Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I finally merged the dtxpress set I bought on ebay with my 
dtxpress2. You were right about getting a mixer, Ed, keeping 
everthing in balance in this daisey-chain config is tricky. I 
ordered one of those on ebay and should be getting it soon. So 
here's what I have so far: 5 cymbals (2 pcy65s, 2 pcy60, 1 pcy65) 
all tuned from splash to crash, cup included, and plugged into the 
dtx2 (better cymbal sounds). 6 toms (4 mounted, 2 floor), all 
plugged into the dtx1. Real double bass although the kp 60 feels 
very different from the kp65, I'll deal with that later.  My Hihat 
runs off of the dtx2.  My snare runs off the dtx1 hihat port, so 
that hihat pedal changes my snare to a rim shot.  My dtx2 snare pad 
(tps65s) is now my ride pad with ride cymbal (main trig), closed 
hihat (left trig), and cowbell (right trig).  I have one left over 
tps60 to find a use for.  No match for OGD's rig, but it's as much 
as I can handle... for now.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
wrote:
> I finally merged the dtxpress set I bought on ebay with my 
> dtxpress2. You were right about getting a mixer, Ed, keeping 
> everthing in balance in this daisey-chain config is tricky. I 
> ordered one of those on ebay and should be getting it soon. So 
> here's what I have so far: 5 cymbals (2 pcy65s, 2 pcy60, 1 pcy65) 
> all tuned from splash to crash, cup included, and plugged into the 
> dtx2 (better cymbal sounds). 6 toms (4 mounted, 2 floor), all 
> plugged into the dtx1. Real double bass although the kp 60 feels 
> very different from the kp65, I'll deal with that later.  My Hihat 
> runs off of the dtx2.  My snare runs off the dtx1 hihat port, so 
> that hihat pedal changes my snare to a rim shot.  My dtx2 snare pad 
> (tps65s) is now my ride pad with ride cymbal (main trig), closed 
> hihat (left trig), and cowbell (right trig).  I have one left over 
> tps60 to find a use for.  No match for OGD's rig, but it's as much 
> as I can handle... for now.

Gordon,

Congratulations. I assume that we'll eventually get some pictures of 
this extravaganza. I like the idea of changing the snare sound via 
the hi hat controller--a first in my experience--but don't get me 
started on the KP60. I hope that it gives you some quality time 
before you have to replace it :~) Maybe if you can't find a musical 
use for the TP60, you can set it up to increase or decrease your kit 
numbers. You are getting closer to OGD territory. It sure seems like 
a real joy ride. Keep us informed of further developments.

Later,
Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
> wrote:
> > I finally merged the dtxpress set I bought on ebay with my 
> > dtxpress2. You were right about getting a mixer, Ed, keeping 
> > everthing in balance in this daisey-chain config is tricky. I 
> > ordered one of those on ebay and should be getting it soon. So 
> > here's what I have so far: 5 cymbals (2 pcy65s, 2 pcy60, 1 
pcy65) 
> > all tuned from splash to crash, cup included, and plugged into 
the 
> > dtx2 (better cymbal sounds). 6 toms (4 mounted, 2 floor), all 
> > plugged into the dtx1. Real double bass although the kp 60 feels 
> > very different from the kp65, I'll deal with that later.  My 
Hihat 
> > runs off of the dtx2.  My snare runs off the dtx1 hihat port, so 
> > that hihat pedal changes my snare to a rim shot.  My dtx2 snare 
pad 
> > (tps65s) is now my ride pad with ride cymbal (main trig), closed 
> > hihat (left trig), and cowbell (right trig).  I have one left 
over 
> > tps60 to find a use for.  No match for OGD's rig, but it's as 
much 
> > as I can handle... for now.
> 
> Gordon,
> 
> Congratulations. I assume that we'll eventually get some pictures 
of 
> this extravaganza. I like the idea of changing the snare sound via 
> the hi hat controller--a first in my experience--but don't get me 
> started on the KP60. I hope that it gives you some quality time 
> before you have to replace it :~) Maybe if you can't find a 
musical 
> use for the TP60, you can set it up to increase or decrease your 
kit 
> numbers. You are getting closer to OGD territory. It sure seems 
like 
> a real joy ride. Keep us informed of further developments.
> 
> Later,
> Ed


Ed,
Give me a quick crash course on how to post pictures and i'll do 
that now.  
So that "other" kick pad is going to crap the bed prematurely?  What 
do you recommend as a replacement?  
I was thinking about a gong or wood block for the leftover pad. What 
do you mean by using it to increase or decrease my kit numbers?

-G

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
wrote:> Give me a quick crash course on how to post pictures and 
i'll do 
> that now.  
> So that "other" kick pad is going to crap the bed prematurely?  
What 
> do you recommend as a replacement?  
> I was thinking about a gong or wood block for the leftover pad. 
What 
> do you mean by using it to increase or decrease my kit numbers?
> 
> -G

Go to the photos section. Then go to the "New drum kits". Then click 
on add an album. Name the album with your name. Then click on your 
album name. Once there just add your photos. You can give it what 
ever name you like, the simplely click on the browse button and go 
to the location on your hard drive where the pictures are stored. 
That's all there is too it. It is sometimes better if you only add 
one or two at a time, because sometimes it hangs up on more than 
that.   

OGD

Gordon,

I just added a photo album under the New Drum kits section for your 
called "Gordon's Kit". You can just go there add your pics. Can't 
wait to see them.

