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MIDI Keyboard

Platform
Controller
  • It is suggested to have a keyboard with at least 37 keys or 25 keys and 11 drum pads.
    • Alternatively, you can map [a dedicated gamepad for navigation]. You can use a typing keyboard or a gamepad.
      • You can enable this in [Menu] > [Options] > [Deluxe Settings] > [Controller] > [Navigation Pad]
        To sign in on a 25 key keyboard, you may have to lower the octave and press the A♯2 key, then raise your octave back up again.
      Rock Band 3 Deluxe's Navigation Pad menu.
  • Your MIDI keyboard needs to:
    • be set to MIDI Channel 1.
    • have modultation and pitch controls.
    • optionally have a sustain pedal.

Setting Up

Section titled “Setting Up”

If your keyboard has a USB port, all you need to do is plug it into your computer.

The back of a MIDI controller showing a USB port and a sustain pedal

If your keyboard only has a MIDI output, you will need a MIDI to USB interface.

The back of a MIDI controller showing a 5-DIN MIDI input and output highlighted in yellow with a solid white outline, and multiple pedal inputs.

Here’s an example of a MIDI to USB interface. Most will come with an LED indicator to show activity. To check that you’ve plugged it in correctly, you should see “MIDI In” blinking when you press a key.

A MIDI to USB interface.

If you have an audio interface, you may already have a way to plug in MIDI to your computer, as some audio interfaces come with MIDI inputs. For example, this Scarlett has MIDI connections in the back.

The back of a Focusrite Scarlett showing a USB port, and 5-DIN MIDI input and output.

Find whichever way is the most convenient for you then connect your MIDI Keyboard to your computer.

After that, right click on Rock Band 3 in RPCS3, then click on Change Custom Configuration.

RPCS3's right click menu, showing 'Change Custom Configuration' highlighted.

After that, go to the I/O tab.

Rock Band 3's I/O custom settings within RPCS3, showing Emulated MIDI Devices, device type, and device selection highlighted in tan with a solid outline.
  • A tan square with a solid outline :
    • 🎹 Keyboard Players: Leave your “Emulated MIDI type” on “Keyboard” and select your keyboard or MIDI interface in the drop-down menu next to it.

Mapping

Section titled “Mapping”

MIDI Keyboards have fixed bindings and cannot be changed within RPCS3. Since they don’t have PS3 buttons, the first octave is dedicated to PS3 buttons. Use the following image as a reference. It’s recommended to put stickers or some sort of reminder on your keyboard to easily notate the buttons and the ranges.

A 37 key keyboard, showing the second octave mapped to PlayStation buttons, C3 to E3 under a red color, F3 to B3 under a yellow color, C4 to E4 under a blue color, F4 to B4 under a green color, and C5 under an orange color.
Note#NoteNote (Yamaha)Button
#36C2C1Select
#38D2D1D-Pad Left
#40E2E1D-Pad Right
#41F2F1D-Pad Up
#43G2G1D-Pad Down
#45A2A1Deploy Overdrive
#37C#2C#1Triangle
#39D#2D#1Square
#42F#2F#1Circle
#44G#2G#1Cross
#46A#2A#1Start
Pitch BendPitch BendPitch BendWhammy/Touch Strip
CC#1ModwheelModwheelDeploy Overdrive
CC#64SustainSustainDeploy Overdrive

25 Key Keyboards

Section titled “25 Key Keyboards”

Keyboards with less than 25 keys will have to shift octaves when switching between the game keys and the game buttons.

A MIDI keyboard. When the octave down button is activated, a yellow highlight, showing which notes are being used, shifts down to C2 to C4. When the octave down button is deactivated, it shifts back up to C3 to C5.

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Implementation by [Dark]