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Review on PlayStation 3 Wireless Keyboard for Rock Band 3 - Enhancing Gaming Experience by Alex Montgomery

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Month with PS3 Wireless Keyboard Controller

I bought a Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard for PS3 a month ago. As with all PS3 wireless controllers, setup is a snap. In this case, simply plug the dongle into the PS3, insert the batteries (handy supplied with the controller) into the back of the keyboard controller and it just works. As a lifelong piano and keyboard player, I was immediately excited about Rock Band 3's Pro Keys mode. After calibrating the controller with my audio/video setup, I was pleasantly surprised at the keyboard's accuracy. The RB3's Pro modes require fairly accurate play, and the keyboard controller gave me great results right from the start. The keys are completely unweighted, which probably has its advantages and disadvantages. On the other hand, the keys are easy to play no matter you are a kid, a teenager or an adult. I did realize that I accidentally activated the notes simply by putting my hand on the keys, but that's a very small point compared to an otherwise brilliant device that adds a huge new dimension to Rock Band's dynamics. Lately I've had a son on drums, some buddies on guitars, a wife and daughter on vocals and myself on keyboards and it's been a lot of fun. The touch ribbon controller on the keyboard grip works very well. It is used in RB3 to add sound effects like wah-wah and resonance to keyboard parts as you play. I was wondering if it's worth waiting for a MIDI interface to use one of my (very expensive) keyboards in the game. But after using the controller for a few weeks, I'm very glad I bought it. The controller's handy size (approximately 50cm long) means it can easily be tucked away in a desk drawer or cupboard - something you wouldn't want to do with a full-size MIDI keyboard. When you're not playing the keyboard, Basic mode uses the five adjacent notes in the middle of the keyboard for the five colored symbols on the screen. You'll benefit from some fairly complex keyboard accompaniments in an easy-to-maintain game mode. If you are interested in playing rock band keyboards I would have no hesitation in recommending this product as it is great value for money and a very fun addition to your rock band setup.

Pros
  • Using a MIDI keyboard as a controller when not playing Rock Band (compatible with most MIDI sequencers)
Cons
  • unreliable