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Rock Band 3 To Include MIDI Keyboard

xbeefsupreme writes with news that Harmonix has officially demonstrated Rock Band 3's 25-key MIDI keyboard. From USA Today: "During the game, green, red, blue, yellow or orange keys flow on a 'stream' representing the notes to be played on five corresponding keyboard keys. In a new authentic Pro mode meant to help players segue to actual instruments, all 25 keys are used; the streams shifts left and right to cover the correct keys. The keyboard also works as a MIDI keyboard that can be connected to a computer. 'This is a real instrument and a real device,' says senior designer Sylvain Dubrofsky." The game will also support more advanced "real" guitar controllers, which have six actual strings you can strum. Hit the link below to see the keyboard in use.

21 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Question by Pojut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I can't read the article due to work filter, but since the game will come with a "real" midi controller, can I use my own with the game? I have an M-Audio Axiom 25.

    1. Re:Question by ZERO1ZERO · · Score: 4, Informative

      Highly likely, given it's possible to use real midi drums/controllers as replacement for the drum controller already.

  2. Rhythm by mederbil · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And I will still lack the rhythm to play this awesomeness.

    1. Re:Rhythm by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your "Piano Hero" is a much better idea than Sousaphone Hero idea.

  3. Re:theories on how guitars with strings will work by Pojut · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If it's anything like PowerGig, there will be a little bumper that you can raise up against the strings while using it as a guitar controller. That will go a long way to keeping it in tune. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a tuner built into the guitar accessible through the game as well.

  4. i like the drum kit from band hero by Michael+Kristopeit · · Score: 4, Interesting
    i have the 5 pad drum kit with cymbals for the wii... i noticed that it supports standard MIDI as well, and even though i have a korg triton pro, and a roland 909, it's still more fun to slam sticks on the pads than push the buttons or key in a program on the host devices.

    so the drum kit serves for people that don't have a digital drum kit, but i don't know anyone that would use a MIDI keyboard that doesn't already own one that is better than the one demoed for this game.

    most play-along keyboards adjust the tempo to wait for the player... i'm assuming the game works like other guitar hero games and the song will just keep on going for the rest of the players... it will be much harder for the keyboard player to get their hands back in the right position after slipping up. i guess that's why it's "pro mode"... don't slip up.

  5. Meh, they'll have my money when... by damn_registrars · · Score: 2

    ... one of the franchises licenses Dire Straits music for their game. And not just Money for Nothing, I want Tunnel of Love, Brothers in Arms, and Sultans of Swing. And of course Romeo and Juliet, while we're at it.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Meh, they'll have my money when... by Loomismeister · · Score: 3, Informative

      Sultans of swing is on guitar hero 5

  6. Re:new authentic Pro mode by Delusion_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hope they don't fall off the tracks and end up putting realism ahead of fun. Most of us who enjoyed Rock Band weren't playing it to get a primer on learning to play a real guitar. If I wanted a tedious simulation, I'd whip out a flight simulator, and if I wanted guitar lessons, well, I'd have spent the money on a real guitar to begin with.

  7. Re:ugh by Gizzmonic · · Score: 5, Funny

    First "just learn a real instrument post" in a Rock Band/Guitar Hero thread. Everyone take a shot!

    Thanks hemlock00, for being a living stereotype!

    --
    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  8. Re:ugh by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They said that they're adding more realism in some modes as an aid for those who want to transition to real instruments. Your complaint is even more asinine than this complaint normally is, because they even SAY "This is to help you to be able to play a real instrument one day".

    --
    "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
  9. Re:ugh by keithpreston · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The same point when you put down Call of Duty and fight a real war, with real guns!

  10. That's a rather old thing by AffidavitDonda · · Score: 4, Informative

    Guitars able to produce midi signals are rather common in music business. There are two basic technologies: - Normal guitar with a kind of plug to read the string - MIDI controller with guitar like input I don't know if they use either of these, but technical details can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_guitar

  11. Re:new authentic Pro mode by sznupi · · Score: 2, Interesting

    OTOH some could go "hey, I like this, wanna more" route? And I imagine some other group, of "hardcore" players, might eventually get a muscle memory association between sound and its key; however clumsy that would almost always end up, perhaps good enough to play some simple song they could just hum previously ? ;)

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  12. What I'd like to see by Yvan256 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'd like to see Accordion Hero with "Weird Al" Yankovic as the game host.

  13. Re:ugh by SleazyRidr · · Score: 4, Funny

    STOP HAVING FUN!

  14. Re:ugh by need4mospd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or put down Left for Dead 2 and kill some real zombies!

  15. Re:Might buy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Guitar Freaks/Drum Mania are art

    Rock Band and Guitar Hero are just product by comparison.

    Judging by this and your username, it's more likely that you're just a weaboo.

  16. Re:new authentic Pro mode by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If they pull out a saxophone hero too, I'll need to pick up something else just so I can stop being associated with this.

    I've been intending to pull out my sax and play it to the vocal track for awhile now, but microphone mounts for the bell of a saxophone (where I've asked around here) are more expensive that I'd like (and seem to always include their own real microphone, adding to the price). The game doesn't care if you even sing the right lyrics (I like singing Nine Inch Nails' "Mr. Self Destruct" to the tune of Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' With Disaster") so it should be possible to sing with a sax for many if not most songs that don't slide the pitch everywhere. I play by ear to the radio a lot anyway.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  17. Re:theories on how guitars with strings will work by lightversusdark · · Score: 3, Informative

    Casio produced a MIDI 'guitar' in the '80s that had six strings that ran from the bridge to the end of the fretboard.
    That is, only over the pickup area for strumming. The fretboard itself was switches.
    There's a picture of one on this page.
    I'm guessing the game controllers will be something like this.

    --
    "There is nothing nice about Steve Jobs and nothing evil about Bill Gates." - Chuck Peddle
  18. Re:new authentic Pro mode by adolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Just use a regular mic stand with a boom. They're not expensive, and since you're neither recording nor playing out, there's no need for specialized gear.

    But first, hang the mic (by its cord) over the back of a chair or something else of appropriate height, and see if it's really an idea worth pursuing at all.