Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Walt - What a service you provide here on this
group!!! You need to be paid - it's like having
full-time, instantaneous tech support. Thank you very
much! I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and buy
the DTXpressII and then I'm sure I'll have plenty more
questions for ya : ) Anybody got any suggestions on a
good reliable drum shop to mail order the DTXpressII
from in the US? Thanks again! - Mike




--- Walt <wgardus@...> wrote:
> Hi mike,
> 
> No problem for the info and opinions...  I'll insert
> my answers below, so I'm sure to cover
> everything...Walt
> --- Mike Warren Autographs
> <mikewarrenautographs@...> wrote:
> > 
> > Hey Walt - Thanks for all of the SUPER info. I
> > appreciate it! Not having ever owned or played an
> > electronic kit - advice from others is all I have
> to
> > go on. Sounds like the DTXpressII may be the one
> for
> > me.
> > 
> > Question #1 - Re: the (2) extra mono inputs -
> could
> > I
> > use one input for a cymbal bell on top of the ride
> > and
> > could I use the other input for an extra crash? Or
> > am
> > I incorrect in thinking I can do that?
> 
> That is correct, or any other combination of single
> trigger devices.  Some people put their kicks here
> so
> they can use multizone pads on the multizone inputs
> (1-8)
> > 
> > Question #2 - Is the response and feel of the
> cymbal
> > pads the same as the drum pads on the DTXpressII?
> If
> > so, could you use a 3 zone drum pad connected to
> the
> > ride input and use it as a ride to trigger 3
> > seperate
> > sounds (bell, ride, crash)???? (that may be a
> crazy
> > question but is something I've thought about).
> 
> Crazy is our middle name - lots of people prefer to
> use the round pads for cymbals.  With the xpress II
> having the capability for 3 zone inputs, you could
> be
> the first on the group to try this one out.  One
> thing
> to keep in mind though is that with the round pads
> you
> don't get any swing as you would with cymbal pads. 
> > 
> > Question #3 - Walt, could you explain to me a
> little
> > further what you mean by your following statement
> in
> > quotations - "When I ran out of inputs on a
> module,
> > I
> > could always add more". Do you mean you'd do this
> by
> > buying another module?
> > 
> OK, I'm guilty of that.  My 'current' stack is a
> DTXpress, a DTXV2 and a Roland PM16.  I have a mixer
> to  balance and blend them.  You will find a lot of
> members running multiple modules.  I have some (more
> or less) current pictures in the photos section,
> including a 'head' shot of the brains, and to think
> -
> I started with a DTXpress...  
> 
> > Thanks again very much to Walt and everyone in
> this
> > group, and as soon as I get my new kit (probably
> the
> > DTXpressII), I will definately share my thoughts
> on
> > it
> > with you. Thanks! - Mike
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- Walt <wgardus@...> wrote:
> > > Hi Mike,
> > > 
> > > No apologies required for the enthusiasm - we
> all
> > > get
> > > it when we talk about buying new gear (as Walt
> > wipes
> > > the drool from his keyboard).
> > > 
> > > Anyway, lets break this into a few areas. 
> First,
> > > the
> > > pads.  The xpress II has the newest technology
> in
> > > this
> > > area.  I haven't tried them myself, but many of
> > the
> > > recent posts on them have been positive,
> > especially
> > > on
> > > the bass tower having a larger pad area.  The
> KP60
> > > and
> > > KP80 towers have had some negative comments made
> > > about
> > > their reliability and performance, only time
> will
> > > tell
> > > if similar comments are made about the new
> tower. 
> > > Moving to the snare/tom pads, the TP80S dual
> zone
> > > pads
> > > tend to have less than perfect response on the
> rim
> > > triggers - the main part of the pads is solid
> > > though. 
> > > The xpress II has the newer 3 zone pads, and the
> > > pads
> > > have a different texture than the originals ones
> > > did. 
> > > On the topic of cymbal pads, many of us have
> > cracked
> > > the underlying plastic base on original line. 
> The
> > > PCY80S also likes to collect dust causing
> > problems. 