OGD

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
wrote:
> Ed,
> Give me a quick crash course on how to post pictures and i'll do 
> that now.  

Gordon,
Click on the "Photos" on our gateway page. Open the yellow "New Drum 
Kits" folder and follow the instructions for uploading pictures from 
your computer.

> So that "other" kick pad is going to crap the bed prematurely?  
What 
> do you recommend as a replacement?  

The KP60 had a bad history. Run a search on it if you dare back a 
year or two, you'll see the kind of complaints it accumulated. The 
circuitboard tended to break down, requiring either re-soldering or 
re-wiring, which sometimes didn't help. But the old saying applies, 
if it ain't broke, and you don't have any other complaints about it, 
then don't replace it. The KP65 seems to be holding up much better, 
except for the relatively minor wearing of the rubber (and the sponge 
cover for the piezo behind it), which you can retard with proper 
shifting of the beater and reinforcement with a bass drum pad or a 
bicycle repair tire patch. If you want your two kick pads to match, 
you could eventually get another 65 to replace the 60. Nothing else 
would remotely resemble it or cost less.

> I was thinking about a gong or wood block for the leftover pad. 
What 
> do you mean by using it to increase or decrease my kit numbers?

Personally, I'd always opt to add another musical trigger than to 
waste an input on a MIDI controller. But if the strategy appeals to 
you, the DTXPress allows you to use a pad/input to make kit switches 
on the fly w/o having to dig into the module's menu buttons. It can 
come in handy if, say, a song has an abrupt change of tone in the 
middle requiring voices that your current kit doesn't have. You'd 
simply hit the designated pad, programmed to move up one kit number, 
and play the new section without missing a beat. Then, if the song 
returns to the first section, you can hit the pad again, this time 
programmed to move down one kit number. In other words, the 
designated pad can have a different purpose in each user kit. To set 
this function up, scroll through the voice menu for a particular 
input until you get to the "Function" page and press the + key until 
you hit it.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
> wrote:
> > Ed,
> > Give me a quick crash course on how to post pictures and i'll do 
> > that now.  
> 
> Gordon,
> Click on the "Photos" on our gateway page. Open the yellow "New 
Drum 
> Kits" folder and follow the instructions for uploading pictures 
from 
> your computer.
> 
> > So that "other" kick pad is going to crap the bed prematurely?  
> What 
> > do you recommend as a replacement?  
> 
> The KP60 had a bad history. Run a search on it if you dare back a 
> year or two, you'll see the kind of complaints it accumulated. The 
> circuitboard tended to break down, requiring either re-soldering 
or 
> re-wiring, which sometimes didn't help. But the old saying 
applies, 
> if it ain't broke, and you don't have any other complaints about 
it, 
> then don't replace it. The KP65 seems to be holding up much 
better, 
> except for the relatively minor wearing of the rubber (and the 
sponge 
> cover for the piezo behind it), which you can retard with proper 
> shifting of the beater and reinforcement with a bass drum pad or a 
> bicycle repair tire patch. If you want your two kick pads to 
match, 
> you could eventually get another 65 to replace the 60. Nothing 
else 
> would remotely resemble it or cost less.
> 
> > I was thinking about a gong or wood block for the leftover pad. 
> What 
> > do you mean by using it to increase or decrease my kit numbers?
> 
> Personally, I'd always opt to add another musical trigger than to 
> waste an input on a MIDI controller. But if the strategy appeals 
to 
> you, the DTXPress allows you to use a pad/input to make kit 
switches 
> on the fly w/o having to dig into the module's menu buttons. It 
can 
> come in handy if, say, a song has an abrupt change of tone in the 
> middle requiring voices that your current kit doesn't have. You'd 
> simply hit the designated pad, programmed to move up one kit 
number, 
> and play the new section without missing a beat. Then, if the song 
> returns to the first section, you can hit the pad again, this time 
> programmed to move down one kit number. In other words, the 
> designated pad can have a different purpose in each user kit. To 
set 
> this function up, scroll through the voice menu for a particular 
> input until you get to the "Function" page and press the + key 
until 
> you hit it.
> 
> Ed

Pictures are posted, thanks for the folder.  I like the idea of 
changing the kit number on the fly.  The challenge will be to make 
sure all of the triggers I want to change are plugged into the same 
box.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "gordonbakos420" <g.bakos@i...> 
wrote:

> Pictures are posted, thanks for the folder.  I like the idea of 
> changing the kit number on the fly.  The challenge will be to make 
> sure all of the triggers I want to change are plugged into the 
same 
> box.

Gordon,

Thanks for sharing your picks.

The great thing about having two complete kits are all the extra 
tubes and clamps that can be used to create a flexible and sturdy 
frame for all those pads.

My kit uses just the two basic frames for all my pads. I did add 
some gilbrator clamps/cymbal arms, only because the supply of the 
Yamaha CYAT80 fizzled out. I also replaced all of the rack clamps 
for my cymbals with the gilbrator multi-clamps. This allows me to 
freely move the cymbals without having to complete disassemble the 
whole rack.

I did alot of shifting and moving to get the kit to where it is 
today. I really dread the day when I end up adding the fourth module 
and some new cymbals and hihat from the DtxpressIII line.

A Barpad BP80 can be used for inc/dec kit numbers as well. I got it 
to work fine when I first started out with just two modules, but 
with adding the third module, I could never get it to work. I had 
wanted it to work so that by hitting the left pad it would dec. and 
hitting the right pad it would inc. and send the midi signal to the 
other two modules and get them to change as well. 

OldGuyDrummer