ION Drum Rocker: Unboxing and initial impressions
Over the past week, we've had a chance to check out ION's premium Rock Band 2 drum set, the Drum Rocker (We've played it once before at E3 2008). We're waiting for a copy of RB2 for our final impressions; in the meantime, here are our initial thoughts of the set with the original Rock Band.
- Our order arrived in two boxes weighing in at 33 lbs. and 6 lbs., respectively. The lighter box contained the third cymbal and colored discs to put on all three cymbals for differentiation.
- Total time to unbox: 20 minutes (although, to be fair, we were taking a lot of pictures). That said, total time for setup (no camera usage) was close to an hour, with a large amount of time spent trying to screw in the cymbal clamps. Just another 2 or 3 mm on the screw length and we would've had a much easier time here.
- Protip: Make sure you screw everything in very tight, or you'll be having to either pause the game to make fixes mid-song or learn to adjust to the added difficult of a drooping tom or cymbal. Even then, adjustments will have to be made to get the toms placed just right.
- The pads are very well constructed, quiet and very responsive, although we found them susceptible to catching dust. Buy yourself a lint roller!
- The kick pedal, too, feels sturdier and and better constructed for quicker notes. That said, it's also a bit noisier.
- At least with Rock Band 1, the cymbals proved quite unresponsive, and no matter how hard we hit them, it only seemed to register about 65% of the time. It was especially noticeable going through "Tom Sawyer" on expert.
- Like we did at E3, we still have our reservations about the novelty of the cymbals.
- This is a minor quip, but one thing we liked about the RB set is that each tom gave off a slightly different noise when hit. That's not the case here, where every pad makes the same thud.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hangster @ Aug 25th 2008 4:47PM
Is it really worth it for a video game accessory? I'd rather get some real drums
jsn @ Aug 25th 2008 4:51PM
They are real drums. You buy a drum brain or a midi converter and some software and they're REAL e-drums. It's the same pads and such used in the Simmons SD5 and a variety of other sets. It's a solid entry level set with a custom interface for consoles.
Spooka @ Aug 25th 2008 4:53PM
For $200, I'd rather *not* get some real drums.
Dirty @ Aug 25th 2008 5:00PM
Thats still not a "real" drum, unless it can makes sounds without the assistance of a drum brain, its not real.
jsn @ Aug 25th 2008 5:12PM
Dirty: they're still real e-drums. They just don't come with everything you need to play without the game.
kaneda @ Aug 25th 2008 5:46PM
but, he didn't say he would rather get real 'e'-drums.
Conor @ Aug 25th 2008 5:49PM
I agree!
Or get some V-drums,they rock.
These game ones try to mimic them.
DarkNessBear @ Aug 26th 2008 1:35AM
Uhm, if you think you need to own a REAL drum set to be a REAL drummer then you are an idiot. Most professional drummers use an electric drum set to practice with. Even my Drum teacher (who is a professional drummer and has performed in many of places) uses an electric set. Although his is 2500 bucks.
Makes more sense to own an EDRUM set if you are serious about drumming; you can listen through headphones, you can change the kit sounds (every drum set in one), you can run music tracks while playing the drums to practice specific songs and you can record your own beats.
EDRUM > > > > > > Real Drums (for practice). Keep your real drum sets at the gigs or at storage.
TiE23 @ Sep 10th 2008 11:24PM
I have a friend who has a real ION set before even RockBand came out. RockBand came out, he plays the crap out of it on drums (top 550 scorer in 360 leader boards) - his old ION set is a pile of junk due to age and wear and tear, ION announces a RB2 drum set, he craps his pants and gets it, he's the perfect example. So it's useful to the very serious drummers, don't dis it, if you want it, you're glad it's there... really.
Mamba @ Aug 25th 2008 4:48PM
oh dear
[.sm0ke.] @ Aug 25th 2008 4:55PM
Too many cables...
edgore @ Aug 25th 2008 5:05PM
No, you just don't have enough roadies.
