Drum Mods & Drum Gear Forum's Guide & FAQ

[SirPuttsAlot]

1.1: Welcome
Welcome to the Drum Mods & Drum Gear Forum. In an effort to help people quickly find information / relevant threads, I tried to pull together a list of topics and some information that are common questions. This is ever growing list and a work in progress so check back often

1.1.1: Recommend a Link Click Me

1.1.2: Post Idea's/Corrections/Feedback in here Click Me

1.1.2: What Goes Where?
Do you have a question about a products, modifications, etc, then you found the right place. Are you looking for information/feedback about Drumming in General, Setup/Placement of Pads, etc, then Drumming and Drum Theory is the place for you.

1.2: Table of Contents

• ION Drum Rock Information and Modification: Page 2
  
• MIDI / Drum Modules / e-Drums: Page 3
  
• Rock Band & GHWT Stock Kits: Page 4
  
• External Links/Misc Information: Page 5
  
• Update Information:

1.3: Thanks
I would also like to thank the many members of the Rock Band Forums, v-Drums Forums, and this forum who have over the past few months contributed greatly to the Rock Band community in researching, testing, and posting about different modifications which helped feed this Guide/FAQ.
_________________
Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.

[SirPuttsAlot]

2.1: Basic ION Connectivity
Simple Chart that show the connectivity of the Drum Triggers to the Game Console and the capabilities of the individual inputs. All the Inputs on the ION Drum Rocker will accept information from a Piezo except the Kick Input. This uses a On/Off switch like the Rock Band 1/2 drum sets. Any pedal that is compatable with the Rock Band 1 or 2 drums (except the Roadie Pedal) will work with the ION. If the unit does not come with a 1/4" adapter you will need to purchase a 1/8" Mono Jack to 1/4" Mono Plug Adapter to fit the ION inputs. Also visit section 2.3: Kick Trigger Solutions for more information regarding work arounds for Kick Triggers such as the Yamaha KP-65, Roland KD-8, etc.

Figure 1


2.2: What triggers Work with the ION Drum Brain?

2.2.1: Work Perfect - Pads

• Alesis DM5Pro
  
• Roland PD-5
  
• Roland PD-6
  
• Roland PD-7
  
• Roland PD-8
  
• Roland PDX-8
  
• Roland PD-80
  
• Roland PD-85
  
• Roland PD-100
  
• Roland PD-105
  
• Roland PD-120
  
• Roland PD-125
  
• Yamaha TP65
  
• Yamaha TP100
  
• Yamaha TP120SD
  
  2.2.2: Work Perfect - Cymbals
  
• Alesis DM5Pro
  
• Pintech TC Series
  
• Pintech PC Series
  
• Pintech VisuLite Series
  
• Yamaha PCY65, PCY130
  
• Roland CY-5
  
  2.2.3: Do Not Work, or Sensitivity Issues - Pads
  
• Pintech ConcertCast Series Pads
  (Issues Resolved with this Mod: Click Me)
  
  2.2.4: Do Not Work, or Sensitivity Issues - Cymbals
  
• Roland CY-8
  
• Yamaha PCY130S
  
• Yamaha PCY135
  
• Yamaha PCY150S
  
• Yamaha PCY155
  
• Yamaha RHH130
  
• Yamaha RHH135

2.3: Kick Trigger Solutions

• Kickbox & the following triggers:
  Roland KD-7, KD-8, KD-85, KD-120
  Yamaha KP65, KP-125
  
  
• Homemade KickBox for Roland KD-8 by KillerQ
  
• My dope kick trigger by jgrills

2.4: Hi-Hat Solutions

• Boots N Pants Hi-Hat Mod
  
• Hi-Hat Kickbox

2.5: I want to connect my ION/J5/ETC to my Sound Module Also
Simple enough with few different options. You can simply swap the cables each time you want to change between your Game Console Controller (ION/J5/Seth) or you can Bi-Wire them by purchasing an Y-Adapter such as the HOSA YPP-308.

