Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello, my name is Rolf and im a new owner of DTXpress II (1,5 month), 
and I do like it! But I've come to an end of my struggling with 
getting the midi thing working!!! I want to use DTXII with Native 
Instruments Battery and I cant figure it out, how to get it 
going!!! Everytime I start to play to play for, let say, 20 seconds, 
then a big "crack" appears and the sound goes away!!

Please help me to configure the midi, and the module right!!

The stuff I use is:
DTXpressII
Win98SE
Cubasis 4.0
I have a fast processor and nearly 1 Gig RAM so the computor shouldnt 
be the problem here.(and also newinstalled every program and drives)
I have looked in the DTXII manual plenty of time but I dont really 
seem to get it...

Thanks for your help
Rolf Antonsson

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rolf_antonsson" <rolf@g...> wrote:
> Hello, my name is Rolf and im a new owner of DTXpress II (1,5 
month), 
> and I do like it! But I've come to an end of my struggling with 
> getting the midi thing working!!! I want to use DTXII with Native 
> Instruments Battery and I cant figure it out, how to get it 
> going!!! Everytime I start to play to play for, let say, 20 
seconds, 
> then a big "crack" appears and the sound goes away!!
> 
> Please help me to configure the midi, and the module right!!
> 
> The stuff I use is:
> DTXpressII
> Win98SE
> Cubasis 4.0
> I have a fast processor and nearly 1 Gig RAM so the computor 
shouldnt 
> be the problem here.(and also newinstalled every program and drives)
> I have looked in the DTXII manual plenty of time but I dont really 
> seem to get it...

Rolf,

Do you get an error message on the module screen? I've never used 
Battery, so I can't help with that, but if it's a problem with how 
the DTXpress is set up, somebody should be able to find it. You 
aren't by any chance creating a MIDI loop back through the DTXpress, 
thereby overloading it and shutting it down? If so, De-activate MIDI 
thru.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rolf_antonsson" <rolf@g...> wrote:
> > Hello, my name is Rolf and im a new owner of DTXpress II (1,5 
> month), 
> > and I do like it! But I've come to an end of my struggling with 
> > getting the midi thing working!!! I want to use DTXII with Native 
> > Instruments Battery and I cant figure it out, how to get it 
> > going!!! Everytime I start to play to play for, let say, 20 
> seconds, 
> > then a big "crack" appears and the sound goes away!!
> > 
> > Please help me to configure the midi, and the module right!!
> > 
> > The stuff I use is:
> > DTXpressII
> > Win98SE
> > Cubasis 4.0
> > I have a fast processor and nearly 1 Gig RAM so the computor 
> shouldnt 
> > be the problem here.(and also newinstalled every program and 
drives)
> > I have looked in the DTXII manual plenty of time but I dont
really 
> > seem to get it...
> 
> Rolf,
> 
> Do you get an error message on the module screen? I've never used 
> Battery, so I can't help with that, but if it's a problem with how 
> the DTXpress is set up, somebody should be able to find it. You 
> aren't by any chance creating a MIDI loop back through the
DTXpress, 
> thereby overloading it and shutting it down? If so, De-activate
MIDI 
> thru.
> 
> Ed

Hi, thank you for your tips!

no, I dont get any error messages on the DTXpressII, and I was also 
wondering about the "midi loop" you were speaking about.. but I have 
like every parameter in the DTX switched off, so im dont really have
a 
clue on whats going on!! Im doing the trial and error method here...!
If I de-activate the midi thru from the sequencer (which I dont think 
you ment) I dont get any sound at all.

Well, im still stucked..
Rolf

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rolf_antonsson" <rolf@g...> wrote:
> no, I dont get any error messages on the DTXpressII, and I was also 
> wondering about the "midi loop" you were speaking about.. but I 
have 
> like every parameter in the DTX switched off, so im dont really have
> a 
> clue on whats going on!! Im doing the trial and error method 
here...!
> If I de-activate the midi thru from the sequencer (which I dont 
think 
> you ment) I dont get any sound at all.

