Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

How does the Alesis DM5 compare with the DTXpress III  module for
sound quality etc.?

Thanks.

Keith.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> How does the Alesis DM5 compare with the DTXpress III  module for
> sound quality etc.?

Keith,

We've found the assessment of a module's voices to be highly 
subjective. But the Alesis certainly has some serviceable samples by 
anyone's standards. It also can alter volume, tone, and pitch 
according to the force of hits, and its random sample feature helps 
to keep consecutive sounds from sounding the same, thus providing 
some mitigation of the machine-gun effect. Since it has an 18 bit, 48 
khz engine, it arguably has slightly better resolution than the 
DTXpress at 16 bit, though I wouldn't put much stock in it. All of 
its inputs are mono, which wouldn't matter much to someone running 
single- or dual-piezo pads, but might be a drawback for those with 
Yamaha or Roland piezo/FSR pads. All in all, the Alesis might be a 
good second module, though at least one member has said that he 
didn't like its sounds at all in that capacity.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> > How does the Alesis DM5 compare with the DTXpress III  module for
> > sound quality etc.?
> 

Ed,

Thanks for the feedback.  How about the DM Pro (now discontinued)?

Keith.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> > > How does the Alesis DM5 compare with the DTXpress III  module for
> > > sound quality etc.?

Keith,

All in all, a well-appointed, if not particularly reliable, component, 
at least for a drum module. Something of an industry standard, like 
Roland, since it has few trigger-compatibility issues. It has a 20-bit 
engine, a large inventory of sounds, 16 (mono) inputs, 6 outputs 
(which are great for tailoring live sound), an input like the Yamahas 
and Rolands (for CD etc.), good onboard effects, and, remarkably, a 
PCMCIA memory card slot (8 MB) for importing samples. If you can pick 
one up for a song, it can come in handy. But make sure that it works.

Ed

> If you can pick 
> one up for a song, it can come in handy. But make sure that it works.
> 

Ed,

There is one at Drumbalaya, but they aren't giving it away ;-) but I
assume we can trust them!  I am just curious at this stage.

Keith.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:

> There is one at Drumbalaya, but they aren't giving it away ;-) but I
> assume we can trust them!  I am just curious at this stage.

Drumbalaya's trustworthiness goes without saying. I was too glib about 
the reliability issue. More of the DM Pros seemed to have problems 
than other modules, but the chance of getting a lemon is still pretty 
small. Email Ed and get his take on it. If his price is too steep for 
your level of interest, I've seen them on ebay.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> 
> > There is one at Drumbalaya, but they aren't giving it away ;-) but I
> > assume we can trust them!  I am just curious at this stage.
> 
> Drumbalaya's trustworthiness goes without saying. I was too glib about 
> the reliability issue. More of the DM Pros seemed to have problems 
> than other modules, but the chance of getting a lemon is still pretty 
> small. Email Ed and get his take on it. If his price is too steep for 
> your level of interest, I've seen them on ebay.
> 

Ed,

I have my eye on an almost unused DM5, but I am not sure about the
hi-hat which is not progressive like the DTXpress.  It is only a bit
of a whim - I need to learn how to drum properly rather than playing
with modules.  I am also in communications with Ed about the simple
"magic box".

Keith.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> Ed,
> 
> I have my eye on an almost unused DM5, but I am not sure about the
> hi-hat which is not progressive like the DTXpress.  It is only a bit
> of a whim - I need to learn how to drum properly rather than playing
> with modules.  I am also in communications with Ed about the simple
> "magic box".

Well, modules are fun to play with, and the DTXpress certainly isn't 
the only kid on the block (DM5 hat is a simple open/close switch 
type). Great to learn that you and Ed are talking about magic box, jr. 
Fingers crossed.

Ed

Hi guy's,

I have an Alesis DM Pro module that I bought 'used' off ebay for like 
$300.00 several months ago, though I've not started using it with my 
ekit yet. One of the main purposes I bought it was to use it as my 
midi playback modules for my Cubase DAW.
What's strange when I hooked the DM Po up was that I got absolutely no 
sounds via my trigger pads! Someone recently had the same issue with 
his on the Yahoo DM Po user's group and fixed that by turning 
on 'something' within the module, which I've not yet tried. I had 
thought that mabe something was wronmg with the module as it didn't 
work right out of the gate like my two Yamaha modules. Apparently I 
hear the Alesis modules need to be set up somewhat...?

I cannot yet comment on the DM Pro as I said, I don't have much 
experience with it yet.

And good luck with you 'magic box'. Have you thought about trying to 
sell plans for it, or a kit for it on ebay???

Steve


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> > Ed,
> > 
> > I have my eye on an almost unused DM5, but I am not sure about the
> > hi-hat which is not progressive like the DTXpress.  It is only a 
bit
> > of a whim - I need to learn how to drum properly rather than 
playing
> > with modules.  I am also in communications with Ed about the simple
> > "magic box".
> 
> Well, modules are fun to play with, and the DTXpress certainly isn't 
> the only kid on the block (DM5 hat is a simple open/close switch 
> type). Great to learn that you and Ed are talking about magic box, 
jr. 

> Fingers crossed.
> 
> Ed