TDC Start Here • Xbox

TDC10 / TDC17 on Xbox — Setup Guide

First-time setup matters most. Follow the steps in order — once it’s done, daily use is quick and simple. (TDC17 uses the same Xbox setup as TDC10.)

First-time setup (order matters)Game Station Mode: XboxPort B controller pairing
First-time Quick Start Not first time? Troubleshooting

Key point: Before you connect the Xbox controller to Port B, unplug the drum from Xbox and make sure the controller light is fully OFF.

Setup video

Prefer video? Follow along here. (If the video isn’t ready yet, you’ll see a “coming soon” card.)

Quick Start (First-time setup — do this in order)

  1. Power the drum from Xbox (Port A).
    Connect the drum to your Xbox using a USB cable (Drum Port A → Xbox USB). This powers the drum on.
  2. Set “Game Station Mode” to Xbox in TDC Mate.
    Open TDC Mate → set Game Station Mode = Xbox → Save.
    When the app’s home screen switches to the Xbox-style button layout, that confirms the mode change worked.
  3. Disconnect the drum, then fully turn off the Xbox controller (IMPORTANT).
    Unplug the drum from Xbox first.
    Then turn off the Xbox controller: hold the Xbox button until the controller light goes completely off.
  4. Connect the controller to Port B, then reconnect the drum to Xbox.
    Plug the Xbox controller into the drum’s Port B using a USB data cable.
    Now reconnect the drum to Xbox (Port A) for power.
    Normally, the Xbox controller light turns on within a few seconds — setup is complete.

Why order matters: Step 3 is the key. The drum must be unplugged from Xbox first, and the controller must be fully off before you connect it to Port B.

Not first time? (15-second routine)

If you’ve already done the first-time setup, daily use is usually this simple:

  1. Connect the Xbox controller to the drum’s Port B (use a USB data cable).
  2. Connect the drum to Xbox using Port A for power.
  3. Wait a few seconds — the controller light should turn on automatically.
  4. Launch the game and play.

If the controller light doesn’t turn on: jump to Troubleshooting — it’s almost always Step 3 order or a charge-only cable.

Step-by-step setup

Take it slow once. After first-time setup, it becomes a quick plug-and-play routine.

Step 1 — Power on the drum (Port A → Xbox)

Connect the drum to your Xbox using a USB cable: Drum Port A → Xbox USB. The drum powers on.

Step 2 — Switch to Xbox mode in the app

Open TDC Mate and set Game Station Mode → Xbox, then tap Save.

You’ll know it worked when the app’s main screen changes to an Xbox-style button layout.

Step 3 — Reset the controller connection (critical step)

This step is required, and the order matters.

  • Unplug the drum from Xbox first (remove power).
  • Turn the Xbox controller fully off: hold the Xbox button until the light is completely off.

This prevents the controller from staying paired to the Xbox (or a previous host) while you move it to Port B.

Step 4 — Connect controller to Port B, then power on again
  • Connect the Xbox controller to the drum’s Port B using a USB data cable (not charge-only).
  • Reconnect the drum to Xbox (Port A) to power on.

Normally, the controller light turns on within ~3 seconds. If it does, you’re set.

Menu navigation

You have three easy ways to navigate songs and menus. If you’re new, start with Option A.

Option A — Xbox controller (recommended)

Use the Xbox controller connected to Port B like normal. This is the most reliable option.

Option B — Navigate with drum hits
When Arcade Mode is OFF
Left Ka
Up
Left Don
Down
Right Ka
Confirm
Right Don
Cancel
When Arcade Mode is ON
Right Ka
Next
Left Ka
Previous
Right Don
Confirm
Left Don
Confirm
Tip: In Arcade Mode ON, there’s no “Cancel” — just like the real arcade.
Option C — TDC Mate

Use the Xbox-style buttons in TDC Mate (Game Station → Xbox) to navigate.

Troubleshooting

Most issues are quick to solve. If it’s your first time, the #1 fix is repeating Step 3 exactly.

Xbox controller light doesn’t turn on (after Step 4)

Try these in order:

  1. Repeat Step 3 exactly: unplug the drum from Xbox first, then power the controller fully off (light must be OFF) before connecting it to Port B.
  2. Swap the USB cable between the controller and Port B. Many cables are charge-only — you need a USB data cable.
  3. Make sure the controller is connected to Port B (not Port A).
It works at first, then stops after a few minutes

This usually means the controller connection to Port B is unstable.

  • When the setup is correct, the controller light turns on by itself within ~3 seconds after the drum is powered.
  • If it didn’t turn on cleanly (or drops later), replace the cable with a known USB data cable and redo the first-time steps (especially Step 3).
Controls feel wrong in-game

Double-check that Game Station Mode is still set to Xbox in TDC Mate, then fully relaunch the game.

If you recently changed settings, a relaunch ensures the new mapping is applied.

Still stuck? We’ve got you.
Email us at support@rythmagica.net