Unused RB2 drum port to unlock hidden feature

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 4th 2008 at 3:25PM }

Well, well, well. As it turns out, Harmonix hasn't been entirely honest about the unused input on the back of the Rock Band 2 drum set. Sandwiched between the orange kick pedal and multi-colored cymbal ports (see above), the extra jack was initially explained away as an expansion port for a second kick pedal, as corroborated by a review guide sent to OXM UK: "It was stated in prior interviews/demos that this input was a jack for the second kick pedal," begins the explanation, before ending with the kicker, "which is not the case." Dun-dun-dunnnh.

The guide continues, teasing that Harmonix "has not revealed the functionality for this input," which will "be announced at a later date, along with further details for double-kick functionality." So ... the port is for a second kick pedal, after all? Along with a ... what? Perhaps Harmonix is vying to make good on one of a couple shelved Guitar Hero add-ons? You tell us.

Tags: drums, harmonix, rock-band, rock-band-2

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

syrik zero @ Dec 4th 2008 3:33PM

3.5 to midi?

Bakkster @ Dec 5th 2008 1:50PM

Wrong input type. Definitely not MIDI.

JohnMazz @ Dec 4th 2008 3:33PM

Port for a Camera for music videos?

Or maybe Pyrotechnics?

oolz @ Dec 4th 2008 4:05PM

I'm pretty sure this was confirmed months ago (when rb2 drum units were being sent to reviewers) to be a hi-hat expansion. The reason for this is that when you add the cymbals, it throws things off. Going from the yellow (which is usually closed HH in the game) to blue (open HH) is awkward. The HH pedal would essentailly turn yellow into blue while the pedal is held down.

Viridium @ Dec 4th 2008 4:15PM

Shouldn't it be the other way around, oolz? If yellow is usually a closed hat and blue is open, then shouldn't you have to lift your foot from this hypothetical hihat pedal in order to go from yellow to blue?

SAKY @ Dec 4th 2008 4:25PM

Maybe the port is for *gasp* NOTHING! Just like the telco jack on the GH2 guitars.

Yeah I know those were supposed to be for effects pedals. I kid, I kid. :) Maybe Harmonix will do something with the spare jack this time around.

Conbus @ Dec 5th 2008 12:48PM

hmm, I was always under the impression that yes, the yellow pad was the closed hi-hat, but that the blue pad was the ride cymbal. It would be pretty great if the jack was for another pedal which would double as hi-hat control and 2nd kick drum though.

neko to kuruma @ Dec 4th 2008 6:40PM

@Viridium: You're right, that would be the case. I really hope that this is what the port is for. Sometimes it feels really awkward when listening to the song to hit another cymbal. And I always lift my foot instinctively anyway. I just wish they would fix the "play hi-hat notes on the red pad" thing because it throws me off when I have a perfectly good yellow cymbal sitting in front of me.

Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 3:35PM

Cowbell socket?

Deeznuts420 @ Dec 4th 2008 3:37PM

http://www.ringmemorabilia.com/cowbellrr9.gif

Tez @ Dec 4th 2008 3:38PM

Who cares what else it does. Give us the freaking double kick pedal.

Lord Negatron @ Dec 4th 2008 3:38PM

i'll go for the 2nd kick, so i can flail about off beat for when they add Death Metal as DLC.

Lamb of God anyone?
Napalm Death?

Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 3:41PM

Laid to Rest is available as DLC

Ager @ Dec 4th 2008 3:44PM

I will cry if their death metal choice is Lamb Of God, it should be Carcass, Entombed, Death, Solstice or Autopsy. For sho'

CynicalStrike @ Dec 4th 2008 3:48PM

How about Nile, Decapitated, At The Gates, or Nasum? That would be too good.

Madeira @ Dec 4th 2008 3:55PM

ZZZZzzzz

Wintersun, Emperor, Lykathea Aflame

meatee @ Dec 4th 2008 3:55PM

I've only heard of a couple of these bands, but I gotta say those are some of the most awesomest band names ever.

syrik zero @ Dec 4th 2008 4:40PM

Sounds like names from some LARPing event or something.

I just watched Role Models by they way.

Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 4:55PM

I think there's an At The Gates song available as DLC too. Much like the Lamb of God one I mentioned above, it's no fun to play, but at least it might cater to your ears a little.

Personally I want more Boston and some Pink Floyd.

Lord Negatron @ Dec 4th 2008 5:06PM

@ Haggard

I just threw the names out there from casual listening, im not BIG into death metal. Just figured not enough songs utilize the need for a 2nd kick.

neko to kuruma @ Dec 4th 2008 6:43PM

I know I'm nitpicking here, but Lamb of God is NOT death metal. They should be replaced by Cryptopsy on your little list. ;)

chipotlehero @ Dec 5th 2008 2:21PM

You could do all of the songs in the game with the one kick pedal as they are right now. As easy as you guys think adding a second kick pedal in would be, i bet you it would just make things harder, balancing 4 limbs instead of making 3 go slightly faster?

anyway im all for some cannibal corpse and circle of dead children dlc!

