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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.

The following page lists all known officially-licensed drum kits that were made for the aforementioned games, along with their downsides 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

RB1 PS2 Wii.png

Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Typically easy to find second hand for low price. All variants are wired.
Cons: Low quality foot pedal, pads are loud and "Clacky", No cymbal support, No velocity support, low quality build that breaks easily.

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 

RB2 RB3.png

Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Supports 2x pedals and up to 3 cymbals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Pedals/pads are prone to breaking, 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
Mac
Linux

Rock Band 4

RB4.png

Platform(s): Playstation 4, Xbox One
Pros: Supports 2x pedals and up to 3 cymbals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Pedals/pads are prone to breaking, 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
Mac
  • PS4 (Mad Catz): Requires connecting via Bluetooth. No cymbal support.

  • PS4 (PDP): Unknown.

  • Xbox One (Mad Catz & PDP): Unknown.
Linux

ION Drum Rocker

Ion Drum Rocker.png

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

RB Portable.png

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.

GH5, WOR, Band Hero Kit

GH5 Drums.png

Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Pros: Good pads, supports 2x pedals, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Questionable cymbal quality, flimsy frame.

Windows
Mac
Linux

GH World Tour Kit

World Tour Drums.png

Pros: Typically cheaper than the GH5/WOR Kit, velocity-sensitive.
Cons: Low quality cymbals, flimsy frame and pedals.

Windows
Mac
Linux

Logitech Premium Wireless GH Kit

GH Logitech.png

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
Mac
Linux

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