Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi all,
I'm curious about where people have ended up with their
choice of sticks to play on the DTXpress. I did the natural
thing and just stayed with my faithful Vic Firth Am. Classic
5A's and was very satisfied until I flipped them over and played
the butt end on the snare. Whoa. Totally different sound. Much
more power and depth on all the drums.

I remember someone else saying that they actually were switching
to mallets to get this "power" sound. Obviously, the balance and 
rebound of the stick is, in my mind, negatively effected by playing
the butt or with mallets, so is there a tipped stick that contacts
the head with more surface area than my 5A Firths and still has 
the weight and balance? I'm thinking that a round nylon tip might 
be better. 

I'm going to experiment a bit but has anyone else beat me to it?

Later,
Rick

Rick,
I highly recommend trying a pair of marching sticks.  If you're not
experienced with them, it may take a while to get comfortable with the
size.  You'll find, though, that they sound much better than Firth 5A's
(also my favorite kit stick).  I use the Ralph Hardimon model by Firth. 
What's more, if you practice rudiments with a large stick like the
Hardimon you'll find when you go back to the 5A or comparable that they
are that much easier to use (your muscles have been built up a bit).
P.S.  One problem with the Hardimon model, however, is price.  Approx. 15
US $'s.
Everyone,
I've found that when I play acoustically after playing on the DTXpress I
am much more relaxed than I was before, especially with doubles.  I think
it's because the DTXpress' pads can be placed so close together that the
effort needed to move from one pad to another is very little.  Then, on
the acoustic kit, that same psychological factor carries over and it all
seems to flow easier (sort of a cross training thing, I think--generally
I've found my playing improving all around since I got the DTXpress). 
Also, has anyone had trouble with their cymbal pads triggering twice in
succession if you strike them hard.  Basically it seems that the pad is
triggering a second time on rebound, even after  I've cranked the wing
nut all the way.  Any suggestions without manipulating the sensitivity
settings?  Something on the cymbal itself maybe?
--Aaron

I'm not sure whether the choice of sticks is really
that important with e-drums. I use standard
nylon-tipped 5A's. The thing is, if you're not getting
enough "power" - can't you just increase the
sensitivity of each pad or increase the overall
volume?
I'm not trying to be argumentative - it's just that
e-drums have a maximum volume according to the MIDI
limit of 127. That's it. You can't get any louder no
matter how hard you hit the pad.
Sure, a bigger tip is probably going to give you a few
more "points" of MIDI volume, but the main parameters
are pad sensitivity and the volume curve.

If you've got the MIDI analyser, you can hook it up
while you're playing. That way you can see the MIDI
velocity of each note as you play it.

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Hi,
Aaron, thanks for the tip on the marching sticks. I'll
probably give them a try if they feel ok.

Giles, I hear what you're saying about it being a volume
issue, not a stick issue but I really don't want to mess 
around with the sensitivity as I like having the range 
to play softly and loud, depending on how hard I hit the pad.
The butt end, or the mallets seem to add another level
of power without having to adjust other parameters. It extends
the range of the current settings. I like the idea of having a 
"turbo" level if I want it, but also the soft volume. 

I'm sure you are right about the reasons for this happening, and 
that I may be just a bit lazy about re-adjusting the kit.

Later,
Rick