Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi Guys

I just wanted to say to all my UK E-Drum junkies that there is an 
alternative to the Japanese & American 'Mesh-Head' kits out 
there....and best of all it's made right here in ENGLAND. (Not my 
intention to invite any flaming, if you've got a 'Pintech' or H.D. 
Kit then fine, as are all the 'Rolands' & Yamaha's).

I've posted a (not very good) photo of my KOBY KIT on the photos 
page.  Basically it's a 10 piece Kit comprising:

1x Mesh Head Base Pad (single Trigger)
1x Mesh Head Snare (Dual Trigger)
3x Tom Pads (Mesh Head & single Trigger)
Incidently all the pads are 10" with an 8" Mesh-Head playing area, so 
I get the same response as an acoustic kit, tuneable heads etc....but 
I get the advantage of 548 18bit samples to trigger from my  Alesis 
DM5 in the shape of 21 infinitely variable kits.

4x Cymbal pads (1x8", 2x12", 1x10"...I think, I haven't measured 
them !!)
1x 4" 'NANO-PAD' (single trigger, EPDM Rubber Coated)

1x Polished Stainless Steel 'Drum-Mate' Rack, with all necessary 
clamps etc

I am supremely happy with the kit and if anyone in the South West of 
England was considering purchasing an E-Drum set-up, I'd be more than 
happy to let them have a go on my KOBY.  I think it's the 'MUTTS-
NUTTS', but then I had been looking for a mesh head kit for at least 
6 months prior to buying my KOBY.  I think it compares favourably to 
the opposition, most importantly it's easy to set-up and play...no 
need to RTFM (although Colin at Koby suggests at least reading the Q-
card that comes with the DM5).

I can honestly say that it will be tha last kit I will ever own, 
although at some point I would love a DM-Pro.

Check the photo....

Drew

On Saturday, September 6, 2003, at 11:58  pm, Drew wrote:

> I just wanted to say to all my UK E-Drum junkies that there is an
> alternative to the Japanese & American 'Mesh-Head' kits out
> there....and best of all it's made right here in ENGLAND. (Not my
> intention to invite any flaming, if you've got a 'Pintech' or H.D.
> Kit then fine, as are all the 'Rolands' & Yamaha's).
>
> I've posted a (not very good) photo of my KOBY KIT on the photos
> page.

At last, someone with a Koby kit! There had to be someone out there 
somewhere who had one :-)

Now for the questions!

If I follow your lead and go the Koby route I want the kit to be as 
near silent as possible. Is there much stick noise from the cymbal pads 
and have you found the unsilenced rims to be a problem? I intend to 
silence the rims with rubber strip. Could you do me an immense favour 
and measure around the circumference of one of your pad rims? I've 
guessed it measures about 69cm but I'd like to know for sure (for 
ordering ddrum rim silencer, unless someone can point me to a readily 
available cheaper alternative).

I assume you're using the stock Koby hi-hat pedal - how have you found 
it? Does it give a pretty full range of hi-hat sounds?

You've probably noticed the recent posts about polyphony. Have you 
found the 16 voice limit of the DM5 restrictive at all? I'm totally 
unfamiliar with the Alesis modules but I know if you want to play along 
to CDs you have to use a mixer with the DM5. Is this the kind of set-up 
you have?

pb (in South East London)

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Paul Bentley <pb@w...> wrote:
> 
> On Saturday, September 6, 2003, at 11:58  pm, Drew wrote:
> 
> > I just wanted to say to all my UK E-Drum junkies that there is an
> > alternative to the Japanese & American 'Mesh-Head' kits out
> > there....and best of all it's made right here in ENGLAND. (Not my
> > intention to invite any flaming, if you've got a 'Pintech' or H.D.
> > Kit then fine, as are all the 'Rolands' & Yamaha's).
> >
> > I've posted a (not very good) photo of my KOBY KIT on the photos
> > page.
> 
> At last, someone with a Koby kit! There had to be someone out there 
> somewhere who had one :-)
> 
> Now for the questions!
> 
> If I follow your lead and go the Koby route I want the kit to be as 
> near silent as possible. Is there much stick noise from the cymbal 
pads 
> and have you found the unsilenced rims to be a problem? I intend to 
> silence the rims with rubber strip. Could you do me an immense 
favour 
> and measure around the circumference of one of your pad rims? I've 
> guessed it measures about 69cm but I'd like to know for sure (for 
> ordering ddrum rim silencer, unless someone can point me to a 
readily 
> available cheaper alternative).
> 
> I assume you're using the stock Koby hi-hat pedal - how have you 
found 
> it? Does it give a pretty full range of hi-hat sounds?
> 
> You've probably noticed the recent posts about polyphony. Have you 
> found the 16 voice limit of the DM5 restrictive at all? I'm totally 
> unfamiliar with the Alesis modules but I know if you want to play 
along 
> to CDs you have to use a mixer with the DM5. Is this the kind of 
set-up 
> you have?
> 

