Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone in this group knows if a mono HH controller 
with a standard two-position switch (closed/open) would work with a 
DTXPRESS I module? I realize there's no way of getting all the middle 
switching options of a true Yamaha peddle, but would I at least get 
the open and closed control? My old drum brain packed it in and I'd 
like to know what my HH pedal options are before I buy a DTXPRESS.
Thanks
bc

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I was wondering if anyone in this group knows if a mono HH controller 
> with a standard two-position switch (closed/open) would work with a 
> DTXPRESS I module? I realize there's no way of getting all the middle 
> switching options of a true Yamaha peddle, but would I at least get 
> the open and closed control? My old drum brain packed it in and I'd 
> like to know what my HH pedal options are before I buy a DTXPRESS.
> Thanks
> bc
>

Yes, it will work (I just tried it to make sure).  Ideally you want
the switch closed when the foot is pressed down, but you could always
reverse the voice if it was the wrong way round.  

Keith.

Thanks for the quick reply Keith. When you did your test, did you 
use a stereo connector or a mono one?


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@...> wrote:
>
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > I was wondering if anyone in this group knows if a mono HH 
controller 
> > with a standard two-position switch (closed/open) would work 
with a 
> > DTXPRESS I module? I realize there's no way of getting all the 
middle 
> > switching options of a true Yamaha peddle, but would I at least 
get 
> > the open and closed control? My old drum brain packed it in and 
I'd 
> > like to know what my HH pedal options are before I buy a 
DTXPRESS.
> > Thanks
> > bc
> >
> 
> Yes, it will work (I just tried it to make sure).  Ideally you want
> the switch closed when the foot is pressed down, but you could 
always

> reverse the voice if it was the wrong way round.  
> 
> Keith.
>

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the quick reply Keith. When you did your test, did you 
> use a stereo connector or a mono one?

I just unplugged my pedal and shorted the tip of the existing stereo
connector to the shield with a piece of wire.  I can check with a mono
connector if you like.  I have never quite worked out exactly what the
stereo ring does on the HH Controller, but I think it is to help
produce the splash sound.

Keith.

That's okay Keith, thanks anyway. I think I've got enough to go on. I 
have a number of different stereo and mono plugs so I should be able 
to come up with something that works. You answered my basic question 
that it will at least work and I can go ahead and get the module.
I may even look around for a proper HH60/HH65 of HH80 controller so I 
can have the "middle" control too.
Thanks again.
bc 
--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@...> wrote:
>
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the quick reply Keith. When you did your test, did you 
> > use a stereo connector or a mono one?
> 
> I just unplugged my pedal and shorted the tip of the existing stereo
> connector to the shield with a piece of wire.  I can check with a 
mono
> connector if you like.  I have never quite worked out exactly what 
the

> stereo ring does on the HH Controller, but I think it is to help
> produce the splash sound.
> 
> Keith.
>

Well, no luck. I've been poking around for a few days now, and I've 
tried all kinds of cables and trigger setups, but I can't get 
anything from my hi-hat peddle. It's almost like the DTX is looking 
for an active signal from the peddle instead of just an open closed 
switch. 

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@...> wrote:
>
> That's okay Keith, thanks anyway. I think I've got enough to go 
on. I 
> have a number of different stereo and mono plugs so I should be 
able 
> to come up with something that works. You answered my basic 
question 
> that it will at least work and I can go ahead and get the module.
> I may even look around for a proper HH60/HH65 of HH80 controller 
so I 
> can have the "middle" control too.
> Thanks again.
> bc 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks for the quick reply Keith. When you did your test, did 
you 
> > > use a stereo connector or a mono one?
> > 
> > I just unplugged my pedal and shorted the tip of the existing 
stereo
> > connector to the shield with a piece of wire.  I can check with 
a 
> mono
> > connector if you like.  I have never quite worked out exactly 
what 

> the
> > stereo ring does on the HH Controller, but I think it is to help
> > produce the splash sound.
> > 
> > Keith.
> >
>

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@...> wrote:
>
> Well, no luck. I've been poking around for a few days now, and I've 
> tried all kinds of cables and trigger setups, but I can't get 
> anything from my hi-hat peddle. It's almost like the DTX is looking 
> for an active signal from the peddle instead of just an open closed 
> switch. 

It is a while since I took my DTXpress pedal apart, but it just has a
few resistors inside and the FSR just progressively shorts them out as
you put the pedal down.

I took the cable out of my HH pedal and shorted the tip to the sleeve
and it gave a closed HH sound, and open HH when I didn't short it out
(while hitting the pad).  I suggest you try the same in case there is
something wrong with your pedal.  

When fully closed the pedal has as resistance of 150k, so you could
try putting that in series, although it doesn't seem necessary on mine.

Are you always getting a closed HH sound or open?

Keith.

I was using a stereo cable and leaving the ring open circuit.

Keith.

I have done a bit more checking and while I get the open and closed
sounds, I don't get the foot closed sound.  

The solution to that is to use a stereo cable and stereo connector and
connect your switch between the connector tip and sleeve and a 150k
resistor between the tip and the ring.  There may be other
combinations that work and other resistor values, but that worked on
mine (DTXpress III).  I now get closed, open, foot close and splash
sounds from a switch (I only checked the open & closed sounds before).

If you are still having problems, let me know and I will take my pedal
apart again and find out what is inside.  I measure 1k to the ring
when the foot is closed and 150k to the tip when the foot is closed,
but the circuit was a bit wierd with a diode and capacitor as well so
you may have to reproduce that if you still cannot get it to work.

Keith.

Hi Keith,
I really appreciate all the research you've done on this, but I'm 
just going to take the cowards way out and buy a proper Yamaha 
peddle. Maybe some cold winter day I'll experiment with my existing 
peddle, but for now, I just want to get playing.
Thanks again.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@...> wrote:
>
> I have done a bit more checking and while I get the open and closed
> sounds, I don't get the foot closed sound.  
> 
> The solution to that is to use a stereo cable and stereo connector 
and
> connect your switch between the connector tip and sleeve and a 150k
> resistor between the tip and the ring.  There may be other
> combinations that work and other resistor values, but that worked 
on
> mine (DTXpress III).  I now get closed, open, foot close and splash
> sounds from a switch (I only checked the open & closed sounds 
before).
> 
> If you are still having problems, let me know and I will take my 
pedal
> apart again and find out what is inside.  I measure 1k to the ring
> when the foot is closed and 150k to the tip when the foot is 
closed,
> but the circuit was a bit wierd with a diode and capacitor as well 
so

> you may have to reproduce that if you still cannot get it to work.
> 
> Keith.
>

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bncarty" <bncarty@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Keith,
> I really appreciate all the research you've done on this, but I'm 
> just going to take the cowards way out and buy a proper Yamaha 
> peddle. Maybe some cold winter day I'll experiment with my existing 
> peddle, but for now, I just want to get playing.
> Thanks again.

If you look at recent posts here you will see that ddindublin may have
one to sell, unless I can think of a novel solution to that problem :-(

Keith.