I promised that I would be posting reviews for the other Rock Band 2 instruments and accessories and I wanted to start with this one. PDP (formally known as Pelican) has a Rock Band Stage Kit shipping on October 26th. It works with Rock Band 1 or 2. It includes a fog machine with built in strobe light and an LED dongle that takes cues from the in-game sound track. Now it sounds great but is it worth it? Read the full PDP Rock Band Stage Kit for the Xbox 360 product review and find out.

First Impressions

Having worked as a DJ, I have gone through the hassle of buying fog machines and lights and they are expensive. I remember the first light kit I ordered looked huge, but when it arrived, while it worked as promised, it was so tiny it looked best suited for a bedroom or small den than a club or bar. The kit comes in a nice box well protected with the fog machine and LED dongle unit. My review bundle also came with a small container of fog juice. Directions are simple and the whole unit hooks up in about 5 minutes the first time. You plug the fog machine into an outlet and then connect the LED dongle to the fogger. The Dongle has all the Xbox 360 controls on it including the D-pad, buttons and guide button. The last cable connects into the USB port on the Xbox 360 not the USB hub for Rock Band. This serves two purposes. First, the sound cues that trigger the lights are built in the game and does not use any outside microphones. The second is that if you are playing as the singer, you’ll have control of the console and game.

It takes about 5-10 minutes for the fog machine to heat up and is not hot to the touch, although I would not leave it plugged in and walk away for long periods of time. The hardest part I found was positioning the fog machine and LED unit to the right area, but it works best on a light colored wall or ceilings. The LED dongle has a lens that moves up and down to change the size of the light patterns. To be honest you’ll need to try it first then move it a bit. The cables are long enough to have plenty of options. On the back of the fog machine there are two master switches. One turns on the LED and strobe unit the second turns on the fog effect.

Impressions While Playing Rock Band 2

You’ll notice if you follow the instructions that it says to plug in the LED dongle to the USB port then turn on the Xbox 360. If you do this, the default profile will be the singer so if you are trying it out alone or without a singer, turn on the 360 then plug or turn on the instrument you’re going to use. Your friends then plug in the LED Dongle and you will be on 1 your friend on 2 and the LED dongle on 3. This way you can jam and let the kit work. Nothing needs touched on the dongle as far as the 360 controls anyhow.

It is recommended that you have a full band and follow the instructions. I did use a work around since I needed to test it in all conditions. Once your set and you start a song, the lights work with the song. Harmonix worked with PDP so the LED Dongle will respond to cues and the fog machine which is rather cool. Depending on the size of the room and where you have it set-up, you may need to move the fog machine or switch off the fog switch after a few sets. I would crack a window. The first time I used it I had it too close to the TV and the fog was very thick. It takes a few times to adjust the spacing but the effects are great for $99.99. The strobe and fog machine works best but is a little noisy but you will soon not hear it kick in. The LED lights are patterns and circles depending on how you have the magnifier set. Try adjusting it and yes it will work at angles as well. Just make sure it has something holding it up since it has a base to lay flat.

Bottom Line

Overall Score: 9.0/10.0

Do you really need a PDP Stage Kit? Of course not but for those who play with friends or have parties, this really sets the mood and for the price is certainly worth it. I was impressed with the fog machine and LED dongle although the lights from the LED could be brighter and a bit more powerful. If you take the time and adjust the room lights to low or off, the stage kit works great. It takes a little time to learn how to focus and get it set-up right but works as advertised. For the amount of fog the machine uses it seems to last. The water based kind of fog juice is best because it is non-irritating and the fog disburses rather quickly. It is made for those wanting to add something a bit more to the Rock Band experience and it delivers. I wish the LED dongle gave of a bit more light but again at $99.99 it out does lights costing much more that are activated by sound. Very cool unit but certainly falls under the category of a cool accessory only.

Links

PDP Official Website

Filed under: Reviews • Xbox 360

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