Rock Band 4 Drums

For those about to rock, please read the following instructionsIf Rock Band 4 is your first entry into the recently revived rhythm game franchise, congratulations! Not only are you in for, but you've officially got the easiest set-up out of everyone: Simply buy the Band-in-a-box bundle, insert the disc, maybe download a few extra tunes from the store, and you're all set. For those returning to Rock Band with their old instruments and downloaded tracks, it's a completely different story.Rock Band 4 makes a vast effort to let you use almost every single song or plastic instrument you've ever bought over the years, and while it's commendable what Harmonix has done to cater to a wide variety of returning customers, the sheer number of configurations makes things a bit complicated. And in order to consolidate things under the Rock Band 4 'platform' and bring them to Xbox One and PS4, some things had to be left by the wayside. If you're wondering what made the leap forward, what you'll have to re-buy, and what didn't make the cut, read on.Most of this information was provided courtesy of the and the. The Rock Band Music StoreGenerally, if you bought a song on the store as DLC, it'll make its way over to Rock Band 4, and you'll be able to redownload it for free. Harmonix has added hundreds of songs to the store pre-launch, and will continue to add more over the coming weeks.

So if your favorite song on the Xbox 360 hasn't shown up yet, give it some time. It'll most likely be there soon.Also, if a song on the store is asking you to pay money, but you know you've purchased it before, don't buy it again. Harmonix is still working out some kinks, and a few track packs haven't had their licenses transferred over yet (like the special Doors pack or the Rock Band 3 pre-order bundle). These songs will be made available to you eventually, so be patient - 1700+ songs is a lot to go through, and there are going to be a few hiccups until everything's running smoothly.Perhaps the most important thing to remember in all of this is that licenses only transfer between console families.

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Help needed Rockband drums on the rock band 4 Xbox. Newbie here - Hoping someone can assist as I have rock band 2 Drums! Plus using the legacy adapter on rock band 4. It appears everything connects but it wants me to press the menu button on the drum set so I play / drop In. All Rock Band drum kits outfit with four separate drums, each of which comes with a different color designed to correspond with the same color in the Rock Band video game. The kit may also include a foot pedal that adds additional bass to the music you play and clamps onto the bottom of the drum.

Xbox 360 licenses will only transfer to Xbox One, and PS3 licenses will only transfer to PS4. So if you bought all your Rock Band DLC on and Xbox 360, and you currently own a PS4, those tracks will not transfer over, and you'll either have to rebuy them all on your PS4 or pick up an Xbox One (which, ironically, might actually be cheaper for some people). Sorry Wii Rock Banders - since there's no Wii U version of Rock Band 4, and no way to transfer those licenses to either Xbox One or PS4, you're out of luck.

Rock Band NetworkIn addition to the main offering of DLC tracks that Harmonix themselves licensed and released, there was also a massive library of independently-created and published tracks made available in the Rock Band Network. RBN features over 2000 tracks from a wide variety of indie and major artists, from all corners of the globe - and as of launch, none of these tracks are making their way into Rock Band 4.The issue stems from the XNA framework these tracks used when RBN was active. XNA was a programming language created by Microsoft specifically to enable easy game creation on PC and Xbox 360.

Once Microsoft stopped supporting XNA, RBN all but shut down. And since neither the PS4 or Xbox One support this framework, porting these tracks over means recharting all of them specifically for Rock Band 4 - which opens up a whole new can of licensing worms.There's no official word on whether any of these songs will get brought back to Rock Band 4 through official means, let alone whether you'll be able to download them for free if you purchased them in the past. If support for any of these tracks comes to Rock Band 4, it'll be after launch.Exported songsIf you've exported tracks from any of the Rock Band games that let you do so, their songs will be available to play in Rock Band 4 after launch. Games that will allow you to import their songs into Rock Band include:-Rock Band-Rock Band 2-Lego Rock Band-Green Day Rock Band-Rock Band BlitzIf you haven't imported these tracks yet, you're probably out of luck. While you can currently export tracks from Rock Band (by paying a nominal fee) and Rock Band Blitz (by simply buying the game), Rock Band 2, Lego Rock Band, and Green Day Rock Band's export keys have expired, though a few of the songs from these games have been made available on the Rock Band Music Store.Rock Band games that cannot currently be exported include:-Beatles: Rock Band-Rock Band 3There are plans to allow players to export Rock Band 3's set list, though nothing concrete about how it will happen has been announced. If it comes, it'll be after launch - and hopefully soon, as Rock Band 3's set list was killer.Oh, and remember: certain songs from individual entries that wouldn't export due to licensing issues still won't be available in Rock Band 4.

