Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Ok....I posted this in another websites forum, but I am finding few 
helpers...:)

I have a DTX Ver 2.0 and a DTXpress, along with about 18 different 
yamaha triggers...(that's why I need both) 

First and foremost, when I hook up the DTX and plug triggers in, the 
snare trigger does not produce a sound from the main pad, but it 
will from the rim only. When I hit the center of the pad, nothing 
happens, but I do see the EQ moving accordingly. When I hook up just 
my DTXpress, I do not have this problem. Maybe someone can set me 
straight...

Second, probably the most important to me.  My two modules came with 
a MOTU FastLane USB midi interface. I am trying to do two 
things....Run both of them together and just hook my amp or 
headphone to one module only. When I try to hook them together w/ a 
midi cord, I get no results. I have to plug in headphones to each 
one separately and they wont interface with each other. I tried the 
same thing with the MOTU, and no dice. Can anyone help? 

Lastly, I am trying to hook the modules up to my pc. Whats the best 
way, or the correct way. I havent had any luck with the motu. The 
manual is very brief on this matter. And if I get it interfaced 
correctly, is the windows software that I can edit my pads 
functions, voice, etc? I also want to be able to load songs, sys.ex 
files, back and forth. Something for the kids can change their 
settings easily, and not mess mine up. 


Any ideas would be great!!

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Ernie Vega" <sternern@y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Ok....I posted this in another websites forum, but I am finding few 
> helpers...:)
> 
> I have a DTX Ver 2.0 and a DTXpress, along with about 18 different 
> yamaha triggers...(that's why I need both) 
> 
> First and foremost, when I hook up the DTX and plug triggers in, 
the 
> snare trigger does not produce a sound from the main pad, but it 
> will from the rim only. When I hit the center of the pad, nothing 
> happens, but I do see the EQ moving accordingly. When I hook up 
just 
> my DTXpress, I do not have this problem. Maybe someone can set me 
> straight...

Ernie,

One of the reasons for your lack of suggestions is that your problem 
isn't clear--at least to me. First, I don't know what you're hooking 
the DTX up to, an amp/headphones? The easy explanations for you not 
getting a sound from the snare head attached to the DTX is that it 
isn't programmed correctly on the DTX, whereas the rim is, or the 
module is damaged. The difficulty doesn't appear to be the cable or 
the piezo in the pad, since you can't duplicate the problem with the 
DTXpress (unless you are using a different cable). By EQ, do you mean 
gain? In other words, the module registers a numerical gain for hits 
on the snare's center though no sound comes out of you headphones or 
speaker? Are the two modules linked by a MIDI cable when you do this 
experiment? That could present a problem. See below.
> 
> Second, probably the most important to me.  My two modules came 
with 
> a MOTU FastLane USB midi interface. I am trying to do two 
> things....Run both of them together and just hook my amp or 
> headphone to one module only. When I try to hook them together w/ a 
> midi cord, I get no results. I have to plug in headphones to each 
> one separately and they wont interface with each other. I tried the 
> same thing with the MOTU, and no dice. Can anyone help? 

It sounds to me like you are trying to get MIDI to function as a 
mixer. It won't do that in the way that you'd like. Again, I'm not 
quite sure what you mean by "no results." If you program both modules 
to produce voices for their respective pads, connecting them via MIDI 
but only one of them to amp/headphone outs, you will hear only the 
sounds programmed into the module with the audio outs engaged. MIDI 
does not function like audio. It will not pull audio sounds from one 
module via MIDI to the outputs of another.  Multiple modules can be 
connected via MIDI to produce sounds, but that method requires the 
trigger section of one to access the actual sounds of another. Think 
of MIDI as just a set of disembodied commands about sound; it isn't 
the sound itself. Cut off the MIDI section from the sound section, 
and what you get is silence.

> Lastly, I am trying to hook the modules up to my pc. Whats the best 
> way, or the correct way. I havent had any luck with the motu. The 
> manual is very brief on this matter. And if I get it interfaced 
> correctly, is the windows software that I can edit my pads 
> functions, voice, etc? I also want to be able to load songs, sys.ex 
> files, back and forth. Something for the kids can change their 
> settings easily, and not mess mine up. 

Again, "the best way" depends on exactly what you're trying to do. If 
the MOTU is working correctly, it would be a fine interface, provided 
that you have the appropriate software to process MIDI information. 
I'm not sure that processing MIDI information is what you are 
equipped, or want, to do. To my knowledge, the DTX doesn't have 
software for entering parameters. A member of this group did create 
such an animal for use with the DTXpressII. I don't whether that's 
one of your modules. The program DTXchange, which is available from 
this site, will store settings from the Yamaha modules as backups or 
extras or for trading among those with the same module. 

