either PCI or USB/Firewire
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Step 1
The Drum Set from "Rock Band" has more uses than simply rocking on Playstation 3. There have been confirmed reports that the Xbox 360 version of the drum kit will work as well for using as a MIDI drum controller, but this tutorial is for use with the PS3 Rock Band Drum Set.
Plug the Rock Band Drum Set into an available USB port on your desktop or laptop. You do not need your PS3 at all in this process. Your Windows XP computer will auto-recognize the Rock Band Drum Set as a Joystick. -
Step 2
In order to convert joystick inputs (from your Rock Band drums) into MIDI messages, you need to map the different colored drum pads, and the kick pedal, to keys on your keyboard. To do this, you will need to download a free program called Joy2Key. Run a search on it, and make sure to get it from the official developer website.
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Step 3
Open your audio suite, such as the cheap-but-excellent REAPER, Ableton Live, or Reason, and the Joy2Key program you have just downloaded. Load a software MIDI-based drum kit. In Ableton Live, any of the Impulse drum kits will work. If you are using REAPER, try Native Instruments KORE. Redrum will work in Reason, as well. Now, enable computer keyboard control of MIDI if it is not already.
Run your fingers along the center row ("A" through ";") of your keyboard, and you should hear the drums sound off, one by one. Pay attention to which computer keyboard keys correspond to each snare, kick, tom, hat, cymbal tone, etc. -
Step 4
Next you need to go into Joy2Key to configure your Rock Band Drum Set, which is being handled by your computer as a joystick, to convert your inputs with the drum sticks into keyboard messages. Do not close your audio sequencer software before you do this. Now, hit the Rock Band Drum Set's four colored pads, and kick pedal, one by one. Note the on-screen button that flashes when you hit each of your drum pads. Each will correspond to a joystick button numeral, for example the kick pedal is "5."
Now, double click on the buttons that correspond to the Rock Band Drum Set pads, and map them to the keyboard keys you have decided correspond to the MIDI drum samples you want to use in your audio sequencing software. Do not close Joy2Key. Go back into your audio sequencing software and try hitting the pads. If you hear nothing, go back over the steps listed here and make sure you have done everything correctly, or consult the help files associated with your specific software. -
Step 5
The only downside to this process is that no matter how good a soundcard you are using, there will be a slight delay, which is virtually inaudible when playing slow, but if you are really banging away you will begin to notice it quite easily. To avoid screwing up your playing, try killing the volume on the track your drums are located on, and just jamming along with your bass lines, or any of your MP3 files, simply listening to the sound the pads make when struck to make sure you stay in rhythm.
Then, turn the volume on the track back up, and take a listen to what you have played. Not only is this a great way to make drum beats that sound "human," but you can practice your rhythm and hand coordination as well!
Happy drumming!
Comments
ninozagreb said
on 6/4/2009 There is program on internet N'keybDrum ver. 1.3.4 with option to play drum on PC using keyboard, mouse (with feets) and joystick ata a same time. You can map different drum sound for each button on joystick. It uses DirectSound technology (not MIDI messages) so it play sound faster. This is a better way to use those usb drums for freestyle playing drums on computers.