Rock Band 3 Keyboard

[Starscreamyo]

Hi, is there any plans to update the firmware on the MidiRocker to
allow me to use my regular keyboard instead of the small one that they
are providing in Rock Band 3?

Here is a link to a video of them using the keyboard on Rock Band 3.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317506001?bctid=90946364001
or
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/rock-band-3-keyboard-revealed-by-usa-today/

It would be awesome if I could flip a switch or hold down a button,
and my MidiRocker would now act as a keyboard controller instead of a
drum controller on the PS3 when playing RockBand3.

I have had one of the original MidiRockers for a long long time now,
and it is still going strong! Thanks for making such a good product!


Thanks,
Mike

[Scott Pinkham]

Mike -

As soon as I can get my hands on one those keyboards I should be able
to make the MIDI Rocker emulate it (on the Playstation anyway).
Whether it will easily work with the Wii depends on how they implement
it. It probably won't work with the Xbox given the encryption used by
Microsoft to keep 3rd party controllers from working.

It's a little ironic -- when I first started working on the MIDI
Rocker I used a keyboard for testing (since it can generate a lot more
notes and more variations in velocity).

Thanks for the links -- I can't wait to play THE DOORS with a
keyboard!!!

-Scott P (Byte Arts)

On Jun 10, 10:16 am, Starscreamyo <mnmfo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, is there any plans to update the firmware on the MidiRocker to
> allow me to use my regular keyboard instead of the small one that they
> are providing in Rock Band 3?
>

> Here is a link to a video of them using the keyboard on Rock Band 3.http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317506001?bctid=909...
> orhttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/rock-band-3-keyboard-revealed-by-us...

[Starscreamyo]

Cool, sounds good!
I found some more interesting info. In an interview with Harmonix
they talk about making a midi adapter.
"With Mad Catz, we're developing a console adapter, so you would be
able to plug in whatever MIDI keyboard you have, or whatever MIDI drum
set you have, and then use that to play Rock Band."
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/interview-harmonixs-daniel-sussman-on-rock-band-3s-new-tune/

Here is a couple pics too which are interesting.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4690233332_f57b887b05_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4689598465_cb71a7f70e_b.jpg

Anyway, I can't wait for RockBand3 and the new updates for my
MidiRocker. Oh, and my strumfixes are still going strong as well.

[Dave]

Any ideas how the MadCatz MIDI adapter is going to compare to the MIDI
Rocker?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/rock-band-3s-gear-priced-keytar-and-pro-guitar-sport-midi-out/

It looks like it's only going to be $40. Is this going to impact
development and support of the MIDI Rocker?

On Jun 11, 2:02 am, Starscreamyo <mnmfo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Cool, sounds good!
> I found some more interesting info.  In an interview with Harmonix
> they talk about making a midi adapter.
> "With Mad Catz, we're developing a console adapter, so you would be
> able to plug in whatever MIDI keyboard you have, or whatever MIDI drum

> set you have, and then use that to play Rock Band."http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/interview-harmonixs-daniel-sussman-...
>
> Here is a couple pics too which are interesting.http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4690233332_f57b887b05_b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4689598465_cb71a7f70e_b.jpg

[Scott Pinkham]

It's still too early to know how well the MadCatz MIDI adapter is
going to work, or what it's feature set will be. I'm guessing that it
will be pre-configured to work with the most popular drums (Roland)
but may not work with others (similar to how the GHWT MIDI input
works). Since it is made for Rock Band, I also doubt it will fully
support the GH games (with 5 note lanes). Probably no way to switch or
change note mappings either.

There is no way I can compete with the $40 price -- I'm sure MadCatz
is making these in China, while mine is locally produced. I'm looking
at making the MIDI Rocker LX available as a kit form, so I could sell
it for a lower price, but you'd have to do some of the assembly
yourself. All the surface mount parts would be soldered on, but there
may be a few large parts to solder on, and you'd have to assemble the
box.

If for any reason I can no longer support the MIDI Rocker, I will
release the source code for the firmware and software so that anyone
can update it. I may do that anyway -- I'm sure there are some people
out there with some clever ideas for new features and enhancements.

-Scott P (Byte Arts)

On Jun 12, 12:13 pm, Dave <dave.moczul...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Any ideas how the MadCatz MIDI adapter is going to compare to the MIDI
> Rocker?
>

> http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/rock-band-3s-gear-priced-keytar-an...

>
> It looks like it's only going to be $40.  Is this going to impact
> development and support of the MIDI Rocker?
>
> On Jun 11, 2:02 am, Starscreamyo <mnmfo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Cool, sounds good!
> > I found some more interesting info.  In an interview with Harmonix
> > they talk about making a midi adapter.
> > "With Mad Catz, we're developing a console adapter, so you would be
> > able to plug in whatever MIDI keyboard you have, or whatever MIDI drum
> > set you have, and then use that to play Rock Band."http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/interview-harmonixs-daniel-sussman-...
>

> > Here is a couple pics too which are interesting.http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4690233332_f57b887b05_b.jpghttp:/...

[Max Lavicka]

I personally have not found a MadCatz product that isn't poorly designed.  Their controllers are terrible from my experience.  I guess it will break easily and not function properly

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[Steve.B]

I agree. There is little chance that the MadCatz adapter will be
anything close to the Midi in construction, usability, or
programability. It will be a cheap little piece of plastic that only
works half way!
The new RockBand3 does however open up a whole new train of ideas! I
already have a Midi keyboard and a Midi Guitar (Yamaha EZ-EG). I'm
fairly confident when the new programming becomes available Scott will
release new firmware to emulate the Mustang controller for guitar and
the keyboard - After all, the Mustang looks REMARKABLY like the Yamaha
EZ. That'll put me in line for a couple new MidiRockers.
Scott - next step it to incorporate wireless into the LX and untether
the guitar! (beltclip and USB transmitter/reciever)

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[gooney0]

I hope the Madcatz adapter doesn't cost you too much business. The
Midi rocker lx is a terrific product with awesome support.