Sam @ Dec 4th 2008 3:39PM

Its as close to confirmed as its going to get on the rock band forums that its a high-hat pedal jack.

Most likely blue notes (for open high hats) will be mapped back to yellow (closed high hat if you have this extra pedal, and will appear as "hammer on" notes if they need to be open or closed.

I greatly look forward to it being a rock band drum enthusiast, but i wonder how my ion is going to work with that

Alex @ Dec 4th 2008 4:02PM

Can you post the link to that particular thread? I would be quite excited to see a high-hat attachment, but wouldn't it work just like the mad catz cymbal attachments? I can only see it working as another way to hit the blue notes. Maybe they could patch it to detect one way or the other, which would be quite impressive.

So far this sounds like the most plausible choice to me. I use Reason 4 and Sonar on an almost daily basis with my own recordings and I don't think it's possible to send a midi signal over a 3.5. Besides Harmonix has been quoted as saying any music creation items they do in the future, will result in a stand alone game/product.

CB @ Dec 4th 2008 3:39PM

Wasn't there an unused port on the 360's X-Plorer guitar as well? Whatever came of that?

Jim Halpert DM @ Dec 4th 2008 3:50PM

There's one on the Les Paul as well, though it's quite well hidden. (Just found it yesterday actually. lol)

Jawmuncher @ Dec 4th 2008 4:45PM

Yeah I know? What's the deal with those guitars?
All that can fit in that slot is a phone cord

Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 6:38PM

It's so that your guitar can enter premium rate phone-in competitions, obviously.

RyFar206 @ Dec 4th 2008 3:40PM

I could really use double bass for that WTF?!? section in Prequel to the Sequel (you know which one).

Dirty @ Dec 4th 2008 3:44PM

Groupie sex doll attachment?

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Dec 4th 2008 4:11PM

I.
Need.
Gong.

Squirtforce @ Dec 4th 2008 4:43PM

DONG is spelled with a D.

syrik zero @ Dec 4th 2008 5:58PM

Should start with a B

Vol @ Dec 4th 2008 4:13PM

My leg is already tired from ONE kick pedal.

T @ Dec 4th 2008 4:22PM

Two kick pedals would make your life easier, as you wouldn't have to bounce one foot up and down as much....just learn to alternate feet.

It's a similiar reason behind alt-strumming on guitar: Less wear on the hand/arm from down-strumming so quickly.

Shagittarius @ Dec 4th 2008 4:48PM

Usually the 2nd kick is only used for situations where it wouldn't be possible (or almost impossible) to achieve the same effect. I can't think of any drummers who use a dual kick pedal set up jsut to reduce the frequency of kicks on their right foot. Usually they are too busy working the high-hat with their left...

Not saying it doesnt happen just that your example of usage would lead to extremely poor technique.

FYIan @ Dec 4th 2008 4:20PM

I'm thinking the double bass will be as easy as adding a splitter. Since it won't matter what bass pedal you're hitting, I don't see why having two pedals going into the same jack wouldn't work. In fact, if that's a standard connection, you can probably do it right now.

Shagittarius @ Dec 4th 2008 4:50PM

The problem is with a splitter one pedal has to be 'off' before the second can be recognized as 'on'. This doesn't sound like a pain but with tripplets or even moderately fast double bass drumming detection would be terrible.

You need a 2nd port to do double bass properly, but I'm hoping this is for a highhat foot switch anyways.

Lord Negatron @ Dec 4th 2008 5:13PM

@Shagittarius

Woah ho hoh! Mr RockBand music man to the rescue!
Who'd a thought? You either play some intstrument.

ORrr you have a setup like a street performer in Time Square.

Kick your leg which pulls the string to the Bass drum on your back, while strumming your Strato-Harmonica-dual neck piano key-flute caster.(guitar thing. Humming the tune at the same time, while tapping the hi hat on your head.

^_^

FYIan @ Dec 5th 2008 1:39AM

I don't actually own Rock Band, so I don't know the specifics ( I play it at a friend's house sometimes ). I was guessing that when you pressed the bass down, it sent a signal that the bass pedal was pressed, but it didn't continue to send a signal, nor did the game wait for the "pedal up" signal. Since, to my knowledge, there's no reason to ever hold the bass pedal down, I just assumed the game worked that way. If it doesn't work that way, and the game knows that you're holding the bass pedal down, then yeah, you're definitely right, but if the game just waits for a "pedal down" signal and then goes on about its merry way, then a splitter should work fine.

Bakkster @ Dec 5th 2008 1:56PM

The bass pedal is a switch. When you've pressed it down, the switch is closed. If you use a splitter, the first switch must be opened (lift your foot) for the second pedal to make any difference.

However, it is possible with a bit of circuitry to change this constant signal into a pulse, letting you use 2 pedals properly through one input. I'm guessing this would be HMX's solution to double bass.

jory @ Dec 17th 2008 4:23PM

I have done this with a splitter and was really excited about it.... You'd think it would work well but like the other guy said only one can be on at a time so you can't hold one pedal down or alternate well, it just doesn't read your movement correctly... *sigh* if only.... oh well, it's still nice to be able to give my right foot a break every once in a while