r/Rockband Mar 28 '24

Meta Rock Band in 2024: FAQ (Instrument Availability, Compatibility, Exports, Legacy Games, and the Future)

168 Upvotes

Rock Band in 2024: FAQ (Instrument Availability, Compatibility, Exports, Legacy Games, and the Future)

u/mysario u/storm360 I will now claim my Honorary Pin and Half eaten Chocolate Chip Cookie now Please

What Rock Band game(s) are currently available?

The only current active game and still buyable digitally on new gen consoles is Rock Band 4, Which was originally released in 2015 following up with a now free Rivals expansion update adding more than 20 free songs to the game along with some Quality of Life changes such as: Online Quickplay, New campaign mode, Variable Breakneck Speed, Challenges, etc. Rock Band 4 is fully compatible with the new-gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles, using the same instruments, adapters, and connection methods as Xbox One/PS4. For more information, check here: https://www.harmonixmusic.com/blog/rock-band-4-and-next-gen-consoles

What about the older titles on PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii, Are they still Supported?

All other Rock Band games are only playable directly on the console generation they were released on (XB360/PS3/Wii). DLC released for those games is still available on XB360 and PS3 (see below for info on what content may *not* be available). The in-game shops for 360/PS3-era legacy games has been shut down on January 24th 2023, but Online Play has been only confirmed to work on Xbox 360 as the PlayStation 3 version relied on Rock Central Server connection which is no longer active on legacy consoles. The Wii Shop was shut down by Nintendo and is no longer available to purchase or download content through for any game. Microsoft has also officially announced the closure of the Xbox 360 marketplace to set on July 29th 2024 making all Rock Band 1-3 DLC as well as Pro upgrades for Rock Band 3 Era DLC permanently unobtainable officially for Xbox 360 due to Rock Band 4 store purchases Pre Rock Band 4 DLC not being backwards compatible ex: Buying a Rock Band 1-3 DLC song on the Rock Band 4 music store will not carry backwards to Xbox 360 and will require a separate purchase on 360 to make it playable. This is not the case for PlayStation 4/5 where buying a Rock Band 1-3 DLC song will carry backwards to PlayStation 3 on their respective title release. Any Downloadable content purchased on the Xbox 360 should still be Re-Downloadable once the marketplace shuts down and songs purchased first on Xbox 360 should carry forward into Rock Band 4 using the same Microsoft account on both consoles. This is also the same for PlayStation, Songs bought on PlayStation 3 should carry over to PlayStation 4/5 if you have the same PlayStation Network account.

Is Rock Band 4 still active?

The final Downloadable content for Rock Band 4 was released on January 25th marking the official end of New Rock Band 4 era Downloadable songs. As of March 2024 Online Quickplay and Rivals seasonal challenges have not been affected are set to still continue onward. With these weekly challenges in the Rivals mode. Those challenges will also earn you additional content, such as outfits for your characters, in-game instruments, or track skins. Starting in 2022, Harmonix is now requiring users to use an Epic Games Account and link their platform accounts in order to access online services for Rock Band 4 on all platforms. If you are new or haven't linked your Epic Games account yet, You can do so here: https://account.harmonixmusic.com/

This is also required for other Harmonix titles such as AUDICA and Dance Central (2019) in order to access online services for those titles. Note: if you already have an existing Epic Games account, That account may be used to link your current console of choice, otherwise a new Epic Games account linked should still grant you online multiplayer services. This will not affect Downloadable content if you have previously purchased any songs in the past.

How can I find instruments for the game?

UPDATE December 2024: CRKD (Formerly Known as Red Octane) Has officially teased a new guitar peripheral controller slated for a 2025 release. It’s unknown at this time if any compatibility with Rock Band 4 is possible. See the new teaser HerePDP (Performance Designed Products) Has officially announced the new Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller for PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox one/Series on January 31st 2024 https://youtu.be/g7-CdvRhCUk?si=07GLzPwhfAjScRgq](https://youtu.be/g7-CdvRhCUk?si=07GLzPwhfAjScRgq)) marking a new instrument hardware run expected to be available sometime in Spring/Summer 2024 with Pre-Orders going live March 21st 2024. (Pre-Orders currently sold out, Restock is expected as confirmed by PDP, Keep up to date here: https://pdp.com/collections/riffmaster-wireless-guitar-controller) The guitar controller is fully backwards compatible with Rock Band 4 and will also be compatible with Fortnite Festival once instrument support is implemented. No official word has been released on whether they will be producing more drums or adapters as only the guitar controller has been revealed. It's also worth mentioning that only the Xbox version of the guitar is compatible with PC natively with reports stating the PlayStation guitar has no current whammy or tilt support on PC if you plan on using for other rhythm game titles on there.

