Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Can I think aloud for a moment? I may be coming into some money in 
the next few months and am seriously considering upgrading from my 
DTXpress I to a DTXtreme IIs module.  The reasons:

1. I'll get to use a three-zone snare and get cross-stick as well as 
rimshot for the first time on the same pad
2. A TP120SD three-zone snare pad would, I assume, be a big 
improvement on the old two-zone TP80, particularly for rim 
responsiveness.
3. I'll get to use a round, three-zone cymbal pad for the first 
time, and dispense with the bell pad that is notoriously slow-riding
4. I'll have outputs for an extra cymbal and tom plus two other 
stereo sockets
5. I can privately listen to the metronome through headphones while 
playing, and the band won't have to hear it
6. I can hit both the rim and the head together and get both sounds 
simultaneously
7. I can adjust relative pad volumes while playing by using the 
sliding switches on the brain
8. I'll have access to heaps more sounds including (hopefully!) a 
better range of cymbal sounds.
9. I can use my existing frame and most of my existing pads, thereby 
saving on the cost of a whole new setup.
10. Not to mention sampling and digital transference capabilities 
that I probably wouldn't be using in the short term.

I'm not sure on the relative costs of a new DTXtreme IIS vs. the 
DTXpress III, and I'd be interested in what others think about their 
relative merits.  The other thing I'm thinking about is the idea of 
ordering on-line.  The main drum retailer here in Adelaide, 
Australia, has quoted me $3,300 (that's $2,320 US) just for a 
DTXtreme brain!  Yet I see that Drumbalaya is offering the whole kit 
for US$2,599.  Can anyone tell me what I'd be up for in shipping 
costs to Australia if I bought on-line?

I've tried the DTXtreme II at Guitar Center many times.  I know a lot
of people who consider the Xtreme to have a better acoustic feel than
the mesh pads that are out there.

That might be true, but I never pay attention to that; I just know I'm
hitting rubber, and if I get it into my mind that it's rubber, it
doesnt bother me how much it feels like an acoustic set, you know?

Anyway, the sounds on the DTXtreme II are amazing.  The cymbal and
hi-hat sounds are great... superior to any other module I've heard in
that aspect.  The feel of the round cymbal pads is great; the bell is
easy to access and very responsive.

I'd go for it... definitely!


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> wrote:

> Can I think aloud for a moment? I may be coming into some money in 
> the next few months and am seriously considering upgrading from my 
> DTXpress I to a DTXtreme IIs module.  The reasons:
> 
> 1. I'll get to use a three-zone snare and get cross-stick as well as 
> rimshot for the first time on the same pad
> 2. A TP120SD three-zone snare pad would, I assume, be a big 
> improvement on the old two-zone TP80, particularly for rim 
> responsiveness.
> 3. I'll get to use a round, three-zone cymbal pad for the first 
> time, and dispense with the bell pad that is notoriously slow-riding
> 4. I'll have outputs for an extra cymbal and tom plus two other 
> stereo sockets
> 5. I can privately listen to the metronome through headphones while 
> playing, and the band won't have to hear it
> 6. I can hit both the rim and the head together and get both sounds 
> simultaneously
> 7. I can adjust relative pad volumes while playing by using the 
> sliding switches on the brain
> 8. I'll have access to heaps more sounds including (hopefully!) a 
> better range of cymbal sounds.
> 9. I can use my existing frame and most of my existing pads, thereby 
> saving on the cost of a whole new setup.
> 10. Not to mention sampling and digital transference capabilities 
> that I probably wouldn't be using in the short term.
> 
> I'm not sure on the relative costs of a new DTXtreme IIS vs. the 
> DTXpress III, and I'd be interested in what others think about their 
> relative merits.  The other thing I'm thinking about is the idea of 
> ordering on-line.  The main drum retailer here in Adelaide, 
> Australia, has quoted me $3,300 (that's $2,320 US) just for a 
> DTXtreme brain!  Yet I see that Drumbalaya is offering the whole kit 
> for US$2,599.  Can anyone tell me what I'd be up for in shipping 
> costs to Australia if I bought on-line?