I hope that some of these comments will help to clarify your 
situation.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Ernie Vega" <sternern@y...> 
wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > Ok....I posted this in another websites forum, but I am finding 
few 
> > helpers...:)
> > 
> > I have a DTX Ver 2.0 and a DTXpress, along with about 18 
different 
> > yamaha triggers...(that's why I need both) 
> > 
> > First and foremost, when I hook up the DTX and plug triggers in, 
> the 
> > snare trigger does not produce a sound from the main pad, but it 
> > will from the rim only. When I hit the center of the pad, 
nothing 
> > happens, but I do see the EQ moving accordingly. When I hook up 
> just 
> > my DTXpress, I do not have this problem. Maybe someone can set 
me 
> > straight...
> 
> Ernie,
> 
> One of the reasons for your lack of suggestions is that your 
problem 
> isn't clear--at least to me. First, I don't know what you're 
hooking 
> the DTX up to, an amp/headphones? The easy explanations for you 
not 
> getting a sound from the snare head attached to the DTX is that it 
> isn't programmed correctly on the DTX, whereas the rim is, or the 
> module is damaged. The difficulty doesn't appear to be the cable 
or 
> the piezo in the pad, since you can't duplicate the problem with 
the 
> DTXpress (unless you are using a different cable). By EQ, do you 
mean 
> gain? In other words, the module registers a numerical gain for 
hits 
> on the snare's center though no sound comes out of you headphones 
or 
> speaker? Are the two modules linked by a MIDI cable when you do 
this 
> experiment? That could present a problem. See below.
> > 
> > Second, probably the most important to me.  My two modules came 
> with 
> > a MOTU FastLane USB midi interface. I am trying to do two 
> > things....Run both of them together and just hook my amp or 
> > headphone to one module only. When I try to hook them together 
w/ a 
> > midi cord, I get no results. I have to plug in headphones to 
each 
> > one separately and they wont interface with each other. I tried 
the 
> > same thing with the MOTU, and no dice. Can anyone help? 
> 
> It sounds to me like you are trying to get MIDI to function as a 
> mixer. It won't do that in the way that you'd like. Again, I'm not 
> quite sure what you mean by "no results." If you program both 
modules 
> to produce voices for their respective pads, connecting them via 
MIDI 
> but only one of them to amp/headphone outs, you will hear only the 
> sounds programmed into the module with the audio outs engaged. 
MIDI 
> does not function like audio. It will not pull audio sounds from 
one 
> module via MIDI to the outputs of another.  Multiple modules can 
be 
> connected via MIDI to produce sounds, but that method requires the 
> trigger section of one to access the actual sounds of another. 
Think 
> of MIDI as just a set of disembodied commands about sound; it 
isn't 
> the sound itself. Cut off the MIDI section from the sound section, 
> and what you get is silence.
> 
> > Lastly, I am trying to hook the modules up to my pc. Whats the 
best 
> > way, or the correct way. I havent had any luck with the motu. 
The 
> > manual is very brief on this matter. And if I get it interfaced 
> > correctly, is the windows software that I can edit my pads 
> > functions, voice, etc? I also want to be able to load songs, 
sys.ex 
> > files, back and forth. Something for the kids can change their 
> > settings easily, and not mess mine up. 
> 
> Again, "the best way" depends on exactly what you're trying to do. 
If 
> the MOTU is working correctly, it would be a fine interface, 
provided 
> that you have the appropriate software to process MIDI 
information. 
> I'm not sure that processing MIDI information is what you are 
> equipped, or want, to do. To my knowledge, the DTX doesn't have 
> software for entering parameters. A member of this group did 
create 
> such an animal for use with the DTXpressII. I don't whether that's 
> one of your modules. The program DTXchange, which is available 
from 
> this site, will store settings from the Yamaha modules as backups 
or 
> extras or for trading among those with the same module. 
> 
> I hope that some of these comments will help to clarify your 
> situation.
> 
> Ed

Thanks Ed for your reply...To be honest, im not to sure what I want 
to do with the whole thing. I'll put specifics in later.

I do Have one more question.....Let's say I want to use only my DTX, 
Is there a way to add more triggers/pads to it with another module. 
Example, the DTX has 12 possible inputs which would have my snare 
and 4 toms on inputs 1-5. 3 cymbals on 6,7, and 8(which is Hi hat). 
the two other inputs are 10/9 which I would hook my kick and bar 
pad, and 12/11 would have drum triggers for toms. The DTX seems to 
be at max capacity at this point. What if I wanted to add my pcy-10 
cymbal bell pad, or another drum trigger. What could I do? Add a 
inexpensive module, or is there another way?

The reason I ask is that I probably want to set up a smaller 
complete set at my other house using the DTXpress. But I want to 
make my primary one to have 7 drum triggers, 3 cymbals(hi hat 
included), and my BP80 bar pad and the PCY10 cymbal bell pad. What 
are my options? Thanks for any help. I appreciate the previous reply.

