Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Anyone know much of the innards of the Yamaha DD-55 toy (the silver 
thing with 4x5" and 3x3" pads)? Since I have one of these and given 
that it's MIDI-enabled, I am eyeing it for some surgery to use in 
conjunction with the DTXP2. . It's too big as it stands to mount on 
or near my kit (and looks a bit Flash Gordon to boot), but I am 
minded to take it apart to see if (a) I can mount the triggers 
and "brain" separately and give myself seven additional pads 
reasonably cheaply, and (b) if the pads actually use piezos or FSRs, 
see if I can trigger the "brain" with external pads.

Clues, anyone?

Stewart

Hey, Stewart,

What about selling it and using the return to buy a couple of 
new/used 8" or 10" pads? Just a thought. That way you wouldn't risk 
losing everything if you dismantled it for parts. Since the 55 has 
MIDI in/out, the triggers would seem to be compatible with the DTXII 
module as is. If you pry the individual pads from their housing, 
however, they won't have any visible means of support for mounting 
on the rack, and you'll undoubtedly have to adapt the wiring to the 
new situation. A few people on the board--Scott (hairytrigger) for 
one--have strong DIY skills and might be able to help.

The 55 does have a dedicated stand. You could mount it on the stand 
and connect it via MIDI to access the DTX sounds, as you would, say, 
the Hart Multipad or the DrumKat. As such it would be hard to use as 
a snare, tom, or cymbal set, but it could be used as tuned/untuned 
percussion, effects, increment/decrement etc. What do you think?

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:
> 
> Anyone know much of the innards of the Yamaha DD-55 toy (the 
silver 
> thing with 4x5" and 3x3" pads)? Since I have one of these and 
given 
> that it's MIDI-enabled, I am eyeing it for some surgery to use in 
> conjunction with the DTXP2. . It's too big as it stands to mount 
on 
> or near my kit (and looks a bit Flash Gordon to boot), but I am 
> minded to take it apart to see if (a) I can mount the triggers 
> and "brain" separately and give myself seven additional pads 
> reasonably cheaply, and (b) if the pads actually use piezos or 
FSRs, 

> see if I can trigger the "brain" with external pads.
> 
> Clues, anyone?
> 
> Stewart

--- "liberatusvirus" wrote:
> What about selling it and using the return to
> buy a couple of new/used 8" or 10" pads?

An option I considered, but there's a gazillion of them on eBay. And 
it's not just pads but inputs that are the issue. If I need to get 
rid of it, I'll probably just give it to my kids' school.

> ...it would be hard to use as 
> a snare, tom, or cymbal set, but it could be used
> as tuned/untuned percussion, effects,
> increment/decrement etc. What do you think?

Great minds think alike (first person to say "fools seldom differ" 
gets the finger). That was exactly the use I had in mind.

Stewart