With regards to the pads, Les Paul once said people "hear" with 
their eyes. He then made the Les Paul the way we see it today. I 
agree with that as music is visual and audio. My take on the pads 
are two fold. Visually sometimes I think i should mount the thing in 
a drum shell and fool the masses into thinking i have a really hot 
working snare drum. On the other hand, been practicing on a "Real 
Feel" practice pad for years thus love the rubber. I love rubber 
like a duck loves water. I am a rubber lover. I do have Roland and 
Pintech silent mesh toms and snare, but my trusty rubber Yamaha 
snare beart them out feel wise. Built a very nice looking snare with 
internal trigger and Roland mesh head. Kind of nice to play on what 
looks like a drum, but that dog gone rubber TP-120s pad feels and 
works so good I cannot tear myself away from it. Played a gig with 
the Yammie's and no one mentioned my kit eing a pad kit. Most of the 
comments were directed to what an awsome drum sound I have. I 
mounted the kit in a drum cage thus detracted the "pad" look into a 
more heavy duty rock drum kit look. Had so many cymbals in the cage 
the pads were not noticed. If Yamaha made the pads to look loke real 
drums i think it would appeal to a broader audience. That's why Hart 
is doing well, their pads look like real drums. nonetheless, I think 
Yamaha is right on the mark as far as feel, triggering and the three 
zone idea. Their pad for me is the coolest looking pad as far as 
pads look. i like the red dial and the profile of the pad and 
mounting of it is the best. I may mount my pad in a drum shell just 
for fun to see if people really notice the difference. My two cents 
worth.

Time for a spell checker, sorry for the mistakes.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> wrote:
> With regards to the pads, Les Paul once said people "hear" with 
> their eyes. He then made the Les Paul the way we see it today. I 
> agree with that as music is visual and audio. My take on the pads 
> are two fold. Visually sometimes I think i should mount the thing 
in 
> a drum shell and fool the masses into thinking i have a really hot 
> working snare drum. On the other hand, been practicing on a "Real 
> Feel" practice pad for years thus love the rubber. I love rubber 
> like a duck loves water. I am a rubber lover. I do have Roland and 
> Pintech silent mesh toms and snare, but my trusty rubber Yamaha 
> snare beart them out feel wise. Built a very nice looking snare 
with 
> internal trigger and Roland mesh head. Kind of nice to play on 
what 
> looks like a drum, but that dog gone rubber TP-120s pad feels and 
> works so good I cannot tear myself away from it. Played a gig with 
> the Yammie's and no one mentioned my kit eing a pad kit. Most of 
the 
> comments were directed to what an awsome drum sound I have. I 
> mounted the kit in a drum cage thus detracted the "pad" look into 
a 
> more heavy duty rock drum kit look. Had so many cymbals in the 
cage 
> the pads were not noticed. If Yamaha made the pads to look loke 
real 
> drums i think it would appeal to a broader audience. That's why 
Hart 
> is doing well, their pads look like real drums. nonetheless, I 
think 
> Yamaha is right on the mark as far as feel, triggering and the 
three 
> zone idea. Their pad for me is the coolest looking pad as far as 
> pads look. i like the red dial and the profile of the pad and 
> mounting of it is the best. I may mount my pad in a drum shell 
just 
> for fun to see if people really notice the difference. My two 
cents 
> worth.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:

> 4. I'll have outputs for an extra cymbal and tom plus two other 
> stereo sockets


Nick,

Be careful with planning out the extra inputs, they are not what they 
seem to be.

INPUTS 1-5 (assigned to Snare and four toms) are the only ones that 
can fully handle the new TP100 and the TP120S (Pad, two rims and pad 
controller knob).

INPUTS 6, 7 and 8 (assigned to the two cymbals and the hihat) can 
handle the three zone pads like the TP120S, TP100, TP65S and PCY150S, 
except the Pad controller knob on the TP120S and Tp100 won't work.

