GHWT drum tuning app now available, Red Octane shipping midi-USB cables for free
Well, dear readers, we've got good news and we've got bad news ... and then we've got good news again. The (first) good news -- the promised Guitar Hero: World Tour drum tuning application is now available for download on Red Octane's customer support site. The bad news is that the application requires you to connect your drum kit to your computer using a midi-USB cable, which we imagine few of you actually possess. The (second) good news -- Red Octane is shipping these cables, free of charge, to anyone who requests one on their support site.
We suppose it's bad news that we'll be waiting for these cables to ship before we can give our drum kits some much-needed sensitivity training -- on the other hand, the fact that we won't be dealing with any suggestive, RealDoll-sized replacement boxes (or the resulting judgment from nosy neighbors) is good news indeed.
[Thanks, Eric G.]
We suppose it's bad news that we'll be waiting for these cables to ship before we can give our drum kits some much-needed sensitivity training -- on the other hand, the fact that we won't be dealing with any suggestive, RealDoll-sized replacement boxes (or the resulting judgment from nosy neighbors) is good news indeed.
[Thanks, Eric G.]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Poke4Christ @ Nov 1st 2008 8:15PM
"the fact that we won't be dealing with any suggestive, RealDoll-sized replacement boxes (or the resulting judgment from nosy neighbors) is good news indeed."
Wow Joystiq. What has been on your mind recently? ;)
Chase @ Nov 2nd 2008 2:15AM
RealDoll giveaway for Joystiq readers?
Poke4Christ @ Nov 1st 2008 8:22PM
Oh, and there haven't been a lot of people using this yet, but the one that I had seen who used it said it completely fixed his problem and the drums were working great now. Anyone else already have a cable and have experienced the fix?
Tank @ Nov 1st 2008 8:28PM
Ordered mine on Thursday, and I wasn't given a tracking number so I have no idea when it'll be arriving.
Alex McKee @ Nov 1st 2008 8:31PM
Just requested one, don't even have Guitar Hero WT LOL
Hopefully my karma is not too adversely affected by this, I truely needed it, to hook up my ancient MIDI keyboard :)
Tank @ Nov 1st 2008 8:32PM
They ask you for your drum serial number.
Alex McKee @ Nov 1st 2008 8:34PM
Really? They didn't ask me.
Ignatius @ Nov 1st 2008 8:35PM
Free cables for everyooone! ;D
sqwarlock @ Nov 1st 2008 8:40PM
Didn't ask me either, and I requested one for the same reason.
Noshino @ Nov 1st 2008 8:49PM
If I don't get one because they ran out of them, I know who I'll blame >_>;
Obi-Habby @ Nov 1st 2008 8:59PM
This is great. I want GHWT and if the MIDI to USB arrives before I purchase it I won't have to wait around to tune the almost guaranteed to have a problem drum set. Red Octane has just guaranteed a purchase letting me get this without buying the product first.
Poke4Christ @ Nov 1st 2008 9:06PM
You pretty much have no room to ever complain about getting screwed over by big business when you do things like that to screw them over. You can explain it however you want, but that's just stealing right there.
Kevin PSN: Keviseg15 @ Nov 1st 2008 10:23PM
first thing that i did was order the cable just to have one as i dont even own the game ahaha
then i tried the disk but it asks for proof of purchase lmao!
KeenCommander @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:31AM
I could use the cable, but I'm not going to steal from them over it. That just doesn't seem right to me, especially since this is probably part of the reason so many companies are a pain about actually fulfilling their warranties.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:03AM
@ Tank
Earlier in the week they required the serial number, but they're processing it differently now.
Chase @ Nov 2nd 2008 2:14AM
You and me both, Alex. :x
Ghen @ Nov 7th 2008 2:27PM
and... now they're asking for serial again.
Poke4Christ @ Nov 1st 2008 9:17PM
Okay, I'm still standing behind what I said, but I want to apologize for being kinda rude about it. They aren't that expensive. You can probably get one for 15 bucks at your local music supply shop.
Haggard @ Nov 1st 2008 10:26PM
$15 was too much for some people to buy Braid, so I fear you're wasting your time here :P
Kspraydad @ Nov 1st 2008 9:25PM
And the Mac and Linux (and C64) users fix this how?
The package didn't say having a computer was a requirement to play this game did it?
ultimateidiot911 @ Nov 1st 2008 10:04PM
Well, for Mac users, they should have known that many softwares still lack mac support. They can also install vista using those emulation software.
Linux, emulation software.
Computer isn't a requirement, but fixing it is.
InfinityPlusOne @ Nov 1st 2008 10:07PM
I'm sure *somebody* you know out there uses a PC...
OM @ Nov 1st 2008 10:10PM
Mac owners also didn't know they would be buying defective drums that would require a PC to fix before they bought the game.
