XBox Solution

Playing Rock Band 2 is a definitely a blast, but if you are the singer, you have to decide how to deal with the controller. After turning on the Xbox 360 controller, putting on the headphones, plugging in the microphone, then where do you put the controller? It would have been a neat idea if Harmonix would have thought of a controller holster that would clip to your belt. I thought this issue might get resolved in the second game, but it did not. So when I saw Mad Catz has their own microphone with a built in controller nicknamed “M.I.C.” microphone with integrated controller, I wanted to check it out. At $59.99 Mad Catz promises studio-like response and a great working microphone without the need of the controller. Did Mad Catz deliver as promised with The M.I.C. for the Xbox 360? Read the full review and find out.

First Impressions

Mad Catz does a great job with the packaging. The M.I.C. can be seen inside the box before opening and it looks great. The M.I.C. felt sturdy and well made. It also is slimmer and fits the hand better than other microphones. It has a long USB cable and the guide, D-Pad, Back, Start, lock button, and the A, B, X, Y buttons are laid out going down the front of the M.I.C. Mad Catz even added extra padded rubber and made it easier to fit in a regular microphone stand. It looks like a professional microphone and has just the right amount of weight.

The instructions come on a small fold out sheet in English and several other languages. While it has all the information written on the sheet, it’s very hard to read due to the small print. It’s important to read that certain buttons pressed together are used for the navigation and other functions during the game. Overall though the M.I.C. gave me a good first impression and looked worth the price.

Impressions While Playing Rock Band 2

The M.I.C. can be used for Rock Band 1 or 2. Just remember it is also has a built-in controller. Once plugged into the USB hug and the power is on, it will go to the first controller by default. If you want it to be used as the second, then plug or turn on the guitar or drums first and so on until you get it to the desired controller. I first tried it alone and went through the challenges in the game for vocals. I found that the M.I.C. is extremely sensitive and responsive. I had no trouble picking challenges or songs and all the controls and buttons work well. You can also use the lock slider to avoid any accidental hitting of buttons and causing the game to stop which is a nice feature.

I then wanted to try playing guitar while singing just to see how that works with the same player. Again the M.I.C. worked great. It fit my mike stand without any hassles and picked up my voice perfectly. We then tried it in a group setting and again it worked great and felt like a real microphone. It’s not that the Rock Band microphone isn’t real, but Mad Catz’s microphone felt more like a studio microphone. No issues and with the buttons right on the top of the microphone. You can either do the claps or cowbells by hitting the A button or tapping the microphone on the top. I prefer the tapping method since the button is a bit tricky on harder settings. Once again it worked flawlessly and really stands out. This would be ideal for parties or Rock Band nights at your local night club or bar. Around here we are seeing more of these events and it’s a growing trend.

The only place where the Mad Catz M.I.C. seems to have issues is while playing on Xbox Live. Depending on the function, you need to hold X and Y together and there seems to be one small mapping issue that won’t simulate the pressing of the triggers but instead it thinks it is hitting the bumpers. I want to be honest with all my reviews and $59.99 is still a lot to spend. You can use the M.I.C. over Xbox Live but during the song you won’t be able to talk to your friends. You’ll hear everything through the speakers and for some this might be alright but at a certain point this became annoying to me. The newer model will have this function fixed according to the techs at Mad Catz. To be honest, the M.I.C. really is more for local or single play but it would have been a must have if it worked on Live as it did alone or with a group. I use mine and prefer it over the Rock Band microphone due to the feel and the response it has.

Bottom Line

Overall Score: 8.8/10.0

As stated previously, the Mad Catz M.I.C. is a nice accessory and for a third party product, it out performs the actual microphone that comes with either version of Rock Band. It has a solid feel and several great features. If playing locally or alone, I would grab this one in a heartbeat, but when playing with friends on Xbox live, I would use the other microphone. I can’t wait for Mad Catz to release the new model, but for now this is certainly best suited for local or single play.

Links

Mad Catz Website

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