INPUTS 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/16 are "dual-zone" inputs or two mono 
inputs if used with a Y-splitter (insert cable). If you plug any pad 
into these inputs (TP120S/TP100/TP65S/TP80S/PCY65S/PCY130S/PCY150S 
i.e. Stereo style pads) you will only get the pad piezo to work and 
not the rims. If you have a true dual-zone (two piezo pad), then they 
will work on these inputs.

Which means the only new Yamaha pads that can be fully utilized on 
these "extra" inputs is the PCY130 mono pad.

 
OGD

Thanks for your feedback on the TP120S.  Great to know it is so 
responsive - which is why I'm so interested in it.  I've become 
accustomed to playing on rubber heads, too, so not having an 
authentic looking snare drum is of no concern.  But I would like to 
know how responsive the rims are on the TP120S.  My old two-zone 
snare pad is a bit dodgy with the rim sound - sometimes it fires, 
and sometimes it doesn't, depending on the angle of the stick. I'm 
in a country band, so I use cross-stick quite a bit (currently I get 
that sound through a bar-pad).  Does it matter what angle you hit 
ther cross-stick rim?  

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> wrote:
> Time for a spell checker, sorry for the mistakes.
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> wrote:
> > With regards to the pads, Les Paul once said people "hear" with 
> > their eyes. He then made the Les Paul the way we see it today. I 
> > agree with that as music is visual and audio. My take on the 
pads 
> > are two fold. Visually sometimes I think i should mount the 
thing 
> in 
> > a drum shell and fool the masses into thinking i have a really 
hot 
> > working snare drum. On the other hand, been practicing on 
a "Real 
> > Feel" practice pad for years thus love the rubber. I love rubber 
> > like a duck loves water. I am a rubber lover. I do have Roland 
and 
> > Pintech silent mesh toms and snare, but my trusty rubber Yamaha 
> > snare beart them out feel wise. Built a very nice looking snare 
> with 
> > internal trigger and Roland mesh head. Kind of nice to play on 
> what 
> > looks like a drum, but that dog gone rubber TP-120s pad feels 
and 
> > works so good I cannot tear myself away from it. Played a gig 
with 
> > the Yammie's and no one mentioned my kit eing a pad kit. Most of 
> the 
> > comments were directed to what an awsome drum sound I have. I 
> > mounted the kit in a drum cage thus detracted the "pad" look 
into 

> a 
> > more heavy duty rock drum kit look. Had so many cymbals in the 
> cage 
> > the pads were not noticed. If Yamaha made the pads to look loke 
> real 
> > drums i think it would appeal to a broader audience. That's why 
> Hart 
> > is doing well, their pads look like real drums. nonetheless, I 
> think 
> > Yamaha is right on the mark as far as feel, triggering and the 
> three 
> > zone idea. Their pad for me is the coolest looking pad as far as 
> > pads look. i like the red dial and the profile of the pad and 
> > mounting of it is the best. I may mount my pad in a drum shell 
> just 
> > for fun to see if people really notice the difference. My two 
> cents 
> > worth.

Thanks, OGD. I had figured that those extra dual-zone inputs would 
only split off into mono applications. Which is fine by me. I would 
only use them for, say, a twin bar pad. 

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "oldguydrummer" <rdamon@m...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
> wrote:
> 
> > 4. I'll have outputs for an extra cymbal and tom plus two other 
> > stereo sockets
> 
> 
> Nick,
> 
> Be careful with planning out the extra inputs, they are not what 
they 
> seem to be.
> 
> INPUTS 1-5 (assigned to Snare and four toms) are the only ones 
that 
> can fully handle the new TP100 and the TP120S (Pad, two rims and 
pad 
> controller knob).
> 
> INPUTS 6, 7 and 8 (assigned to the two cymbals and the hihat) can 
> handle the three zone pads like the TP120S, TP100, TP65S and 
PCY150S, 
> except the Pad controller knob on the TP120S and Tp100 won't work.
> 
> INPUTS 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/16 are "dual-zone" inputs or two 
mono 
> inputs if used with a Y-splitter (insert cable). If you plug any 
pad 
> into these inputs (TP120S/TP100/TP65S/TP80S/PCY65S/PCY130S/PCY150S 
> i.e. Stereo style pads) you will only get the pad piezo to work 
and 
> not the rims. If you have a true dual-zone (two piezo pad), then 
they 