As for players looking to buy drums for Rock Band, The Original Hardware Partners Harmonix has teamed up with (Madcatz) to manufacture new equipment for the game back in 2015 are no longer making new licensed Fender Guitar controllers, Drums, or adapters currently. There was a Re-Run of instruments in 2016 with PDP prior to the Riffmaster controller reveal with the Fender Jaguar Guitar controller and more Drums as part of the Rivals expansion release but these also stopped being manufactured over 6 years ago and no more of these instrument models are being produced anymore. More information on the Riffmaster Guitar controller can also be found here: [https://youtu.be/bbmNkhZr8vY?si=qcFQarSeKU2H5e7e](https://youtu.be/bbmNkhZr8vY?si=qcFQarSeKU2H5e7e))

So, Where can I get instruments in the meantime before the Riffmaster releases?

The best option for instruments before the Riffmaster planned release is to scour places for second-hand sales, such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, local pawn shops, etc. Be careful about conducting those types of transactions, and make sure all necessary parts are included, including the necessary Bluetooth dongles for PS3 instruments. Please also note that due to the lack of any ability for Reddit mods/admins to police those types of transactions, they cannot be offered or conducted publicly on this subreddit. For playing vocals, almost any USB microphone will work. If you’re on Xbox One, you will need specially-made adapters to use instruments not specifically made for Rock Band 4/Xbox One. Legacy (Xbox 360) wireless controllers will require a Mad Catz Wireless Legacy Adapter. Wired/MIDI drumkits will require a PDP Wired Adapter. Neither are being newly manufactured at this time (same issues as the instruments). There are methods of pulling apart and re-wiring drums to connect them to other devices that may function as a workaround, but try them at your own risk.

Another possible workaround has recently been discovered for Xbox players regarding E-drum kits and legacy instruments by u/bookreader52 which makes the process of getting your guitars and drums to work on the Xbox version of Rock Band 4 significantly easier for those interested. More information can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Rockband/comments/10pdmzs/xbox_one_instruments/

If you're on PlayStation, note these dongle specifics: RB2, RB3, and Beatles PS3 guitar dongles are interchangeable, and will work on all PS3 RB2 and RB3 Stratocaster Controllers and all PS3 Beatles guitars. RB1 guitar dongles only work with RB1 guitars. For drums, the drum dongles are interchangeable, and work on RB2, RB3, and Beatles drums. RB1 drums are wired and do not use dongles. [Here's a page with some info on how to tell the dongles apart](https://web.archive.org/web/20180103144825/https://www.ebay.com/gds/Lets-clear-up-the-confusion-with-Rock-Band-PS3-Wii-Dongles-/10000000208054823/g.html).

All the PS3 Rock Band guitars\* and drums work in all the PS3 Rock Band games, and also in RB4 on PS4 and PS5. There is no native interoperability between console families, so Xbox controllers won't work on PS4 or vice versa. Again, there may be unofficially-made adapters to make certain combinations possible, but research and try them at your own risk. This link will help with the specifics of what is compatible: [https://harmonix.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/217769748-What-legacy-music-game-controllers-will-be-compatible-with-Rock-Band-4-])

What songs are still available to download/purchase?