Figure 2


2.6: Reviews/How-To's

2.6.1: Cymbals

• Pintech TC 10" e-cymbal with Ion Kit (Review, Instructions, Video) by DavidShek
  
• Pintech VisuLite Cymbals by DavidShek
  
  2.6.2: Pads
  
• Roland PDX-8 w/ Ion Drum Rocker: A How-To Video (install, noise, rebound) by DavidShek
  
• ION Drum Rocker Mesh Head Replacement by karmajack
  
  2.6.3: Kick Triggers:
  
• Yamaha K65 Kickpad/Pearl P120P Bass Pedal Combo by OhioBuckeye
  
• Roland KD-8, Kickbox, Ion Drum Rocker and you! A how-to video By DavidShek
  This is a video on how to hook up a kick pedal to a Roland KD-8, and then how to connect that to a Kickbox and then the Kickbox into the Ion Drum Rocker controller. These same instructions also apply to connecting the Kickbox to the Rock Band 1 and 2 drums, only you need to use a 1/8" plug instead of 1/4". If you use the Guitar Hero: World Tour drums, this will work as well, but you don't need the Kickbox.
  

  Jump to Youtube

  
  
  The Kickbox is necessary for this setup because the KD-8 does not send out the correct signal for the Ion controller to recognize as a kick drum hit for the game (it needs an ON/OFF signal just like the RB1/2 drums). So the Kickbox translates the piezo signal from the KD-8 into an ON/OFF signal that the Ion controller will recognize.
  

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Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.

[SirPuttsAlot]

3.1: Guitar Hero World Tour Drums Connectivity and Configuration:

3.1.1: How To Build Your Own:
Taken from Step By Step - GHWT Drums To Rack Mount Midi Box For E-Drums by Doc_SoCal


3.1.2: How Does It Work:
The Guitar Hero World Tour Drums accepts MIDI Notes through the MIDI input and maps/translates the MIDI note to button/input the Gaming Console under understands. The GHWT Drums will only map the following:

RockBand Settings:

• RED - MIDI Note 38
  
• YELLOW - MIDI Note 46
  
• BLUE - MIDI Note 48
  
• GREEN - MIDI Note 45
  
• ORANGE - MIDI Note 36
  
  Guitar Hero World Tour Settings:
  
• RED - MIDI Note 38
  
• YELLOW - MIDI Note 46
  
• BLUE - MIDI Note 48
  
• GREEN - MIDI Note 45
  
• ORANGE - MIDI Note 49
  
• PURPLE - MIDI Note 36
  
  Rock Band Settings for Simmons Kits:
  
• RED - Voice 18
  
• YELLOW - Voice 26
  
• BLUE - Voice 28
  
• GREEN - Voice 25
  
• ORANGE - Voice 16
  
  NOTE: The Default MIDI channel for percussion instruments is MIDI channel 10 and the only Channel that the GHWT Drums will accept. Ensure that you are transmitting on Channel 10 when using the GHWT Drums as a Bridge for your Sound Module to your gaming console.

3.1.2.1: Typical RB Mapping:

• RED/MIDI Note 38 - Snare
  
• YELLOW/MIDI Note 46 - HHC, Tom1
  
• BLUE/MIDI Note 48 - HHO, Tom2, Ride
  
• GREEN/MIDI Note 45 - Tom3, Crash
  
• ORANGE/MIDI Note 36 - Kick

3.1.2.2: Capabilities in Rock Band:
Regardless of the logic and advanced features built into your Drum's Sound Module, you are limited to the capabilities of the GHWT Drums for play within Rockband. This Means:

• No Cymbal Sound Support: Unlike the ION, RB2 Kit with Cymbals, etc, the GHWT does not differentiate between the triggers, so green will always sound like a Tom in the game regardless the trigger you have mapped to it.
  
  
• No Velocity Information: The GHWT drum does not support sending velocity information to RB, so the capabilities are equal to that of of the RB1 drums.

3.1.3: Flow of Information:
The diagram below shows the basic flow of information from the Drum Trigger to the Console, I used the Roland TD-3 in this example. The functionality of your kit will depend on the amount of logic included in the TRIGGER -> MIDI CONVERSION system of the sound Module.

Figure 3


3.2: Do-It-Yourself MSA-P Controller
External Link (Rock Band Forums): Rock Band with Electronic Drums (HOWTO)

3.2.1: How Does It Work:
Coming Soon

3.2.2: What You Need:
Coming Soon

3.3: MIDI Rocker for Rock Band
Product Link: MIDI Rocker by Bytearts

3.2.1: How Does It Work:
Coming Soon

3.4: Which Drum Modules Support Which Common Rock Band MIDI Functions?