It's pretty unlikely that another company is going to offer any real
support after they've got your money.

I'm confidant Scott will be able to outdo the other guys.

My setup is $1,000 drum set + $2,000 tv + $300 sound + $800 amp + $100
midi LX + 3x $60 games + DLC. The price difference on the adapter
isn't really a big deal so long as it's better.

Thanks for the continued firmware updates. My LX has been flawless
for over a year now.

-Gooney0

[Scott Pinkham]

Thanks for the support! The MadCatz adapter will support guitars,
drums, and keyboards, but at the price they are charging $40, I highly
doubt it will be programmable at all, so it may not work with some
setups, or may require you to configure your drums to match what their
adapter expects, which can be a real pain, and since a lot of drum
brains don't let you change MIDI notes or other parameters. It will be
interesting to see how well it works.

I'm pretty excited for Rock Band 3 -- it really looks like it will get
a lot closer to really "playing" the songs, although I haven't seen
anything about supporting a hi hat pedal. The keyboard part looks
awesome -- I will be adding support for keyboards to the MIDI Rocker
as soon as possible.

-Scott

[Hugo Gayosso]

Hello Scott,

On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 10:35 AM, Scott Pinkham <sco...@bytearts.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the support! The MadCatz adapter will support guitars,
> drums, and keyboards, but at the price they are charging $40, I highly
> doubt it will be programmable at all, so it may not work with some
> setups, or may require you to configure your drums to match what their
> adapter expects, which can be a real pain, and since a lot of drum
> brains don't let you change MIDI notes or other parameters. It will be
> interesting to see how well it works.

Another parameter the MIDI rocker has as advantage is the newly
released hi-hat threshold, it is really useful not only to prevent
mis-triggering but also to be able to play open hi-hat notes when they
chart it as yellow instead of blue.

> I'm pretty excited for Rock Band 3 -- it really looks like it will get
> a lot closer to really "playing" the songs, although I haven't seen
> anything about supporting a hi hat pedal.

They said that the second port in the RockBand drums is for a second
pedal that can be used as a hi-hat during fills.

Now, what exactly does that mean? I don't know.

Source:
http://www.plasticaxe.com/2010/06/11/exclusive-interview-new-details-on-rock-band-3-pro-mode-peripherals-and-drum-functionality/2/

And on the drum kit, we’re actually opening up the mysterious second
input jack. That will be by default a second kick pedal jack…or you
can switch it to be a hi-hat, which functions in the free-play drum
modes or the drum fills. We chart our songs to be as accurate as they
[can be]. When you’re playing songs that have double-kick, we put as
many of those in as our system can afford. But there will never be a
case where you need to have the double-kick. You may have an
advantage…

> The keyboard part looks
> awesome -- I will be adding support for keyboards to the MIDI Rocker
> as soon as possible.

Thanks, that will be great.

Sign me up as a beta tester, I have a midi keyboard.

--
Hugo

[Darkbeat]

Hello,

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but has there been any progress on the MIDI Rocker keyboard compatibility? Now that Harmonix finally patched the PS3 version to get rid of the screeching noise, I'm very much interested in trying the keyboard gameplay with my electronic piano. The MadCatz MIDI adapter is still nowhere to be seen here in Europe, so that's not an option at the moment :-(.

Cheers,

Darkbeat

[Scott P (Byte Arts)]

Sorry to not reply sooner -- I'd hoped to have some progress to
report, but have been tied up with other projects lately. I'm still
working out how to get the PlayStation to recognize the MIDI Rocker as
a keyboard or Pro Guitar controller. It seems to use some sort of
special protocol -- I've made some progress but don't have it working
yet.

-Scott (Byte Arts)

[Hoareau Stéphane]

Hi Scott

 

On my side, as a one year very happy LX midi rocker owner, I just wanted to say thanks for all your work so far, and if you can manage to get the midi LX to be recognised as a keyboard or pro guitar controller, it would be the best 2011 gaming dream to come alive... so a big thumbs up:)

2011/2/10 Scott P (Byte Arts) <sco...@bytearts.com>

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[Jeff Hawkins]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for all your efforts on this.  I would also like to request a way for the Wii to be able to use the midi-rocker for keyboard, if you're not already working on it.

Cheers,

Jeff

--
Cheers,

Jeff

[Scott P (Byte Arts)]

Thanks for all the messages of support!

If I can crack the PS3 protocol for the keyboard adapter, then the Wii
should also be doable. I plan to work on it this weekend so hopefully
I'll have some progress to report next week.

-Scott (Byte Arts)

On Feb 10, 11:40 am, Jeff Hawkins <mr.jeffrey.hawk...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Scott,
>
> Thanks for all your efforts on this.  I would also like to request a way for
> the Wii to be able to use the midi-rocker for keyboard, if you're not
> already working on it.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>

[Scott P (Byte Arts)]

Just an update -- I am still working on this. I made some progress
recently, but it is proving to be a tough nut to crack. I'm really
hoping to be able to add support for Pro Mode guitar with the Yamaha
EZ guitars so I'm not ready to give up yet. I may need to rent a
special USB protocol analyzer to figure out some of the finer details.

-Scott P (Byte Arts)