Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello

I just recently got the Pintech snare and I'm having trouble keeping 
the levels down, especially due to the infamous hotspot in the drum 
center.

I did a quick search of the archives and found some similar problems, 
but no definitive solutions. Has anyone since then found any way to 
tweak the settings to get rid of the over-the-top response?

Harri

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Harri Ohra-aho" <hoekfi@y...> wrote:
> I just recently got the Pintech snare and I'm having trouble 
keeping 
> the levels down, especially due to the infamous hotspot in the drum 
> center.
> 
> I did a quick search of the archives and found some similar 
problems, 
> but no definitive solutions. Has anyone since then found any way to 
> tweak the settings to get rid of the over-the-top response?

Hi Harri,

I have the AX14S and have used it with the XpressI module. I'm afraid 
that hot spots from locating the piezo in the center of the pad are 
an occupational hazard to some extent (though, apparently Hart has 
mitigated it somewhat by lowering the piezo's placement, and perhaps 
adding another piezo to the side, for better coverage on the Pro 
snare, which, for that very reason, doesn't trigger well through the 
Xpress module). Whatever the other merits or drawbacks of center 
mounting, it enables positional sensing with the Roland TD-10/8 and 
ddrum4. Our friend and member Jun also pointed out, under our very 
noses, that the absence of input sensitivity on the Yamaha module 
tends to flatten the response of other manufacturers' pads in the 
direction of "hot." That said, I wasn't particularly bothered by the 
AX14S's response with the Yamaha. If you are, and are handy with 
cables and sharp objects, you might splice a 200k pot on the wire 
that runs between the AX14S and the module's input. That way, you can 
adjust the signal so that it doesn't overwhelm you with too much gain 
at less than hard hits. Another option is to use a cable with a pot 
built in, like those from Guyatone, but this option will run you $40 
or so. This technique won't eliminate any imbalance that may be 
bothering you, but my guess is that the lack of input sensitivity is 
your problem.  

Just in case your trigger settings have something to do with your 
difficulty, I'll offer my last saved ones. Remember, I wasn't as 
bothered by the hot spot as others, so my success with the settings 
that follow may simply reflect my tin ear.

First of all, I had the DIP switch on the back of the module 
corresponding with the AX14S' input (input 2) flipped to the up 
position. 

Pad type: DT Snare
Gain 65: MVel: 15
VelCurve: Loud 2
Self-Rej 3
All other rejections 0
Trig Com: DT 10/20 (all my pads are meshes; I treated them through 
the Yamaha as if they were triggered acoustics)

Let us know.

Ed

Thanks for the advice.

> Just in case your trigger settings have something to do with your 
> difficulty, I'll offer my last saved ones. Remember, I wasn't as 
> bothered by the hot spot as others, so my success with the settings 
> that follow may simply reflect my tin ear.
> 
> First of all, I had the DIP switch on the back of the module 
> corresponding with the AX14S' input (input 2) flipped to the up 
> position. 
>
This really bugged me. :) I flipped the switch up to the H position 
and the drum actually got _louder_. Tried this with the toms as well. 
I thought attenuation means lowering the input levels... :)

Has somebody flipped the circuitboard when I wasn't looking?
 
> Pad type: DT Snare
> Gain 65: MVel: 15
> VelCurve: Loud 2
> Self-Rej 3
> All other rejections 0
> Trig Com: DT 10/20 (all my pads are meshes; I treated them through 
> the Yamaha as if they were triggered acoustics)
> 
I think there was a slight change with these settings. But the 
dynamic range is still pretty bad. I really have to go easy on the 
snare or it maxes out immediately. 

Well... that should help to develope an extremely silent ghost note 
on an acoustic kit. ;)

Harri

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Harri Ohra-aho" <hoekfi@y...> wrote:
> This really bugged me. :) I flipped the switch up to the H position 
> and the drum actually got _louder_. Tried this with the toms as 
well. 
> I thought attenuation means lowering the input levels... :)
> 
> Has somebody flipped the circuitboard when I wasn't looking?

The problem with the labeling of the DIPs is the manual writer's 
command of English. S/He treats the term "attenuation" as if it 
meant "sensitivity." Yes, flipping the DIP up increases volume, but 
with mesh heads (at least to me) it worked better than the default  
position. As you say, it doesn't help the dynamic range. If you want 
to keep trying the cost-free alternatives, try changing the Trig. 
common setting to "Dynamic" or something else. It seems, however, 
that your best bet is to insert the pot in the snare's tip cable or 
to spend $45 on the Guyatone cable that I mentioned. Incidentally, I 
asked the company if they thought their cables would help with your 
problem; the tech thought so. 

Ed

> The problem with the labeling of the DIPs is the manual writer's 
> command of English. S/He treats the term "attenuation" as if it 
> meant "sensitivity."
>
Oh, ok. No wonder. "Ja, me speak English very large!" :)

>It seems, however, 
> that your best bet is to insert the pot in the snare's tip cable or 
> to spend $45 on the Guyatone cable that I mentioned.
>
I guess I'll make a little box which separates the stereo lead to two 
mono leads, center and rim, and has the pot for the center lead. The 
separating feature because, for some reason, I'm having a hard time 
finding a stereo-to-mono adaptor cable.

Harri