Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I'm considering further expansion of my DTXpress II kit.  I've added 
Pintech Dingbats on channels 9/10.  I'm considering a Zenbal cymbal 
on ch6 with removal of Ch10 (bell...or is that Ch9?) for the second 
voice of the cymbal.  

Now, I'd like to add more pads.  But how?  It was suggested to use a 
second brain.  This would be fine, since my amp has a second input 
that I can mix directly.  I use the headphone jack in my amp anyways 
while playing at home.  On stage, it comes out one place anyways 
(mono, don't have second amp).

It was also suggested to use a Trigger to MIDI converter, like a 
Roland TMC-6.  How?  I fully understand MIDI, but don't know what 
the DTXpress II brain will do with the trigger inputs other than to 
play a TONE.  I want a VOICE!!!  I guess, I can connect my laptop up 
to the MIDI like I normally do for upload/download of kits and try 
to have the software play a tone (note number).  Maybe the voice 
will come out?  I'd like snares and other voices too.  Am I limited 
to just the GM voices?  How else to connect this source?

I've found plans to build my own brain, but it's really a trigger to 
MIDI converter.  I'm an electronics engineer, so it should be easy 
for me to do, but don't know if it's worth the effort.  ALTHOUGH, 
drums are always worth the effort.  I have to watch my funds right 
now, so $210 for a TMC-6 is out of the question right now as a "just 
to try" device.

Any helpful tips?

Bill (wanting more DRUMS!!!)

Hi, I'm no expert but I just started using two DTXpress modules, 
with extra cymbal & drum pads. Very cool. I also have an Alesis DM 
Pro that I'll put into the mix. Real cool!
I also had the idea that I wanted MORE pads and MORE sounds...I'm 
just greedy that way:)
I'm taking the two stereo outputs from each module into my mixer 
which then take the mixers stereo output into my DAW. I'd think that 
multiple modules and a mixer would be the simplest option...?

I was looking at those trigger to midi devices, but then you'd need 
a sound device of any sort (drum machine, keyboard etc...)for the 
converted midi to play the sounds. I guess it all depend if you 
already have some sound source devices, then buy a cheaper 
trigger/midi converter. Personally, I'd get the 2nd module. You can 
buy one used for less.

I've experimented a while back and took the midi out from my 
DTXpresss module into my Roland R-5 drum machine and my Alesis QS7 
keyboard and had my drum kit play those sound sources, works great.

Btw, I think the #10 is the Bell? Eh, just unplug it and find out.

I've read here about users doing creative hook-ups with a single 
module and getting more trigger inputs by pluging and splitting, but 
I don't know much about hoe to do that. As said, I'd just buy 
another module, and I did!

I've played with electronics for some years, but this Do-It-Youself 
thing is often for the fun of it. Sometimes you can save money, but 
I don't have much time anymore for my electronics hobby, so I prefer 
to just buy what I need. You can buy a 'used' DTXpress module little 
money. I've seen the DTXpress I's for over $100.00 and just bought a 
used DTXpress III for under $300.00 my DM Pro used was about $300 or 
so and have 16 trigger inputs!

Good luck to you, Steve

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bparker0701" <bparker0701@y...> 
wrote:
> 
> I'm considering further expansion of my DTXpress II kit.  I've 
added 
> Pintech Dingbats on channels 9/10.  I'm considering a Zenbal 
cymbal 
> on ch6 with removal of Ch10 (bell...or is that Ch9?) for the 
second 
> voice of the cymbal.  
> 
> Now, I'd like to add more pads.  But how?  It was suggested to use 
a 
> second brain.  This would be fine, since my amp has a second input 
> that I can mix directly.  I use the headphone jack in my amp 
anyways 
> while playing at home.  On stage, it comes out one place anyways 
> (mono, don't have second amp).
> 
> It was also suggested to use a Trigger to MIDI converter, like a 
> Roland TMC-6.  How?  I fully understand MIDI, but don't know what 
> the DTXpress II brain will do with the trigger inputs other than 
to 
> play a TONE.  I want a VOICE!!!  I guess, I can connect my laptop 
up 
> to the MIDI like I normally do for upload/download of kits and try 
> to have the software play a tone (note number).  Maybe the voice 
> will come out?  I'd like snares and other voices too.  Am I 
limited 
> to just the GM voices?  How else to connect this source?
> 
> I've found plans to build my own brain, but it's really a trigger 
to 
> MIDI converter.  I'm an electronics engineer, so it should be easy 
> for me to do, but don't know if it's worth the effort.  ALTHOUGH, 
> drums are always worth the effort.  I have to watch my funds right 
> now, so $210 for a TMC-6 is out of the question right now as 
a "just 

> to try" device.
> 
> Any helpful tips?
> 
> Bill (wanting more DRUMS!!!)