Hi Paul
OK...the measurement around the rim is 68cm.  The koby hi hat peadl 
is a basic trigger (on/0ff) which is fine for the DM5 as the pedal is 
used to trigger open/closed/foot sounds OR to advance to the next 
drum kit in the DM5, might be different with a different module.  
Stick sounds from the cymbals are very low as they are 1/3 covered in 
EPDM and the cymbal trigger edges are covered in EPDM rubber also.  
For playing along to music tracks; Laptop PC running both Cubase & 
Cakewalk and a host of midi files.  The setup works for me and the 
sixteen voice polyphony is the opposite of restricting...16 
simultaneous sounds is more than enough for me.  Another great thing 
about the pads is that they mount using conventional 'Pearl-type'tom 
arms and are tightened with a conventional drum key.  Speak to Colin 
at KOBY, he's a really nice guy and couldn't do enough for me.  He 
has definitely done his homework probably helped by his strong links 
with Dave Simmons (of Hexagon Pad fame).

Does anyone want me to post a full review ??  If so What pics., would 
you like to see...e.g., Rack close-ups, Top, side & bottom of Pads, 
cymbal top & bottom etc.  If a review with lots of pics would be 
useful, let me know.

All the best 
Drew

--- Drew wrote:
> I've posted a ... photo of my KOBY KIT ...

Drew! Where have you been all our lives?

If you wander back through the messages from the last week or so, 
you'll see the group -- under the inspired and unwavering leadership 
of Ed (from Massachusetts) -- has been trying to arrange some 
reviews or gear, including the new Pintech cymbals and Koby kit. Ed 
has mailed Colin at Koby to see if he would be interested in 
providing review kit, to see how his stuff works with Yamaha modules.

If you take a look back, you'll see an outline "review guide". 
Perhaps you could take a look at it and consider giving us the run-
down on Koby gear? I think we'd understand if you didn't have the 
time, but there's a few people hereabouts who would like to know 
more.

Also, if Colin for some reason isn't interested, would you consider 
accepting an invasion by a fat man from Northants with a Yamaha 
DTXPressII module to see how well Koby pads and the DTXPU2 work 
together?

Stewart

Bloody hell, Koby have just popped out of nowhere. I thought i had 
considered just about everything for my neverending upgrade options. 
I for one would be very interested in learning loads more about koby 
kits and how they perform with yamaha and perhaps even other brains. 
thes kits have suddenly become a really feasable option, primarily as 
they are available right in here in da UK!

cheers 
pete (west london) 








--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" <moosetication@y...> 
wrote:
> --- Drew wrote:
> > I've posted a ... photo of my KOBY KIT ...
> 
> Drew! Where have you been all our lives?
> 
> If you wander back through the messages from the last week or so, 
> you'll see the group -- under the inspired and unwavering 
leadership 
> of Ed (from Massachusetts) -- has been trying to arrange some 
> reviews or gear, including the new Pintech cymbals and Koby kit. Ed 
> has mailed Colin at Koby to see if he would be interested in 
> providing review kit, to see how his stuff works with Yamaha 
modules.

> 
> If you take a look back, you'll see an outline "review guide". 
> Perhaps you could take a look at it and consider giving us the run-
> down on Koby gear? I think we'd understand if you didn't have the 
> time, but there's a few people hereabouts who would like to know 
> more.
> 
> Also, if Colin for some reason isn't interested, would you consider 
> accepting an invasion by a fat man from Northants with a Yamaha 
> DTXPressII module to see how well Koby pads and the DTXPU2 work 
> together?
> 
> Stewart

heya drew,


really great to have somebody in this group with one of these kits. 
thanks for offering to review it, its always useful to have an end 
users view. a review with pics would be really great but i'm 
personally more interested in how u feel: the pads trigger, how 
realistic they feel, how secure the rack is etc...   its probably 
best to compare it to a standard dtxpress (something everybody in 
this group is familiar with) so we all know what the reference point 
is. perhaps a few pros and cons in relation the the xpress also would 
be good. 