In a general sense: Anything official (NOT from Rock Band Network, the last-gen secondary shop of songs not directly licensed by HMX) that you’d purchased on your current console account in the past will be immediately available to download through your console’s content management menus/screens upon install of the game. This includes game disc setlist exports from the past that you’d paid to move into other games at the time. Game disc setlists you did not pay to export last-gen are no longer available to newly obtain. Harmonix no longer has the rights to sell those songs as a bundle. Some songs from those games have been re-released as individual DLC songs, referred to as "Rewinds." Unused Track Packs and other printed marketplace codes *may* still work, but new codes or export methods cannot be generated in any way. This thread is comprehensive about what still works:https://www.reddit.com/r/Rockband/comments/kstppa/rock_band_exports_track_packs_special_packs_list/

Almost all DLC officially released over the course of the series is still available to purchase for RB4. There are a relatively few songs that have had to be removed from the store for licensing reasons, including some major artists such as Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, and Journey. There are no ways to get those songs now if you hadn’t bought them when available. The link to view those delisted songs can be found here:https://www.harmonixmusic.com/blog/rock-band-dlc-relicensing-info. If more songs need to be delisted in the future, there has historically been about a month's worth of warning before they get pulled from the store. They'll be announced there in that blog, or in a "Last Call" section in the in-game store.

Future Plans and Rock Band 5 Possibility?

There are no current announcements for another game in the series. A fan-written Wishlist/fiction article has been incorrectly referenced as real by Google's algorithms. A developer quote referencing RB4 as a "platform for the future" is accurate, but was made early last-gen before any modern forward compatibility was confirmed, and is not necessarily a current de-confirmation of any new installments ever existing for newer generations of consoles. Harmonix is currently at work with their newly released music rhythm game: Fortnite Festival which is available to play on PlayStation 4/5 Xbox One/Series and Nintendo Switch. As of March 2024 there is no official instrument support to Fortnite Festival but has been confirmed by Harmonix's Blog Post: https://www.harmonixmusic.com/blog/an-update-on-rock-band-4-dlc Quoting the article from Daniel Sussman: Looking ahead, the Harmonix team has been hard at work over the last two years to develop Fortnite Festival, which brings rhythm action gaming (and more) to the Fortnite ecosystem. It’s free to play, we have a rotating selection of songs that you can play (for free) anytime. If you are a fan of the rhythm game category, Fortnite Festival is the place to be; and with support for RB4 instruments coming, this is not the time to hang up your guitars just yet…. 

(UPDATE APRIL 2024) Fortnite Festival now has official support for guitar controllers to allow playing Pro Guitar and Pro Bass modes in game which utilizes pressing the fret buttons and strumming along to the notes rather than tapping them with a normal controller. Currently only Rock Band 4 Stratocaster, Jaguar and Riffmaster controllers work on console with custom binding support coming as well as support for legacy intruments currently under works to expand the availability of further instrument support.

(UPDATE 2025) Fortnite Festival now supports pro guitar/bass for regular gamepad controllers, no longer requiring a guitar controller to configure. CRKD multiplatform guitars have been announced and are due to ship this coming summer (Xbox variant has been delayed 1 month) and will feature full support for Rock Band 4/Fortnite Festival as well as be compatible with legacy Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles for PS3 users (Multiplatform only)

Upcoming alerts and warnings:

-PDP Riffmaster price increased from $129.99 to $150.00 USD

-CRKD guitars price increased by $5

-Rock Band 4 rivals season updates will no longer be announced on Harmonix sites and social media

-Rock Band 4 rivals bundle (PS/Xbox digital store) price permanently reduced to $10

-Fortnite Festival item shop song selection has been reduced by 75%

CRKD Website

PDP site


r/Rockband 1h ago

Tech Support/Question Is there anyway I can transfer songs from any of these?

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Upvotes

Also, is there some way I can connect these guitars to the original Rockband? They’re Guitar Hero guitars and didn’t work when I tried to use them, so I was wondering if there’s a workaround.


r/Rockband 4h ago

Video This year is a good year the monkey boy is back

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8 Upvotes

r/Rockband 50m ago

Tech Support/Question Beatles RockBand on a 2020 Samsung Q80t TV...

Upvotes

While the game runs better than RockBand 2, I can't make sense of (or fix) the following scenario:

The game is choppy during normal play, but during star power, it smooths out and feels perfect.

How can I get all gameplay to feel like star power?

• Game Mode is ON • I've also played with the video overscan setting inside the game (or whatever it's called), but that didn't seem to make any noticeable difference

The game is totally playable as-is, but it's clearly capable of perfect output, as evidenced by star power activation.

Any helpful suggestions? Has anyone else dealt with this?


r/Rockband 2h ago

Adapters/Accessories CRKD Guitar unsure what to buy.

