OS X, Garage Band, and the Rockband Drum Set

[CaptainZero]

I'm trying to use my Xbox 360 Rockband drum set in Garage Band. I've been through every tutorial I can find, and can't get it to work. I've downloaded the drivers for the Xbox 360, but it says 'no devices found'. I've also installed a couple programs that will assign the pads to keys, but since nothing will find the device, I'm having no luck.

I'm on a late 2011 27" iMac. Specs below:
3.4 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
OS X 10.8.5

 

[ChrisA]

I'm trying to use my Xbox 360 Rockband drum set in Garage Band. I've been through every tutorial I can find, and can't get it to work. I've downloaded the drivers for the Xbox 360, but it says 'no devices found'. I've also installed a couple programs that will assign the pads to keys, but since nothing will find the device, I'm having no luck.

I'm on a late 2011 27" iMac. Specs below:
3.4 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
OS X 10.8.5

Exactly how does the drum set connect to the Mac? I assume it must look like a MIDI device? The place to start is the Apple logo "about this Mac" and then get a system report and then look at USB, if the connection is in fact USB. If your xbox is not there you need to make that happen before you continue.

Next look in the audio-midi setup app and see if it is there.

One common error is to not thing about "channels" There are 16 of them and the software that listens must be on the same channel as the sender. Usually with something like GB you tell it to look at ALL channels. Some software by default only listens to channel one, because by convention that is a piano keyboard.

 

[CaptainZero]

Exactly how does the drum set connect to the Mac? I assume it must look like a MIDI device? The place to start is the Apple logo "about this Mac" and then get a system report and then look at USB, if the connection is in fact USB. If your xbox is not there you need to make that happen before you continue.

Next look in the audio-midi setup app and see if it is there.

One common error is to not thing about "channels" There are 16 of them and the software that listens must be on the same channel as the sender. Usually with something like GB you tell it to look at ALL channels. Some software by default only listens to channel one, because by convention that is a piano keyboard.

Thanks Chris. I ran the system report, and it recognizes the drum set under the USB tab. It doesn't show up in the Audio MIDI setup though. It doesn't show up in the list of MIDI devices.

 

[petrucci666]

Thanks Chris. I ran the system report, and it recognizes the drum set under the USB tab. It doesn't show up in the Audio MIDI setup though. It doesn't show up in the list of MIDI devices.

You have to add it to the Audio MIDI list, it won't automatically appear. Click the '+' sing in the bottom left corner and select 'Create MultiOutput' device. Then restart Garageband and create a new Software Instrument track. Then go to Preferences and as the Input select 'MultiOutput device', and as your Output just select Built-In Output (or whatever you want as your output).

That should work.

 

[CaptainZero]

You have to add it to the Audio MIDI list, it won't automatically appear. Click the '+' sing in the bottom left corner and select 'Create MultiOutput' device. Then restart Garageband and create a new Software Instrument track. Then go to Preferences and as the Input select 'MultiOutput device', and as your Output just select Built-In Output (or whatever you want as your output).

That should work.

I tried this, and I can then select the multi output device, but only for the audio output. Shouldn't it show up as a midi input device?

 

[sahnert]

You have to add it to the Audio MIDI list, it won't automatically appear. Click the '+' sing in the bottom left corner and select 'Create MultiOutput' device. Then restart Garageband and create a new Software Instrument track. Then go to Preferences and as the Input select 'MultiOutput device', and as your Output just select Built-In Output (or whatever you want as your output).

That should work.

Your photo is showing how to create a new AUDIO device, but it seems like what the OP wants to do is let the drum pads trigger the GarageBand software instruments, in which case a new audio instrument will not help at all.

OP, I don't know whether this is possible with the RockBand drum set, but you are on the right track trying to discover whether there is a MIDI signal coming from that kit.

When you are in the Audio MIDI setup application, you can go to Window>Show MIDI Window to see whether you can get the set recognized there.

 

[CaptainZero]

Your photo is showing how to create a new AUDIO device, but it seems like what the OP wants to do is let the drum pads trigger the GarageBand software instruments, in which case a new audio instrument will not help at all.

OP, I don't know whether this is possible with the RockBand drum set, but you are on the right track trying to discover whether there is a MIDI signal coming from that kit.

When you are in the Audio MIDI setup application, you can go to Window>Show MIDI Window to see whether you can get the set recognized there.

Yes, I've done that, and it doesn't show up. Not sure where to go from here. I downloaded some drivers from Gamepad Companion, but that didn't work either. It seems to work with windows, and with older macs...

 

[petrucci666]

Your photo is showing how to create a new AUDIO device, but it seems like what the OP wants to do is let the drum pads trigger the GarageBand software instruments, in which case a new audio instrument will not help at all.

OP, I don't know whether this is possible with the RockBand drum set, but you are on the right track trying to discover whether there is a MIDI signal coming from that kit.

When you are in the Audio MIDI setup application, you can go to Window>Show MIDI Window to see whether you can get the set recognized there.

You need to add it in the Audio MIDI Setup first. That's how I setup my Roland V-Drums in Logic Pro. Why would it be any different for Garageband.

 

[CaptainZero]

You need to add it in the Audio MIDI Setup first. That's how I setup my Roland V-Drums in Logic Pro. Why would it be any different for Garageband.

I did that, but it only shows up in the audio output like it's a speaker.

 

[ChrisA]

I did that, but it only shows up in the audio output like it's a speaker.

It is likely NOT a MIDI device. In fact if it is not showing in the midi setup app it's not midi.

 

[sahnert]

I did a google search for "Xbox 360 rockband drums MIDI" and seemed to get some useful results.

Here is a link that claims it can do the conversion for Mac or PC

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2010/08/20/free-app-lets-your-turn-your-guitar-hero-or-rock-band-drum-controller-into-a-midi-controller/

Hope it works!

 

[carles_pa]

I'm trying to use my Xbox 360 Rockband drum set in Garage Band. I've been through every tutorial I can find, and can't get it to work. I've downloaded the drivers for the Xbox 360, but it says 'no devices found'. I've also installed a couple programs that will assign the pads to keys, but since nothing will find the device, I'm having no luck.

I'm on a late 2011 27" iMac. Specs below:
3.4 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
OS X 10.8.5

Hello, I know this is an old post, but did you ever manage to get it working? I have the same issue when connecting my guitahero drum kit to my Mac using GamePad Companion as I get the no gamepad found message. Thanks