Track PacksTrack packs are disc-based stand-alone expansions that provide fans with various bundles based on different musical genres. Track packs like the AC/DC Live Album or anything with the 'Track Pack' label on the case can also be exported as well, and since the songs from these discs are also featured in the Store, their export codes still work (well, all of the songs are in the store except the AC/DC Live Album because the band has this weird rule about not selling singles so the only way to get it is by buying the disc and dear God why is this so confusing). As long as the code hasn't been used before, they should still be valid, and if you can find a good deal on them, it's a good way to beef up your library.Update: According to, the AC/DC Live Track Pack isn't available yet in the Rock Band 4 Music Store, but it should be when the rest of the exportable tracks make their way up. Delisted tracksSometimes, Harmonix loses the rights to certain songs. It happens for a variety of reasons, but ultimately, it means that once it's delisted, you're no longer able to purchase that particular track.

If you bought it before it was delisted, you should still have access to it in Rock Band 4, even if it's been removed from the Store. And remember, if the song hasn't shown up in your library yet, give it some time before you go complaining to Harmonix. Instrument compatibilityHere's where things get really confusing. If you'd like to look at a very convoluted chart about what gear will and won't work in Rock Band 4, but the gist is this: most wired Rock Band controllers will work on PS4, but not on Xbox One. If you've got wireless PS3 controllers, they should work just fine on the PS4, since they just use Bluetooth signals. Wireless Xbox 360 controllers, however, require a special legacy adapter to read the signal, which you can buy separately at many fine retailers for $24.99. The Legacy adapter is also included with the disc-only version of Rock Band 4, but it increases the price by $20.Other things to note: The Rock Band 3 Keyboard is not compatible with Rock Band 4, as none of the songs have had their keyboard notes charted (I know, it really sucks).

The Rock Band 3 Pro Guitar is currently in testing, but not supported. Guitar Hero 2 controllers are currently in testing as well. Singstar and Lips microphones are not supported. That hugely expensive ION Drum Kit?

Compatible on PS4, not on Xbox One (it's wired). Rock Band 4 includes support for the cymbal add-on for the drums, but not for the stage kit (aka home-grade fog machine and strobe light), though support for the latter might be coming post-launch.

In 2007, Rock Band was a triumph. It turned music-rhythm games, which were focused almost entirely on an intense, feverish show of dexterous prowess, into a smooth, laid-back experience. You could care about your high score, about nailing a performance, but both of these aspects took a back seat to just experiencing music with a group of people you enjoyed hanging out with. Players wanted to party with their music, not grind it out, and Rock Band gave them this.Then a not-so-chill cold war broke out between Guitar Hero and Rock Band, sequels saturated the market with games (and people’s houses with plastic instruments), and rhythm games went comatose around 2010. Five years later, we have Rock Band 4 (out tomorrow on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and this review covers both versions), a game whose existence seems almost necessary; Rock Band’s biggest strength had always been its enormous catalog of songs, which would make the move from sequel to sequel. Bringing that into the new generation, then, sounds like a no-brainer.And that’s what Rock Band 4 is: a no-brainer.

And that’s not always a good thing.Check out our for past game reviews.What you’ll likeRock Band is still relevantDo people still care about music games? At a time when streaming services have made music more disposable, more of a backdrop to our lives than ever, the idea of sitting down and focusing our attention on a single song seems like a relic.

But mimicking the notes of our favorite musicians, of perfecting the toughest part of a song, of getting a better sense of how the music we love is put together — all of this still works, and it makes for a damn good time when everything’s in motion.I had my doubts about whether I’d still enjoy moving my fingers around in time, pounding drum beats, or butchering the chorus to songs I’d never heard, but it didn’t take long to get back into it, to learn songs, go on tour, and just enjoy music for a while. As soon as the DLC servers went live, I combed through the entire back catalog to see if there were any gems I’d missed. I’ll probably end up buying a few more songs.Do people still care about music games? I hope so.Drums are still the best part of Rock BandMatching the guitar parts lick for lick is still fun, but drums have always been the best part of Rock Band, specifically because they create a more resilient illusion; I never once thought I’d have what it takes to play a real guitar in all my time playing with plastic controllers, and I can hear myself sing and know I sound off-key. But matching a drum beat in Rock Band still feels like the real deal, and I never had more false aspirations than when I got a 98 percent on drum beat even on Medium difficulty.

Rock Band wants you to pretend you’re a musician, and nothing accomplishes this better than drums do.Your DLC is safe and sound (mostly)The servers weren’t live for most of my time with Rock Band 4, but as soon as they were, I managed to get everything I’d purchased from the in-game store into the game. It had a few interface issues (not every song I’d bought comes up as “purchased” in the list of songs, and I had to remember and take a guess at a few), but it seems like just about every song has made the transition already, if not now, then in due time. This will probably be the biggest sticking point for a lot players; any long-term fumbles on this end could end up sinking the whole endeavor. But everything seems stable on Xbox One at this point. On the PS4 store, though, prelaunch seems a bit spotty. As for songs from previous games, those will be available in the coming weeks, likely through a separate import option. We’ll update this review after we check in at launch to see if everything’s up to speed.The new songs are greatRock Band 4’s song list is better than it has any right to be.

