Official Rock Band premium microphone turns up, still can't save embarrassment

This one sure hasn't generated much, if any, fanfare, but it looks like those that take their Rock Band wailing (a little too) seriously can now get their hands on a new and improved (and official) microphone. According to the appropriately-named Rocker74 of the ScoreHero forums, you'll have to drop a hefty $50 to your hands on it, but for that you'll apparently get a microphone that is heavier and "definitely" higher quality than the standard issue mic. There still doesn't seem to be any official word on the microphone, however, so availability might be hit and miss for a while yet.

[Thanks, John P]

Update: As some of you have pointed out, it appears that the microphone's packaging says its for PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360, which would certainly be an interesting development, given that we still haven't heard anything official about Rock Band for the Wii. More on that as we get it. [Thanks, garfep]

[JOSE @ Jan 28th 2008 1:07PM]

50 bucks no way! no one should pay 50$ for a microphone...

[tom @ Jan 28th 2008 1:17PM]

Well, I have seen microphones selling upward of $3000 (studio quality), 50 bucks is nothing. The thing is how much quality can it provide?

[Shane @ Jan 28th 2008 1:18PM]

Apparently you've never purchased "real" professional microphones...
(not that this is anywhere close to the quality of those mics...)

[GriffinMG @ Jan 28th 2008 1:18PM]

Do you mean any mic or a mic for a video game?Cos I agree with you if you meant computer game...but if youre talking about real ones then 50$ will get you one shitty ass mic.Like REALLY shitty.

[umm....hello??? @ Jan 28th 2008 2:23PM]

Shure mics are studio quality and only cost $100 (SM57/58) and are used all the time. $3000 sounds excessive---only our government would pay that much for one microphone. at any rate, the mic that comes with the game is just fine--the only reason you should need this is if you bought just the game to work with your GH guitars and a seperate drumset.

[mike_p @ Jan 28th 2008 2:40PM]

Shure mics (like the SM58, like this RB mic is modelled after) aren't really used in the studio. They're more used for live performances.

[JJ Rooster @ Jan 28th 2008 3:30PM]

DO NOT BUY THIS!!!

Get the same microphone at Dell.com (or .ca) for $15 dollars, with free shipping!
search "ps2 microphone"

I bought one, it works great.
This thing is a rip-off even at the previously rumored price of $30. Paying $50 for this is batshit crazy!

[gt2378b @ Jan 28th 2008 4:14PM]

Well, Elwood traded the Bluesmobile for a mic, and Jake could see that.

[Paul Whalen @ Jan 28th 2008 5:01PM]

Shure's aren't just for the stage. In fact, Bono has sung nearly all of his studio vocals into a SM58. The Edge's amp is routinely recorded through a SM57.

[trexxcrap @ Jan 28th 2008 1:07PM]

wow someone should be slapped for this one

[Jordan @ Jan 28th 2008 1:14PM]

This just shows their original equipment that came with the game is low quality.

[Mars10 @ Jan 28th 2008 3:11PM]

Maybe people bought the stand alone game? Just because they have had some issues does not mean they are selling them separately due to production issues. Maybe someone wants to have a local score battle or whatever. They are well aware of the problems and have begun to roll out new revisions of the instruments. On the same line of logic though, since Red Octane sells Guitar Hero guitars does that mean everything they produce is low quality as well?

[Andreas @ Jan 28th 2008 1:14PM]

not even wireless

[rothgar @ Jan 28th 2008 3:19PM]

I second that complaint.

[Electromodo @ Jan 28th 2008 1:19PM]

Sorry for the stupid question:

Can't you connect any microphone? Or it is some sort of proprietary microphone?

[Jordan @ Jan 28th 2008 1:25PM]

If you can get a real mic to have a usb connector then maybe. I doubt it though...

[Guzzie @ Jan 28th 2008 1:25PM]

Any USB mic should work.

[Daniel @ Jan 28th 2008 1:28PM]

one of the game's loading screens says any USB mic works.

