Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi guys, 

I'm about to buy a DTexpress, or at least seriously considering it, 
but I like some advice from you.

How easy is it to expand the default set with extra pads, like the 
Yamaha PCY10 cymbal bell pad??
And is it possible to upgrade to a different snare, like the Yamaha 
RHP120SD real head snare drum?? Or even from a different brand???
Can you hook up triggers from ddrum for instance?

I know the posibilities are already uncountable with the standard 
set, but I like to know my options...

TIA, from a rainy Holland

Frank

ok here's my voice on it anyways,first off you can expand the 
capabilities of the kit by adding some more pads,i haven't demoed the 
bell pad,but it seems like it would be a great addition to the 
standard ride set-up,as far as a snare upgrade there are a good bit 
of choices that you could go with,i have heard that the yamaha 
dtextreme pads will work with the kit,i just haven't personally tried 
this for myself,but you could also use any of the following: pintech 
concertcast pads,a pintech ax-14 electronic snare(this is what i use) 
hart makes what they call the acusnare(basically the same principals 
as the ax-14) also you could use an acupad trigger pad also made by 
hart,and i think the roland pd-120's will work with it as well,but 
you may want to research that first,and i don't believe the ddrum 
ones will work,but i maybe wrong on that as well,so once again it 
doesn't hurt to ask around a bit before making a purchase of one of 
those or the roland pd-120's for an eventual snare upgrade on the 
kit,at any rate i hope this info was a lil bit of help to you..

sam(otacon28)

--- In DTXpress@y..., "bloodylimit" <bloodylimit@y...> wrote:

> Hi guys, 
> 
> I'm about to buy a DTexpress, or at least seriously considering it, 
> but I like some advice from you.
> 
> How easy is it to expand the default set with extra pads, like the 
> Yamaha PCY10 cymbal bell pad??
> And is it possible to upgrade to a different snare, like the Yamaha 
> RHP120SD real head snare drum?? Or even from a different brand???
> Can you hook up triggers from ddrum for instance?
> 
> I know the posibilities are already uncountable with the standard 
> set, but I like to know my options...
> 
> TIA, from a rainy Holland
> 
> Frank

Thanks!
anyone else?

--- In DTXpress@y..., "otacon28us" <reva@s...> wrote:
usefull tips

> sam(otacon28)

Sam covered the bases. You can add/modify with equipment from 
Pintech, Roland, Hart, Drum Tech, and any other company that makes 
standard mono, stereo (rubber pads w/ rim switches), or dual zone 
pads (not to be confused with stereo pads). Remember, however, that 
you get only one unused input with the basic DTXpress kit, labelled 
9/10 on the module. It is basically a dual mono jack that will 
accept either two separate mono triggers, via a Y splitter cable 
(two mono outs from the triggers, one stereo in to the 9/10); two 
separate stereo pads (both of which will behave as mono because 9/10 
doesn't recognize rim switches), via the splitter; or one dual zone 
pad, such as a Pintech or Hart snare, or a cymbal with a separate 
piezo trigger for the bell, such as the Hart Ecymball II ride, which 
will slso need the splitter. 

By the same token, inputs 1-8 will trigger only mono or stereo pads, 
not dual zone pads. (The difference between the latter two can be 
tricky for the uninitiated. I recommend running a search of the 
posts on this site for more information.) Connecting a dual zone pad 
to any of them will result in only one sound, not two, since dual 
zone means dual mono, not stereo, a genuine difference in this 
context. When some people add a dual zone (non-rubber) snare to the 
kit, they often split its two outputs between input 2 (the standard 
snare input) and 9/10, thereby leaving one mono slot on 9/10 open 
(via the splitter) for another mono feed (for instance, the Yamaha 
PCY10 that you mentioned). The DTXpress now comes with a stereo 
snare (separate sound on the raised rim), which ain't half bad, 
though it's often the first thing that people change, switching it 
to a cymbal or tom. The ride cymbal is also stereo, whereas the hi 
hat, crash, and toms are all mono out of the box.

But we might be getting too far ahead of ourselves. The DTXpress is 
impressive as is. It takes a little time to get familiar enough with 
it to know how you might like to improve on it. In my experience, 
getting there is half the fun. Some people change the kit within the 
limitations that I outlined above; others add a second module and 
more rack space. Employing the MIDI capability further enhances your 
options. 

You're talking to people in the DTXpress discussion group; of course 
we're going to recommend the kit. But many of us have tried others, 
or considered others, and settled on this option for a combination 
of reasons. The DTXpress is a lot of bang for the buck. It may not 
be perfect, but what is? You can go very far using it as a base and 
still spend less money than you would have with a more expensive 
option at the outset. You also get the benefit of this group's 
collected wisdom, which ranges far and wide. If budget matters, you 
can thank your lucky stars that the DTXpress is out there.

--- In DTXpress@y..., "bloodylimit" <bloodylimit@y...> wrote:

> Thanks!
> anyone else?
> 
> --- In DTXpress@y..., "otacon28us" <reva@s...> wrote:
> usefull tips
> 
> > sam(otacon28)

Interesting, I was quite anxious to play and plugged in the
 rim-switched cymbal as a crash and not a ride.  The kit
 seems to have recognized that and provides a splash for
 most sets if i hit the shoulder, and a good crash that's
 chokable if i hit the "rim".  If you plug the rim-switched
 cymbal into the ride input, what happens when you hit the
 rim?

--- In DTXpress@y..., "liberatusvirus" <edtyct@a...> wrote:

> to a cymbal or tom. The ride cymbal is also stereo, whereas the hi 
> hat, crash, and toms are all mono out of the box.
>

All of inputs 1-8 are stereo ready and can be used for any pad that 
you choose when you program your own kits. But in the preset kits,  
input 6 assumes a stereo ride and 7 a stereo crash, whether you have 
a stereo pad connected to them or not. If you use your rim-switched 
cymbal as a crash (input 7 in the presets), you'll get the two 
sounds listed in the back of the manual for that preset kit number; 
if you use it in the ride input, you'll get the two sounds listed 
for input 6 of that particular kit. The ride rim might be another 
ride, a bell sound, or a crash. It depends on what the preset is. 
Check the manual, or work through the kits yourself to hear what 
Yamaha hath wrought. I hope that I've understood you correctly.


--- In DTXpress@y..., "bender647" <bender647@y...> wrote:
> 
>  Interesting, I was quite anxious to play and plugged in the
>  rim-switched cymbal as a crash and not a ride.  The kit
>  seems to have recognized that and provides a splash for
>  most sets if i hit the shoulder, and a good crash that's
>  chokable if i hit the "rim".  If you plug the rim-switched
>  cymbal into the ride input, what happens when you hit the
>  rim?
> 
> --- In DTXpress@y..., "liberatusvirus" <edtyct@a...> wrote:
> > to a cymbal or tom. The ride cymbal is also stereo, whereas the 
hi 
> > hat, crash, and toms are all mono out of the box.
> >

--- In DTXpress@y..., "liberatusvirus" <edtyct@a...> wrote:
CUT

A really usefull lecture!
> > 
> > > 


Thanks a lot, I guess you convinced me :-)
I'll go out and order it next week...