> will work on these inputs.
> 
> Which means the only new Yamaha pads that can be fully utilized on 
> these "extra" inputs is the PCY130 mono pad.
> 
>  
> OGD

I find the 3 zone rim a winner in the "great idea" department of pad 
design features. The two rims are very responsive and the side stick 
rim is positioned such that it's where you would hit if laying the 
side stick rim on a real snare, well done Yamaha! The way the TP 120 
works and rim design is the best snare pad I've played yet. Not to 
put down Roland's nor Pintech snares which are very nice for silent 
mesh pads, but the TP 120 feels more like the real deal rebound 
wise. When I practice my rudiments and snare techniques I can assign 
different voices to the two rims. So I can have snare in the middle, 
tom on one rim and a highhat on the other. I cam do mimd drum solo's 
just on the snare pad. The 3 zone tom tom  pads can also be 
programmed to have different voices thus opening the kit up to a 
myrid of sounds. You could do a gig just with a snare, tom and kick 
pad as one would have 6 triggers to hit so to speak. Great for going 
to a practice without dragging a kit around! Stick me in a corner 
with those and call me the wedding drummer heh. I never tried a 
ddrum pad with real drum head so I bought one and waiting for it to 
arrive. Want to compair it to the TP-120 as D Drum makes very nice 
stuff. Will post my results though it's ment for ddrum and I'm 
saving for a DDrum module to add to my collection of modules. Not to 
get off track but want to compair the two. Anyone have any thoughs 
about how the Xtreme's compair to DDrum? I think Yamaha tried real 
hard to mimic the great D Drum in many ways and hopefully they did. 
Geting off topic. Just some thoughts. 
> know how responsive the rims are on the TP120S.  My old two-zone 
> snare pad is a bit dodgy with the rim sound - sometimes it fires, 
> and sometimes it doesn't, depending on the angle of the stick. I'm 
> in a country band, so I use cross-stick quite a bit (currently I 
get 
> that sound through a bar-pad).  Does it matter what angle you hit 
> ther cross-stick rim?  
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> wrote:
> > Time for a spell checker, sorry for the mistakes.
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> 
wrote:
> > > With regards to the pads, Les Paul once said people "hear" 
with 
> > > their eyes. He then made the Les Paul the way we see it today. 
I 
> > > agree with that as music is visual and audio. My take on the 
> pads 
> > > are two fold. Visually sometimes I think i should mount the 
> thing 
> > in 
> > > a drum shell and fool the masses into thinking i have a really 
> hot 
> > > working snare drum. On the other hand, been practicing on 
> a "Real 
> > > Feel" practice pad for years thus love the rubber. I love 
rubber 
> > > like a duck loves water. I am a rubber lover. I do have Roland 
> and 
> > > Pintech silent mesh toms and snare, but my trusty rubber 
Yamaha 
> > > snare beart them out feel wise. Built a very nice looking 
snare 
> > with 
> > > internal trigger and Roland mesh head. Kind of nice to play on 
> > what 
> > > looks like a drum, but that dog gone rubber TP-120s pad feels 
> and 
> > > works so good I cannot tear myself away from it. Played a gig 
> with 
> > > the Yammie's and no one mentioned my kit eing a pad kit. Most 
of 
> > the 
> > > comments were directed to what an awsome drum sound I have. I 
> > > mounted the kit in a drum cage thus detracted the "pad" look 
> into 
> > a 
> > > more heavy duty rock drum kit look. Had so many cymbals in the 
> > cage 
> > > the pads were not noticed. If Yamaha made the pads to look 
loke 
> > real 
> > > drums i think it would appeal to a broader audience. That's 
why 
> > Hart 
> > > is doing well, their pads look like real drums. nonetheless, I 
> > think 
> > > Yamaha is right on the mark as far as feel, triggering and the 
> > three 
> > > zone idea. Their pad for me is the coolest looking pad as far 
as 

> > > pads look. i like the red dial and the profile of the pad and 
> > > mounting of it is the best. I may mount my pad in a drum shell 
> > just 
> > > for fun to see if people really notice the difference. My two 
> > cents 
> > > worth.

