Reviewed: October 15, 2008
Reviewed by: Jason Flick
Manufacturer
Mad Catz
Type: Skins
System: Universal
Rating: 8.1
Features
MSRP: $19.99
Did you ever want to be in a rock band when you grew up? Do you still have those images of grandeur in the back of your skull? Good because unless you’ve been on some other planet for the last year then you know that that dream requires nothing more than a trip to your living room. Harmonix has brought family and friends together with the release of the original Rock Band and now nearly a year later with the release of Rock Band 2.
The following review is for the Rock Band drummers out there. Do you hate the loud rap of the sticks hitting the pads or those severely harsh rim shots? If the answer is yes then you’re not alone. I usually don’t play the drums but every once in a while I get the courage to get behind the drums. To compensate for those awful rim shots and loud hits Mad Catz has released the Noise Reduction Drum Skinz for the Rock Band Drum Kits.
The Mad Catz Noise Reduction Drum Skinz offer both noise reduction and drum head protection in one step. The light weight yet durable rubber skins fit flush over the drumheads pretty effortlessly, so no wrestling to put them on or off unlike a previous skin made by another company. So for those of you worried about breaking your drumheads, you’re safe these skins are just plain easy to use.
Okay so onto the part that we really care about. Does the Mad Catz Noise Reduction Drum Skinz allow for the same playability as it does without them? The answer to that is yes for the most part. I did fairly well for the most part, not that I’m a star drummer or anything. However I did notice times where I missed notes that I should have hit. It wasn’t all the time but I usually did a bit worse with them on. The sensitivity is just off for my liking.
The Mad Catz Noise Reduction Drum Skinz are supposed to reduce the noise of the sticks hitting the drum by 40% and stop those annoying rim shots. In this department, they do not fail. They do exactly what they are designed to do and for that I am grateful.
The Mad Catz Noise Reduction Drum Skinz are a nice addition to the Rock Band accessory list by their ease of use, no hassle cleaning and compatibility. The best thing about them is that they can be used on all retail versions of Rock Band from the Xbox 360 all the way down to the Wii. However if I have to chose between hitting my notes and silencing the thud I would rather stick without them. The Mad Catz Noise Reduction Drum Skinz retails for $20 dollars at most retailers. They are good for those seeking a way to muffle the sound of loud thumping and rim shots.