(that said, I thought for a moment that there was some sort of Cthulhu product tie-in when I saw the number of cables)
[.sm0ke.] @ Aug 25th 2008 5:21PM
Oh man, that'd be nice... I need roadies.
Jakka(Naked Peach Brigade) @ Aug 25th 2008 6:05PM
You can keep all the roadies. I get the groupies!
Marty @ Aug 25th 2008 5:03PM
I'm not a big fan of the "go out and play a real instrument" argument, because it stems from a misunderstanding of rhythm games, but come on... this is taking things a little bit too far, methinks.
Bass Masterson @ Aug 25th 2008 5:08PM
Definitely - particularly considering both manufacturers of major rhythm games now want to do 'make your own music' games. It's well beyond ridiculous.
Bakkster @ Aug 25th 2008 6:27PM
Considering the ION kit is aimed (mostly) at players who have gotten good at the game and plan to make the jump to actually playing drums, the argument doesn't hold water any more.
"Learn to play noob"
"Guess what? I am!"
And, speaking as someone who has done so, the drums in rock band get you pretty close to being able to play real drums. All you need to do is learn to play without the scrolling gems and control your tempo and volume.
Bass Masterson @ Aug 25th 2008 8:31PM
... and learn syncopation, four-limb independence and coordination, dynamics, phrasing ...
Whacking plastic plates in time to colored notes on a screen is no closer to playing real drums than it is to playing a real guitar.
Titanium_Orchid @ Aug 25th 2008 9:19PM
@Bass Masterson
Have you ever watched someone playing the drums? Whacking things in rhythm is what a drummers job is.
Spartacus @ Aug 25th 2008 10:00PM
baakster,
Yeah, as a guy who has played percussion for over 12 years, I actually refuse to play rock band because I'm afraid it will corrupt my actual drum technique.
Thee is so much difference between these rhythm based games and playing a real drum set I can't even fathom how you could make that argument except out of sheer ignorance. Let me point out just a few things that rock band drums do not have in common with real drums.
1. Cross sticking. The right hand plays the hi-hat over the top of the left hand playing the snare.
2. Hi-hat control pedal. The right hand must coordinate with the left foot for proper technique and sounds.
3. Cymbal dynamics. Let's get something straight here, even the most expensive e-drums (Roland V-Drums etc) are not even in the same league as real (acoustic) drum sets, let alone this entry level midi setup. If you learn on a cheap e-drum, you will stunt your growth as a percussionist because of the extreme limitations of these synthetic emulators. Cymbal rolls, crescendos and clenches are just a few basic techniques that are difficult or impossible to accurately emulate on an electric kit.
I could go on and on, but I won't. I have played at near professional levels in percussion and am friends with a guy who travels the world playing for big name bands and concerts (Santana among others) specializing in hand percussion. E-drums are not considered "real" drums and I don't know of any professional drum instructor who would recommend learning on an electric kit. E-drums are reserved for special situations only, mainly in cases where sound control is an issue. The only application where e-kits are actually preferred over an acoustic kit is in electronica or rap music where the drums are almost replaceable with a beat box.
EppyKay @ Aug 26th 2008 12:52AM
@Spartacus
I have a few things to say to your argument.
1. Your argument about corrupting your real technique seems a bit out there. There are many guitar players out there, me included, who can separate the two activities. Hell even Slash is a fan of these games. Now I imagine thins are slightly different with the drums, but I don't understand how it could happen unless you totally stopped practicing on a real set and played Rock Band exclusively. Honestly it sounds like a bit of elitism on your part.
2. While I agree that the Rock Band and E-drums in general are no where near the real thing, Rock band can teach some very basic coordination to help you get started. I've seen it happen. I play rock band with my friend and his little brother and he started playing drums a while before Rock Band came out. He doesn't really have much access to a drum set outside of his lessons, but since he started playing Rock Band his actual drumming has improved at a way faster rate than before, mainly in his ability to control each limb independently. Granted he will need a real set to really train, but having access to some approximation has helped. And it certainly has not hindered as you claim it would.