Nick

I ordered a DDRUM 4 SE kit from Drumbalaya and had it sent to New 
Zealand. It cost US$185 for shipping and arrived within 7 days. The 
service was great. You may get stung for GST (I did NZ$500). It was 
well worth it and saved me $NZ$2,500 on the local price.

By the way I love the DDRUM!

Cheers

Warren

Thanks for that feedback about Drumbalaya. Sounds like the way to 
go! I'll check with the Australian Customs Service to find out how 
much duty I'll have to pay.  If you got stung $500 GST, then I 
assume you paid roughly $5,000 for your DDRUM kit.  That seems very 
expensive, but I've seen the DDRUMs and they do sound fantastic. 
What puts me off DDRUM is the lack of extras, such as a metronome.  
And I never found out how many kits/sounds you can get - can you 
tell me that?

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "warrenpink" <warren.pinker@x> 
wrote:
> Nick
> 
> I ordered a DDRUM 4 SE kit from Drumbalaya and had it sent to New 
> Zealand. It cost US$185 for shipping and arrived within 7 days. 
The 
> service was great. You may get stung for GST (I did NZ$500). It 
was 

> well worth it and saved me $NZ$2,500 on the local price.
> 
> By the way I love the DDRUM!
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Warren

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> Thanks for that feedback about Drumbalaya. Sounds like the way to 
> go! I'll check with the Australian Customs Service to find out how 
> much duty I'll have to pay.  If you got stung $500 GST, then I 
> assume you paid roughly $5,000 for your DDRUM kit.  That seems very 
> expensive, but I've seen the DDRUMs and they do sound fantastic. 
> What puts me off DDRUM is the lack of extras, such as a metronome.  
> And I never found out how many kits/sounds you can get - can you 
> tell me that?

Nick,

Go to the ddrum site at http://www.ddrum.com/ddrum/index.htm and look 
around. When you buy a ddrum kit with a particular operating system, 
you get scores of kits loaded (many of which won't do much for you), 
with the option of making your own as well, with the default sounds 
from the current library. But remember that the extensive ddrum 
library, past and present, is available for download for free at the 
site via MIDI. All you need is the ddrum tool, which you'll have to 
download first. You can dump any and all of what is in the memory for 
different sounds at any time. The new megasounds, in particular, 
which are sampled from the kits of contemporary drummers, are 
astounding, but they take up an enormous amount of the ddrum's 
outdated 8MB memory. If you go with them extensively, the number of 
kits available to you may be as little as three, depending on the 
size and number of samples that you select. The various readouts in 
the tool and on the ddrum's display will always inform you of how 
much space is free or used. Ddrum is unique for also allowing you to 
approximate particular acoustic kits. You'll have to read through the 
library to see the alternatives. Give yourself some time. I've had 
mine for a long while, and I've barely scratched the surface. I've 
posted bits and pieces of information here about the ddrum's joys and 
frustrations that you can access by searching the archives for ddrum. 
To my mind, the former outweigh the latter, but you should know about 
the foibles and warts.

Unlike the products that you know now, the ddrum is actually simple 
to use, without the endless layers of digital programming and 
bells/whistles. The manual is well written and well organized. 
Basically, what you see/hear is what you get with ddrum. You'll need 
to buy a metronome separately, as well as a little mixer that you can 
use for practicing with various media. But the ddrum module has six 
outputs, so a mixer with enough inputs will let you put a finer point 
on it. 

Ed

Nick

My kit ended up costing NZ$4,500 including shipping and GST. They 
retail here for $7,000 to $7,500.

They have gone up a couple of hundred $ at Drubalaya since I bought 
mine but you may find that the USD is better for you now.

It seems to me that the idea of the DDRUM kit is to be an acoustic 
kit that works electronically.

