Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi, guys. 

Regarding "the purchaser of the "other Yamaha kit" who cancelled the DTXpress, get the hell off our board!!! Ha. Just kidding." 

That's me.  : )

Just wondering if you guys are satisfied with your hi-hat pedals. I can't seem to get mine to behave like the real thing (which may or may not be the point).  It's either open or closed with no in between. And I really have to remind myself to keep pressure on it, to keep it from creeping open. As for responsiveness, forget it. I know mine is a slightly different model than the Xpress version, but I played it too in the shop and same thing.

Have any of you been able to set it up satisfactorily?

Sticks...

I starting out with my trusty, acoustic-days-nylon tip, Regal Tip 5As,  but found them too flexy at the ends when pounding the rubber--all bounce, not enough oomph. So I began to test drive a few alternatives.  I went up to Zilgian 5Bs for their stiffness, but found 'em too heavy. So back to 5As again, but with wood tips, not nylon (can't explain it, they just feel better on the pads)  and not so tapered at the ends, finally settling on Rimshot Progrip 5As with wood tips and rubber handles (again can't explain it, they just feel better on the pads, especially the cymbals) .  Now I am happy.

FWIW...

The other day while drumming on my Yammy to kill time before my hockey game (I'm a goalie),  I realized that my hobbies seem to surround me with rubber disks.




=========================================================================

pete

Hot Java, Cool Tunes: Visit Caf\ufffd Pierre www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/4024/

The Yamaha DTXpress hi hat pedal is a simple three function pedal - Open, Closed and heal splash.  I guess yours is similar, since the brain won't support a fully analogue pedal like the Roland.  So, yes it will always be either open or closed I'm afraid, although there is an obscure middle ground, where the pedal acts as a muted open sound, I guess this is because of bridging the two contacts resulting in a drop to the primary open loop.  Basically, you're trying to play both signals at once, so you get one signal only less powerfully (this extra middle ground is very, very fine, and far too accurate for practicle use)
	As for set-up, well I've got mine sorted so I'm happy with it.  Foot plate raised as high as possible, setting pretty much as out of the box, but I play it with my heal on or behind the heal plate and the ball of my foot in the middle of the foot plate, I find moving my foot a far better way of maintaining controle of the pedal than fiddling with the settings.  If your pedal is a different model, then I'd just suggest you play with the pedal's settings first, getting the feel you want, then change the DTXpress brains settings to give you the response you need.  One point though.  You have to open the pedal before you strike the pad.  That sounds daft, but I found that initially I was opening the pedal AS I was hitting the pad, so was not getting a consistent response, sometimes it would be closd sometimes it would be open, I've learn't to live with this major difference between acoustic and electronic hi hats, but it still bugs me.  In fast numbers I sometimes play double strokes on the hi hat on strikes which are meant to be open, ensuring I get an open sound on the second stroke.

Hope that helps 
----------

From: 	pdk
Sent: 	27 January 2000 15:20
To: 	DTXpress@onelist.com
Subject: 	[DTXpress] Hi-hat not where it's at.

<<File: ATT00000.att>>



[This message contained attachments]

Hi,
I don't know that, if compared to an acoustic hi-hat, anyone would
say that the dtxpress pedal is great, but considering how inherently
different they are from each other (ie: you're not hitting the cymbals
that you are controlling with your foot), I was pleasantly surprised
at the feel and sound once I made some adjustments and got used to it.

As others have said, take some time to play with the adjustment screw,
sensitivity, and your foot placement. Getting the feel right is half the
battle. 

The thing that I'm not really comfortable with is that one has to 
radically alter their playing style to get the "open" sound when one
wants it (pre-lifting the pedal). I'm not looking forward to getting 
back on an acoustic hi-hat and re-re-learning my technique. Hopefully
I can just retain both styles of playing.

Again, as many on the list have said, the payoff of the e-drums is in
the customizing of the adjustments and sounds. The smallest tweak can 
make all the difference. You really start to settle into the kit after
a while. I was smashing along with some Hendrix last night and completely
forgot I was hitting rubber pads...Bliss.

Sticks: I'm telling y'all, try the Firth Buddy Rich Signature's. A bit
more weight near the tip and the rounded wood tip really do the job. The 
whole kit feels better after switching from standard 5A's...
Later,
Rick

I'd like to add that while I wasn't crazy about the hi-hat feel at first, I
quite like it now. I've learned to anticipate my open notes more. I've also
found that, because the distance between open and closed is smaller than
real hats, some unexpected cool variations can be had by just relaxing the
foot a little. The "cymbals" open a little when I'm not expecting. It
sounds cool, I think.




