Made my RockBand Drumset Real -- UPDATE With pics. - by Volitions Advocate
Volitions Advocate on 30/4/2010 at 06:40
I figured posting it in GenGaming is acceptable because we're talking about a game controller, if a Mod doesn't think so feel free to move it.
Nothing somebody else hasn't done before, but I think somebody here might find it fun to play with.
My drummer friend doesn't have the money to buy a nice Electric drum set (he's already got an insanely awesome acoustic set). He wanted one to augment his current setup with the ability to trigger samples and all sorts of other things.
Well we decided that since rock band drumsets are cheap and in good supply at any pawn shop or gamestop/EB that we should make them do what we want. So I fired up MaxMSP and got to work.
This is what came of it:
Inline Image:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs583.snc3/30739_385590053612_517473612_4003574_1327947_n.jpgand the finalized program:
Inline Image:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs563.snc3/30739_385737693612_517473612_4006293_6385953_n.jpgIts not done, its been an iterative process so far, I'm looking into what I need to do to create a system where he can load different samples in and save them in banks of presets, then use the dpad or start/select buttons to cycle through them. Right now you have to open each individual sample file every time you load the program. Cumbersome, but it works right now.
We're going to use it at our CD release party tomorrow night to test it out live. Should be awesome. Can't wait for the looks of disbelief.
If anybody wants a copy of the program PM me.
Aja on 30/4/2010 at 06:57
That's awesome. I don't know MAX/MSP at all, but I've decided I need to learn Pure Data. It's tricky, obtuse stuff, especially for a non-programmer like me, but so many of my favourite musicians are using it, and the idea of weird hardware interfaces like this sounds like too much fun to pass up.
Volitions Advocate on 30/4/2010 at 07:06
puredata is every bit as powerful as Max. its actually written by the same guy. Miller S. Puckette (MSP) you just dont get the user friendly interface or the presentation mode (the 2nd image above) You also don't get the ability to compile your patch as a program. If you need help, let me know, Im still a beginner but i'm learning as I go. Remember that especially with puredata the community will help, it's open source. and it works in linux too!
Aja on 30/4/2010 at 07:14
I would use MAX, but I can't afford the license. The presentation mode does seem useful, especially from a performance perspective (eventually I'd like to be running patches that receive guitar and keyboard signals for real time playing/recording). I suppose if I do end up getting into it, I could always coax one of my friends who's still in University to lend me their ID so I can get the academic price.
Muzman on 30/4/2010 at 07:54
This is one of those "Why has no one else thought of this?" sorts of things. Good stuff.
Console controller buttons respond to different levels of pressure don't they? Do Rockband drumkits retain this?
Volitions Advocate on 30/4/2010 at 13:47
no, most (probably every) game controller uses MIDI data which has room to carry a velocity value, but most don't. I know PS controllers do but I don't know of any others. These drumkits are quite cheaply made, and the pads are just extra big buttons, so the velocity is either off (0) or 100% on (128) which sucks as far as live performance is concerned but its still really cool. MIDI is so outdated... I don't know why we still use it.
Volitions Advocate on 30/4/2010 at 13:52
@ aja
don't worry so much about getting max. PureData is awesome. I started on it and the only reason I bought max is because I am a university student and I know that it will be useful to me in the future. I managed to a steal of a deal and got it for 250 bucks. I think normally its 800 or something like that. But PD does all the same stuff. and it's free. You just have to be able to memorize all your objects because it doesn't do the fancy stuff max does like auto complete or give you a prompt to choose what object you want. The nice thing about PD is that you can write a patch and you can give ti to anybody and they can run it and edit it. They just need to install PD as well. Learn on PD, you'll be better at this stuff if you do. Max is just for when you want to get lazy and / or start building real applications.
gunsmoke on 30/4/2010 at 14:56
*claps* good job, mate! Even if it isn't perfect in the end, it is still awesome that you made it as functional as you have.
hooded_paladin on 30/4/2010 at 18:08
How's the lag? I once hooked up a Keyboardmania controller (works just like a USB joystick with a bunch of keys) to a MIDI translator and a synth, but a couple 100 milliseconds of lag killed any usefulness of it. I think most of the lag came from the USB interface, but I'm not sure.