By now the world’s most popular songs have probably been taken, but as we dig into more modern music and less recognizable hits from established giants, the variety seems better than ever. Top songs in Rock Band 4 include St. Vincent’s “Birth in Reverse,” Queens of the Stone Age’s “My God is the Sun,” Elvis’s rendition of “Suspicious Minds,” and “Recession” by Jeff Allen. Few things are as subjective as people’s taste in music, but this feels one of the series’ most diverse soundtracks, both in terms of the genres and from a “is this fun to play?” perspective.

Image Credit: Harmonix What you won’t likeThe new additions aren’t enoughAs fun as Rock Band is, the whole experience feels like throwback. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that the whole experience was a little rote. The only real feature new to Rock Band 4 is the freestyle solo, which turns a song’s regular solo (in previous games, the parts where the board became blue) into a chance to change the song up a bit by strumming whatever notes come to mind, as long as you strum in tune with the music and switch between strumming freely and holding notes when told.It’s fun the first few times you do it, since anything you do ends up fitting the song. It does a good job of making songs you’ve played more than a dozen times sound new.

But I eventually turned them off, since you can still lose your note streak for doing poorly, and I prefer to know which notes I’m missing instead of having a vague idea of where I’m screwing up.Aside from that, this is just more Rock Band. In fact, it’s arguably less Rock Band than before (see my next point). You can modify songs with freestyle solos, but it has little else to encourage revisiting older favorites and to see if you can approach them from a new angle or with a new instrument to learn more about them. There’s no difference between older versions of the instruments and the new ones.This wouldn’t feel as dated if you couldn’t look just two weeks ahead at Guitar Hero Live and see its revamped fret layout and live-action backgrounds. The core is still solid, but if Harmonix decides to keep this up, it might want to look into re-upholstering the whole experience, if only to make it feel new.Say goodbye to your keyboardIf you figured yourself a keyboard aficionado when Rock Band 3 came out, you’re out of luck; Rock Band 4 won’t support the instrument for the foreseeable future. This is a shame, because they keyboard added something new to the series as it was on the downturn, and it’s sorely missed in a few of the songs on the new setlist.

It was probably the least popular instrument of the four, but it’s still sad to see it go. Also gone: the pro guitars from Rock Band 3.It’s maybe not the best time to start playing Rock BandIf you’re young enough to have never played Rock Band before, or dismissed the idea of music games as a fad until now, this is probably not the best time to start. Aside from a quick lesson on freestyle solos, it has no proper tutorial, nothing to teach you how to actually play any of these instruments aside from going through some of the easier songs on the easiest difficulty.Even more daunting is that if you didn’t invest heavily in DLC or have songs from previous games to import, your collection is going to feel miniscule compared to someone who’s been keeping up all this time. A lot of “important” songs are stuck on older games, and it’s going to be a pain to buy or download them for a single song you might want.

Without that huge library to kickstart your experience, you might wonder what the big deal about these games was in the first place. Image Credit: HarmonixThe cumbersome logisticsRock Band 4 asks you to overcome a bunch of issues in order to have the best possible experience. For one, its enormous amount of DLC might be as much of a burden as it is a strength. If you were one of the many PlayStation 4 owners who made the switch from the Xbox 360 to Sony’s box for this generation, you’ll have to buy an Xbox One to have access to your back catalog, since the DLC is platform-specific.It has few other minor problems. The PS4 only has two USB slots, and Rock Band supports three microphones, which means you’ll have to find an extra wireless microphone if you actually have three people who want to sing. This gives the slightest edge to the Xbox One version, which has three USB slots (though you’ll probably end up choosing the platform with all of your DLC on it, let’s be honest).

Finally, songs from Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Green Day: Rock Band, and Lego Rock Band will work, but not until some time after launch. And no one’s sure if Rock Band 3 songs will ever make it over.You might also wonder if it’s worth it to stock your house with another round of plastic instruments, which might be the biggest logistical hurdle of all.Who wants to play bass?Not me. But someone’s going to have to. ConclusionRock Band 4 feels like both a necessity and an afterthought.The band experience is intact and proves it’s not quite time for the music genre to recede into gaming history. And few would argue that bringing Rock Band’s enormous catalog to modern consoles isn’t a good idea.

But as gargantuan a task as bringing 1,700-plus songs into 2015 might be, the rest feels like the bare minimum: the Rock Band experience, except on newer hardware.It’s still a good proposition, but without something new to get people talking again, Rock Band 4 argues as strongly for the series’ depreciation as it does its relevance.Score: 72/100Rock Band 4 is out October 5 and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The publisher provided GamesBeat with copies of the game as well as guitars, drum kits, and microphones for both platforms for this review.