Rolf,

I know that it's a pain in the neck, but can you briefly outline just 
how Battery, Cubasis, and the DTXpress II module are connected? Then 
someone can attack each point along the chain to try and figure out 
what isn't functioning correctly. The fact that you get 20 seconds or 
so of sound before it explodes into silence seems to indicate that a 
device is getting jammed at some point. The DTXpress internal 
generator is off; its MIDI merge is off; note numbers are set . . . . 
Is the final audio coming out of your PC or the DTXpress 
outputs/phones? What is the exact MIDI path to the audio endpoint? 
Hopefully, your response will strike a chord with someone.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rolf_antonsson" <rolf@g...> wrote:
> > no, I dont get any error messages on the DTXpressII, and I was 
also wondering about the "midi loop" you were speaking about.. but I 
> have like every parameter in the DTX switched off, so im dont really 
have a clue on whats going on!! Im doing the trial and error method 
> here...!If I de-activate the midi thru from the sequencer (which I 
dont think you ment) I dont get any sound at all.
> 
> Rolf,
> 
> I know that it's a pain in the neck, but can you briefly outline 
just how Battery, Cubasis, and the DTXpress II module are connected?
Then someone can attack each point along the chain to try and figure 
out what isn't functioning correctly. The fact that you get 20 seconds 
or so of sound before it explodes into silence seems to indicate that
a device is getting jammed at some point. The DTXpress internal 
> generator is off; its MIDI merge is off; note numbers are set . . . 
. 
> Is the final audio coming out of your PC or the DTXpress 
> outputs/phones? What is the exact MIDI path to the audio endpoint? 
> Hopefully, your response will strike a chord with someone.
> 
> Ed

Hello

The final audio is from my pc, as I want to use the Battery samples.
about the midipath I rather hand out a dump than a report by word, as 
I dont feel myself to familiar with all the data-termilogy.

http://www.grajnd.net/images/cubasis.jpg

and one more thing, that maybe is of importance, I use AMD Athlon 
1700+ with VIA chipset KT266/333 which this site
http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI
speaks negative about,
I dont really know if, its inside the computer the fault is, or 
Battery (dont think so) or the DTXpress (dont think so either, im
just confused wich parameter to switch on/off. I would really like to 
hear from someone thats doing it with a sampler)

I dont know if I explain anything for the better know, I hope so.
I will not remove the cubasis pic until this thing is solved.

my stats again:
processor AMD Athlon 1700+, Chipset VIA
ram 896 Mb
soundcard Delta Audiophile
sequencer Cubasis 4
DTXpressII (of cause)

Rolf

Rolf,

Do you have access to a MIDI keyboard controller? If so, can you 
connect it to your card and play the Battery VST using it, for more 
than 20 seconds?
Just trying to rule out the DTXPress as the problem.

Do you have the latest drivers for your soundcard installed?

I do not have Battery, but I do have Cubase and Reason. I will 
attempt to use my DTXpress to control both tonight.

The patch for VIA chipsets is interesting. I knew the 
older "Southbridge" chips, 686B, had issues, but I didn't know the 
newer ones did too. My next mobo will probably not be a VIA at this 
point (I have issues with my USB MIDISport sometimes).

Bill

> The final audio is from my pc, as I want to use the Battery samples.
> about the midipath I rather hand out a dump than a report by word, 
as 
> I dont feel myself to familiar with all the data-termilogy.
> 
> http://www.grajnd.net/images/cubasis.jpg
> 
> and one more thing, that maybe is of importance, I use AMD Athlon 
> 1700+ with VIA chipset KT266/333 which this site
> http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI
> speaks negative about,
> I dont really know if, its inside the computer the fault is, or 
> Battery (dont think so) or the DTXpress (dont think so either, im
> just confused wich parameter to switch on/off. I would really like 
to 

> hear from someone thats doing it with a sampler)
> 
> I dont know if I explain anything for the better know, I hope so.
> I will not remove the cubasis pic until this thing is solved.
> 
> my stats again:
> processor AMD Athlon 1700+, Chipset VIA
> ram 896 Mb
> soundcard Delta Audiophile
> sequencer Cubasis 4
> DTXpressII (of cause)
> 
> Rolf

OK, I just tried it out using Cubase VST 5.1, with the LM-9 plugin, 
and it worked. The only thing I had to do was change MIDI note 
numbers on the DTXpress. I played for over a few minutes without any 
lockups.

Then I fired up Reason, and after a few tweaks to the DTXpress's MIDI 
note numbers, was able to control Reason with it. No lockups their 
either.

