Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

To DTX or not to DTX seems to be the question lately.

Reading about this, I thought I'd share my opinions.

I am a new drummer.  I started playing when I got my DTXpress, three months
ago (though I had messed around on drums before).

1. The feel of the DTXpress pads just doesn't cut it - especially the
hi-hat.  I didn't notice this at first, but the hi-hat is really
unrealistic.

2. The sound of the kit is pretty good if you spend a lot of time tweaking
it. The presets are crummy.

3. The cymbals always sound the same when you hit them.  When I played a
V-Drums kit a month ago, I was AMAZED how realistic and interesting the
sound of Roland's cymbals were.

4. I probably wouldn't balk so much at the DTXpress if I also owned an
acoustic kit.  But not having an acoustic kit is DRIVING ME NUTS!

5. When I've recorded the DTXpress with a GM-Rock kit, out of the
box-untweaked, it sounded... ok, but it lacked something.  The waveform (in
Cool Edit Pro) can be seen to be a series of peaks - the sounds simply don't
last long enough.

6. Despite all this, I'm sure the DTXpress is a lot easier to record
than an acoustic kit (at least when you're not in a pro recording studio
with a big budget).... And somewhat easier to transport.  Also, for the
money, the DTXpress can't be expected to sound or feel like Vdrums... So
overall, I think having a DTXpress as your only kit will leave you longing
for the feel and subtlety of a real kit.

~Adam