A @ Aug 26th 2008 1:05AM
@ EppyKay
you missed his points. he says it will corrupt his technique, which has been refined over 12 years. He didn't say it wouldn't help someone who otherwise doesn't have drum access.
also, guitar in the game is about as removed from guitar in real life as possible. drumming is a lot closer. you can't compare the harm done from practicing drums wrong on rock band to the harm to guitar techinique from pressing buttons and wiggling a tab. The drums are much more likely to influence your actual playing.
imo as a guitarist.
Duke @ Aug 25th 2008 5:06PM
I just cant see getting something like that to put in my living room. The novelty just isn't there for me to get past rational.
thesimplicity @ Aug 25th 2008 5:14PM
When you guys test the MIDI functions, PLEASE test the velocity (127 levels?) and see what default channels it uses. Thanks!
Ross Miller @ Aug 25th 2008 7:00PM
Will do!
Shagittarius @ Aug 25th 2008 5:35PM
To me it looks like you've got the crash where the ride should be. But I guess if you keep the colors next to each other it'll make it easier (although less authentic) to play.
I suppose you can set up a kit however you want. This just wouldn't be a standard arangement.
Ross Miller @ Aug 25th 2008 7:00PM
When open hi-hat, closed hi-hat, and closed 1/32-note hi hats are all relegated to different pads anyway (blue, yellow a red, respectively), authenticity isn't exactly gonna happen anyway.
VaultICEE @ Aug 25th 2008 5:42PM
Unresponsive cymbals? That may be a problem, but we should wait to see if its just the drumset Joystiq received. I hope.
Anyways, did anybody hear about the Guitar Hero World Tour drums braking constantly at Leizpeg?
http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73432
Dr. @ Aug 25th 2008 5:44PM
Ross, you wouldn't happen to have any experience with a real (fake) electric kit, would you? I'm wondering how the quality and feel compares to that of a 'professional' kit.
Jakka(Naked Peach Brigade) @ Aug 25th 2008 6:06PM
Chances are it's shit.You don't need Ross to tell you that.
Ross Miller @ Aug 25th 2008 7:02PM
Compared to other e-drums I've played (admittedly not a conossieur, but I've wasted more than a few hours at the music stores), the pads are med-quality, certainly no mesh V-drum snare *drool* but pretty good for the price. I'm on the fence about the cymbals.
green11420 @ Aug 25th 2008 6:00PM
I have owned a $200 Ion drum set a while ago, that was really terrible. It had the same problem with unresponsive cymbals but it was for all pads too. I think that had more to do with the drum brain rather than the pads themselves. (Although the pads were really bad too.)
I've gotten a J5 Kickbox to hook up my Roland drum set to play Rock Band, so that should do.
Player1 @ Aug 25th 2008 6:01PM
You can buy that exact exact kick pedal on amazon right now. It's the Rock Band Roadie Drum Foot Pedal by Roadie Game Gear apparently. I wonder if ION just hasn't completed their own yet or what.
Fuelie79 @ Aug 25th 2008 6:10PM
That is one sexy drumset
John Mat Z @ Aug 25th 2008 6:46PM
This set is made by manufactured for Ion by Alesis, The pedal is there regular electronic drum pedal. All you need to do is add a brain and off you go. I will wait to pass judgment until mine arrives next month.
JohnHeist @ Aug 27th 2008 3:46AM
That IS a DM5 set, minus the brain.
I process Drum Returns at Musician's Friend, which involves opening and playing all electric drumsets.
That pedal is the exact same as the one in the Simmons DM5, and those are the same pads for drums and cymbals. The pedal is actually a hi-hat pedal though, which is odd.
It's a decent set, the pads have a pretty good feel to them.
Galdur @ Aug 27th 2008 10:47PM
what I wonder is If you can take the module from this set and plug it into a different electronic kit, so that for example if you already owned an electronic kit you could just buy the rockband module off ebay or something and then plug it in configure it and go.