Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Ive had my dtxpress II kit for about 2 months and im so confused.  

1.) I need to use my dtxII for school jazz band... obviosly I need to
buy myself something to make it louder, like some sort of speaker
system or something...
Now, do I need an amp?  Can I use a gutair or keyboard amp?  Can I use
a  PA system?  I have looked online and seen like a "drum monitor
system"  Which supposidly gives you really great sound.  Basically my
band director doesnt like electronic sets so mine has to sound really
great for her to except it you know.  
    Also, what wattage should I use... I need one loud enough for say
like a band of 15-20 people... also it needs to be clear at louder
volumes, which my 25 watt cheap POS amp is not.  
    Now, once I get an amp (and im looking to spend only 150-300$$$) 
I need to kno how to hook it up...  like I have the L and R mono
jacks, but I am using a single cable, so which one do I put it in?  Or
do I need two cables, if so where do I put the second cable in the amp?
   This is confusing because I dont know if I need an "amplifier" or
just speakers...  In which case, where do I hook up the speakers to?

2.) I have a bunch of stuff to hok up my drum module to my computer...
how would I do this.  I have basically a analog to midi controller and
 something else.
OK, the controller has a parellel port on one end, and an A and B Midi
port on the other end... do I need 2 midi cables or what?  A and B,
and there is only one midi port on the back of the express module... 
Also there is a "2 host" thing, what is this?  DO I even need the midi
box converter?  

3.) I love my dtxpressII but god the hi hat just stinks!  What is up
with it...  I would absolutly love to have one of those hi hats like
the one on the front page (I assume thats the new dtxpressIII)  Where
can I get a hihat like that or a similar one?


Please keep in mind im on a fairly limited budget... and also im a
relitive noob to the world of the electronic drumset, even though ive
begun to use the dtxpress to its capibilites more latley.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "coachman6666" <coachman666@a...> 
wrote:
> Ive had my dtxpress II kit for about 2 months and im so confused.  
> 
> 1.) I need to use my dtxII for school jazz band... obviosly I need 
to
> buy myself something to make it louder, like some sort of speaker
> system or something...
> Now, do I need an amp?  Can I use a gutair or keyboard amp?  Can I 
use
> a  PA system?  I have looked online and seen like a "drum monitor
> system"  Which supposidly gives you really great sound.  Basically 
my
> band director doesnt like electronic sets so mine has to sound 
really
> great for her to except it you know. 

Your band director needs consciousness raising. The simple answer to 
your question is that if you're going to use an amp, make it a 
keyboard amp, not a guitar or a bass amp. You can buy a small PA, but 
you'd be spending too much money. But read down further.

>     Also, what wattage should I use... I need one loud enough for 
say
> like a band of 15-20 people... also it needs to be clear at louder
> volumes, which my 25 watt cheap POS amp is not. 

In a small venue with not many people, either playing instuments or 
listening/watching, you might be able to get away with a dedicated 
drum monitor--usually two satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and 
amplification. If you can spend $300, I'd recommend the smaller of 
the two new Yamaha drum modules that are scheduled to come out any 
minute, if they aren't out already. They were made to be used with 
the DTXpress. You shouldn't mistake it for a PA; it won't play that 
loudly, especially when you have other noises and things surrounding 
it. But your bandleader probably doesn't want you to play loudly. You 
can also use it if you have a small group of your own that practices 
in the basement or garage (if you practice alone, use headphones most 
of the time; your housemates will love you for it).
 
> I need to kno how to hook it up...  like I have the L and R mono
> jacks, but I am using a single cable, so which one do I put it in? 

Hooking it up is the least of your problems. Do me, and you, a favor 
and go to Riksmusic.com. Click on Yamaha at the bottom of the page, 
then on Drums on the next page, and finally on the MDR-50 drum 
monitor. Everything you need to know will be included in the manual. 
You will run L/R cables from the outputs on back of the module into 
the subwoofer. The rest will be drum history in the making. 
 
> 2.) I have a bunch of stuff to hok up my drum module to my 
computer...

I'm going to keep this simple for now. Make sure that your computer 
has a soundcard installed that will accept a MIDI connection (five 
pins). Chances are that you have a Soundblaster, or Soundblaster 
compatible, card with a game port. If so, go to the local CompuStore, 
or such, and buy a cable with a MIDI adapter for the game port. It 
will have MIDI connectors corresponding to MIDI in and MIDI out on 
the DTXpress.

