Rock Band Legacy Adapter for Xbox One

Because the Xbox 360 controllers use a proprietary wireless signal and the Xbox One uses Wi-Fi Direct for its controllers, using your old wireless Xbox 360 instruments on Xbox One requires an extra adapter. The legacy adapter for Xbox One is a small USB device that you plug into your Xbox One that enables your console to receive signals from your wireless Xbox 360 drums and guitars. In contrast, the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 both use Bluetooth, so no special adapter is needed to play older Rock Band instruments on the PS4.  The legacy adapter comes bundled with some standalone versions of Rock Band 4. Other hardware bundles that include the new Xbox One guitars, drums, and microphones do not come with the legacy adapter, but you can purchase one separately online. If you buy the digital version of Rock Band 4 on Xbox One, you’ll be given instructions on how to get the legacy adapter.

Which Xbox 360 Instruments Are Compatible with Rock Band 4 for Xbox One?

Just about all of the wireless Xbox 360 instruments are compatible with Rock Band 4 on Xbox One. Most wired instruments, like the original Rock Band drums and guitar or the Guitar Hero 2 controller, are not compatible.

Rock Band 4 Backward-Compatible Guitars

Rock Band 1 Wireless StratocasterRock Band 2 StratocasterRock Band 3 StratocasterBeatles Rock Band Hofner BassBeatles Rock Band Rickenbacker 325Beatles Rock Band Duo-Jet GuitarGuitar Hero 5 GuitarGuitar Hero World Tour GuitarGuitar Hero 3 Les PaulGuitar Hero Warriors of Rock GuitarGuitar Hero Aerosmith Les PaulMad Catz Precision BassMad Catz Fender Telecaster

Rock Band 4 Backward-Compatible Drums

Guitar Hero World Tour DrumsRock Band 2 DrumsRock Band 3 DrumsBeatles Rock Band Ludwig Drums

Rock Band 4 Backward-Compatible Microphones

Any wired USB microphone released with previous Rock Band games will work. You do not need the legacy adapter to sync microphones. So long as a controller is synced to your console, you can just plug in your microphone via the USB port.

How to Sync the Xbox One Legacy Adapter

Once you’ve determined which of your old instruments are compatible with Xbox One, you must set up the legacy adapter. Make sure the instruments that you wish to sync have fresh batteries and follow these steps: The green light around the Xbox 360 symbol on your instrument should stop blinking, and a solid green light will appear in one of the four corners indicating which player the controller is assigned to.