Rock Band drum prototype adds sturdiness, cymbals

Or they could go for a cymbal "cutout" like those on Drummania. Doesn't take up as much space and yet does the job perfectly.

Yeah, you got the 1500 dollars to do that. And then do you have the time to actually learn technique, and timing, and rudimentary sticking patters? Do you know how to tune drums? What pitch each drum should be to get the sound you want? How much you need to artificially muffle each drum? What brand of set to get? Which cymbals to get (because some sets don't come with any)?

Being a real drummer has much more to do with it than using a wooden stick to hit a plastic drum head.

My GOD
I'm glad to see another real musician write something intelligent whilst everyone drools over this retardation!
If I'm gonna spend 200 dollars on a video game package (I DONT need - I have GH2 and 3 (My Bad) and I need no more gi-tars for 360), or get a fake drum set for that price with a 60 dollar game, plus round up two or three of my loser friends, we might as well try to buy an amp and a guitar for my instrument-less friends and we can jam at my house with my (real) drumset and (real) PA.

We can make some (real) money if we practice and create interesting musical content instead of rehashing bad 80's hair songs and pop rock outfits we're told to idolize.
Nevermind the obvious contradiction in the feel of the game versus real instrument play, nor the fact that we're being asked to continually pay MORE money for access to play songs with a plastic controller.

Learn an instrument, play for free, maybe earn some pay.

Umm, well, you can can get a beginner's set for about $400, which is crap, but you can learn all the necessary skills on a crap set, and not worry about tearing it up, because it's crap.

Anyone who owns the game has spent at least $279 on a console (and who really bought the arcade bundle) so let's call it a minimum of $350, plus the game bundle at $170. So we're at $520 right there. Why spend a ton of money on another fake drum set, when you could spend extra (compared to the price of this thing) and get the real thing, and start expanding on the basic skills the game teaches you?

Thats really not at all what I was trying to say. I was just trying to say that playing "drums" on rock band is the ignorant mans drumset. Real musicians have real talent and put real time into their art. Rock band makes you feel like you're playing real drums, but you're not, because you don't know how to play drums.

There's more to drumming that wooden sticks and plastic drums.

And yeah, I know, some people live in places where you can't be loud, apartments, tenements, in the middle of the burbs...

I guess I see that, but you have no ability to create drum beats independently of the game, and thats a wank. Take the advice of homeboy at the bottom and invest in an electronic pad setup. Theirs the small ones (one board, 4-8 pads, programmable) that are simple, only 250 or so, and for the traditional electronic drumset, they have decent ones for 500.

And I understood what you were saying, Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School). I know that there are finer points to being a musician than wanking on plastic instruments. I'm a percussionist/drummer for damn near 20 years, so I know.

But instead of parroting your argument, I chose to expand on it and increase the weight behind your case.

I didn't know I needed to co-sign your s***. I'll bear that in mind next time you speak, sir.

I'll Remember to Regurgitate

Problem with the electronic is that whether you use a set of drumsticks, your hands, chopsticks or your wang to smack the pads, it always makes the same sound.

You don't get different sounds from making hits on different parts of the pads, and you don't learn the difference.

I'm saying that if you love playing the rock band drums, and you're going to take the next step to get into playing the actual instrument, pick up a cheap beginner's kit.

If sound is an issue, pick up a set of sound off pads. They are thick heavy rubber pads that absorb a majority of the sound from the drum, yet you still get rebound on your stick, and even though it's muffled you can still practice all the techniques.

The rock band drums are super fun, but nothing compares to playing the real thing. Anything that brings more people into the realm of creating music is good news though. Like the guy at the drum shop on my corner said. "people are coming in to buy drumsticks for their rock band game, so it is increasing my business and incresasing interest in the instrument I am passionate for, how is that possibly a bad thing."

I wish RB would let the drummer improvise a bit. Its my only real gripe, other than the kick pedal. They could still count as "misses" in the interest of multipliers, but the drums would actually make the sound you hit, and it wouldn't count against crowd reaction (unless you over did it/or were off time in your improvisation)

Excuse me princess dickwad, I was actually clarifying my point so that people here wouldn't associate me with your jack ass comment.

One word: neighbours.

wow guys way to destroy the whole point of music.

"you should quit now because its harder than you think"

fuck you guys!

music is about way more than chops and tehcnique fellas. I know guys playing for over 50 years that have no chops but could destroy you tools in a heart beat with pure feel. And further more its about love. The love of music is the whole reason for music. So let them have their love of music and play a video game.

Maybe some kid will play rock band and get a real kit later and become the greatest to ever live....you don't know that...or maybe its the only thing keeping that kid from going straight out the window.

just be humble and realize that all these people who spend their time doing this, just wish they could do what we do...

or i guess i do cause you guys obviously dont get it...

That''s the thing I get dxtrinc! I'm not some elitist, my whole point is to try and get people into playing a real instrument. Rock Band is the catalyst that takes you from basic stuff to the real thing.

Rock Band does teach basic rhythm and keeping time, along with a couple of simple things. It's a great $170 drums lesson, that you can practice anytime!

http://www.xkcd.com/359/

You spend your time your way, and I'll spend my time my way.

By the way, I did learn how to play a 'real' instrument. It's now in my attic, because it was not that fun/useful of a skill to have.

Exactly right guys. I'm all for rockband and GH if it gets you interested in playing an instrument (even if it doesn't, I'm all for it).

Yay! A bunch of crabby musicians that cant stand non-musicians pretending to play because it makes them hate all the work they put into it.

Listen carefully, some of us do not want or have the time to buy "real" instruments and spend 10 or 15 years learning to play Iron Maiden solos, but do enjoy getting with friends on a friday and messing around. GET OVER YOURSELF! Have fun with your awesome real instruments, you will never make it big, you will never be more famous than anyone else here. EVER, regardless of what you think. So enjoy your "talent".

Cymbals: definitely what I was thinking.
Pads: dunno.

Who can attach a price to rocking?

I mean more that you may as well get some ACTUAL drums, if even a starter kit. I'm a musician - I understand why Rock Band did what it did with the drum kit. Keep it simple to keep costs down and make it mass appealing, yet still keep the essence of the instrument.

At least the Rock Band kit is reminiscent of actually playing a kit, unlike the guitars in these popular music games now.

Yes, kick pedal is god awful. I also want an optional double bass pedal for all the prog metal that should be coming down the pike.

It's a little harder to see in this shot, but the cymbals are colour-coded to be yellow, green, and blue. They duplicate the pads.

Give this man a prize because this is the most sense I've heard all day.