I was after as close to acoustic as I could get which is why I chose 
it. You just have to drop a stick onto the snare side by side with a 
DTX and the difference is huge.

You can have up to 99 different kits programmed. The memory is the 
limiting factor for the DDRUM at 8MB but I have found that if you 
use it like an acoustic kit you only need 3-4 different kits and the 
memory is fine.

You certainly get more bells and whistles on the Yamaha and Roland 
kits.

The only other thing to note is that it is hard to find someone who 
will send a new Yamaha kit out of USA because of dealership issues.

Try WWW.DDRUMS.COM\FORUM for more info.

Just wondering how the Yamaha Xtreme's samples compare to the D 
Drum's acoustic samples. I know D Drum is the top unit for realism, 
but I find my Xtreme sounding very acoustic. So, how is D Drum vs 
Xtreme compare in terms of, sound and dynamics?

> It seems to me that the idea of the DDRUM kit is to be an acoustic 
> kit that works electronically.
> 
> I was after as close to acoustic as I could get which is why I 
chose 
> it. You just have to drop a stick onto the snare side by side with 
a 
> DTX and the difference is huge.
> 
> You can have up to 99 different kits programmed. The memory is the 
> limiting factor for the DDRUM at 8MB but I have found that if you 
> use it like an acoustic kit you only need 3-4 different kits and 
the 
> memory is fine.
>

Yes, I get the idea. Having heard a DDRUM kit in action, it sounded 
very authentic. But what exactly cost NZ$4,500? Did you buy a whole 
kit (i.e. module, frame and pads) for that amount or just the module?

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "warrenpink" <warren.pinker@x> 
wrote:
> Nick
> 
> My kit ended up costing NZ$4,500 including shipping and GST. They 
> retail here for $7,000 to $7,500.
> 
> They have gone up a couple of hundred $ at Drubalaya since I 
bought 
> mine but you may find that the USD is better for you now.
> 
> It seems to me that the idea of the DDRUM kit is to be an acoustic 
> kit that works electronically.
> 
> I was after as close to acoustic as I could get which is why I 
chose 
> it. You just have to drop a stick onto the snare side by side with 
a 
> DTX and the difference is huge.
> 
> You can have up to 99 different kits programmed. The memory is the 
> limiting factor for the DDRUM at 8MB but I have found that if you 
> use it like an acoustic kit you only need 3-4 different kits and 
the 
> memory is fine.
> 
> You certainly get more bells and whistles on the Yamaha and Roland 
> kits.
> 
> The only other thing to note is that it is hard to find someone 
who 

> will send a new Yamaha kit out of USA because of dealership issues.
> 
> Try WWW.DDRUMS.COM\FORUM for more info.

Thanks, Ed. Am I to understand you run an on-line e-drum store? If 
so, which one?

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
> wrote:
> > Thanks for that feedback about Drumbalaya. Sounds like the way 
to 
> > go! I'll check with the Australian Customs Service to find out 
how 
> > much duty I'll have to pay.  If you got stung $500 GST, then I 
> > assume you paid roughly $5,000 for your DDRUM kit.  That seems 
very 
> > expensive, but I've seen the DDRUMs and they do sound fantastic. 
> > What puts me off DDRUM is the lack of extras, such as a 
metronome.  
> > And I never found out how many kits/sounds you can get - can you 
> > tell me that?
> 
> Nick,
> 
> Go to the ddrum site at http://www.ddrum.com/ddrum/index.htm and 
look 
> around. When you buy a ddrum kit with a particular operating 
system, 
> you get scores of kits loaded (many of which won't do much for 
you), 
> with the option of making your own as well, with the default 
sounds 
> from the current library. But remember that the extensive ddrum 
> library, past and present, is available for download for free at 
the 
> site via MIDI. All you need is the ddrum tool, which you'll have 
to 
> download first. You can dump any and all of what is in the memory 
for 
> different sounds at any time. The new megasounds, in particular, 
> which are sampled from the kits of contemporary drummers, are 
> astounding, but they take up an enormous amount of the ddrum's 
> outdated 8MB memory. If you go with them extensively, the number 
of 
> kits available to you may be as little as three, depending on the 
> size and number of samples that you select. The various readouts 
in 
> the tool and on the ddrum's display will always inform you of how 
> much space is free or used. Ddrum is unique for also allowing you 
to 
> approximate particular acoustic kits. You'll have to read through 
the 
> library to see the alternatives. Give yourself some time. I've had 
> mine for a long while, and I've barely scratched the surface. I've 
> posted bits and pieces of information here about the ddrum's joys 
and 
> frustrations that you can access by searching the archives for 
ddrum. 
> To my mind, the former outweigh the latter, but you should know 
about 
> the foibles and warts.
> 
> Unlike the products that you know now, the ddrum is actually 
simple 
> to use, without the endless layers of digital programming and 
> bells/whistles. The manual is well written and well organized. 
> Basically, what you see/hear is what you get with ddrum. You'll 
need 
> to buy a metronome separately, as well as a little mixer that you 
can 
> use for practicing with various media. But the ddrum module has 
six 
> outputs, so a mixer with enough inputs will let you put a finer 
point 

