Rock Band: The Next Great Franchise - Page 197

I think I've finally managed to secure a Squier from Best Buy US, so any cheat sheets or videos describing the possible problems I may encounter and the fixes?

Two major problems are (1) some sort of substance on the fret sensors causing some of them to fail to work and (2) strum insensitivity, usually of the B and e strings (the two thinnest strings). To fix the first, go into one of the pro guitar lessons in RB, but don't start it. Put your finger on a string close to a fret and observe whether it causes the expected fret number to appear on the position wave displayed at the bottom of the highway. Typically if that fret sensor isn't working properly you'll see the next lower fret number displayed; if the proper fret number isn't displayed, rub the string on that fret until it shows up, then move on to the next. (To quickly check, you can place your finger just behind the first fret on a string and then run it up the fretboard maintaining pressure watching the fret number on the position wave climb).

The string insensitivity thing can be addressed in a few ways. There are a set of entirely undocumented string sensitivity adjustment screws underneath a tiny panel in the battery compartment. Remove that little panel to expose the screws and have at it--I think that sensitivity increase on the counterclockwise direction. They're arrange in the same order as the strings and the same relative position; from top to bottom (with the neck pointed to the left) they adjust the E, A, D, G, B and e strings respectively. On either side of the pickup, there are screws with which to raise or lower it on that side. Raise it to increase strum sensitivity. You can also lower the strings height at it's saddle but I don't know how good an idea that is.

Thanks for that. Some of the fret sensors did have that problem. The strum sensitivity seems fine with the string mute on, and the "overstrumming" caused by low E makes it impossible to play with the mute off anyway. I'm kinda surprised that even palm muting isn't always enough.

After three days, I started experiencing random signal dropouts (intermittent stuck notes, missed strums, and eventually even the game buttons on the pickguard would stop responding). The MIDI adapter would flash the "SOS" pattern. Multiple battery replacements were to no avail, so I searched online and found that the included MIDI cable is apparently crap. I sunk another $15 into a sturdier-looking 10 ft replacement, and (knock on wood) all is well again. Phew.

When I can keep up, this thing is super fun! I've gone through most of the "instrument lessons" by this point, and I wonder how many people gave up and returned their guitars when they got to barre chords. I started playing as a hobby 7 years ago and I still have trouble holding some of them.

hey guys,

I am late to the game. Simple question. What guitar should I get for my son who is an expert player in the old RB1/2 ? I want him to try the new ones that work in pro mode with RB3 but just want to make sure I get a good one.


thx
1

and also, what is new if anything in the drum world, is the ION still pretty much the way to go ? I already own those and have been happy, well certainly compared with what comes with the game.

There are only a few choices and its up to what you want to spend. The cheapest is the official Mad Catz Mustang controller, current $86.57 for the PS3 on Amazon, Prime Eligible. The Mustang features 17 frets full of buttons (replacing the string segments between frets) and a set of plastic strings for picking and strumming. It's a wireless controller which requires no additional equipment.

The most expensive options is the Squier by Fender Stratocaster Guitar and Controller from Best Buy (Buy.com and Newegg too, last time I looked) for $280. It's a real stringed electric guitar which can be used to play RB3 pro guitar (use with the game requires that you also obtain a $40 Mad Catz MIDI Pro Adapter); it can be plugged into an amp and played out loud outside of the game.

Third choice is the You Rock Guitar, an electronic guitar with a plethora of features. It costs $200 and has support for RB3 pro guitar (using the MIDI Pro Adapter).

I currently own all three devices (I plan to give the Mustang away as a surprise gift to a friend along with an extra keyboard that I got stuck with); they each have their pros and cons.

The Ions are the only choice for good drums until you step up to the Midi Pro adapter and better e-drums, but now we're talking about a BIG step up in cost.

thanks man.

Ok, that is what I suspected. I will stick to Ions, may be get new ones. In the past I had considered moving up to "real" e-drums, but not worth it for me, sadly, not enough time anymore !!!