Ghen @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:22AM
Mac users should learn that they've had under 6% market share for well over 10 years. That's more than enough time to realize that (fuzzy math) 94% of programs released won't work and to find work-a-rounds.
Zac @ Nov 2nd 2008 10:34AM
I have a G5 mac workstation that can't run windows under emulation. Actually it might, but I'm not going through all that trouble to tune some drums that come broken. Activision has lost this sale.
ill trooper @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:44AM
"Mac users should learn that they've had under 6% market share for well over 10 years. That's more than enough time to realize that (fuzzy math) 94% of programs released won't work and to find work-a-rounds."
I agree about the work-arounds - there is an active dev community that will likely create a 'home-brew/shareware' OS X solution to this. But subtracting Mac's "6 percent" (actually more like 8 percent it seems: http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=9 ) from a full 100 percent representing all the personal computers in operation doesn't equal the percentage of all programs that are available for Windows. It only equals the relative percentage of remaining personal computers.
Many companies support both platforms, so it's not as clear-cut as subtracting Macintosh market share from the total to determine the percentage of software available.
By the way, the 'tuning your drums' here is not really what I expected when I read that headline. I thought it meant you might be able to change the pitch of your drums in the 'make your own song' mode.
InfinityPlusOne @ Nov 1st 2008 10:06PM
Gotta love the PNP (+ - +) Sandwich. I just put my order in for the cable. Hopefully it comes pretty quick as I can't play this on medium drums without it.
But seriously, RealDoll? Why'd you have to go there?
Tenchan4 @ Nov 1st 2008 10:18PM
Owner: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: [worried] Ooooh, that's bad.
Owner: But it comes with a free Frogurt!
Homer: [relieved] That's good.
Owner: The Frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: [worried] That's bad.
Owner: But you get your choice of topping!
Homer: [relieved] That's good.
Owner: The toppings contains Potassium Benzoate.
Homer: [stares]
Owner: That's bad.
Kevin PSN: Keviseg15 @ Nov 1st 2008 10:24PM
ok....
Brett from Atlanta @ Nov 1st 2008 10:58PM
Uhhhhhhhhh, ummmmmmmm, what the fuck?
Poke4Christ @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:56AM
For those that don't get it it's a quote from the simpsons Halloween special (either season 4 or 5). Homer buys a krusty doll for bart that trys to kill him. Another quote I like from that same episode is:
"Marge, the doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me."
Is it bad I knew all that from heart?
Markez @ Nov 2nd 2008 3:52AM
No, it's not bad you knew that all by heart. I think I died a little inside when seeing the first two responses.
"It was worth sneaking in to town. That was some good corn."
harvsorrow @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:46PM
hahaha! I love it! One of the best Halloween quotes.
Are there actually some young 'uns on here who are too young to know this quote? *gasp* That's a little scary 0_0
Mrblonde @ Nov 1st 2008 10:20PM
Still say they should have released a patch that puts this app in the game so you don't have to hook it up to your PC.
Poke4Christ @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:58AM
Very good point. The 360 has a USB port. If it can't be done over the wireless connection get people the cable and let them calibrate it on the 360.
NicoloPicolo @ Nov 2nd 2008 11:42AM
I'm sure they did that because they don't want to patch for PS3, Wii and 360.
This way they release only one patch.
But they forgot MacOs and Linux (maybe wine will help here)...
RyFar206 @ Nov 1st 2008 10:31PM
I sure wish there was something like this for the Rock Band kit. I need to squeeze out a bit more life from mine before I get the Ion kit in December.
mr mobius @ Nov 1st 2008 10:34PM
Damn you! That wikipedia link sent me on a rather creepy series of wikipedia links that I'll not repeat here.
Leroy Jenkems @ Nov 1st 2008 10:45PM
Does anyone know when the standalone drum set and guitars will be shipping?
matt @ Nov 1st 2008 11:06PM
i already got my USB MIDI cable..I ordered it Monday.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:47AM
Thanks for sharing!
Ghen @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:23AM
tell us how it works.
cingular#1 @ Nov 2nd 2008 7:36PM
ok I will post some pics and impressions tomorrow. I am so busy with studies.
Wiifan13 @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:16AM
will this work the same for the Wii drum kits?
Linkman2004 @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:30AM
It works with the drums from any version since they all have MIDI ports on them.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:46AM
Well glad I just bought the game and used my original RB drums. I was considering upgrading but it's just way to much money to fork over on fake instruments. I already have 3 guitars!
Stebo @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:15AM
You think the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows will work for this application, or is the midi to usb required?
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:26AM
they probably use different protocols.
serotoninzero @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:41AM
Do you need the midi-usb cable if you already have midi in on your soundcard?
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 2nd 2008 3:30AM
1) Crank all pads to 11
2) Fix everything
3) RAWK OWT