3.4.1: MIDI Mapping Workarounds
So my Roland Module does not support mapping HHO/HHC to Blue/Yellow or my Yamaha DTXplorer is on MIDI lockdown? You can overcome some limitations in your module by adding an additional unit, such as the MIDI Solutions Event Processor to properly map the MIDI Notes to the GHWT MIDI Passthrough as follows:

Figure 4


3.4.1.1: Related Discussions:
Mapping HH OPEN to Blue on TD-3 by Bonet
Spoke to the MIDI SOLUTIONS people DM5/TD-3 Fix by Bonet
Possible solution for drum brains w/ fixed midi by mikehrz
Edrum monitor tutorial by mikehrz

3.4.2: MIDI Notes vs Drum Voices
3.4.2.1: Yamaha DTXpress IV:
The Following Kit will allow Yamaha DTXpress IV users to send the correct MIDI Sounds to the GHWT MIDI Passthough while outputting the correct Drum Voices. At a high level, you configure Layer A to with voices that will send the correct notes and set the Volume to 0. Layer B sends the correct drum voices to the audio out but does not have the correct MIDI Notes. I selected drum voices from the Procusion group for Layer A to ensure there was no conflict. Layer B is based off the Default Kit #2 Maple Custom, but you can use any voices you want.
Figure 5:


Figure 6


3.5: Product Reviews
Yamaha DTXpress IV Special V2: First Impressions by SirPuttsAlot
Roland TD-3SW: User Review by SirPuttsAlot
Roland vs Yamaha & Bang for the Buck by SirPuttsAlot
_________________
Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.

[SirPuttsAlot]

This Section is under construction
4.1: Rock Band 1 Drums:
4.1.1: Hardware

• Drum Model Guide by Project_Mercy (Rock Band Forums)

4.1.2: Known Issues

4.1.3: Modifications

• The original, QM set, Sock Mod by deepbluevibes (Score Hero)
  
• Sensitivity Mod (aka "Penny Mod") for EL Type Drum by Siberian (Score Hero)
  
• RB Pedal guts in a GHWT Pedal Mod by ImaCarrot (Score Hero)

4.2: Rock Band 2 Drums:
4.2.1: Hardware

• RB2 EL/SL Drum Comparison (With Pictures) by Plaguefox (Score Hero)
  
• Your RB2 Drums and You - A walk around, in, and through by TNTX (Score Hero)

4.2.2: Known Issues

• Bubble's in Drum Head. How To Eliminate by mnwildguy24 (Score Hero)

4.2.3: Modifications

• AC Adapter Mod for RB2 Drums by dovanon (Rock Band Forums)
  
• RB Pedal guts in a GHWT Pedal Mod by ImaCarrot (Score Hero)

4.3: Guitar Hero: World Tour Drums:
4.3.1: Hardware

4.3.2: Known Issues

• Drum problems? Download the Drum Tuning Kit from Red Octane by BriGuy (Score Hero)

4.3.3: Modifications
_________________
Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.

[SirPuttsAlot]

Is Trigger X Louder than Trigger Y?
Rock Band Drum Pad Noise Comparison Video by DavidShek

Jump to Youtube

Which Kick Trigger is Better, the Roland or the Yamaha?
KD-8 vs. KP65 comparison by DavidShek

Jump to Youtube

Misc Mods By Our Hard Core Members
Need more E-Cowbell? by karmajack

External Links:
Score Hero Drum Modding 101
_________________
Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.

[SirPuttsAlot]

UPDATE: 02/09/2009

• Added Section 3.2: How Does It Work
  
  UPDATE: 02/10/2009
  
• Added Section 2.1: Basic ION Connectivity
  
• Added Section 2.5: I want to connect my ION/J5/ETC to my Sound Module Also
  
  UPDATE: 02/16/2009
  
• Updated Figure 4
  
• Updated Section 2.2.1: Included Alesis DM5Pro and link to review
  
• Updated Section 2.2.2: Included Alesis DM5Pro and link to review
  
  UPDATE: 02/18/2009
  
• Updated Section 3.2.1: Added figure 5
  
  UPDATE: 02/21/2009
  
• Added Section 3.1.1
  
• Updated Section 3.2
  
  UPDATE: 02/22/2009
  
• Updated Section 2.6.3
  
• Added Section 3.2
  
• Added Section 3.3
  
• Added Section 3.4: I collapsed misc information about MIDI workarounds into a single section
  
  UPDATE: 04/04/2009
  
• Added Section 3.1.2.1
  
• Added Section 3.1.2.2

_________________
Check out the Drum Mods & Drum Gear FAQ for quick answers to common questions.