Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello Ed - Thanks for your welcome - I must acknowledge limited 
experience with regard to some of the comparisons you mentioned.  As 
a relatively new drummer without a tuned ear for such nuance 
comparisions - I will try to respond to your questions.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "aww123us" <awhapha@c...> wrote:
> > Newbie - first post here.
> Bought a III two weeks ago - put it through its paces.  Returned 
it 
> > for the III Special which arrived two days ago.
> 
> Andrew,
> 
> Welcome and thanks for posting. I have a few follow-up questions 
> below.
>  
> > 1) Absolutely no comparison between the pedal foot controller of 
> the 
> > III and that of the Special. I agree with the observation I read 
> > concerning the limitations of the III HH controller.  The new 
III 
> > Special HH is very responsive - and accoustic-like.  Alone - 
nearly 
> > worth the $600 upgrade from the III.
> 
> Did it take you much time to get a satisfactory response from the 
> hat, or did it perform well right out of the box with the factory 
> kits? On a level playing field, how about the volume relative to 
the 
> other components?

The volume control on the Hat itself helped - as did the standard 
module settings for the Special.  Strange reactions at first until I 
set the trigger to SP Dyna - Like magic - It was right there.
>  
> > 2) Other cymbals - choke nicely - three-zone responsiveness of 
ride 
> > is welcome.  Second crash provides useful fill.
> 
> Do you like the cymbal sounds? How well do they approximate 
acoustic 
> sounds to your ears? Can you recognize any acoustic cymbals 
> (Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, etc.)? Do you have any comparative 
> impressions vis a vis other Yamaha, Roland, Alesis cymbals? Do the 
> rims trigger reliably? Do the cymbals "swing" realistically when 
you 
> play them?

The swinging is a function of how tightly snugged they are. Though I 
dare say accoustic-like feel and movement eludes this set.  (Though 
considerably better than the "fixed wedges" of the III.

As for the sounds - the helpful hint of lowering the decay was an 
improvement.  I dont honestly feel I am qualified to offer a 
comparison to the name-brands you mentioned, though (within limits) 
the sounds seem fairly natural and useable.
> 
> > 3) Experienced some minor tracking delay on cymbals.
> 
> We'll have to keep an eye on that. If you noticed it, it's not the 
> typical e-drum latency, which generally escapes attention. Factory 
> kits/settings or user?

Perhaps I am using the incorrect terminology here.  It may be less a 
tracking delay and better described as drop-out.  The phenomenon of 
of certain sounds not occuring smoothly and consistently when 
triggered in rapid succession.  At times it seems there is an 
artificial sounding effect as one cymbal sounding "collides" with 
the next.  Keep in mind this is an experienced newbie, right out of 
the box, talking here.  I have not yet tweaked the user settings 
much.
>  
> > 4) Throne is worthless.
> 
> If the drummer for Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs could stand while 
> playing, so can the rest of us.

One, two...one, two, three four...
>  
> > 5)Thoroughly enjoyable venture for a newer drummer reluctant to 
> > negotiate realism of an acoustic set with the flexibility of 
> > edrums.  
> 
> I forgot to ask Bret, how difficult is the kit to set up? How much 
> time did it take. I remember years ago, like it was yesterday, 
> setting up the DTXpressI. It must have taken me, oh, 7 or 8 mos., 
> though time flew. 

I spent Friday evening leisurely assembling the basic set up - 
couple of hours.  Saturday morning another hour or so "hanging" all 
the wiring in a neat and useable way.  It may take me the other 
eight months "setting-up" all the various user features and settings.

One other note - In playing along with the songs I would like to 
lower the volume on the drum parts without complete muting. There 
does'nt seem a way to do this. I understand this  is a DTXIII 
comment/question.

Anyway, hope this helps.  Thanks for asking.  Ed, what is your 
experience/orientation to this subject?

Cheers, Andrew 




> 
> Ed