Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, smoerk <smoerk@g...> wrote:
> i'm new to the list and digital drums. i recently bought a yamaha 
kp-120 
> kick pad (real head) and now looking for a inexpensive drum module 
only 
> for the bass drum. 

Hi Smoerk and welcome,

It is not at all off topic to discuss Xtreme equipmment, or any other 
equipment, here. First of all, I'm wondering what purpose you had in 
mind when you bought the KP-120. Assuming nothing tricky, the easy 
answer to your question is that modules from all of the companies 
that you mention would work with the pad. The important issues are 
determining what is a reasonable amount to spend on triggering a 
single drum and which company's sounds do you prefer. I personally 
like many of the abundant DTXpress bass-drum voices; a used 
discontinued DTXPU, v.I, has the added advantage of being inexpensive 
(less than $200). Discontinued modules from other companies, like the 
Alesis D4 or Roland TD-5, may be good options as well. Trying them is 
the best way to find out, but that is often difficult to arrange. 

The higher the price, both used and new, the more you will be able to 
do with the module. For instance, some modules allow stacking/ 
alternating four notes or more on a single pad--meaning either 
chords/short melodic phrases or simply layered percussive voices or 
patterns. But even an entry-level module can do interesting things. 
One member of this group recently devised a strategy for recording a 
walking bass line with quarter-note kicks on the DTXpress sequencer. 
You can find it on our sister site, dtxpressions.com, under Tips and 
Tricks. After you've experimented with programming voices other than 
standard kicks through the KP-120, and become more familiar with what 
a module can do to enhance your drumming, you might find the prospect 
of triggering your acoustic drums or adding other electronic pads 
more attractive. Otherwise, the module may be going largely to waste.

If none of the extras appeals to you, maybe you could find a cheaper 
method to trigger your KP-120--for instance, connecting with another 
band member's (keyboard player's?) MIDI interface. Others from this 
group may have suggestions. 

Ed