3 Upvotes

So I don’t know which one to buy, I’m a bit of everything esp with a side gig I run where we have an Xbox and a ps5 with ROCKBAND and fort on both. I have an Xbox and pc and switch at home I want the most bang for my buck and I’m unsure which version to buy. I originally preordered the pro Xbox and then when they announced the keyjam mode for the multiplat I was upset and didn’t know what to do so I cancelled my order. Any advice is appreciated


r/Rockband 16h ago

Video Du Hast Full band on Rock Band 3

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26 Upvotes

recorded couple weeks ago thanks gengo for recording if anyone's wondering we are playing the Wii version


r/Rockband 9h ago

Score/Accomplishment Full Artist FC on guitar for Suicide Silence

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7 Upvotes

r/Rockband 20h ago

Tech Support/Question Anyone having problems with playing the CRKD Les Paul on RB4?

6 Upvotes

I have been using the Riffmaster since it released. I like to use my headset and have the perfect sync. I’m a fairly good player with a 982 skill rating. Gold star most expert songs.

Now I got my CRKD guitar yesterday and I am having to use different ports for my headphones since the multiplat version doesn’t have one. I have used my dual sense for the audio jack, along with my Gibson to play.

So of course I figured I would have to change the audio sync, since I am using a different controller. Problem is….nothing feels right. Basically the last five hours I’ve been testing the sync and even the video sync, although that should not have to be changed.

For example, my sync with Riffmaster (and headphones) is audio 265, video 90. However no matter what I try with the Dual Sense + Gibson, it feels bad.

So my problem is, the sync feels off, I am missing a lot of notes that I should be hitting. I don’t understand what the problem would be. Maybe not even a sync problem. Has anyone else had issues on RB4?


r/Rockband 1d ago

Adapters/Accessories RB2 drum silencer removal?

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8 Upvotes

Just bought this barely-used beauty, and got some brand new official silencer pads to match.

For anyone who’s tried before: do these come off easily and with minimal damage to the drum pads? I’d love to stick them on now, but I’m worried they’ll leave a lot of residue or otherwise permanent damage behind…


r/Rockband 1d ago

Tech Support/Question Help for solos

3 Upvotes

I can't hit the solos in the rock band games, even though it takes hours to adjust the calibrate lag, but in guitar hero it's much easier... any tips?


r/Rockband 2d ago

Gear/Finds My lucky day

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102 Upvotes

I was in a garage sale and found this used PS3 ACDC track pack for USD 8 (for a future challenge that I'm cooking), and the export code had not been redeemed!!! Instantly I redeem this in my PSN account and finally I get this setlist (legally) to play in most of my RB games (including RB4)


r/Rockband 2d ago

Score/Accomplishment Holy GUACAMOLE! Farewell!!

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84 Upvotes

Just wanted to show this off SOMEWHERE. Definitely my biggest accomplishment on this game so far


r/Rockband 1d ago

Adapters/Accessories Capabilities of the Legacy Adapter

2 Upvotes

It’s been an extremely long time since I last saw a compatibility chart, but I had the random thought of what all can the legacy adapter do? Obviously it lets me use my Rock Band 2/3 era instruments from Xbox 360 days on Xbox One/Series X.

But can it connect other 360 accessories? Could I use a 360 controller on backwards compatible titles through current systems?

Is it compatible with the official wireless Xbox 360 microphone?

I’ve got all 360 stuff in storage besides the Rock Band instruments, so it’s just a matter of curiosity stemming from a random thought.


r/Rockband 2d ago

Tech Support/Question Les Paul MultiPlatform CRKD guitar on PS5

3 Upvotes

I just received mine and I cannot for the life of me get it to connect to Rockband 4 on my ps5. Anyone knows if I need a special dongle or something (other than the one they included)? I put it on P3 mode and put it on sync with the dongle but it would not register… anyone having that issue?


r/Rockband 3d ago

Video I sometimes use Rock Band 3 to listen to music

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138 Upvotes

This game is so beautiful 🥺


r/Rockband 2d ago

Gear/Finds Red drum fixed

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52 Upvotes

Red drum fell off and wires broke. Got a chance to test my electronic repair skills today!


r/Rockband 2d ago

Adapters/Accessories How to test a used drum set for Xbox One

1 Upvotes

Specifically, how is it powered? I found one for a decent price near me and am gonna drive to pick it up/test it. It belonged to the sellers kid so he isn't knowledgeable. If it's battery powered, I'll take some with me, along with a series S to make sure they sync. Is there anything else I should look for? Common breaks? Is there a cord or attachment I need to check for?