> > > We'll have to see how the new cymbal pads work
> > out. 
> > > 
> > > So if the most advanced technology is what you
> > want,
> > > the xpress II would seem to be the winner for
> the
> > > pads.
> > > 
> > > Next the modules.  We have 3 listed, the DTX and
> > the
> > > DTXpress I and II.  From a number of inputs
> view,
> > I
> > > believe the DTX wins with 8 dual zone inputs and
> 4
> > > mono inputs.  Both of the xpress versions only
> > have
> > > 2
> > > mono inputs, plus the xpress II has 8 - 3 zone
> > > inputs
> > > while the xpress I has 8 dual inputs.  I would
> > need
> > > to
> > > look at the specs to be sure, but I believe the
> > DTX
> > > has the strongest processor and number of
> > > simultaneous
> > > voices.  From a perspective of which has the
> > newest
> > > technology, the DTX is the oldest, followed by
> the
> > > xpress I, then the xpress II.  So, if the latest
> > > technology is more important than everything
> else,
> > > the
> > > xpress II would be the one.  If having the most
> > > inputs
> > > is more important, the DTX has the most.  
> > > 
> > > So, what would Walt buy, given the three
> choices? 
> > A
> > > glass of whiskey first, then I think I would go
> > with
> > > the xpress II.  The 2 extra mono inputs on the
> DTX
> > > would not   be more important to me than the
> newer
> > > triggering technology would be.  As I have
> > expanded
> > > my
> > > kit, triggering problems have been the most
> > > troublesome.  When I ran out of inputs on a
> > module,
> > > I
> > > could always add more, but if I couldn't get a
> > > trigger
> > > to work right, I was SOL.  Some people may
> wonder
> > > where the additional features and power of the
> DTX
> > > (5
> > > layers, chaining, etc) fits into my thinking - I
> > > think
> > > the average drummer can certainly find uses for
> > > them,
> > > but unless you're going to really explore them,
> > they
> > > are (more than likely) not going to add much
> extra
> > > value to you. 
> > > 
> > > Now, to the rest of you viewing this topic -
> fire
> > > away!
> > > 
> > > The opinions expressed in this post are not
> > > influenced
> > > by Jack Daniels (hic), well, not much anyway!
> > > --- Mike Warren Autographs
> > > <mikewarrenautographs@...> wrote:
> > > > Hi. New to the group - this is my 2nd post and
> I
> > > > really enjoy the group and all of the great
> > info!
> > > As
> > > > mentioned in previous post, I am (was)
> planning
> > to
> > > > get
> > > > new DTXpressII but have been looking now at
> the
> > > > DTXpress LE and the DS10XP LE at the
> Musician's
> > > > Friend
> > > > web site (see below link):
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=020916200457172142163159419231/search/g=perc?q=dtxpress
> > > > 
> > > > Question: (maybe Walt will have a little
> advice
> > > > here)
> > > > - of the (3) kits listed below:
> > > > DTXpressII - $999
> > > > DTXpress LE - $799
> > > > DS10XP LE - $999
> > > > 
> > > > which kit would you go with and why? They are
> > all
> > > > very
> > > > close to the same price so saving a little
> money
> > > > here
> > > > or there is not a big deal for me, but out of
> > the
> > > > (3),
> > > > I am wanting the most advanced of the (3) sets
> > and
> > > > would like the option of expanding and adding
> > more
> > > > pads in the future (I also play double bass).
> So
> > > > considering my needs, which set??? And how
> much
> > > more
> > > > expadable is the DS10XP LE over the DTXpress?
> It
> > > > probably will boil down to a decision between
> > the
> > > > DTXpressII and the DS10XP LE - is the DS10XP
> > brain
> > > > and
> > > > pads superior to that of the DTXpressII? ANY
> and
> > > ALL
> > > > info greatly appreciated. Thanks everybody!!!
> I
> > > hope
> > > > I
> > > > have not been TOO long winded here - just
> > anxious
> > > > and
> > > > excited about getting my first electronic
> kit!!!
> > :
> > 
> === message truncated ===
> 
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