Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "K2500X" <drdistefano@y...> wrote:

> I'm fairly new to electronic drums and was wondering if anyone could
> shed some light on this dilemma I'm having.  I pretty much had my
> heart set on a DTX3SP until recently I saw some amazing prices on 
the
> Pintech Studio Elite Kits (2003 ed). Seems I can have both the 
Pintech
> and an Alesis DM Pro drum modual for < 1k. Can anyone with 
experience
> comment on the  pros/cons of these kits vs each other? Especially in
> terms of playability and sound quality. The quality of the pintech
> snare and toms seems to be a big plus, but the hi-hat does not look 
as
> nice. So, is it easy to set up Pintech kits with the DMPro? Would I
> still have all the playability and expressiveness of a DTX3SP?

Hi Ken,

Welcome. You really do have a dilemma, and you know as well as I that 
the final decision will rest with how you weigh the options. But I 
will tell you that the Alesis DM Pro is a solid module. Sound quality 
is a personal issue, so I won't presume to compare them out of the 
blue. What you do get with the Alesis, in addition to its extensive 
range of sounds/kits, is a lot of inputs (16), as well as sampling 
capability (if that interests you), which is a relative rarity still 
in the edrum world. 

However, the Alesis Pro has been around a long time, and its value 
has gradually eroded in the face of admittedly incremental 
developments elsewhere. For one thing, its inputs are all mono--not 
necessarily a bad thing with the Pintech ConcertCast pads, which are 
either mono or dual mono--but it can't give you two, or even three 
sounds, on one input like the DTXpress can with the appropriate pads 
(its own). Some people wouldn't be bothered by that, since Yamaha's, 
or Roland's, "switch" or "membrane" zones arguably aren't as 
realistic as true dual zones. But so-called stereo pads will not find 
a convenient home with the Alesis. 

The Alesis boils down to a solid nuts and bolts, basic module without 
the bells and whistles (sequencer, groove control, songs, etc.) that 
even an entry-level module like the DTXpress can offer. In its favor, 
it's got a 20 bit engine and six outputs, rather than the DTXpress' 
standard stereo pair, permitting better control of the sound once it 
leaves the module. Like the DTXpress, it has inputs that allow the 
kit to be mixed with recorded music for practice. I can't remember 
whether the hi hat is limited to open/close, rather than the "full" 
range allowed by the DTXpress module. Also on the down side, I'm not 
sure that Alesis even has the DM Pro on the active roster any more. 
Yamaha's relations with its electronic drummers are the best in the 
business. 

So far as the Pintech Studio Elite is concerned, it is definitely a 
top notch instrument, and the Alesis is perfect for it, provided the 
sounds pass muster for you. Mesh heads have certain advantages over 
the gum rubber on the DTXpress. Some people find them easier on the 
joints, and they approximate acoustic drums better in certain 
respects. The degree of similarity depends a little on the heads 
used. Pintech's heads, like Rolands, tend toward the bouncy. The best 
mesh heads were the two-ply Harts, which are out of production for 
reasons that we don't need to explore here. Nonetheless, drumming 
with mesh heads can be a rewarding experience. Many people gravitate 
toward them--whether Pintech's, Hart's, or Roland's--after a 
beginning stint with gum rubber. The only rubber pads that rival good 
meshes, in my opinion, are those with the new DTXtreme. They are 
terrific. Remember also that woven heads don't last forever. They 
will need to be changed eventually, like mylar heads, no matter how 
you play. I'm sure that some people can play the same rubber pads 
indefinitely; they might well catch the upgrade bug well before the 
pads start showing any signs of serious wear (except for the Yamaha 
kick, which may require a little care to prevent deterioration). 

you're right about the hi hat on the Elite. I'll take the Yamaha on 
the DTXPSP or the Visu-lite anyday over that arrangement. But you can 
always get another hi hat on a stand down the road. The Pintech 
Zenbal cymbals are good, and the ConcertCast kick a definite step up 
over the Yamaha KP. All in all, playability of the Pintech kit with 
the DM Pro is nothing to sneeze at, and it certainly doesn't take a 
backseat to the DTXpress. With that combination, you will be free to 
experiment with all sorts of variations. You can get another module--
a Roland or a ddrum--or you can try other mesh heads/pads and 
different cymbals--Harts, visu-lites, Rolands, et al. It's not quite 
as easy to incorporate other companies' components into a Yamaha 
context, although Pintech has always been a fairly safe and popular 
choice, and the company has become more and more interested in 
catering to Yamaha users. (Pintech may be sending OGD and me a ZB3 
cymbal to review with Yamaha modules; stay tuned).

I've taken up enough room without really answering your question, but 
I hope that I've given you a few things to consider on your own. Keep 
us posted on what you decide to do, and please feel free to run more 
questions and ideas by us. The best thing to do after plowing through 
the paper work is to play and listen to both contestants. 
Unfortunately, that's often impossible.

Ed