Megadrum + Guitar Hero World tour

[der Papst]

OK, then we immitate a PS3-Drumset, so PS3 AND PC is able to handle it

my idea:
A module with midi in and usb, supplied over usb, possible mounted in the the same housing like megadrum, so we just need a second usb.
An ATMega 8 should be enough for converting midi to hid, right?

[speterman]

I think is easier to modify the source code of the PIC midi over usb converter.

I have never developped software for a PIC IC, but I have some experience with developping usb devices on ARM7 ICs.
The only thing needed, on the startup routine of the pic, is detect the position of one switch ( to switch functionality between MIDI-OVER-USB and HID) and then continue with the choosen usb mode.

We need to know the "hid-report" structure used by the GHWT drum, and implement it on the PIC. There are some usb sniffers and loggers that can show you the data sent over usb.

In XBOX360's game, you must have the original drum and connect megadrum to the drum through midi (MD-MIDI-OUT -> GHWT-MIDI-IN).

There is any PIC developper that can afford this proyect? It seems easy since I know that Microchip offers source code with the implementation of hid devices! the only external components should be a switch and a resistor (to pull up / down a GPIO input on the PIC and then, detect the choosen USB mode).

[Rubis]

PS3 is just a standard USB HID.

I just want to clarify, this is for Rock Band. I have no idea if GHWT is the same.

If possible, it would be better to make a separate device that takes in midi and outputs HID. This way, the device can be used with other modules or anything that outputs midi.

[shwems]

just a little question

I just can talk only for PS3 (dont try on Xbox)
rock band drum (the standard one, or the ion premium pack) is detected as a 4 lane drum kit in GH (WT or Metallica)

Could a module developped with Megadrum base be detected on GH as a 5 lane drum kit ?

As i understand, there a "midi" in on the GH drum controler, so as Activision explain that all midi drum kit could be connect to GH ? right ?
And if it's could this method be a begining for a "hack" method to use megadrum brain with the two games ?

[der Papst]

I just want to clarify, this is for Rock Band. I have no idea if GHWT is the same.

No, it's the same (a friend connected his GH:WT-Drum for PS3 to PC, it connects as HID)

If possible, it would be better to make a separate device that takes in midi and outputs HID. This way, the device can be used with other modules or anything that outputs midi.

I agree, so it works with every e-drum and not only with megadrum.
But it should be as small als possible to built it into the same housing like megadrum, maybe synthex can offer another kit...

Edit: We also need a configuration 'cause a drumset is much bigger than the GH:WT-Drumset...

my idea is rooting:
(real drumset -> gh-drumset)

snare (rimshot and normal) -> snare
hihat, ride -> ride
crash, china,... -> crash
hi tom, mid tom -> hi tom
low tom, floor tom -> low tom
bassdrum, sub-kick,... -> bassdrum

That's another reason for building an extra board: We have midi over usb AND HID.
So we can mute the drum in GH and produce the drum sounds over a synthesizer in the background -> much more realism...

[Rubis]

just a little question

I just can talk only for PS3 (dont try on Xbox)
rock band drum (the standard one, or the ion premium pack) is detected as a 4 lane drum kit in GH (WT or Metallica)

Could a module developped with Megadrum base be detected on GH as a 5 lane drum kit ?

As i understand, there a "midi" in on the GH drum controler, so as Activision explain that all midi drum kit could be connect to GH ? right ?
And if it's could this method be a begining for a "hack" method to use megadrum brain with the two games ?

As I said before, this may not be as useful for GHWT as it would be for Rock Band 2 because the GHWT drum set has MIDI in. When you connect the GHWT set to Rock Band 2, it does not have any velocity data and cannot differenciate between drums and cymbals. It is treated similarly to an old Rock Band set.

If I remember correctly, Rock Band 2 cymbals are sent as analogue stick for velocity data, face buttons for color mapping (X is green, O is red, etc...), and an additional button to tell the game that it is a cymbal instead of a drum (I want to say that it uses the R1 button, but I can't remember).

Off the top of my head, I can't remember exactly what is what color; it has been a while since I last played Rock Band. I think it is:
Red: snare
Yellow: hihat, sometimes a tom
Blue: ride, tom
Green: crash, tom
orange/kick: kick

There are a few songs which use a different mapping (Orange Crush uses red for hihat and yellow for snare). So we would need a way to change that on the fly.

Sethmeisterg on the Rock Band forums sells something that looks like exactly what we want, but he charges $100 and won't release the code or schematic. He has both Wii and PS3 versions.

[der Papst]

I don't want to spend >100€ for a stupid toy which needs so much space...

Next thing is, GH:WT and Rockband are compatible but Guitar Hero is the more realistic one and has a bigger set, so we should concentrate to Guitar Hero

[Rubis]

I don't want to spend >100€ for a stupid toy which needs so much space...

Next thing is, GH:WT and Rockband are compatible but Guitar Hero is the more realistic one and has a bigger set, so we should concentrate to Guitar Hero

I got my drums for $30 new. I took out the main controller part and stuffed the other boards into it. Took me 30 minutes, including cutting a new hole for the midi port. I took off the cymbals and used them as a couple of extra single zone triggers for my set. I now have a 8"x4"x2.5" (guessing, not actually measured) box.

08-13-09_1300.jpg

08-13-09_1301.jpg

Also, the GH set only has two cymbals, which are always going to be mapped as cymbals, and they are the same cymbals through the whole song. Rock Band actually has much more variety, even with only four lanes. You can add 3 cymbals to the Rock Band 2 set.

It doesn't really even matter what we focus on. Once it is ready, it should be trivial to map it for the other set.

[shwems]

I don't want to spend >100€ for a stupid toy which needs so much space...

Next thing is, GH:WT and Rockband are compatible but Guitar Hero is the more realistic one and has a bigger set, so we should concentrate to Guitar Hero

Sorry der papst, but i can't let you saying this ...

Here is the first kit for rock band, the one which as been design to be used with rock at the origin (prototype):


And Here is the Premium one (that's mine and i ll use it with megadrum as each pad / cymball can be plugged with a jack input)



And finally the standard one which is sell with the game actually which is lite (design without the cymbal)



And even if the "cymbal" are not clearly "scripted' on the 4 lane on rock band, the drum kit from rock band is surrelly better than the GH WT one

So to be back to the subject if there is a possibility to use my ion drum kit with GH WT / Metallica throught the megadrum brain and have 5 lanes on GH WT and rock band, it will be very cool

[der Papst]

The stupid toy which needs much space was my description for the GH:WT drumkit...

And GH:WT (the game) is more realistic than rockband, 'cause i don't want to hear a Floor Tom-Sound on a crash-cymbal, but this doesn't mater...

A friend is using the original GH:WT-Set on Rockband 2, so this works and we should imitate the GH-Set, because if you connect the Rockband-Set to Guitar Hero, it has only 4 lanes...
But when you connect a GH-Set to Rockband, it's like playing with a Rockband-Set