From: <bclark@...-motor.com>
To: <DTXpress@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 3:49 PM
Subject: [DTXpress] Help with Yamaha DTX 2.0.......................
> 1.) How do I make "overall" adjustments to all of the kits??? For
> example, I heard that on the DTXpress, if you adjust the velocity, or
> lower the threshold value on one kit---it is saved for all the kits.
> I want to be able to make all the pads more sensitive but I don't
> want to have to go to each kit individually. Is there a "global
> setting" of some sort inside the brain that affects everything???
I'll leave that to some other DTX experts...
>
> 2.) On the back of the DTX module, the "input attenuation" levels
> are all up, and if switched down, the drum pads are supposed to
> become more sensitive to strokes. If this is so---why are they
> not "preset" to the better setting?
I think that it is preset to the "better" setting. With the stock
DTXpress pads, the high sensitivity setting makes every hit
loud. The high sensitivity setting is for other pads that don't
have a strong enough signal.
> Also---what is the difference between switching this level down on
> the back of the module and switching the output level of each pad
> higher or lower? Which one should I switch, if any and why?
There are several steps that the signal goes through.
1) stick hits pad, pad makes an electrical pulse.
2) (on some pads) pulse goes through switch or knob to reduce
strength
3) pulse travels to the DTX, and can be reduced by the attenuation
switches.
4) pulse is measured by the little computer inside the DTX.
Now, if the DTX can only measure pulses that are so strong. After
that it clips off the rest of the pulse. That means that after a point,
if you hit the pad harder and harder, the measurement just stays on
"full" and the sounds won't be any louder, In other words, if the signal
is too strong, then you lose dynamic range. Everything comes out the
same volume.
5) The DTX computer reduces the measurement by the pad
sensitivity settings.
6) The DTX starts the drum sound.
7) The sound is sent to the right or left at a volume adjusted by the
volume settings.
8) The overall sound is adjusted by the overall volume control.
There are some more steps as well ( velocity curve, minimum velocity)
that I have left out.
So what you need to do is adjust the pad sensitivity to your pads and
playing style so that your strongest hit gets to 100% in the pad
sensitivity.
Then you want to adjust things so that it picks up your softest taps.
Sometimes you have to compromise between these two goals. If your
pad doesn't pick up your soft taps, you can try switching the attenuation
switches, or the switch/knob on the pad.
Once you are happy that the pads are picking up the full range of your
playing, then you can adjust the volume of the sounds.
> What is the A and B setting on each pad???
I think it applies to dual-zone pads. Back to the DTX experts...
>
> 3.) I would like a good range but I want good velocity on the drums
> so that I can effect very fast rolls. How do i do this??? Because
> if i make the velocity range shorter, it give less range on the
> intesity of hits.
>
Take a look at the "rejection" settings as well as the velocity stuff.
The DTX will reject two strokes that are very close in time to one
another. After a pulse it stops listening on that pad for a certain amount
of time. You can set that time to zero if you like but you might end up
getting two triggers for one stroke. If you are having problems with
fast rolls, look there.
>
> 4.) Last one, I know that the drums are panned (left or right) but
> I am not hearing this pan out of my speaker cabs. I am running the
> module straight into a PA head and then the PA to 2 speakers. Why,
> possibly is the sound of the toms going to "both" speakers when I
> have it panned to left or right??
This may be obvious but:
- Two cables needed from DTX to two separate PA channels
- The PA needs to be a stereo PA (look for "pan" knobs)
- Each channel needs to be panned left or right.
- Speakers both plugged in to one side?
>
> Thanks for all your help
I hope I was helpful.
-Colin