but hey whatever feedback u find time to provide will be much 
appreciated, thanks again

cheers pete
















--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Drew" <drewl@r...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Paul Bentley <pb@w...> wrote:
> > 
> > On Saturday, September 6, 2003, at 11:58  pm, Drew wrote:
> > 
> > > I just wanted to say to all my UK E-Drum junkies that there is 
an
> > > alternative to the Japanese & American 'Mesh-Head' kits out
> > > there....and best of all it's made right here in ENGLAND. (Not 
my
> > > intention to invite any flaming, if you've got a 'Pintech' or 
H.D.
> > > Kit then fine, as are all the 'Rolands' & Yamaha's).
> > >
> > > I've posted a (not very good) photo of my KOBY KIT on the photos
> > > page.
> > 
> > At last, someone with a Koby kit! There had to be someone out 
there 
> > somewhere who had one :-)
> > 
> > Now for the questions!
> > 
> > If I follow your lead and go the Koby route I want the kit to be 
as 
> > near silent as possible. Is there much stick noise from the 
cymbal 
> pads 
> > and have you found the unsilenced rims to be a problem? I intend 
to 
> > silence the rims with rubber strip. Could you do me an immense 
> favour 
> > and measure around the circumference of one of your pad rims? 
I've 
> > guessed it measures about 69cm but I'd like to know for sure (for 
> > ordering ddrum rim silencer, unless someone can point me to a 
> readily 
> > available cheaper alternative).
> > 
> > I assume you're using the stock Koby hi-hat pedal - how have you 
> found 
> > it? Does it give a pretty full range of hi-hat sounds?
> > 
> > You've probably noticed the recent posts about polyphony. Have 
you 
> > found the 16 voice limit of the DM5 restrictive at all? I'm 
totally 
> > unfamiliar with the Alesis modules but I know if you want to play 
> along 
> > to CDs you have to use a mixer with the DM5. Is this the kind of 
> set-up 
> > you have?
> > 
> 
> Hi Paul
> OK...the measurement around the rim is 68cm.  The koby hi hat peadl 
> is a basic trigger (on/0ff) which is fine for the DM5 as the pedal 
is 
> used to trigger open/closed/foot sounds OR to advance to the next 
> drum kit in the DM5, might be different with a different module.  
> Stick sounds from the cymbals are very low as they are 1/3 covered 
in 
> EPDM and the cymbal trigger edges are covered in EPDM rubber also.  
> For playing along to music tracks; Laptop PC running both Cubase & 
> Cakewalk and a host of midi files.  The setup works for me and the 
> sixteen voice polyphony is the opposite of restricting...16 
> simultaneous sounds is more than enough for me.  Another great 
thing 
> about the pads is that they mount using conventional 'Pearl-
type'tom 
> arms and are tightened with a conventional drum key.  Speak to 
Colin 
> at KOBY, he's a really nice guy and couldn't do enough for me.  He 
> has definitely done his homework probably helped by his strong 
links 
> with Dave Simmons (of Hexagon Pad fame).
> 
> Does anyone want me to post a full review ??  If so What pics., 
would 

> you like to see...e.g., Rack close-ups, Top, side & bottom of Pads, 
> cymbal top & bottom etc.  If a review with lots of pics would be 
> useful, let me know.
> 
> All the best 
> Drew

On Sunday, September 7, 2003, at 10:12  am, Drew wrote:

> OK...the measurement around the rim is 68cm.

Thanks Drew - I was a centimetre out, not bad!
(It means 4.5 metres of ddrum rim noise eliminator will do 6 8" pads at 
a cost of £4.81 per pad. Next question is whether you stick this stuff 
on and with what!)

> The koby hi hat peadl is a basic trigger (on/0ff) which is fine for 
> the DM5 as the pedal is used to trigger open/closed/foot sounds OR to 
> advance to the next
> drum kit in the DM5, might be different with a different module.

I'm beginning to wonder how much difference there is in practice 
between the simple triggers and the 'continuous' sort.

> Stick sounds from the cymbals are very low as they are 1/3 covered in
> EPDM and the cymbal trigger edges are covered in EPDM rubber also.

Excellent, no tweaking necessary.

>  Another great thing about the pads is that they mount using 
> conventional 'Pearl-type'tom arms and are tightened with a 
> conventional drum key.

Yes I agree with you on this, expansion is really easy.

> Does anyone want me to post a full review ??  If so What pics., would
> you like to see...e.g., Rack close-ups, Top, side & bottom of Pads,
> cymbal top & bottom etc.  If a review with lots of pics would be
> useful, let me know.

Speaking for myself I think an owner review would be great, and I'm 
sure you'll be hearing more from Stewart and Ed!

Thanks for the feedback Drew, much appreciated.

pb

Hi Stewart

I've got a busy week this week (away from home for most of it !),I 
think compiling a 'comparative-review' could be a problem as I don't 
own a DTX...but yes I could certainly give you a rundown on my 
feelings for the kit.  I've been chasing  an e-kit since I first 
played an SDS 5 way back in the early part of the 14th century !  
Almost bought an SDS9 (I had a TAMA 7 pc Superstar kit at the time).  
Between 1984 and the present I have played the Ultimate Percussion 
kit, TAMA Techstar, SDS 5, SDS9...always found the feel/response 
lacking, but not anymore.

