Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi all,

I've been lurking on this board for a few days now and you all seem a 
very nice bunch!

I've been drumming (with acoustics) for many years, but as we're now 
living in an apartment, I am considering my first electronic kit. I 
demoed the dtxpressII and the roland TD6K side-by-side (as they seem 
to be the only ones in my price range) using headphones as well as a 
PM-3 monitor & speakers.  I must say that I thought the Roland kit 
sounds seemed better (as was the opinion of the assistant in the 
shop).

Unfortunately for me at the time, some other guy in the shop was 
playing (showing off!) on an acoustic snare and the differences 
between the huge variety and dynamic range of sounds he was getting 
really showed up the shortfalls in both of the electronic kits!

On this board it seems that by using layering, the sounds of the 
dtxpressII can become a lot better, and as this is the cheaper option 
I think this is the way to go. Having just decided this I now see the 
dtxpressIII is imminent so my purchase will probably be postponed 
until january - is there any chance of yamaha lowering the price of 
the 2 to shift the old stock (as this could also be tempting)? I'm 
hoping to get either the yamaha 50 or 100 watt powered drum speakers 
also recently announced - presuming the reviews are OK.

I'm not really expecting a reply to this post (which has now become a 
bit of a ramble) but any advice/suggestions/comments would be 
appreciated.

Thanks,
Nigel

Welcome aboard, hope you stick around, even if you decide on a different
kit/module.

Most of what I have heard/read is that the DtxpressII is in short supply and
finding one is difficult. I would doubt that the price would be reduced, as
I still remember seeing ads for the dtxpressI selling for the same price as
the dtxpressII four or five months after it's release. The dtxpressIII was
announced in mid-October for release in Japan for release to that market at
the end of November. If the dtxpressIII is not introduced until mid Jan'04,
if may not start showing up until the end of Jan. or even into Feb. If you
can wait, that would be the way to go. 

If you live on a second floor level in the apartments, you will have a noise
problem with the base drum pedal transmitting through to the first floor
tenants. If you are on the ground floor, you should be OK.

OldGuyDrummer (OGD)



> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Nigel Kirkby [SMTP:nigel@...]
> Sent:	Tuesday, November 25, 2003 12:26 PM
> To:	DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:	[DTXpress] Newbie introduction
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I've been lurking on this board for a few days now and you all seem a 
> very nice bunch!
> 
> I've been drumming (with acoustics) for many years, but as we're now 
> living in an apartment, I am considering my first electronic kit. I 
> demoed the dtxpressII and the roland TD6K side-by-side (as they seem 
> to be the only ones in my price range) using headphones as well as a 
> PM-3 monitor & speakers.   I must say that I thought the Roland kit 
> sounds seemed better (as was the opinion of the assistant in the 
> shop).
> 
> Unfortunately for me at the time, some other guy in the shop was 
> playing (showing off!) on an acoustic snare and the differences 
> between the huge variety and dynamic range of sounds he was getting 
> really showed up the shortfalls in both of the electronic kits!
> 
> On this board it seems that by using layering, the sounds of the 
> dtxpressII can become a lot better, and as this is the cheaper option 
> I think this is the way to go. Having just decided this I now see the 
> dtxpressIII is imminent so my purchase will probably be postponed 
> until january - is there any chance of yamaha lowering the price of 
> the 2 to shift the old stock (as this could also be tempting)? I'm 
> hoping to get either the yamaha 50 or 100 watt powered drum speakers 
> also recently announced - presuming the reviews are OK.
> 
> I'm not really expecting a reply to this post (which has now become a 
> bit of a ramble) but any advice/suggestions/comments would be 
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> Nigel
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor	 
> ADVERTISEMENT
> click here
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/SIG=12c2gcv3v/M=267637.4116730.5333196.1261774/D=egro
> upweb/S=1705031972:HM/EXP=1069869953/A=1853618/R=0/*http://www.netflix.com
> /Default?mqso=60178338&partid=4116730>	
>  
> <http://us.adserver.yahoo.com/l?M=267637.4116730.5333196.1261774/D=egroupm
> ail/S=:HM/A=1853618/rand=653598074>	
> 
> Community email addresses:
>    Post message: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
>    Subscribe:     DTXpress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>    Unsubscribe:   DTXpress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>    List owner:    DTXpress-owner@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>    <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DTXpress>
> 
> Alternate DTXpress site:
>    <http://www.dtxpressions.com> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>. 
> ________________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs Email
> Security System. For more information on a proactive email security
> service working around the clock, around the globe, visit
> <http://www.messagelabs.com>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 
 
