Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hey guys,
   I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of double 
time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" and the 
high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My friend 
says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order to 
duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any trick?  
It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..

Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on the 
DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it might 
be something you can only do on a real HH?

Thanks!
Jon

jon,

its just a certain technique that the drummer is using, and can be 
played on a dtxpress but of course it wont sound quite the same. the 
sound the drummer is getting on this track is quite a rich acoustic 
one, where all the dynamics can be heard. the cymbal sounds (hi hat) 
on the dtxpress cannot match this quality, clarity or depth, but hey 
its only fair - they be using professional recording studios!

however the sounds on the dtxpress are plentiful and with a bit of 
experimentation i'm sure u could produce something quite similar. 
perhaps it would be a good idea to ask the group if anybody has been 
able to create a realistic reggae style hi hat, and adjust their 
settings to ur taste. i keep forgetting how many sounds there are on 
this module as i have pretty much stuck to 4 custom kits for the last 
year or so. happy huntin jon, let us know how it goes

pete


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> wrote:
> Hey guys,
>    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
double 
> time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" and 
the 
> high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
friend 
> says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order to 
> duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
trick?  
> It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> 
> Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on the 
> DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
might 

> be something you can only do on a real HH?
> 
> Thanks!
> Jon

Pete,
   So you are saying he's not really hitting the high hat faster, 
it's because of the type of acoustic(reggae) kit he's using?


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "peterpan" <malakies2000@y...> wrote:
> jon,
> 
> its just a certain technique that the drummer is using, and can be 
> played on a dtxpress but of course it wont sound quite the same. 
the 
> sound the drummer is getting on this track is quite a rich acoustic 
> one, where all the dynamics can be heard. the cymbal sounds (hi 
hat) 
> on the dtxpress cannot match this quality, clarity or depth, but 
hey 
> its only fair - they be using professional recording studios!
> 
> however the sounds on the dtxpress are plentiful and with a bit of 
> experimentation i'm sure u could produce something quite similar. 
> perhaps it would be a good idea to ask the group if anybody has 
been 
> able to create a realistic reggae style hi hat, and adjust their 
> settings to ur taste. i keep forgetting how many sounds there are 
on 
> this module as i have pretty much stuck to 4 custom kits for the 
last 
> year or so. happy huntin jon, let us know how it goes
> 
> pete
> 
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
wrote:
> > Hey guys,
> >    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
> double 
> > time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" and 
> the 
> > high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
> friend 
> > says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order 
to 
> > duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
> trick?  
> > It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> > 
> > Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on 
the 

> > DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
> might 
> > be something you can only do on a real HH?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > Jon

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> wrote:
> Hey guys,
>    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
double 
> time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" and 
the 
> high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
friend 
> says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order to 
> duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
trick?  
> It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> 
> Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on the 
> DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
might 
> be something you can only do on a real HH?

When I used to play acoustic kit I used to get this hi-hat effect by 
playing alternate strokes on the edge (with the shoulder of the 
stick) and the main body (with the tip of the stick).

However, this doesn't help when one is using a single zone pad for 
the hi-hit on a electronic kit.  Maybe it could be achieved by using 
crossfading between an edge sound and a non-edge sound but I haven't 
tried this personally so I can't comment on its effectiveness or 
otherwise.

I plan to replace the cuurent hi-hat pad with a TP65S cymbal pad so I 
can have two zones for just such an occasion.  Others on the list 
have a setup like this already and recommend it heartily.

ok this is what i think, 


it sounded to me at first like the drummer is using a standard 4/4 
with tilted, medium-heavy hats that are not fully tightened. thats 
why i then though that there are very subtle second hits on the HH 
(so periodic double hits within the theme). however i'm stickin with 
my 1st impression now, i don't think that there are second ghost hits 
within the theme, it just sounds like it due to the quality of the 
hats and how hard he/she is hittin them. the drummer's loose 
technique is whats making it quite hard to read. its quite a tricky 
one, what do u think jon?




--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> wrote:
> Pete,
>    So you are saying he's not really hitting the high hat faster, 
> it's because of the type of acoustic(reggae) kit he's using?
> 
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "peterpan" <malakies2000@y...> 
wrote:
> > jon,
> > 
> > its just a certain technique that the drummer is using, and can 
be 
> > played on a dtxpress but of course it wont sound quite the same. 
> the 
> > sound the drummer is getting on this track is quite a rich 
acoustic 
> > one, where all the dynamics can be heard. the cymbal sounds (hi 
> hat) 
> > on the dtxpress cannot match this quality, clarity or depth, but 
> hey 
> > its only fair - they be using professional recording studios!
> > 
> > however the sounds on the dtxpress are plentiful and with a bit 
of 
> > experimentation i'm sure u could produce something quite similar. 
> > perhaps it would be a good idea to ask the group if anybody has 
> been 
> > able to create a realistic reggae style hi hat, and adjust their 
> > settings to ur taste. i keep forgetting how many sounds there are 
> on 
> > this module as i have pretty much stuck to 4 custom kits for the 
> last 
> > year or so. happy huntin jon, let us know how it goes
> > 
> > pete
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
> wrote:
> > > Hey guys,
> > >    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
> > double 
> > > time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" 
and 
> > the 
> > > high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
> > friend 
> > > says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In 
order 