At 06:11 PM 1/29/2000 -0000, you wrote:

>From: vcrmac@...
>
>Hi,
>I don't know that, if compared to an acoustic hi-hat, anyone would
>say that the dtxpress pedal is great, but considering how inherently
>different they are from each other (ie: you're not hitting the cymbals
>that you are controlling with your foot), I was pleasantly surprised
>at the feel and sound once I made some adjustments and got used to it.
>
>As others have said, take some time to play with the adjustment screw,
>sensitivity, and your foot placement. Getting the feel right is half the
>battle. 
>
>The thing that I'm not really comfortable with is that one has to 
>radically alter their playing style to get the "open" sound when one
>wants it (pre-lifting the pedal). I'm not looking forward to getting 
>back on an acoustic hi-hat and re-re-learning my technique. Hopefully
>I can just retain both styles of playing.
>
>Again, as many on the list have said, the payoff of the e-drums is in
>the customizing of the adjustments and sounds. The smallest tweak can 
>make all the difference. You really start to settle into the kit after
>a while. I was smashing along with some Hendrix last night and completely
>forgot I was hitting rubber pads...Bliss.
>
>Sticks: I'm telling y'all, try the Firth Buddy Rich Signature's. A bit
>more weight near the tip and the rounded wood tip really do the job. The 
>whole kit feels better after switching from standard 5A's...
>Later,
>Rick
>
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>

Well from my view point and still being new to the kit, I am mightily 
impressed with the hi hat function.

My set up is still pretty much 'out of the boxes' with no tweaks as yet, and 
my foot and hand combination has worked just fine so far.

Ah, the joy of the sticks in hand after 15 years away - thanks Yamaha!

Cheers

Graham

My two cents:
I've had a similar experiences with the hi-hat function as the rest of you. 
The response being limited to either open, closed or splash took a little 
while to get used to but wasn't anything annoying or difficult. I've also 
gotten some nice effects when "surprised" by the sudden open/closed sounds 
produced when not keeping firm pressure on the pedal. The only disadvantage 
I experienced was with how easily a splash sound was produced when trying to 
keep steady time on the pedal...but like most annoyances on the DTXpress it 
was simple enough to work around.
I split my time between the electronic kit (for apartment practicing) and an 
acoustic kit (for band rehearsals) and I've discovered that although there 
are major differences between playing the two different animals, the single 
largest effect is a positive one, which is just how much more natural my 
playing has gotten from being able to play the electronic kit whenever I get 
the urge instead of having to decide between not playing and/or playing very 
very softly (and unnaturally). Also, I tend to play the electronic kit more 
softly and smoothly than the acoustic kit - since I don't have to "pull" the 
sounds out of them and this translates into a much more easy feeling on the 
acoustic kit.
All in all I am very pleased with the DTXpress and just as a side note - the 
sounds from this kit are largely dependent on the type of amp/headphones you 
use. I tried the kit out at the store with headphones & an amp and was 
pleased with the sounds but I LOVE the sounds I get through my headphones at 
home....so, if you're less than thrilled with the sounds, try another pair 
of headphones.

...still waiting to get into the recording phase with the kit though......


----Original Message Follows----

From: Gpcollins7@...
Reply-To: DTXpress@onelist.com
To: vcrmac@..., DTXpress@onelist.com
Subject: Re: [DTXpress] RE: Hi-hat not where it's at.
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 19:48:00 EST

From: Gpcollins7@...

Well from my view point and still being new to the kit, I am mightily
impressed with the hi hat function.

My set up is still pretty much 'out of the boxes' with no tweaks as yet, and
my foot and hand combination has worked just fine so far.

Ah, the joy of the sticks in hand after 15 years away - thanks Yamaha!

Cheers

Graham

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   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
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I have to agree with xx on the positive aspects of rubber play. I've never been so smooth, thanks in part to not having to pound so much, but mostly because I am playing a lot more often. It's great to able to sit down for 15 minutes basically whenever I want and silently jam, without first having to negotiate with my wife for periods of excessive noise. I've even set up the phone and baby monitor nearby, both with flickering red  indicator lights, in case I'm in headphone land.

