How to hook up a Roland KD-8 to the Ion Drum Rocker (with Kickbox)

DEAthMetAL50 asked me today to make this video, and so have many other people, so here it is, finally!

This is an instructional video on how to connect a Roland KD-8 kick trigger pad to the Ion Drum Rocker for use in Rock Band, using a Kickbox.

https://rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=623
http://www.drumrocker.com/
http://www.rockbandkickbox.com/

The Kickbox is necessary for this setup because the KD-8 does not send out the correct signal for the Ion controller to recognize as a kick drum hit for the game (it needs an ON/OFF signal). So the Kickbox translates the piezo signal from the KD-8 into an ON/OFF signal that the Ion controller will recognize.

The same identical setup DOES work with the Rock Band 1 and 2 stock drum sets as well, you just have to use the 1/8"-1/8" cable that I showed in the video instead of 1/8"-1/4".

My pedal is a Yamaha Flying Dragon DFP-8210 double pedal, I just didn't have the slave pedal connected while filming this video.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rock
• band
• expert
• drums
• roland
• kd-8
• kd8
• kickbox
• ion
• drum
• rocker
• davidshek
• wounded
• soul

[nerdmurderer]

Hey david, I was wondering if this would work with a normal electric drum kit (Alesis dm6) and whether it could handle really fast double bass like 250bpm, also ive heard complaints that it doesnt pick up double bass because the sensor is in the middle.

[davidshek]

@nerdmurderer The KD-8 picks up double bass just fine, I demonstrate that in one of my other videos. As for using it with a DM6, no idea, I've never tried it.

[ProfessorButtcheeks]

does this work for the rock band stock drums

[davidshek]

@ProfessorButtcheeks Yup, sure does

[ProfessorButtcheeks]

@davidshek

i plugged a mono cable wired to a piezo sensor into the bass drum slot for the rock band 2 stock drums and it detects it, but it registers like 1 out 5 hits

is the kickbox supposed to make the signal more sensitive because the piezo works perfect on my ghwt kit

i guess the rock band 2 stock drums werent programmed sensitive enough for piezos in the bass drum because they are supposed to use the gay magnet pedals

[davidshek]

@ProfessorButtcheeks It's got nothing to do with sensitivity, but the type of signal that a piezo sends vs. a magnet switch. If you want a more detailed explanation, PM me. :)

[davidshek]

@cadeharveyt I am, but I have not sold any Gibraltar pedals on there.

[cadeharveyt]

are u on ebay coz i think i bidded for ur gibraltar doub kik

[bassiks]

@yewwtube Is there not a program called midihero or something that lets you play drums? Either that of you could probably use music software like Reason or Fruityloops and set it up as a midi controller, I'm not sure though.

[davidshek]

I'm not playing them on the computer, I'm playing them on the Xbox...and the "program" is called: Rock Band 2. :-P