Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello RAV

As a III user I thought that I would respond to your cymbal questions.
IMHO the cymbal sounds are quite good (and a real advance over
previous e-cymbals sounds) but do not directly replicate the
experience of playing acoustic cymbals. Here's my biggest complaint:
when playing a ride rhythm on an acoustic you start the cymbal ringing
in a sustained manner and then add to that as you are playing, so
between strikes there is a sustained sound and the next strike adds to
that sound. With any e-cymbal each hit is a new event which
re-triggers the sound. On a "chokeable" e-cymbal striking the cymbal
will sometimes choke a sustained sound instead of starting a new one.
This can be avoided with some attention, but it does happen.
Your hihat experience will differ a bit between the III and the III-SP
which uses a hihat stand and a cymbal shaped pad. My SP setup does a
good job of replicating the acoustic hihat experience in the sense
that one is using a real hihat pedal and that the sensor does a good
job of triggering open, closed and in-between sounds. So far I find I
must stand hard on the pedal to get the fully closed sound, but I have
not troubled to fuss with it thus far. My experience of the
stand-alone pedal as found in the III is limited to an old DTX unit so
I don't believe I can be fair to the current one.

If you can swing getting the SP I believe you will find the extra
money well spent. I have played these drums mostly through a Peavey PA
and a Peavey Keyboard amp and have been pleased with the sound: solid
and realistic bass, drum and cymbal sounds. At one point I found the
cymbals to be weak sounding, but then cleverly increased the treble
setting on the amp and achieved nirvana.

Creighton


On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 07:27:26 -0000, rav4t3 <a.holmes@...> wrote:
> Hello,
> Previous to quite a long spell off the drums, I played accoustic
> kits for a long time and am now semi retired from the pub & club
> scene. I have been persuaded to dust the sticks off and start
> playing and recording again - mainly safe covers etc. but just for
> fun !
> For various reasons I am thinking of buying a DTXPress 111, I have
> some reservations regarding how "good" the Cymbal sounds are -
> bearing in mind the PA/Mixer system I will be using is pretty good.
> Also, how easy is it to adapt to playing the wacky HI Hat pedal!
> Please be gentle.
> RAV4t3.
> 
> 
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-- 
Creighton Higgins