Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Wow, thanks for that very nice reply Ed. And in searching this group
I've found your contributions to this forum have been frequent and
invaluable...

Well the quick update is that I'm still struggling with this decision
and it's now giving me a headache cause it's taking up waaaay too much
of my time. So I've decided I should go with a complete system that's
been tailoredto a specific sound module. It's not that I can't handle
building my own system. But I just want the kit to work as close to a
real drum kit as possible. So an ultra expressive hi hat and cymbal
choking are are necessary. My budget is < $1500 right now. Sound
quality is also really important. Which brings up a question. The MP3
demos that are on etxperience.com, why they are the same ones for both
the express and extreme? I would figure the extreme would have much
better sound quality.  So my choices right now are a DTX3SP new, or
possibly a used DTXtreme2s. Actually I heard the ddrum4 and was blown
away. So if I could get a used ddrum4 in my price range that would
probably be my top choice at this point. I also like the fact that the
ddrum 4 is compact. What do ya think?

Again expressing my sincere gratitude,
Ken

> 
> 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