Setting up your Guitar Hero Drum Set Wii for PC gaming, especially with emulators like Dolphin, can greatly enhance your rhythm game experience. While wireless connections are convenient, a wired connection offers improved latency and reliability. If you’re looking to use your Guitar Hero drum set Wii with precision, especially for games on Dolphin emulator, the RetroCultMods V3 Wii Adapter provides a robust solution. This guide will walk you through using the RetroCultMods V3 Wii Adapter to seamlessly connect your Guitar Hero drum set Wii to your PC, perfect for enjoying games on Dolphin and even titles like Clone Hero.
Gear Up: What You’ll Need
Before diving into the setup, ensure you have the following components ready:
- Guitar Hero/Band Hero Drum Set for Wii: The star of the show.
- RetroCultMods V3 Wii Adapter: This adapter bridges the connection between your Wii drum set and your PC.
- USB-C Cable: Usually included with the RetroCultMods V3 Adapter.
- PC with USB-A Port: Your gaming PC to connect to.
- Dolphin Emulator: Installed and ready to go for playing your favorite Wii games.
- RCM Programming Tool (Optional): Needed for firmware updates if prompted.
Setting Up the RetroCultMods V3 Wii Adapter
The RetroCultMods V3 Adapter is designed for ease of use. Follow these steps to get it connected and configured:
Adapter Connection
First, locate the Wiimote compartment on your Guitar Hero drum set Wii. Plug the USB-C end of the cable into the RetroCultMods V3 Adapter, and then carefully insert the adapter into the Wiimote compartment. It might seem like an unusual placement for a USB-C connection, but it’s designed to fit securely. Connect the USB-A end of the cable to an available USB port on your PC.
RetroCultMods V3 Wii Adapter plugged into a Guitar Hero Wii Drum Set
Firmware Update (If Necessary)
Once connected, your computer might prompt you to update the firmware of the adapter. Download the RCM Programming Tool from the RetroCultMods website. Follow the provided instructions to update the firmware if needed. A successful update will typically display a confirmation message within the tool.
RCM Programming Tool Firmware Update Success Confirmation
Preset Configuration for Guitar Hero Drums
To ensure optimal performance with your Guitar Hero drum set Wii, you need to load the correct preset onto the adapter. Open the RCM Programming Tool again and navigate to Configure > V3 Adapter > V3 Adapter – GH Drums > Load Preset. This step is crucial for the adapter to correctly interpret the signals from your drum kit.
Loading Guitar Hero Drums Preset in RCM Programming Tool
Important: Make sure to load the preset before configuring the controller settings within Dolphin.
Dolphin Emulator Configuration for Wii Drum Set
With the RetroCultMods V3 Adapter set up, you now need to configure Dolphin emulator to recognize your Guitar Hero drum set Wii:
- Assign Controller Slot: In Dolphin, go to the controller settings and choose any available slot under “Emulated Wii Remote.”
- Select XInput Device: From the dropdown menu for the chosen slot, select “XInput/0/Drum Kit.” This indicates that Dolphin should recognize your drum kit as an XInput device.
- Clear Default Mappings: Click “Clear” to remove any pre-existing button mappings to start fresh.
- Choose Drum Kit Extension: Under the “Extension” dropdown menu, select “Drum Kit.” This tells Dolphin to expect a drum kit extension for the Wii remote.
- Map Drum Pads: Click on the “Extension” tab. Now, hit each drum pad and cymbal on your Guitar Hero drum set Wii to map them to the corresponding inputs in Dolphin. Dolphin should register each hit as you strike the pads.
- (Optional) Adjust Hit Sensitivity: If you find that you need to hit the drum pads too hard for them to register in the game, you can lower the “Hit Strength” value (e.g., to 35%). This will make the drum pads more sensitive to lighter hits.
- Name and Save Profile: Enter a descriptive name for your controller profile (e.g., “RCM V3 Wii Drums”). Click “Save” to store your configuration for future use.
Dolphin Controller Configuration – Step 1
Dolphin Controller Configuration – Step 2
Dolphin Controller Configuration – Step 3
Get Ready to Rock!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully connected your Guitar Hero drum set Wii to your PC using the RetroCultMods V3 Adapter and configured it for Dolphin emulator. You are now ready to enjoy your favorite Wii rhythm games with enhanced precision and responsiveness. This setup not only works flawlessly with Dolphin but also with other PC games that support XInput devices, such as Clone Hero, expanding your drumming game library. Enjoy the enhanced experience and get ready to unleash your inner drum hero!