My rig:
Athlon 1.2, Gigabyte motherboard w/ VIA chipset
512MB Ram
Echo MIA soundcard
M-Audio USB Midisport 2x2
Windows XP Pro

Also, my box is streamlined for audio. No games, no Instant 
Messengers, RealPlayers, Office, nothing. Except Cubase, Reason, 
SoundForge, etc. The usual music-making stuff.

Make sure you don't have any 'extra' programs running: Instant 
Messenger, Real Player, firewalls, anti-virus, file-swapping progams, 
etc.

You may want to run a progam like Ad-Aware to cleanup any 'spyware' 
that may be on your system, which may be causing problems.

Without actually being in front of your computer, I have to take some 
wild guesses. Please bear with me. :)

> Hello
> 
> The final audio is from my pc, as I want to use the Battery samples.
> about the midipath I rather hand out a dump than a report by word, 
as 
> I dont feel myself to familiar with all the data-termilogy.
> 
> http://www.grajnd.net/images/cubasis.jpg
> 
> and one more thing, that maybe is of importance, I use AMD Athlon 
> 1700+ with VIA chipset KT266/333 which this site
> http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI
> speaks negative about,
> I dont really know if, its inside the computer the fault is, or 
> Battery (dont think so) or the DTXpress (dont think so either, im
> just confused wich parameter to switch on/off. I would really like 
to 

> hear from someone thats doing it with a sampler)
> 
> I dont know if I explain anything for the better know, I hope so.
> I will not remove the cubasis pic until this thing is solved.
> 
> my stats again:
> processor AMD Athlon 1700+, Chipset VIA
> ram 896 Mb
> soundcard Delta Audiophile
> sequencer Cubasis 4
> DTXpressII (of cause)
> 
> Rolf

Hey Bill, thanks for your tips

I have a midi keyboard, which I drummed on before, but its not the 
same, isnt it? ;)
but I can connect it to check how Battery will respond.

I have the latest drives for the soundcard, and I do shot down all 
programs, like Antivirus program, Zonealarm, hey I've even removed IE 
with IEradicator! I dont use office or games, as I receantly 
reinstalled everything to get this thing solved!

I just posted a message in the Battery forum, about the midi 
controller in Battery, what to do with it..
All midinotes are correctly setup within DTX and so, anyway, I will 
get the keyboard now.

-Rolf (thanks for staying with me :)

> OK, I just tried it out using Cubase VST 5.1, with the LM-9 plugin, 
> and it worked. The only thing I had to do was change MIDI note 
> numbers on the DTXpress. I played for over a few minutes without any 
> lockups.
> 
> Then I fired up Reason, and after a few tweaks to the DTXpress's 
MIDI 
> note numbers, was able to control Reason with it. No lockups their 
> either.
> 
> My rig:
> Athlon 1.2, Gigabyte motherboard w/ VIA chipset
> 512MB Ram
> Echo MIA soundcard
> M-Audio USB Midisport 2x2
> Windows XP Pro
> 
> Also, my box is streamlined for audio. No games, no Instant 
> Messengers, RealPlayers, Office, nothing. Except Cubase, Reason, 
> SoundForge, etc. The usual music-making stuff.
> 
> Make sure you don't have any 'extra' programs running: Instant 
> Messenger, Real Player, firewalls, anti-virus, file-swapping 
progams, 
> etc.
> 
> You may want to run a progam like Ad-Aware to cleanup any 'spyware' 
> that may be on your system, which may be causing problems.
> 
> Without actually being in front of your computer, I have to take 
some wild guesses. Please bear with me. :)
Rolf