[Paranoid @ Jan 28th 2008 3:17PM]

I use my Socom USB headset so I can sing and play guitar at the same time
works great

[Mike Sprys @ Jan 28th 2008 1:21PM]

Best buy in pittsburgh has had this since the beginning of january, haven't sold one. lol

[nezzr.v0 @ Jan 28th 2008 1:26PM]

Looks like a cheap knockoff USB version of the good-ole Sure SM58.

[KC @ Jan 28th 2008 1:59PM]

Hey, that means that this needs a KIRF tag too!

[freakscene @ Jan 28th 2008 2:45PM]

Yeah, I agree. Whereas the original Rock Band mic is a knockoff of a SM57 (which mostly only sees heavy vocal use at live shows...typically it's used more to mic guitar amps), this is a SM58 dynamic mic knockoff which some prefer on vocals. It is a bit warmer than the 57 and has more well-defined upper midrange. Björk uses the SM58 mic almost exclusively, but then again she's Björk.

[Alan Strangis @ Jan 28th 2008 1:27PM]

Hmmm... the mic is the only 'instrument' from the Special Edition Rock Band that I HAVEN'T had a problem with.

[Telanis @ Jan 28th 2008 2:35PM]

Dude, they're DRUMS. They're supposed to be loud.

[Jonathan @ Jan 28th 2008 1:28PM]

Take your development money and put it into quieter drums.

(I know I can mod them, in fact I did it last night. But I shouldn't have to!)

[Organic_Shadow @ Jan 28th 2008 1:35PM]

Looks like it says "Playstation 3 OR Xbox 360" at the top right of the package.

[TUBATYE @ Jan 28th 2008 1:41PM]

saw this at best buy yesterday in Knoxville, TN...only it was in the PS3 section and said nothing about the 360 on the packaging.

[Mike @ Jan 28th 2008 2:02PM]

The top of the box says Playstation 3 Wii Xbox 360


Is this announcement of it coming for Wii, finally?

[Mike Jenkins @ Jan 28th 2008 4:27PM]

No, it just means you can use it with singing games on the Wii like Boogie and High School Musical. I know for sure that High School Musical uses the same microphone that comes in the Rock Band Special Edition box, just with a High School Musical label on it instead of Rock Band. They're not releasing rock Band on the Wii.

[blevay @ Jan 28th 2008 2:06PM]

Man, i'll mod you an old SM-58 for $20. It'll look even more authentic.

[shmengie @ Jan 28th 2008 2:13PM]

i'm the i.t. guy for the company that makes this. i'm also a musician. this ain't no telefunken u47, but it is definitely better than the standard mike. it specs out better, feels heftier and is available now. here ya go: http://www.pdp.com/prod_detail.php?sku=PL9970

[Demaar @ Jan 28th 2008 2:22PM]

Well, with the bundle you get a free instrument anyway, so no wonder this mic is better quality. I'll probably only play through the game singing once though, so I'd rather make do with the cheapo one in the bundle.

[hokiewalrus @ Jan 28th 2008 2:27PM]

Premium mic? Where are the premium drums??

[Bryan T @ Jan 28th 2008 3:04PM]

$3000 or $50, it doesn't matter if you can't sing in the first place.

[Alexander @ Jan 28th 2008 3:17PM]

I think that the whole 'wii' debacle is that it supports Wii games that support the Mic. Like, Boogie.

[Paranoid @ Jan 28th 2008 3:17PM]

[Ruben @ Jan 28th 2008 3:36PM]

I agree.

[francisreal @ Jan 28th 2008 3:23PM]

I imagine some guy at Best Buy holding this and thinking.

Am i really a big of a geek to actually pay for this?

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 28th 2008 3:31PM]

If you have to ask yourself that question. Then your not a geek.

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 28th 2008 3:32PM]

If you have to ask yourself that question. Then your not a geek.

[air12ick @ Jan 28th 2008 4:07PM]

I actually saw this at work. Our system says its made by Nyko.

[air12ick @ Jan 28th 2008 4:09PM]

I mean, distributed by Nyko. And its been on our shelves since Christmas time.

[TC81190 @ Jan 28th 2008 6:51PM]

Is there something in the Harmonix mic that picks up the tambourine/cowbell note hits when you're playing?