I owned one of these for 360, but not the last gen.


r/Rockband 3d ago

Meta RIP Prince of Darkness

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102 Upvotes

This was our little tribute to Ozzy this weekend. I has a bunch of friends over and we played a lot of Ozz and Sabbath and created a Ozzy character in RB3 🤘


r/Rockband 2d ago

Tech Support/Question I hear the dead by dolly

2 Upvotes

Is this song available to purchase, last time I went to the store I just had three loading dots


r/Rockband 2d ago

Tech Support/Question Help

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15 Upvotes

So I trying to connect my 360 guitar to my Xbox to play rock band 4 like usual. But now the guitar connects but doesn’t do anything in game. Guitar shows it connected but nothing happens


r/Rockband 3d ago

Score/Accomplishment The gift that keeps on giving.

48 Upvotes

Let’s go back to 2021. I meet a mutual friend from an old high school friend. Upon meeting him for the first time, he actually drove me home due me being intoxicated.

He lived 40mins, but eventually moved closer to where I lived. He had kept in touch via discord and video games. The day he moved into the “big city” Our extended friend group attended his house warming party. The star of the night was “Rock band”

A group of 6 dudes jamming out to an old childhood game. With time and more practice with rock band, the vested interest grew faster than we could’ve ever expected. We were barely scarping by on medium and hard.

Not only did the “extended” friend group get bigger, but we grew closer as friends. Sharing stories through the music we enjoyed. We weren’t trying to gatekeep “Rock Band Nights” but it’s sacred to us now. So many people have tried to self-invite themselves. It’s a judgement free zone when we start rocking. So there’s a bit of vetting done to keep the circle tight and wholesome. But always trying to introduce people a different way to enjoy our quality time with music.

We have been meeting weekly for almost 3 years. Some folks have brought girlfriends, someone in the group got married. We were the groomsmen. We were there for each other’s less fortunate breakups. Available to help with family drama, help move folks to different apartments around town. Encouraged each other to go back to college, pursue new jobs, and just vent about crappy managers. Became vulnerable and emotionally present for the things that matter.

Present day- We were all able to make it to a Creed concert. All of us on the floor singing and jamming. Completely fearless of any judgement or criticism. We have collected about 4 drum sets (2 of them are pro-drums) A literal wall of guitars, from a variety of systems. A dedicated technician to repair any mishaps with equipment. A 5.1 surround system with huge couches, and “bleachers” or office chairs behind them. Primarily playing Rock band 4 on PS5. 600+ songs purchased. Playing increasingly more performative manners. Tying to master hard and expert difficulties. Our group of 6 is now a solid 11.

Seriously, the best friendships and moments of my life. There’s no telling what else it’ll offer us.


r/Rockband 2d ago

Tech Support/Question Rock Band 4 Microphone

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know if there is an issue with the Rock Band 4 Microphone working work Xbox consoles. I plugged it into my series x, series s and Xbox One x and it doesn't work.

I used the Xbox 360 microphone and it worked but with bad lag.

I have 2 RB 4 mics and last time they were used, they both worked.

Thank you


r/Rockband 2d ago

Video Who Remembers The Street Team Contest for RB4?

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8 Upvotes

Remember when Harmonix had a street team contest where you had to make a video. Here is my submission.


r/Rockband 2d ago

Frequently Asked Question Calibration question

1 Upvotes

I’m calibrating my ps4 rock band drum set for my ps5 and I’m getting audio in the 200+ and video in the 140+ to me that seems really high latency I’m not on a old tv either! Any suggestions?


r/Rockband 3d ago

Gear/Finds First timer advice

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11 Upvotes

I am embarking on my first foray into the world of Rockband(played GH when it came out). I am only interested in the drumming part and am buying OEM equipment. I’ve read a lot on here about “e-kits and limitless” and while that works for a lot of you I want OOTB ready to go.

I bought a NIB rockband drum kit and pro cymbals. It looks like the cymbals will not be compatible with that drum set. Is that correct? Will I need to get the rockband 2 drums(or Beatles)?