> to 
> > > duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
> > trick?  
> > > It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> > > 
> > > Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on 
> the 
> > > DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
> > might 
> > > be something you can only do on a real HH?
> > > 
> > > Thanks!
> > > Jon

You guys got me...but it sounds like a good answer..;)  Otherwise, 
I'd see it being pretry hard for the drummer to do a few of these 
kind of songs...hard on the right arm...;)  Thanks for the help!

Jon
--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "peterpan" <malakies2000@y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> ok this is what i think, 
> 
> 
> it sounded to me at first like the drummer is using a standard 4/4 
> with tilted, medium-heavy hats that are not fully tightened. thats 
> why i then though that there are very subtle second hits on the HH 
> (so periodic double hits within the theme). however i'm stickin 
with 
> my 1st impression now, i don't think that there are second ghost 
hits 
> within the theme, it just sounds like it due to the quality of the 
> hats and how hard he/she is hittin them. the drummer's loose 
> technique is whats making it quite hard to read. its quite a tricky 
> one, what do u think jon?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
wrote:
> > Pete,
> >    So you are saying he's not really hitting the high hat faster, 
> > it's because of the type of acoustic(reggae) kit he's using?
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "peterpan" <malakies2000@y...> 
> wrote:
> > > jon,
> > > 
> > > its just a certain technique that the drummer is using, and can 
> be 
> > > played on a dtxpress but of course it wont sound quite the 
same. 
> > the 
> > > sound the drummer is getting on this track is quite a rich 
> acoustic 
> > > one, where all the dynamics can be heard. the cymbal sounds (hi 
> > hat) 
> > > on the dtxpress cannot match this quality, clarity or depth, 
but 
> > hey 
> > > its only fair - they be using professional recording studios!
> > > 
> > > however the sounds on the dtxpress are plentiful and with a bit 
> of 
> > > experimentation i'm sure u could produce something quite 
similar. 
> > > perhaps it would be a good idea to ask the group if anybody has 
> > been 
> > > able to create a realistic reggae style hi hat, and adjust 
their 
> > > settings to ur taste. i keep forgetting how many sounds there 
are 
> > on 
> > > this module as i have pretty much stuck to 4 custom kits for 
the 
> > last 
> > > year or so. happy huntin jon, let us know how it goes
> > > 
> > > pete
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
> > wrote:
> > > > Hey guys,
> > > >    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type 
of 
> > > double 
> > > > time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" 
> and 
> > > the 
> > > > high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  
My 
> > > friend 
> > > > says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In 
> order 
> > to 
> > > > duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
> > > trick?  
> > > > It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> > > > 
> > > > Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH 
on 
> > the 
> > > > DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if 
it 

> > > might 
> > > > be something you can only do on a real HH?
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks!
> > > > Jon

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> wrote:
> You guys got me...but it sounds like a good answer..;)  Otherwise, 
> I'd see it being pretry hard for the drummer to do a few of these 
> kind of songs...hard on the right arm...;)  Thanks for the help!

The technique I described earlier (edge, body, edge, body) is very 
hard on the right arm.  It took a lot of practice for me to get it 
grooving without pain! :-)

I know I'm late with this suggestion, I've only just caught up with 
the question ... but there's a song with a very fast hi-hat I play 
with my country band - "You're Gonna Love Me Some Day". I'm sure an 
experienced drummer could manage it, but my relatively inexperienced 
wrists get very sore when trying to keep pace. It's too damn fast. 
Using both hands kinda made it sound less smooth, a little lop-sided.
So, as it was a straight beat timing (not shuffle), I worked out that 
I could get my metronome to count out that rhythm, and all I had to 
do was change the metronome sounds to match the hi-hat sound.  I 
created a new main song, and stored the metronome timing to it, also 
adding a few other things in.  And now, whenever we go to play the 
song, all I have to do is hit a pad to get the song going and I just 
mime playing the kit.  I produce perfect timing and nobody except the 
band needs to know!