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "zapaxe" <a_zapelectric@h...> wrote:
> 
> Hi, I'm no expert but I just started using two DTXpress modules, 
> with extra cymbal & drum pads. Very cool. I also have an Alesis DM 
> Pro that I'll put into the mix. Real cool!
> I also had the idea that I wanted MORE pads and MORE sounds...I'm 
> just greedy that way:)
> I'm taking the two stereo outputs from each module into my mixer 
> which then take the mixers stereo output into my DAW. I'd think 
that 
> multiple modules and a mixer would be the simplest option...?
> 
> I was looking at those trigger to midi devices, but then you'd need 
> a sound device of any sort (drum machine, keyboard etc...)for the 
> converted midi to play the sounds. I guess it all depend if you 
> already have some sound source devices, then buy a cheaper 
> trigger/midi converter. Personally, I'd get the 2nd module. You can 
> buy one used for less.

Steve,

I can't tell whether you know this or not, and in your case it won't 
make much difference, but you can tap into an existing module, like 
the DTXpress, with a trigger-to-MIDI device. You simply assign unused 
MIDI numbers to voices on the module and then progam the device with 
them. It's a little tricky on the DTXpress for reasons that I won't 
get into now, and I do think that the double-module route is more 
versatile. But the trigger-to-MIDI option should be open to those 
with a single module who might benefit from it. I myself used a Kat 
MIDIkiti to get sounds from an early model DTXpress. It was a nice 
combination.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "zapaxe" <a_zapelectric@h...> 
wrote:
> > 
> > Hi, I'm no expert but I just started using two DTXpress modules, 
> > with extra cymbal & drum pads. Very cool. I also have an Alesis 
DM 
> > Pro that I'll put into the mix. Real cool!
> > I also had the idea that I wanted MORE pads and MORE 
sounds...I'm 
> > just greedy that way:)
> > I'm taking the two stereo outputs from each module into my mixer 
> > which then take the mixers stereo output into my DAW. I'd think 
> that 
> > multiple modules and a mixer would be the simplest option...?
> > 
> > I was looking at those trigger to midi devices, but then you'd 
need 
> > a sound device of any sort (drum machine, keyboard etc...)for 
the 
> > converted midi to play the sounds. I guess it all depend if you 
> > already have some sound source devices, then buy a cheaper 
> > trigger/midi converter. Personally, I'd get the 2nd module. You 
can 
> > buy one used for less.
> 
> Steve,
> 
> I can't tell whether you know this or not, and in your case it 
won't 
> make much difference, but you can tap into an existing module, 
like 
> the DTXpress, with a trigger-to-MIDI device. You simply assign 
unused 
> MIDI numbers to voices on the module and then progam the device 
with 
> them. It's a little tricky on the DTXpress for reasons that I 
won't 
> get into now, and I do think that the double-module route is more 
> versatile. But the trigger-to-MIDI option should be open to those 
> with a single module who might benefit from it. I myself used a 
Kat 
> MIDIkiti to get sounds from an early model DTXpress. It was a nice 
> combination.
> 
> Ed

Hi Ed, thanks! No, I did NOT know that the trigger to midi device 
could be hooked up to the DTXpress. I stand corrected to 
the 'original' poster of this thread!:o I DID however put my 
disclaimer of "No Expert" in there 'lol'.
I already have the three modules so I won't need a trigger to midi 
thing myself.
On another note, I was thinking about one of those multi-pad trigger 
devices as an option since I've got a butt-load of trigger inputs 
with three modules. I may have to extend my DTXpress rack to add 
much more DTX pads!

Steve