Rock Band drum prototype adds sturdiness, cymbals

by Justin McElroy { Jan 9th 2008 at 10:35AM }

We love channeling our inner Keith Moon with the Rock Band drum set, but we do have some quibbles. Namely: When we break out with some tasty, tasty hi-hat work it just feels a little inauthentic. Sure, we could try applying some Rock Jam, but it's just not the same. You can understand then why our hunger for Ion Audio's sexy, sure-to-be-pricey new kit is nothing short of ravenous.

Not only does this kit have cymbals, but the sturdiness of the drums has also been improved. Sadly this is still just a prototype, but we're hopeful that the Wyld Stallyns can travel into the future and snag us a set.

Tags: CES-2008, rock-band, rockband

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

KeithChanneled8 @ Feb 3rd 2008 12:26PM

I hope these are cool when they come out. For now, I put on this mod from http://www.drumpads4rockband.com/. Keep the add-ons/mod's coming!

Eric @ Feb 7th 2008 8:26PM

For the love of god why is the duplicate yellow pad a cymbal, it acts as a high-hat a majority of the time. Yellow cymbal = fail Yellow High-hat FTW!

Cole @ Feb 19th 2008 10:41PM

Burritoclock said by far the most intelligent thing here.
You guys can have your real drums, guitars, bass, (which I do) but that is a different thing then playing a video game with your friends. The drums teach you rythym and many drum patterns, but beside that it is a really fun game. You can go rock on by yourself with your own instruments, but that just doesnt satisfy me as much as beating rock band. Say I wasted my money and whatever but its alright because I got hundreds of thousands of people who are there to back me up.
But once you guys with your real instruments are famous, then you can talk. Until then shut up.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 10:49AM

Thats very nearly what I envisioned for the original set, before press photo's came out. Except I would have made the cymbal actuator be the outer ring of the pads

Bellerophon @ Jan 9th 2008 11:51AM

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.

Rubix42 @ Jan 9th 2008 10:58AM

So tasty, but at that point, I'll just pick up an actual drum kit.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 11:32AM

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.

Dick @ Jan 21st 2008 5:03PM

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.

Rubix42 @ Jan 9th 2008 12:03PM

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?

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 12:03PM

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.

Dick @ Jan 9th 2008 12:04PM

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.

Dick @ Jan 9th 2008 12:08PM

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

Rubix42 @ Jan 9th 2008 12:11PM

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."

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 12:14PM

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)

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 12:16PM

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

ThornedVenom @ Jan 9th 2008 12:27PM

One word: neighbours.

dxtrinc @ Jan 9th 2008 12:28PM

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...

Rubix42 @ Jan 9th 2008 12:41PM

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!

Rocketboy @ Jan 9th 2008 1:24PM

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.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 2:28PM

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).

Burritoclock @ Jan 9th 2008 2:48PM

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".

Burritoclock @ Jan 9th 2008 10:53AM

Please JESUS release this, my god!

ganrob @ Jan 9th 2008 1:09PM

ehm yeah, it's called Roland V Drums?

-.-

ThornedVenom @ Jan 10th 2008 2:46AM

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

baby sea tuna @ Jan 9th 2008 11:17AM

I suck far too badly @ RB's drum component to effectively add any additional pieces onto my kit. :(

deaftly @ Jan 9th 2008 11:19AM

yeah i'll be buying this on day 1. dammit.

superted @ Jan 9th 2008 11:21AM

if my girlfriend won't let me have the original drum set for RB in the living room, i don't stand a freaking chance with this one.

Viridium @ Jan 9th 2008 11:23AM

As nice as it is, I find it hard to believe the price will be worth it.

ill trooper @ Jan 9th 2008 11:43AM

Who can attach a price to rocking?

Viridium @ Jan 9th 2008 12:48PM

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.

ill trooper @ Jan 9th 2008 11:43AM

These look like slightly modified electronic drums from Simmons or Rolandl... And if that's the case or anywhere near it, they won't be cheap. Yikes. Can't say I won't be tempted to figure out a way to buy them.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Drum-Sets-Electronic-Drums.gc

I think if I have a better kick pedal, I could live with the other drums.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 9th 2008 12:04PM

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.

timnc @ Jan 9th 2008 11:39AM

It's neat and all but how will it work? Currently RB only supports the 4 pads and the pedal. Now you have 7 pads (and presumably a pedal). How will this work?

Kyera @ Jan 9th 2008 11:42AM

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.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 9th 2008 12:32PM

I'm a drummer. I'd play this drumkit over Rock Band's.

But can the guitars have more frets on more rows? ;P

Angry Edison @ Jan 9th 2008 12:47PM

Wyld Stallyns rules!
Be excellent to each other, and...party on dudes!

Wonder what the tipping point is in the whole Rock Band vs. real band question? Sure, at some point we'll have enough "real" peripherals that we can all play the real thing - especially when it comes to drums.

A real drum set might cost less than such a glorious gaming kit. But as it was said, how can you put a price on rocking?

Bill @ Jan 9th 2008 1:16PM

Ummm.... I have a real band and we're going on tour in the summer. Yet after practice everyone comes over and we get loaded and play rock band all night long. Its two different things. If you don't play an instrument its ok to like Rock Band. If you do play an instrument, its OK TO LIKE ROCK BAND. Chill out, its just a game, and a fun one at that.

cjshrader @ Jan 9th 2008 1:30PM

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

Rollins @ Jan 9th 2008 1:16PM

It's too bad that Ion Audio's music equipment is low quality budget crap, for the most part. They produce a budget electronic drum kit that isn't worth the 200 bones it costs.

Gaslight Green @ Jan 9th 2008 1:54PM

In all this discussion of the drums, real, or not real, blah, blah, blah...everyone seems to have overlooked the nod to Ben Folds Five and their quintessential anthem for theatre and entertainment technicians "For Those Of Ya'll Who Wear Fanny Packs ." That "tasty, tasty hi-hat" is a direct quote from the lyrics of this song. Well played...