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So you've just blown $170 on Rock Band, and you're bored with it already, eh? Yeah, there aren't like three separate solo modes, online features, downloadable content, and a deep multiplayer World Tour mode or anything. Why not get those drums working with Windows?
 
A clever geek has messed around with some drivers, and has gotten Windows to recognize the drums. Pretty sweet right? Now what? Well, for now, nothing. Until someone comes up with a Rock Band-esque drum clone program a la Frets on Fire, or a virtual drum program, there's not much you can do. Still, this does open up some nice posibilities for the future. 
 
The author suggests plugging the USB drums into your PC to see if they're recognized first, and one comment on his site claims that the PS3 version of the drum controller are useable with no driver hacks. But if you must, simply follow the ten-step process, or take your chances with a provided installation file.
 
[Via Engadget]

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13 comments | showing # 1 to 13

kobewan0824's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 14:57
kobewan0824
Pretty cool, could have some good uses down the road. Time to see what those indie one-man dev teams can do with this!
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 15:21
Cheeburga
Hmmm. Very interesting.
fyre's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 15:42
fyre
Cool. I wanna try it.
Alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 15:57
Alex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdYXjLd-9Xk
Alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 15:58
Alex
Weighted Companion Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 16:11
Weighted Companion Cube
Hmmm, interesting. I see many interesting things resulting from this.

The PC needs moar rhythm.
rubadub's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 16:35
rubadub
This is essentially already possible with a midi card. Its been a long time since ive really dealt with instrument interfaces especially for a pc but I dont see how a rockband drumset is really any different than any other drum synth which could be just about anything thats a trigger.

Deserves a few cool points regardless.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:09
Holyetheline
Oh, um.... that's kinda neat.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:10
Necros
I'd much rather buy a full MIDI drumkit.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:29
Wedge
There is probably already a PC version of Drummania. It'd be sweet to hook this up with that.
mrkonchu's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:19
mrkonchu
You know my windows already had the xbox drivers loaded for a wired controller heck window found the driver for me back in the day. But I have all the functionality that this guy is claiming with the default drivers so not sure why he had to go to that trouble.
rand_max's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/18/2008 18:14
rand_max
...psst!
http://www.unsigned-game.com/forums/index.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SySMKdresc
SeanLind's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2009 13:37
SeanLind
Hey, I just did a similar thing, but using the guitar. Basically it's a how-to blog and video of how to use the guitar as a wireless controller (in my case to control online poker). You could use the drums to do the same as well, or to control anything you like really. Check it out:

http://www.pokerlistings.com/blog/play-online-poker-with-your-rock-band-guitar
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