Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

The manuals are now available for download from the Yamaha website 
in PDF format.

http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/download2.php

OGD

Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking a 
catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "oldguydrummer" <rdamon@m...> wrote:
> The manuals are now available for download from the Yamaha website 
> in PDF format.
> 
> http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/download2.php
> 
> OGD
> 
> Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking a 
> catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.

Actually try this and then you can select the language to download.

http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/

Can't find the DTXtreme 2 manual? I can only get the DTXpress 2+3.

--- OGD wrote:
> Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking a 
> catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.

And what a disappointment that post suggests. Rubber-head pads and 
only 8MB for sampling on a top-end kit? Ok, there are alternatives 
to Yamaha pads but 8MB seems hopeless.

Damn.

Stewart

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "G" <kickflippin@h...> wrote:
> Can't find the DTXtreme 2 manual? I can only get the DTXpress 2+3.

Sorry for the confusion. The header was for the "DTXpressIII 
Manuals" and general info. on the "DTXtremeIIS" only. I was going to 
create two separate posts, one about the manuals and one about the 
DtxtremeIIS, but didn't.

OGD

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:
> --- OGD wrote:
> > Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking a 
> > catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.
> 
> And what a disappointment that post suggests. Rubber-head pads and 
> only 8MB for sampling on a top-end kit? Ok, there are alternatives 
> to Yamaha pads but 8MB seems hopeless.
> 
> Damn.
> 
> Stewart

Stewart,

I know what you mean.

I also had quick glance throught the dtxpressIII manual. New trigger 
setups (even one for the snare for a left handed drummmer and one 
for a right handed drummer), new cymbal/hihat sounds, no change in 
the number of three zone inputs (2,6,7). There are new preset kits, 
new preset songs,new trigger setup list PLUS 4 user defined trigger 
setups (went from 5 setups to 7 plus 4 user defined setups). 

OGD

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "oldguydrummer" <rdamon@m...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
> <moosetication@y...> wrote:
> > --- OGD wrote:
> > > Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking 
a 
> > > catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.
> > 
> > And what a disappointment that post suggests. Rubber-head pads 
and 
> > only 8MB for sampling on a top-end kit? Ok, there are 
alternatives 
> > to Yamaha pads but 8MB seems hopeless.
> > 
> > Damn.
> > 
> > Stewart
> 
> Stewart,
> 
> I know what you mean.

OGD and Stewart,

This is idle specuation, but what about the possibility that the 
DXtremeIIS is a lower-end DTXtreme model--taking the place of the 
intermediate gum-rubber DTXv2.0--with a higher-end non-rubber kit 
(the DTXtremeIISP) waiting in the wings. The only thing that gives me 
any reason to think so (besides the fact that a gum-rubber top-rank 
kit is a little hard to believe, no matter how good it is) is that 
someone (it might have been Chris Jude) told me not long ago that 
Yamaha took out a patent on a perforated head apparently meant for 
electronic drums. As I said, idle speculation on my part, since any 
such patent, if it even exists, could lie dormant for years. 

Ed

> > OGD wrote:
> 
> Also, there is a post on the Vdrums and edrumming site talking a 
> catalog that shows the new DTXtremeIIS kit.

What sites are those posts on? I'm having trouble finding any info on 
the DTXtreme II. 
Thanks
G

--- Ed wrote:
> This is idle specuation, but what about the possibility
> that the DXtremeIIS is a lower-end DTXtreme model--taking
> the place of the intermediate gum-rubber DTXv2.0--with a
> higher-end non-rubber kit (the DTXtremeIISP) waiting in
> the wings.

It's possible. While I was stooging about yesterday, I'm sure I came 
across an old Yamaha web page with the previous DTXtreme having had 
an entry level kit with rubber pads. I cling to the lifeline that 
Yamaha can't be quite so benightedly stupid (again) as to release a 
top-end kit with only gum rubber pads (no matter how good) as an 
option. I'm also hoping that the 8MB is a base option and expandable.

But this (hopefully) base configuration of the XtremeII has an MSRP 
of over $3000. Assuming mesh pads are coming, and assuming that the 
sample memory is expandable, where the heck is the price going to 
end up? Ok, street price will be lower but it's going to end up 
somewhere out of my reach, that's for sure.

Stewart

---Moosetication wrote:
- I'm sure I came 
> across an old Yamaha web page with the previous DTXtreme having had 
> an entry level kit with rubber pads. 

Moosetication,
Actually, I almost bought that one when they came out as an 
affordable option.  It came with RHP snare and kick, gum rubber toms 
and a small rack.
G

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" <moosetication@y...> 
wrote:
> It's possible. While I was stooging about yesterday, I'm sure I 
came 
> across an old Yamaha web page with the previous DTXtreme having had 
> an entry level kit with rubber pads. I cling to the lifeline that 
> Yamaha can't be quite so benightedly stupid (again) as to release a 
> top-end kit with only gum rubber pads (no matter how good) as an 
> option. I'm also hoping that the 8MB is a base option and 
expandable.
> 
> But this (hopefully) base configuration of the XtremeII has an MSRP 
> of over $3000. Assuming mesh pads are coming, and assuming that the 
> sample memory is expandable, where the heck is the price going to 
> end up? Ok, street price will be lower but it's going to end up 
> somewhere out of my reach, that's for sure.

Stewart,

We certainly never thought that the new Xtreme module would list for 
any less than $1700 to $2000, leaving the rubber works/rack at about 
$1000 or so. Let's say that non-rubber kit's list price would be 
about $2000 to $2500; the total would be about $4500 to $5000--still 
less than a Roland and maybe, in street terms, comparable to the 
DTXtreme I. Affordable?  Only in relative terms but still not Roland-
ridiculous. An entry level Xtreme with rubber pads makes the strong 
point that the module alone is an appropriate upgrade to the 
DTXpress, without further changes. 

But in accord with what both you and OGD said, nothing on display so 
far suggests that Yamaha, after all this time, is advancing the state 
of the art significantly. Disappointing, even from a trickle-down 
standpoint. Has the idea of a professional-grade e-drum kit lost 
steam for good? Is the demand for decent onboard sampling and finer 
control over pads too small to justify a significant commitment to 
R&D in this market? Will this apparent resignation to the status quo 
leave the e-drum world largely in Roland's hands and doom enthusiasts 
to slow progress at best. If so, will the smaller companies, like 
Clavia, start sprinting--if they can afford to--or merely keep pace, 
surviving by appealing to subcultures or bargain hunters?

Ed