Thank you MS, I guess that is all the info I needed, very much appreciated.

I will go with the MadCatz, makes sense not to spend too much untill I see how it goes and I like simple things.

Go to a used game store. Buy a set of RB2 drums. $40.
But an extra foot pedal $19
Buy the 3-cymbals pro kit. $39.

Now you have a decked out pro-mode drums kit.

(personally I don't use the 2nd pedal, but that's your choice)

Pro-drums is infinitely more fun than regular drums.

I never said the Ions weren't "real" e-drums. The only thing they're missing is the brain. In fact, I have upgraded my Ions with a Roland mesh head drum and a Roland CY5 for my hi-hat. I've also got a much better pedal/practice pad setup and a double bass setup for when I want to make a fool of myself.

whatever, real not real, that was not the point.

The point is that, just like it used to be when I first purchased the Ion (a couple of years ago) the next choice up would stilll be a much more expensive proposition. There's nothing new in other words.

By real I meant pro type of drums .....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref=cs_top_nav_gb27

current lightening deal has the midi pro adapter for $26.. a little more than 3 hours left on the deal

R.I.P. Jani Lane

Still hoping for some Warrant DLC for Rock Band...

Will we ever get some "Interpol" songs???
I just got PDA and I want more lol,. ..so many great songs.

I'm considering getting the pro cymbals for my drums,...Anyone has them? I'd like to hear your thoughts about it.

Pro cymbols very cool... a tad overpriced though new... but if you like drums it's a totally different experience (more fun) vs. the standard 4 pads.

I've been playing with cymbals since RB2. Can't imagine playing without them. Well worth it, 10x over.

Glad I invested in the cymbals,..feels almost "real" lol.
Great fun with it.
I still play RB2 and I'll be getting RB3,..time to move on to new songs.
Is there a way to pass all my RB2 songs to RB3?

Don't feel like swaping disc everytime I want to replay a song.

Yes--you can export almost all of them to your console's HDD, from which they can be played in RB3, RB1 and Lego, for a $10 fee (HMX has to relicense songs for export and they couldn't get permission for 5 of them). You will need the "liner notes" manual from your copy of RB2, which has a unique export code on its back cover. You can find instructions on how to do it (and a list of the non-exportable songs) here:

http://www.rockbandaide.com/9308/roc...xport-details/

Thanks!!!

If you update RB3 to version 1.05, you will now have "Black Hole Sun" and "Dani California" unlocked again.

I've been too busy with other things to play for a while, but I have to say the prospect of playing those two songs with Pro Drums for the first time ever is a nice one

The change also adds a new filter option "Hide 1-lighter rated songs" (or something like that); that should be self-explanatory. It's also persistent, so if you set it to "Hide" it stays that way until you set it to "Show".

Incidentally, they removed the MTV and EA logos from the startup sequence and replaced them with a Mad Catz Interactive one (Mad Catz being the new publisher of the game).

I didn't even notice that. I'll have to check it out next time I play.

Made my day.

I knew there was something I meant to comment on, but completely forgot.

Either you were just kidding around, or this is some strange anomaly because I still see the EA and MTV logos on startup. Nothing from Mad Catz.

Me too. My guess is the Xbox gets the new logos as its probably installed on the hard disk.

Mad Catz is taking over publication of the game, but I think it might only be the Xbox version. I can find press about them getting licensed to public Xbox games, but nothing about PS3 or Wii. That would explain the change and why it's not on the PS3 (the Wii doesn't get updates).

Right, they are only republishing on 360. Nothing to do with PS3.

PS: Anyone else get the Stevie Wonder pack? I've been waiting for something like this for a long time (too bad it was only five songs). Some of the drum songs are surprisingly challenging, and they're all a lot of fun.

Anyone seeing any decent deals on Rock Band 3 (game only)?

I want to pick it up, and it should be pretty cheap right now........