Allow me to talk mainly about the controller compatibility, because if you've already played a Guitar Hero or Rock Band game before, then you already know what you're in for. If you enjoyed the previous offerings, you'll enjoy this one as well.



If you'd like to skip my explanation then just skip to the compatibility reference chart picture I added.



Now about compatibility. I had heard that the old controllers would be compatible. I was excited to hear this because I already had a drum set and guitar from a previous version that I wanted to use to save some cash.



With the Xbox One I understood that this required an adapter due to some new wireless protocols Microsoft added to the Xbox One that the 360 didn't have.



Okay, no big deal. I'll just make sure I get the adapter. The problem is that the adapter only comes bundled with the game, itself. It does not come with the bundle that includes the game and guitar. Weird, right?



I purchased the "game and guitar" bundle for three reasons:



1) I wanted to use my old drums and guitar



2) I wanted an additional (2nd) guitar to the one I already had



3) I liked that the new RB4 guitar had a sensor built in that automatically synced the visual and audio timing. (I always hated wasting time trying to get that set just right every time I took my kit to a party somewhere.)



After finding out that I couldn't get the adapter with the "game and guitar" bundle, I decided that I would purchase the adapter (made by MadCatz, who is also the manufacturer for the instruments) separately. But guess what? The adapter is not sold separately (yet). I checked brick and mortar stores and all over the internet. No one has the adapters.



Then, in trying to track down the adapter, I learned a little more. The adapter only works with the old instruments that are wireless, NOT wired. My old drum kit is wired.



So now, I won't be able to use my old drums after all. If I had known that from the beginning I could have avoided this entire headache and just preordered the Band-in-a-Box bundle.



Now none of the brick and mortar stores near me have the whole kit and I had to order one from Amazon and wait another 2-days to get it, while in the mean time shipping back the bundle that includes the game and guitar.



For anyone else out there looking to use their old instruments, I found an informative chart on Harmonix's website that shows you which old instruments are compatible with which newer system. It wasn't readily obvious, I really had to dig to find it. But hopefully more people will see it if I post it here.



The short of it is this:



If you're going from PS3 to PS4 everything is compatible.

Wired instruments plug right in and work. Wireless instruments will use the originally included dongle (just as they did on PS3) and they will then work also



If you're going from Xbox 360 to Xbox One there is SOME compatibility.

Wired instruments are NOT compatible. Not even with an adapter.

Wireless instruments ARE compatible, ONLY if you have the required adapter.



If you are crossing platforms going from Xbox to PlayStation (or vice versa) none of the instruments are compatible; wired or wireless.