**************************************************************************
The information transmitted herewith is sensitive information intended only
for use to the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader
of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that
any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, copying or other
use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error,
please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer.

________________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs Email
Security System. For more information on a proactive email security
service working around the clock, around the globe, visit
http://www.messagelabs.com
________________________________________________________________________

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Nigel Kirkby" <nigel@i...> wrote:
> I 
> demoed the dtxpressII and the roland TD6K side-by-side (as they 
seem 
> to be the only ones in my price range) using headphones as well as 
a 
> PM-3 monitor & speakers.  I must say that I thought the Roland kit 
> sounds seemed better (as was the opinion of the assistant in the 
> shop).
> Unfortunately for me at the time, some other guy in the shop was 
> playing (showing off!) on an acoustic snare and the differences 
> between the huge variety and dynamic range of sounds he was getting 
> really showed up the shortfalls in both of the electronic kits!

Hi Nigel,

Though perfectly aware that preference is as much a subjective matter 
as an objective one, I would never judge a kit--whether a Roland or a 
Yamaha--solely by its performance as set up in a music store. 
Moreover, sales people are not immune to opinions of Roland as 
superior if only because Roland dominates the popular market and 
generally makes more money (though I'm willing to bet that the Xpress 
outsells the V-Club). Nor would I judge the limitations in an 
electronic kit's dynamics in comparison with an acoustic kit within 
the same context, even though dynamics is a prime disadvantage of e-
drums. There are simply too many hidden variables in a module's 
parameters for an accurate reading w/o more control, time, and 
understanding. Unfortunately, e-drum modules exceed their ability to 
be assessed in the normal consumer fashion. The burden is on 
independent formal or informal reviews in forums like this one, 
edrumming.com, vdrums.com, etc., and other areas of the web like 
Harmony Central (if it really kept up) to fill in the gaps. 
Eventually, either through comprehensiveness or the luck of the draw--
coupled with budgetary constraints--buyers reach their decisions. 

> On this board it seems that by using layering, the sounds of the 
> dtxpressII can become a lot better, and as this is the cheaper 
option 
> I think this is the way to go. 

Yes, layering can improve the impact of the Yamaha sounds. Some 
people are really inventive about how they use it (the inestimable 
OGD being one).

> dtxpressIII is imminent so my purchase will probably be postponed 
> until january - is there any chance of yamaha lowering the price of 
> the 2 to shift the old stock (as this could also be tempting)? I'm 
> hoping to get either the yamaha 50 or 100 watt powered drum 
speakers 
> also recently announced - presuming the reviews are OK.

OGD's probably right. The DTXpressII probably will not be lower in 
price until the III is established, assuming that any are left. 
Stores like Musicans Friend sometimes get a hold of old stock and 
sell it at a discount, and ebay will undoubtedly be a source of 
bargains for the II next year. But given the kit's scarcity now, the 
prospects are not good in the short term. I can't wait for reviews 
and user impressions of the Yamaha monitors to emerge. Given Roland's 
domination of this market at near-monopoly prices, it's nice to see 
Yamaha get into the game.

> I'm not really expecting a reply to this post (which has now become 
a 
> bit of a ramble) but any advice/suggestions/comments would be 
> appreciated.

Hey, why not? We love to converse. 

Ed