Video Game Drums
The Guitar Hero and Rock Band games both featured drums as a playable instrument. The Rock Band games used a 4-lane layout with optional cymbals, while the Guitar Hero games used a 5-lane layout. Both types are compatible with Clone Hero.
This page lists all known officially-licensed drum kits that were made for the aforementioned games, along with their qualities and compatibility information.
For mapping information, visit the drum mapping guide.
Rock Band 4-Lane Drums
Standard Rock Band drum kits come with 4 pads and a kick pedal. Cymbals were available in the "pro" variants of all kits past Rock Band 1, and could also be purchased separately.
Rock Band 1
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Typically easy to find second-hand for a low price. All variants are wired.
Cons: Low-quality build that breaks easily, fragile foot pedal, pads are loud and "clacky", no cymbal support, no velocity support.
Windows
- PS2/PS3/Xbox 360/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
Mac
- PS2/PS3/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
- Xbox 360: Requires an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Linux
- PS2/PS3/Xbox 360/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
Rock Band 2/3/Beatles
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Supports 2x pedals and up to 3 cymbals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Pads are prone to bubbling, cymbals are hard to find separately.
Notes: The dongles for RB2, RB3, and Beatles RB are interchangeable on the same platform. Additionally, the PS2 and PS3 dongles are also interchangeable.
Windows
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the PS2/PS3 Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the Wii Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
Mac
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the PS2/PS3 Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
- Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the Wii Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
Linux
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the PS2/PS3 Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 drum receiver or the Wii Beatles Rock Band drum receiver.
Rock Band 4
Platform(s): Playstation 4, Xbox One
Pros: Supports 2x pedals and up to 3 cymbals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Pads are prone to bubbling, cymbals are hard to find separately, PS4 cymbals don't work on PC without additional software. Compatibility differs depending on the manufacturer (original kits were manufactured by Mad Catz, while Rivals re-releases were manufactured by PDP.)
Windows
- PS4 (Mad Catz & PDP): Requires connecting via Bluetooth. Cymbals not supported natively; Minatsuki can be used for cymbal support.
- Xbox One (Mad Catz & PDP): Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and RB4InstrumentMapper. PDP drumkits may have issues syncing, follow these steps if you're having issues.
Mac
- PS4 (Mad Catz & PDP): Requires connecting via Bluetooth. No cymbal support.
- Xbox One (Mad Catz & PDP): Not supported.
Linux
- PS4 (Mad Catz & PDP): Requires connecting via Bluetooth. No cymbal support.
- Xbox One (Mad Catz): Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and the xone kernel driver.
- Xbox One (PDP): Unknown.
ION Drum Rocker
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Sturdiest frame out of the Rock Band kits, generally high quality, 2x pedal support, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Hard to find, typically as expensive as a budget e-kit while lacking features of one.
Windows
- PS3/Xbox 360/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
Mac
- PS3/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
- Xbox 360: Requires an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Linux
- PS3/Xbox 360/Wii: Requires connecting via USB.
Rock Band Portable Kit
Platform(s): Xbox 360
Pros: Portable, wired
Cons: Generally terrible, unreliable, and with minimal features.
Windows
- Xbox 360 Requires connecting via USB.
Mac
- Xbox 360: Requires an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Linux
- Xbox 360 Requires connecting via USB.
Guitar Hero 5-Lane Drums
Guitar Hero drum kits come with 3 pads, 2 cymbals, and a kick pedal. While they are fully compatible with Clone Hero, it does not have a visual 5-lane mode; charts will be converted to the 4-lane layout automatically.
Guitar Hero 5/Band Hero/Warriors of Rock Drumkit
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Good pads, supports 2x pedals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Questionable cymbal quality, flimsy frame.
Windows
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Activision Wireless Drum Kit receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.
Mac
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Activision Wireless Drum Kit receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
- Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.
Linux
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Activision Wireless Drum Kit receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.
Guitar Hero World Tour Drumkit
Pros: Typically cheaper than the GH5/WOR Kit, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Low quality cymbals, flimsy frame and pedals.
Windows
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero World Tour drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.
Mac
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero World Tour drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
- Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.
Linux
- PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero World Tour drum receiver.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.
Logitech Premium Wireless Guitar Hero Drumkit
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Supports 2x Kick pedals, high quality pads and cymbals.
Cons: Very hard to find. Similar to the Ion kit it typically sells for as much as real e-kit.
Consensus: The most well-built 5-lane kit. If you want 5-lane this is the probably the best one to get, but sadly you're unlikely to ever find it for a reasonable price.
Windows
- PS2/PS3: Requires a proprietary wireless receiver, typically not sold separately. Unknown serial number.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.
Mac
- PS2/PS3: Requires a proprietary wireless receiver, typically not sold separately. Unknown serial number.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
- Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.
Linux
- PS2/PS3: Requires a proprietary wireless receiver, typically not sold separately. Unknown serial number.
- Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
- Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.