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> wrote:
> Hey guys,
>    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
double 
> time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" and 
the 
> high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
friend 
> says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order to 
> duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
trick?  
> It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> 
> Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on the 
> DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
might 

> be something you can only do on a real HH?
> 
> Thanks!
> Jon

Hey Nick,

The strategy is ingenious, but make sure that you aren't subject to 
Milli Vanilli legislation. Judging from legal precedent in this 
brave new world of live performance, however, you should be able to 
avoid prosecution if you play at least something on your kit, once 
in a while, as the metronome takes the lead. Barring that, a 
disclaimer such as, "Pay no attention to the drummer behind the 
electronic kit," or something to that effect, may be in order. You 
can write it in print too small to notice.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
wrote:
> I know I'm late with this suggestion, I've only just caught up 
with 
> the question ... but there's a song with a very fast hi-hat I play 
> with my country band - "You're Gonna Love Me Some Day". I'm sure 
an 
> experienced drummer could manage it, but my relatively 
inexperienced 
> wrists get very sore when trying to keep pace. It's too damn fast. 
> Using both hands kinda made it sound less smooth, a little lop-
sided.
> So, as it was a straight beat timing (not shuffle), I worked out 
that 
> I could get my metronome to count out that rhythm, and all I had 
to 
> do was change the metronome sounds to match the hi-hat sound.  I 
> created a new main song, and stored the metronome timing to it, 
also 
> adding a few other things in.  And now, whenever we go to play the 
> song, all I have to do is hit a pad to get the song going and I 
just 
> mime playing the kit.  I produce perfect timing and nobody except 
the 
> band needs to know!
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
wrote:
> > Hey guys,
> >    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
> double 
> > time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" 
and 
> the 
> > high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
> friend 
> > says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In order 
to 
> > duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
> trick?  
> > It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> > 
> > Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on 
the 

> > DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
> might 
> > be something you can only do on a real HH?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > Jon

--- liberatusvirus wrote:
> The strategy is ingenious...

Ed! Long time no read. Everything ok?

Stewart

Hi Stewart,

Thanks for asking. I've been out of town and largely w/o computer 
for a couple of weeks, and before that, my wife underwent a minor 
medical operation. But things are returning to normal. I've been 
catching up with life as best I can. Interesting stuff on this board 
while I was away--Java, DIY plans, Autocad, etc. As the Tibetan Book 
of the Dead says, "Ars longa; tempus fugit." 

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:

> --- liberatusvirus wrote:
> > The strategy is ingenious...
> 
> Ed! Long time no read. Everything ok?
> 
> Stewart

Yup, I've got that covered!  I tap the bar pad rhythmically during 
the chorus to get a tambourine sound. So I'm actually playing 
something while the kit song plays everything else for me.  ...The 
other guys in the band like it, too, because the metronome keeps 'em 
playing the song real tight!
I doubt anybody's going to sue me if I'm not actually playing. I've 
played three gigs with this kit now, and I haven't had anybody come 
up close to see what I'm doing. Most people seem to stand a long way 
back - and then come up when it's all over and say "that thing sounds 
like a real kit!"

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> Hey Nick,
> 
> The strategy is ingenious, but make sure that you aren't subject to 
> Milli Vanilli legislation. Judging from legal precedent in this 
> brave new world of live performance, however, you should be able to 
> avoid prosecution if you play at least something on your kit, once 
> in a while, as the metronome takes the lead. Barring that, a 
> disclaimer such as, "Pay no attention to the drummer behind the 
> electronic kit," or something to that effect, may be in order. You 
> can write it in print too small to notice.
> 
> Ed
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Carroll" <njcarroll56@y...> 
> wrote:
> > I know I'm late with this suggestion, I've only just caught up 
> with 
> > the question ... but there's a song with a very fast hi-hat I 
play 
> > with my country band - "You're Gonna Love Me Some Day". I'm sure 
> an 
> > experienced drummer could manage it, but my relatively 
> inexperienced 
> > wrists get very sore when trying to keep pace. It's too damn 
fast. 
> > Using both hands kinda made it sound less smooth, a little lop-
> sided.
> > So, as it was a straight beat timing (not shuffle), I worked out 
> that 
> > I could get my metronome to count out that rhythm, and all I had 
> to 
> > do was change the metronome sounds to match the hi-hat sound.  I 
> > created a new main song, and stored the metronome timing to it, 
> also 
> > adding a few other things in.  And now, whenever we go to play 
the 
> > song, all I have to do is hit a pad to get the song going and I 
> just 
> > mime playing the kit.  I produce perfect timing and nobody except 
> the 
> > band needs to know!
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Sakamoto" <sakamotj@y...> 
> wrote:
> > > Hey guys,
> > >    I was wondering if there is some "trick" to doing a type of 
> > double 
> > > time on the high hat.  There is a song by 311, called "Amber" 
> and 
> > the 
> > > high hat sounds very different than most songs I've heard.  My 
> > friend 
> > > says he hears this high hat beat alot in reggae songs...In 
order 

> to 
> > > duplicate that, assuming you don't use 2 hands, is there any 
> > trick?  
> > > It kinda sounds like tik-kit tik-kit tik-kit..
> > > 
> > > Right now, I'm pounding(not literally....;)) away on the HH on 
> the 
> > > DTXpressII, but it doesn't sound quite right.  Wondering if it 
> > might 
> > > be something you can only do on a real HH?
> > > 
> > > Thanks!
> > > Jon