Rocking Repair's Replacement Rock Band Drum Sensor
Published by HQM0NSTERB0Y on Friday, August 01, 2008
Tagged: Gaming, Hardware, Xbox 360,
Rocking Repair's "Replacement Rock Band Drum Sensor" Review
By Joel Kuntz (frozenfire12) www.360-Hq.com
Supplier: www.RockingRepair.com
The guys over at
www.RockingRepair.com have recently given 360-Hq the opportunity to review their "Replacement Rock Band Drum Sensors" which can be used to replace your old sensors that may be worn out or cracked. They have two different kinds of sensors, the Plug and Play Sensors as well as the Quick Crimp Sensors, and we got a chance to review both. Thanks must go to Rocking Repair for this opportunity to review their product.
If you are on the 360-Hq Homepage click Read More to check out the full review.
Why Replace the Sensors?
Rock Band, like any other peripheral based game, the hardware does have its faults. Rock Band initially had many (Guitars didn't work right, and the drum sensors cracked easily.) But why would anyone want to replace their drum sensors when they could just send it to EA? For starters EA only offers so long of a warranty after you buy Rock Band, and Secondly EA just puts more of their crappy sensors in. I know in the newer kits the sensors are a bit higher quality, but nothing compares to Rocking Repairs replacements (from personal experience of using friend’s kits.)
How do I Replace the Sensors?
Well if you ordered a replacement sensor kit from
www.RockingRepair.com, when you receive your sensors the installation is quite simple. All you have to do is pop off your drum head (there are four locking pads in the corners of the head.) Then if you have the plug and play kit just unplug the connector, and replace your old sensor with the new one. The Quick Crimp Sensors are a bit harder, but still easy in my books. For the Quick Crimp you must leave your old connector in, cut off near where the old sensor is. Replace the old sensor with the new one, and use two of the yellow quick crimps to connect white to white and black to the color of the drum head. If this seems confusing to you, don't worry they offer full color instructions in the package and on their website.
Do the Replacement Sensors Work?
To put it plainly, the sensors work amazing. After installation I noticed a big difference even in the menus. My hits were more responsive, I didn't have to hit so close to the middle, and the most important of all, I didn't have to hit the drums so hard. Hitting the drums lightly was a big one for me, because if you have played Rock Band before you know how loud the drums can get. Overall the performance of the Sensors was nothing short of phenomenal; in a few hours of testing they did not miss-hit once. This was a big one for me because with my old sensors I would have to hit the drums very hard and sometimes it wouldn't register right. Although these won't make you a better drummer, they will give you better technique and be more responsive for those fast drum rolls. The only problem I had with these was the drums itself. If your connections have glue on them I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you get the quick crimp set because it took me well over half an hour to get all the glue off.
If your drum kit does not have the glue on the connectors it is more of a personal and financial choice on which sensor kit you get. As they both have the same sensor, just different connections so you can't go wrong. The sensors will keep you drumming long into the Rock Band 2 days, and for a price of $42 USD for 4 ($27 USD for the Quick Crimp) these sensors are well worth it.
If you have any problems installing your sensors feel free to make a post in our
Forums and someone will help you out.
Final Score:
Build Quality: The sensors seem a bit thicker than the original ones, and the tape the holds it down is much higher quality. Never had a miss-hit once, drum rolls are easier with them.
5/5
Packaging: They come in plastic bags; I think the only way it would be damaged if it was severely punctured in shipping. The bags do their job though.
3.5/5
Ease of Use: If your drum kit has no glue on it then you will have no problems. If do have the glue that will be your only hurdle.
Quick Crimp: 4/5
Plug and Play: 5/5
Overall: Highly recommended product, if your drums are acting up on you, or you would like them to be more responsive this is worth buying. Although it won't make you a better drummer, it will give you the technique to become one.
5/5
Verdict: Highly Recommended
Product Page: www.RockingRepair.com
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