Originally I found the kick tower way too hard and unrealistic, forcing me to change my style from holding the beater against the head to letting it bounce. However, because of that I'm now able to do quicker, fancier foot stuff than before. I often practice bass work using one of the techno kits, because when your footwork is a little off it's very noticeable.

x x of eyemaster69@... said on 2/1/00 9:44 AM

>From: "x x" <eyemaster69@...>
>
>My two cents:
>I've had a similar experiences with the hi-hat function as the rest of you. 
>The response being limited to either open, closed or splash took a little 
>while to get used to but wasn't anything annoying or difficult. I've also 
>gotten some nice effects when "surprised" by the sudden open/closed sounds 
>produced when not keeping firm pressure on the pedal. The only disadvantage 
>I experienced was with how easily a splash sound was produced when trying to 
>keep steady time on the pedal...but like most annoyances on the DTXpress it 
>was simple enough to work around.
>I split my time between the electronic kit (for apartment practicing) and an 
>acoustic kit (for band rehearsals) and I've discovered that although there 
>are major differences between playing the two different animals, the single 
>largest effect is a positive one, which is just how much more natural my 
>playing has gotten from being able to play the electronic kit whenever I get 
>the urge instead of having to decide between not playing and/or playing very 
>very softly (and unnaturally). Also, I tend to play the electronic kit more 
>softly and smoothly than the acoustic kit - since I don't have to "pull" the 
>sounds out of them and this translates into a much more easy feeling on the 
>acoustic kit.
>All in all I am very pleased with the DTXpress and just as a side note - the 
>sounds from this kit are largely dependent on the type of amp/headphones you 
>use. I tried the kit out at the store with headphones & an amp and was 
>pleased with the sounds but I LOVE the sounds I get through my headphones at 
>home....so, if you're less than thrilled with the sounds, try another pair 
>of headphones.
>
>...still waiting to get into the recording phase with the kit though......


=========================================================================

pete

Hot Java, Cool Tunes: Visit Caf\ufffd Pierre www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/4024/

>Just wondering if you guys are satisfied with your hi-hat pedals.

The thing is surprisingly good, IMO. I was very pessimistic about
it before I actually got it.

It's way too 'light' though. Someone once wrote he'd try to replace
the toy spring with a stiffer one. Did you do it, and was it a success?

>I can't seem to get mine to behave like the real thing (which may
>or may not be the point).  It's either open or closed with no in 
>between. 

I have no such problem. I think there are even at least two levels of
semi-openness (heh) in the thing.

>Sticks...

Maybe it's just my poor ears, but I really can't distinguish any difference
between the sounds different sticks produce on the kit, except in volume
of course. I'm skeptical about sticks making a difference.

>The other day while drumming on my Yammy to kill time before my hockey 
>game (I'm a goalie),  I realized that my hobbies seem to surround me with
>rubber disks.

Hah, good one :)

As for the genius who thought of putting two sounds on the ride cymbal,
the other one a bell sound, and crossfading them: brilliant! This should
have been added to the manual already!

Actually, I never meant to say that different sticks produce different
sounds; they don't, just a different feel.  I don't know about you guys, but
I practice sometimes with the brain off just for the heck of it, and that's
when I really notice, and can focus on, the difference.

As for the weak hi-hat spring...ironically I find the spring on my HH80 (I
have a DS10 kit) too stiff, and have joked about developing a left calf like
Awnold.

BTW, after reading several posts advising me to stop complaining and embrace
the digital hi-hat, I did that this weekend and, okay, you guys are right.
It's not so bad. It's not like a real hi-hat. Not mine, anyway, but funky in
it's own right.

FWIW, seems Graham's "other" hobby also includes rubber discs, of the
screeching variety.


=========================================================================

pete

Hot Java, Cool Tunes: Visit Caf\ufffd Pierre www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/4024/

> From: "Mr. Lauri Kero" <luikero@...>
> Reply-To: DTXpress@onelist.com
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 17:14:58 +0200
> To: DTXpress@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [DTXpress] Hi-hat not where it's at.
> 
>> Sticks...
> 
> Maybe it's just my poor ears, but I really can't distinguish any difference
> between the sounds different sticks produce on the kit, except in volume
> of course. I'm skeptical about sticks making a difference.
> 
>> The other day while drumming on my Yammy to kill time before my hockey
>> game (I'm a goalie),  I realized that my hobbies seem to surround me with
>> rubber disks.
> 
> Hah, good one :)
> 
> As for the genius who thought of putting two sounds on the ride cymbal,
> the other one a bell sound, and crossfading them: brilliant! This should
> have been added to the manual already!