> Also there is a "2 host" thing, what is this?    

Forget about "to host." 

> Do I even need the MIDI converter box?

From what I can tell at this point, no. Maybe later. Don't throw it 
away. Let's see how we make out with the current strategy. 
 
> 3.) I love my dtxpressII but god the hi hat just stinks!  What is up
> with it...  I would absolutly love to have one of those hi hats like
> the one on the front page (I assume thats the new dtxpressIII)  
Where
> can I get a hihat like that or a similar one?

The hi hat on our cover won't be available until January at the 
earliest. Other companies make hi hats that are superior to the stock 
DTXpress II's and are compatible with the module--Pintech and Visu-
lite to name two. Read about them in the archived messages or go to 
their websites. Stephen Brown's review of the Pintech hat is in our 
Files section, and mine of the Visu-lite is all over the place. But 
these things cost money. Maybe we can help you get the most out of 
what you already have, or at least keep the expense down if you 
change.

Keep in touch,
Ed

Hey thanks ed! 

DO you think the 50watt yamaha system will be enough?  I am going to
be playing with maybe 10 people in practices....
I have seen the 100 watt version too but its about 500 bucks...

I just saw the yamaha machines on there site so I was wicked happy,
but it doesnt seem like it would get that loud you know,, I need it to
get fairly loud...

Now, about the hi hat....

Maybe mine is defective, but it is seriosly having a hard time
registering my foot movement...  It is hard to explain but it thats
not my main problem... My main problem is the volume of the hat pad
and the foot pedal...  My gosh it stinks even with the volume at the
max!  I even uped the trigger volume all the way but it sounds cheesy
when it gets loud, and also there isnt much selection on hat sound in
the memory, which is why I want to get my computer hooked up!

As I said, mine might be defective, and ive heard the cables that the
dtxpress comes with are crappy so this could be a concern too.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "coachman6666" <coachman666@a...> 
wrote:
> Hey thanks ed! 
> 
> DO you think the 50watt yamaha system will be enough?  I am going to
> be playing with maybe 10 people in practices....
> I have seen the 100 watt version too but its about 500 bucks...
> 
> I just saw the yamaha machines on there site so I was wicked happy,
> but it doesnt seem like it would get that loud you know,, I need it 
to
> get fairly loud...

It's hard to tell whether it would be loud enough. If you had the 
money, I'd say spring for the larger version. If you really want to 
go as loud as possible but can't afford the kind of PA that would be 
worth the expense, the other option is to get the keyboard amp with 
the biggest woofer (15 inches) and highest wattage (300 or so) that 
you can find--maybe even used, but be careful. If you see something 
on ebay, check with us, or someone you trust, about whether the 
seller and the unit are trustworthy. Volume is hard to get on a 
strict budget.
> 
> Now, about the hi hat.... Maybe mine is defective, but it is 
seriosly having a hard time
> registering my foot movement...  It is hard to explain but it thats
> not my main problem... My main problem is the volume of the hat pad
> and the foot pedal...  My gosh it stinks even with the volume at the
> max!  I even uped the trigger volume all the way but it sounds 
cheesy
> when it gets loud, and also there isnt much selection on hat sound 
in
> the memory, which is why I want to get my computer hooked up!
> 
> As I said, mine might be defective, and ive heard the cables that 
the
> dtxpress comes with are crappy so this could be a concern too.

The quality of the cable is not an issue pe se, although your stereo 
cable might have some internal damage. You could have a defective 
controller; the volume level shouldn't be that bad, although it isn't 
great, anyway, as I recall. If you could be more specific about the 
numerical voice and trigger settings that you're using, as well as 
the offset and sensitivity values, we might be able to make a 
definitive call on it. 

Ed

> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "coachman6666" <coachman666@a...> 
> wrote:
 
> Now, about the hi hat.... My main problem is the volume of the hat
> pad...

Hi

Given that you are also asking questions about amplification I think 
that we should consider what you are currently using to listen to the 
hi hat. The headphones or amp/speakers that you are currently using 
may not be good at representing the higher frequencies.

I second Ed with the recommendation to get a keyboard amp with as much 
punch as you can afford. This will be great for practicing with 10-15 
others and if you play concerts in large venues you can always use it 
as a monitor and send you main output through the PA.

Once you get a good amp set up your Band Director will learn to love 
the range of sounds that you will be able to offer her.

Roger