> on it. 
> 
> Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> Thanks, Ed. Am I to understand you run an on-line e-drum store? If 
> so, which one?

Nick,

You're thinking of our pal, Ed Morin, owner of Drumbalaya. You should 
email him your questions about the ddrum kit (which, incidentally, he 
also plays). He'll tell you everything you need to know. You won't 
get that kind of attention, or opportunity, elsewhere online. 

By the way, are you a Neil and/or Tim Finn fan? I assume that NZ 
knows what a treasure those two are. I just saw them together in 
Boston. Despite the dreadful house sound, it was a great concert. 
Now, there's a good gig for a drummer.

Ed

Thanks, but I don't know Ed Morin's Yahoo profile name, thus don't 
know where to reach him. In any case, I think I'm more interested in 
the DTXtreme IIS - which I will ask him about. And yes, I like the 
Finn brothers' music very much. Have a lot of their albums. Right 
back to their days in Split Enz. But while I have not heard it yet, 
I am told that their latest CD, "Everyone Is Here", is a 
disappointment.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
> wrote:
> > Thanks, Ed. Am I to understand you run an on-line e-drum store? 
If 
> > so, which one?
> 
> Nick,
> 
> You're thinking of our pal, Ed Morin, owner of Drumbalaya. You 
should 
> email him your questions about the ddrum kit (which, incidentally, 
he 

> also plays). He'll tell you everything you need to know. You won't 
> get that kind of attention, or opportunity, elsewhere online. 
> 
> By the way, are you a Neil and/or Tim Finn fan? I assume that NZ 
> knows what a treasure those two are. I just saw them together in 
> Boston. Despite the dreadful house sound, it was a great concert. 
> Now, there's a good gig for a drummer.
> 
> Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> Thanks, but I don't know Ed Morin's Yahoo profile name, thus don't 
> know where to reach him. In any case, I think I'm more interested 
in 
> the DTXtreme IIS - which I will ask him about. And yes, I like the 
> Finn brothers' music very much. Have a lot of their albums. Right 
> back to their days in Split Enz. But while I have not heard it yet, 
> I am told that their latest CD, "Everyone Is Here", is a 
> disappointment.

Nick,

Ed Morin's email address as a member of this group is edm@..., 
his Drumbalaya address is edm@.... 

I go back to Split Enz as well (and much further). I've got to get 
Everyone Is Here. I have the first Finn Bros., which is rare in the 
States, as well as all of their solo material. The Woodface Crowded 
House collaboration is a favorite. 

Ed

For my $4,500 I got the SE Kit with mesh pads, module, rack (Great 
quality), module, HH, and 2 cymbal triggers.


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> Yes, I get the idea. Having heard a DDRUM kit in action, it 
sounded 
> very authentic. But what exactly cost NZ$4,500? Did you buy a 
whole 
> kit (i.e. module, frame and pads) for that amount or just the 
module?
>