If you want to come down to Somerset and bring your module thats fine 
by me, drop me an email: drewl@... with a contact Tel. No.  
I'm sure that Colin Schofield would let you take your module to 
Liverpool and plug it into one of his kits, drop him an email.

All the Best

Drew


> 
> Drew! Where have you been all our lives?
> 
> If you wander back through the messages from the last week or so, 
> you'll see the group -- under the inspired and unwavering 
leadership 
> of Ed (from Massachusetts) -- has been trying to arrange some 
> reviews or gear, including the new Pintech cymbals and Koby kit. Ed 
> has mailed Colin at Koby to see if he would be interested in 
> providing review kit, to see how his stuff works with Yamaha 
modules.

> 
> If you take a look back, you'll see an outline "review guide". 
> Perhaps you could take a look at it and consider giving us the run-
> down on Koby gear? I think we'd understand if you didn't have the 
> time, but there's a few people hereabouts who would like to know 
> more.
> 
> Also, if Colin for some reason isn't interested, would you consider 
> accepting an invasion by a fat man from Northants with a Yamaha 
> DTXPressII module to see how well Koby pads and the DTXPU2 work 
> together?
> 
> Stewart

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Drew" <drewl@r...> wrote:
> If you want to come down to Somerset and bring your module thats 
fine 
> by me, drop me an email: drewl@r... with a contact Tel. No.  
> I'm sure that Colin Schofield would let you take your module to 
> Liverpool and plug it into one of his kits, drop him an email.

Hey Drew,

Did anyone ever tell you that you're manna from heaven? I'm curious: 
Did you join the discussion because you'd seen our recent posts, or 
are you just the happiest of coincidences? Hopefully, Colin will look 
kindly on my enquiry and work with us on a review of select Koby 
products; the issue has generated much interest on the board. Even if 
not, it's nice of you to open up your home to Stewart. I suspect that 
he makes a wonderful guest. Whatever happens, it looks like we'll be 
learning a lot more about Koby.

Ed

Ed:
> Did you join the discussion because you'd seen our recent posts, or 
> are you just the happiest of coincidences? 

Hi Ed,

I actually looked at the message board sometime ago, then my company 
decided to supply us with new Toshiba Laptops...kinda forgot about 
the group (as I normally check out the newsgroups on my mail server)
then I was reminded of this group...yadda, yadda, yadda....the rest 
as they say is history.

Drew

Drew,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the great Koby info.

and...

Is the bass drum head attached to the main rack somehow? All photos I have seen looks like there is a pipe attached.

spence

-----Original Message-----
From: Drew [mailto:drewl@...]
Sent: 07 September 2003 23:07
To: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DTXpress] Re: My KOBY 10 Piece E-Drum Kit


Hi Stewart

I've got a busy week this week (away from home for most of it !),I 
think compiling a 'comparative-review' could be a problem as I don't 
own a DTX...but yes I could certainly give you a rundown on my 
feelings for the kit.  I've been chasing  an e-kit since I first 
played an SDS 5 way back in the early part of the 14th century !  
Almost bought an SDS9 (I had a TAMA 7 pc Superstar kit at the time).  
Between 1984 and the present I have played the Ultimate Percussion 
kit, TAMA Techstar, SDS 5, SDS9...always found the feel/response 
lacking, but not anymore.

If you want to come down to Somerset and bring your module thats fine 
by me, drop me an email: drewl@... with a contact Tel. No.  
I'm sure that Colin Schofield would let you take your module to 
Liverpool and plug it into one of his kits, drop him an email.

All the Best

Drew


> 
> Drew! Where have you been all our lives?
> 
> If you wander back through the messages from the last week or so, 
> you'll see the group -- under the inspired and unwavering 
leadership 
> of Ed (from Massachusetts) -- has been trying to arrange some 
> reviews or gear, including the new Pintech cymbals and Koby kit. Ed 
> has mailed Colin at Koby to see if he would be interested in 
> providing review kit, to see how his stuff works with Yamaha 
modules.
> 
> If you take a look back, you'll see an outline "review guide". 
> Perhaps you could take a look at it and consider giving us the run-
> down on Koby gear? I think we'd understand if you didn't have the 
> time, but there's a few people hereabouts who would like to know 
> more.
> 
> Also, if Colin for some reason isn't interested, would you consider 
> accepting an invasion by a fat man from Northants with a Yamaha 
> DTXPressII module to see how well Koby pads and the DTXPU2 work 
> together?
> 
> Stewart




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Hi

Yes the BD pad attatches to the horizontal rack bar by means of an 
upright steel pole (same diameter as a standard 'Pearl' type tom 
arm), the BD pad having the same dimensions as all the other pads, it 
too tightens via a standard drum key.  The difference with the BD pad 
is that there is  s/steel plate that descends from the bottom of pad 
to allow the DB pedal to attach.

Cheers

Drew