Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi,

I also just purchased a DTXPRESSIIISP and have been playing around 
with expanding it through the MIDI port.  I had an old Yamaha DD-50 
(the newer iteration of this is the DD-55).  I connected it to the 
DTXPRESS III module (MIDI out of DD-50 to MIDI in of DTXIII) and then 
mapped each of the pads to play one of the 900+ available drum voices 
of the DTXPRESS III.   You can also just use the voices from the DD-
50 (or other midi device) directly, but I found the mapping gave me 
more of the sound I was looking for...and definitely a lot more 
options for voices!   Since the DD-50 has 7 pads and two 'foot 
triggers' it gives me a potential of 9 additional 'voices' through a 
single midi connection (although I am not personally using the 'foot 
triggers').

I'm not however saying this is a perfect option, and it definitely 
takes a bit of work to get both ends in sync.  The biggest problem I 
have however is finding the right location for it...I haven't gotten 
that issue quite worked out yet.  It may be better to have one of the 
smaller units (like the 3 or 5 pad versions...or maybe something 
totally different).  But the MIDI option for expandability seems a 
reasonable one at this time.  

By-the-way, when I unplugged the DTXIII, it lost all of the mappings 
I set up (it saved my 'kits', but not the map...it may have been 
something I did, but it may not be too).  I would recommend keeping 
some sort of 'written' record if you decide to use midi mapping, so 
you can restore it all in a short amount of time.

Also, as you will find out, all of the trigger inputs are used with 
the default set.  However, the 'Crash 2' input is a stereo input, and 
according to the documentation the Crash 2 that is plugged into that 
input is only a mono, single voice pad...even though they give you a 
stereo cable for it, so you could potentially add an additional mono 
trigger to that stereo input, giving you a seperate input on both 
left and right sides (and are considered port 9 and port 10 by the 
DTX III module).  You'll see once you get your set.

I hope this was of some help.

Jeff

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "electricmusic" <thcmusic@c...> 
wrote:
> 
> I just purchased a DTXPRESSIIISP but it has not arriced yet.  A
> question that has been nagging at me..... 
> 
> Is the DTXPRESSIIISP in any way expandable? ....
> as far as something like adding a cowbell trigger without 
sacrificing any of the standard
> triggers and sounds that come with the kit as is from the factory? 
> 
> Or are all the trigger points used up already with the hardware 
provided?
> 
> Also, does anyone out there have any suggestions for setup that are 
not already in the 
> manual?
> 
> Thanks, THC