Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hey Nick,

You can now get the TMC-6 for something closer to US $200 than $250, 
though that probably won't make much difference to you. Its 
advantage over the discontinuted PM-16 and the Kat MIDIkiti is its 
inclusion of inputs that reflect the new technology, mainly 
Roland's. It does have stereo input capability, meaning that you 
connect Yamaha, Pintech, or Roland gum rubber pads/cymbals with a 
body/rim or bow/edge through it. But the basic triggering technology 
hasn't changed much in ten years. Though the inputs of both the PM-
16 and MK are all mono, they have sixteen and nine, respectively, 
allowing you to use both single-zone and dual-zone drums and 
cymbals. UNH is right that you have to enter new midi note numbers 
on the DTX for every new sound that you want these units to make, 
but that task seemed like a daunting proposition to users of the 
DTXII module only because of a bug in it that we did not know about 
until some of us had torn out most of our middle-aged hair. (Now we 
routinely advise everyone with a new DTXII who has any MIDI 
ambitions to do a factory reset before trying anything fancy.) 

The two older MIDI interfaces also have different banks (patches or 
kits) that allow the sounds of connected triggers to change when 
kits are changed in the DTX module, as well as other helpful 
parameters. None of this is probably going to matter much to you; 
neither of these units is likely to show up in Australia. But who 
knows? I'm a long-time user of a Kat MIDIkiti, and it has met my 
extra trigger needs quite well. I run the rim of my dual zone snare, 
a splash, a heavy cymbal, a bell sound, a china, and a few other 
odds and ends through it. Something like it may never end up being a 
viable option or desire for you, but remember that if you add 
another module to your setup, you'll also need a mixer to coordinate 
them.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> Hey, thanks for that info. The TMC-6 sounds like a good idea. $250 
> sounds like an okay price but I assume that's U.S. currency, and 
at 
> the current Australia/U.S. exchange rate that means I'd be 
spending 
> US$400. I might be more inclined to get a second DTXpress module 
> which, here Downunder, will cost me something like $1000. I'll put 
> that on the backburner, I think!
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "underneathheaven" 
<realvast@s...> 
> wrote:
> > Hey Nick!  The PM-16 is an external midi device made by Roland.  
> > Basically, the reason I bought it was to add an additional 16 
> > trigger inputs to my dtxpress.  Yes, the box has a whopping 16 
> > inputs.  I bought it off of ebay for a $100.00 and thats usually 
> how 
> > much they sell for.  You connect your extra pads to the PM-16 
and 
> > then connect the PM-16 to your dtxpress and you've got a larger 
set 
> > to play on!  The PM-16 does have some extra functions, like 
stuff 
> to 
> > do with pitch and velocity but nothing to fancy for todays 
> > standards. Like I said, I only bought it for the additional 
> inputs.  
> > I mentioned in another post that I am starting to see the value 
in 
> > buying another module.  The PM-16 does have its limitations.  
For 
> > example, any pads connected to the PM-16 will sustain their 
sounds 
> > on any kit you choose.  So if you connected a pad with a cowbell 
> > sound and then switched to your user-defined jazz kit, that pad 
> > would remain a cowbell and you would have to change its voice 
> > through the utility menu.  As you can tell once you gain lots of 
> > extra pads and then want to change them for each different kit 
it 
> > becomes a sort of hassle just because you can't save their 
changes 
> > for each different kit.  Roland makes a new external midi device 
> > called the TMC-6.  This costs $250.00 and only comes with six 
extra 
> > inputs but it has more cool functions than the PM-16.  t Keep in 
> > mind though that these boxes are in no way another module.  
Another 
> > member also purchased a midikiti, which is another external midi 
> > device but I'm not sure if it ever worked properly.  If you 
wanna 
> > know any more information about it or want a pic of it let me 
> know!  
> > Also, if anyone else wants to add more information about the PM-
16 
> > please do!!
> > 
> > -UN.H
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" 
<njcarroll56@y...> 
> > wrote:
> > > Hey, UN.H!  I note you've got a PM-16, which I assume is an 
> > ancillary 
> > > box that works with the DTXpress brain?  Can you tell me what 
it 
> > is, 
> > > and what it does, exactly? It is a Yamaha product?