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "buggoutbill" <wnofi@e...> wrote:
> Rolf,
> 
> Do you have access to a MIDI keyboard controller? If so, can you 
> connect it to your card and play the Battery VST using it, for more 
> than 20 seconds?
> Just trying to rule out the DTXPress as the problem.
> 
> Do you have the latest drivers for your soundcard installed?
> 
> I do not have Battery, but I do have Cubase and Reason. I will 
> attempt to use my DTXpress to control both tonight.
> 
> The patch for VIA chipsets is interesting. I knew the 
> older "Southbridge" chips, 686B, had issues, but I didn't know the 
> newer ones did too. My next mobo will probably not be a VIA at this 
> point (I have issues with my USB MIDISport sometimes).
> 
> Bill
> 
> > The final audio is from my pc, as I want to use the Battery 
samples.
> > about the midipath I rather hand out a dump than a report by 
word, 
> as 
> > I dont feel myself to familiar with all the data-termilogy.
> > 
> > http://www.grajnd.net/images/cubasis.jpg
> > 
> > and one more thing, that maybe is of importance, I use AMD Athlon 
> > 1700+ with VIA chipset KT266/333 which this site
> > http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI
> > speaks negative about,
> > I dont really know if, its inside the computer the fault is, or 
> > Battery (dont think so) or the DTXpress (dont think so either, im
> > just confused wich parameter to switch on/off. I would really 
like 
> to 
> > hear from someone thats doing it with a sampler)
> > 
> > I dont know if I explain anything for the better know, I hope so.
> > I will not remove the cubasis pic until this thing is solved.
> > 
> > my stats again:
> > processor AMD Athlon 1700+, Chipset VIA
> > ram 896 Mb
> > soundcard Delta Audiophile
> > sequencer Cubasis 4
> > DTXpressII (of cause)
> > 
> > Rolf

Rolf,
 it looks like a midi buffer overflow to me.
I'm using my dtxpress I with Nuendo 2.0 en Cubase SX (i don't think 
the version is an issue here) and ik works fine for me.
I record the audio of my dtx along with a midi channel and no 
problems there.
Maybe you're midi buffer is too small. I don't know exactly where to 
do this but there is a setting in Cubase where you can increase your 
midi buffer size.
Is it also hanging when you play a slow thing. So when you're not 
generating much midi notes in 20 sec?

And another thing, when you're playing live (hearing sound) with 
battery, that means you're direct monitoring is on in cubase. This is 
a very heavy task for Cubase and you're PC. Maybe it's a latency 
thins and that you're audio buffer goes crazy.

Good Luck,

drumsix
Holland

> Rolf,
>  it looks like a midi buffer overflow to me.
> I'm using my dtxpress I with Nuendo 2.0 en Cubase SX (i don't think 
> the version is an issue here) and ik works fine for me.
> I record the audio of my dtx along with a midi channel and no 
> problems there.
> Maybe you're midi buffer is too small. I don't know exactly where to 
> do this but there is a setting in Cubase where you can increase your 
> midi buffer size.
> Is it also hanging when you play a slow thing. So when you're not 
> generating much midi notes in 20 sec?
> 
> And another thing, when you're playing live (hearing sound) with 
> battery, that means you're direct monitoring is on in cubase. This 
is 
> a very heavy task for Cubase and you're PC. Maybe it's a latency 
> thins and that you're audio buffer goes crazy.
> 
> Good Luck,
> 
> drumsix
> Holland

Hello Drumsix

thank your for the information, it makes sence, I don't know how to 
change the Midi buffer but I'll give it a shot. You are absolutely 
right about the "slow thing". If I play slow, the sound cuts off right 
away.

about the monitoring, can I do in some other way without hearing it?
(even if I just record the midinotes, the "glitch come" and destroyes 
the recording)

can you play with a good latency that stills give you a "drum 
feeling"? cuz I cant possible play with sounds hearing afterward I hit 
the pads..

I will check out the buffer!
-Rolf

Rolf,

It looks like you are loading Chainer (with Battery in it) and the 
Battery VST. Try just using the Battery VST by itself in Cubasis, 
without Chainer, and see if it makes a difference.

Also, in Cubasis--Options--Audio Setup, make sure you are using the 
WDM driver, if possible.

Bill

> The final audio is from my pc, as I want to use the Battery samples.
> about the midipath I rather hand out a dump than a report by word, 
as 
> I dont feel myself to familiar with all the data-termilogy.
> 
> http://www.grajnd.net/images/cubasis.jpg
> 
> and one more thing, that maybe is of importance, I use AMD Athlon 
> 1700+ with VIA chipset KT266/333 which this site
> http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI
> speaks negative about,
> I dont really know if, its inside the computer the fault is, or 
> Battery (dont think so) or the DTXpress (dont think so either, im
> just confused wich parameter to switch on/off. I would really like 
to 

> hear from someone thats doing it with a sampler)
> 
> I dont know if I explain anything for the better know, I hope so.
> I will not remove the cubasis pic until this thing is solved.
> 
> my stats again:
> processor AMD Athlon 1700+, Chipset VIA
> ram 896 Mb
> soundcard Delta Audiophile
> sequencer Cubasis 4
> DTXpressII (of cause)
> 
> Rolf