Ern

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Ernie Vega" <sternern@y...> wrote:

> I do Have one more question.....Let's say I want to use only my 
DTX, 
> Is there a way to add more triggers/pads to it with another module. 
> Example, the DTX has 12 possible inputs which would have my snare 
> and 4 toms on inputs 1-5. 3 cymbals on 6,7, and 8(which is Hi hat). 
> the two other inputs are 10/9 which I would hook my kick and bar 
> pad, and 12/11 would have drum triggers for toms. The DTX seems to 
> be at max capacity at this point. What if I wanted to add my pcy-10 
> cymbal bell pad, or another drum trigger. What could I do? Add a 
> inexpensive module, or is there another way?
> 
> The reason I ask is that I probably want to set up a smaller 
> complete set at my other house using the DTXpress. But I want to 
> make my primary one to have 7 drum triggers, 3 cymbals(hi hat 
> included), and my BP80 bar pad and the PCY10 cymbal bell pad. What 
> are my options? Thanks for any help. I appreciate the previous 
reply.

Ern,

Once you've exhausted inputs on your module, and want more pads with 
new sounds, you have to get either a second module or a trigger to 
MIDI interface (a unit with inputs, though no sounds of its own, that 
can tap into a sound module's voices via MIDI--TMD, for short). A 
second module can be relatively inexpensive. A discontinued Yamaha, 
Roland, or Alesis can cost as little as $100 on ebay. If you go that 
route, you could then run the output of the second module into the 
auxiliary input on the first module and balance the two of them that 
way to create one large kit. 

However, a better method is to buy a separate mixer and connect both 
modules to it. Not only will sound quality be better; control and 
versatility will also increase. You will also be able to run a CD 
player through a mixer and anything else that makes music for you to 
accompany on drums, like another musician or two. I recommend the 
little Rolls MX28 (less than $100 new) for stereo feeds from a 
module. It has three high-quality stereo inputs, perfect for this 
application. If you have more outputs than two from the back of your 
module, or want to run a lot of people and/or things into your mixer, 
you might go with a more elaborate model. One option is to get one of 
those four-track cassette recording devices made by Fostex or Tascam. 
They usually have great mixing capability, often with room for 8 or 
more feeds. You can either mix down the tracks for recording or 
simply practicing live. THey can be shockingly affordable used from 
ebay. But no need to get so far ahead of ourselves.

The TMD currently on the market is the Roland TMC-6, but a few useful 
discontinued ones are still kicking around. You program a TMD with, 
among other things, MIDI note numbers derived from your module, 
associated with the voices of your choice, so that when the pads 
connected to the TMD are struck, the TMD sends the programmed 
information through a MIDI cable to the sound module, which then 
makes the appropriate noise through its output. You can also use a 
sound module as you would a TMD, thereby disabling its own sound 
capability, but why waste it? Better to buy a mixer and get the whole 
package. 

I'm going to mention another alternative for adding inputs to an 
existing configuration. One of our members is working on an invention 
that works like something between a second module and a TMD, in that 
it doesn't use MIDI to add inputs but also doesn't carry its own 
sounds or need a mixer. We've referred to it on the board as the 
magic box. The aim is to permit kit expansion through effective 
triggering at an affordable price. It has been undergoing testing by 
the moderators and its inventor for months, and it may be on its 
stretch run. Maybe Keith, its daddy, will feel like talking about it 
on the board for those who have joined us recently.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
>
> I'm going to mention another alternative for adding inputs to an 
> existing configuration. One of our members is working on an invention 
> that works like something between a second module and a TMD, in that 
> it doesn't use MIDI to add inputs but also doesn't carry its own 
> sounds or need a mixer. We've referred to it on the board as the 
> magic box. The aim is to permit kit expansion through effective 
> triggering at an affordable price. It has been undergoing testing by 
> the moderators and its inventor for months, and it may be on its 
> stretch run. Maybe Keith, its daddy, will feel like talking about it 
> on the board for those who have joined us recently.
>

Ed, 

One of the first two prototypes of the "Magic Box" is on its way to
OGB by arimail right now - in fact I would have hoped he would have
received it by now as it went on 25th November.  Pictures are in the
photos/magic box section.  It has eight inputs and four outputs and
allows you to add four pads which will then appear as the "rim" of the
four inputs you use.  A typical setup might be to use the three toms
and say a cymbal input to add another four inputs for cowbells, chimes
or other additional sounds.  The limitation is that both the rim and
main pad sound cannot be simultaneous so if you put a cowbell and TOM1
through the box in to the TOM1 input, you will not be able to play the
cowbell and TOM1 simultaneously (but very close together is OK).

It utilises the unused stereo inputs on all the DTXpress inputs.  Even
the kick pad can take a three zone snare input.  You could even add
two magic boxes if you got carried away.

Keith.

Keith,
 
Has not arrived yet, but remember we just went through a Holiday weekend. 
 
OGD

   _____  

From: Keith 
Subject: [DTXpress] Re: Having trouble connecting.....



One of the first two prototypes of the "Magic Box" is on its way to
OGB by arimail right now - in fact I would have hoped he would have
received it by now as it went on 25th November.  
 
Keith.


 
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