Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Ernie Vega" <sternern@y...> 
wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > Ok....I posted this in another websites forum, but I am finding 
few 
> > helpers...:)
> > 
> > I have a DTX Ver 2.0 and a DTXpress, along with about 18 
different 
> > yamaha triggers...(that's why I need both) 
> > 
> > First and foremost, when I hook up the DTX and plug triggers in, 
> the 
> > snare trigger does not produce a sound from the main pad, but it 
> > will from the rim only. When I hit the center of the pad, 
nothing 
> > happens, but I do see the EQ moving accordingly. When I hook up 
> just 
> > my DTXpress, I do not have this problem. Maybe someone can set 
me 
> > straight...
> 
> Ernie,
> 
> One of the reasons for your lack of suggestions is that your 
problem 
> isn't clear--at least to me. First, I don't know what you're 
hooking 
> the DTX up to, an amp/headphones? The easy explanations for you 
not 
> getting a sound from the snare head attached to the DTX is that it 
> isn't programmed correctly on the DTX, whereas the rim is, or the 
> module is damaged. The difficulty doesn't appear to be the cable 
or 
> the piezo in the pad, since you can't duplicate the problem with 
the 
> DTXpress (unless you are using a different cable). By EQ, do you 
mean 
> gain? In other words, the module registers a numerical gain for 
hits 
> on the snare's center though no sound comes out of you headphones 
or 
> speaker? Are the two modules linked by a MIDI cable when you do 
this 
> experiment? That could present a problem. See below.
> > 
> > Second, probably the most important to me.  My two modules came 
> with 
> > a MOTU FastLane USB midi interface. I am trying to do two 
> > things....Run both of them together and just hook my amp or 
> > headphone to one module only. When I try to hook them together 
w/ a 
> > midi cord, I get no results. I have to plug in headphones to 
each 
> > one separately and they wont interface with each other. I tried 
the 
> > same thing with the MOTU, and no dice. Can anyone help? 
> 
> It sounds to me like you are trying to get MIDI to function as a 
> mixer. It won't do that in the way that you'd like. Again, I'm not 
> quite sure what you mean by "no results." If you program both 
modules 
> to produce voices for their respective pads, connecting them via 
MIDI 
> but only one of them to amp/headphone outs, you will hear only the 
> sounds programmed into the module with the audio outs engaged. 
MIDI 
> does not function like audio. It will not pull audio sounds from 
one 
> module via MIDI to the outputs of another.  Multiple modules can 
be 
> connected via MIDI to produce sounds, but that method requires the 
> trigger section of one to access the actual sounds of another. 
Think 
> of MIDI as just a set of disembodied commands about sound; it 
isn't 
> the sound itself. Cut off the MIDI section from the sound section, 
> and what you get is silence.
> 
> > Lastly, I am trying to hook the modules up to my pc. Whats the 
best 
> > way, or the correct way. I havent had any luck with the motu. 
The 
> > manual is very brief on this matter. And if I get it interfaced 
> > correctly, is the windows software that I can edit my pads 
> > functions, voice, etc? I also want to be able to load songs, 
sys.ex 
> > files, back and forth. Something for the kids can change their 
> > settings easily, and not mess mine up. 
> 
> Again, "the best way" depends on exactly what you're trying to do. 
If 
> the MOTU is working correctly, it would be a fine interface, 
provided 
> that you have the appropriate software to process MIDI 
information. 
> I'm not sure that processing MIDI information is what you are 
> equipped, or want, to do. To my knowledge, the DTX doesn't have 
> software for entering parameters. A member of this group did 
create 
> such an animal for use with the DTXpressII. I don't whether that's 
> one of your modules. The program DTXchange, which is available 
from 
> this site, will store settings from the Yamaha modules as backups 
or 
> extras or for trading among those with the same module. 
> 
> I hope that some of these comments will help to clarify your 
> situation.
> 
> Ed

Thanks Ed for your reply...To be honest, im not to sure what I want 
to do with the whole thing. I'll put specifics in later.

I do Have one more question.....Let's say I want to use only my DTX, 
Is there a way to add more triggers/pads to it with another module. 
Example, the DTX has 12 possible inputs which would have my snare 
and 4 toms on inputs 1-5. 3 cymbals on 6,7, and 8(which is Hi hat). 
the two other inputs are 10/9 which I would hook my kick and bar 
pad, and 12/11 would have drum triggers for toms. The DTX seems to 
be at max capacity at this point. What if I wanted to add my pcy-10 
cymbal bell pad, or another drum trigger. What could I do? Add a 
inexpensive module, or is there another way?

The reason I ask is that I probably want to set up a smaller 
complete set at my other house using the DTXpress. But I want to 
make my primary one to have 7 drum triggers, 3 cymbals(hi hat 
included), and my BP80 bar pad and the PCY10 cymbal bell pad. What 
are my options? Thanks for any help. I appreciate the previous reply.

Ern