Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I'm headed to get my new DTxpress III tonight after work.

As you can imagine I'm totally pumped! I plan to fire up the digital 
camera and get a bunch of up close pics of the drums, and report on 
how the new samples sound.

Keep a lookout later Saturday 3/14/04 for my post. I'm gonna throw up 
a link to the photos and reviews on a different website of mine so 
they'll load faster and be easier to navigate than this board.

Bret

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "flexsez" <staff@m...> wrote:
> I'm headed to get my new DTxpress III tonight after work.
> 
> As you can imagine I'm totally pumped! I plan to fire up the 
digital 
> camera and get a bunch of up close pics of the drums, and report on 
> how the new samples sound.
> 
> Keep a lookout later Saturday 3/14/04 for my post. I'm gonna throw 
up 
> a link to the photos and reviews on a different website of mine so 
> they'll load faster and be easier to navigate than this board.

Bret,

Looking forward to it--and congratulations. Your impressions will be 
invaluable, whether comparative (with any other equipment) or 
singular.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "flexsez" <staff@m...> wrote:
> > I'm headed to get my new DTxpress III tonight after work.
> > 
> > As you can imagine I'm totally pumped! I plan to fire up the 
> digital 
> > camera and get a bunch of up close pics of the drums, and report 
on 
> > how the new samples sound.
> > 
> > Keep a lookout later Saturday 3/14/04 for my post. I'm gonna 
throw 
> up 
> > a link to the photos and reviews on a different website of mine 
so 
> > they'll load faster and be easier to navigate than this board.
> 
> Bret,
> 
> Looking forward to it--and congratulations. Your impressions will 
be 
> invaluable, whether comparative (with any other equipment) or 
> singular.
> 
> Ed

Ed, maybe you can help me answer a question for me? I plan to run my 
kit through some yamaha speakers on Saturday (gotta use phones 
tonight so I don't wake up the whole house).

Is there anything I should be aware of so I don't destroy my 
speakers? Also is it OK to run the kit through a high powered home 
stereo with some 500w Cervin Vega speakers?

Here is a link to the Yamaha speakers I have (MusiciansFriend.com)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040312081310063224027133599455
/g=live/g=live/search/bigpid/base_id/111870/

Bret

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "flexsez" <staff@m...> wrote:
> Ed, maybe you can help me answer a question for me? I plan to run 
my 
> kit through some yamaha speakers on Saturday (gotta use phones 
> tonight so I don't wake up the whole house).
> 
> Is there anything I should be aware of so I don't destroy my 
> speakers? Also is it OK to run the kit through a high powered home 
> stereo with some 500w Cervin Vega speakers?
> 
> Here is a link to the Yamaha speakers I have (MusiciansFriend.com)
> 
> 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040312081310063224027133599455
> /g=live/g=live/search/bigpid/base_id/111870/

Bret,

The link wouldn't cooperate. I didn't find any Yamaha pro audio
speakers at MP with search IDs starting with "1," only with "6." Give
me the model number, and I'll be happy to take a look. But an
important rule of thumb is not to run an electronic drumkit through a
home stereo. Some very high end amp/speaker combinations can handle
it, but ordinary audio systems, even those boasting (usually 
inflated) high-wattage capabilities, should be spared from
any pro audio applications. The enormous unfettered dynamic and
frequency range that an e-kit can generate can severely test them.
The transients can fry your speakers at the drop of a hat. Some
people get away with it, but if you decide to give it a try, turn it
way down and don't hit too hard (following this advice will almost
negate the reason for playing it through the home stereo anyway).
Unless you have a monitor made to take the punishment, listen through
your headphones, and if you're worried that headphones won't do
justice to the kit, don't be. A good set of cans (recommendations
forthcoming if you need them) will give you a better indication of
how the various components sound than will extraneous amplification,
which is subject to far more variables (from quality of the
electronic and mechanical elements to room effects, speaker
orientation, volume, etc.). A headphone feed might not satisfy your
need to feel the rafters shake (which an e-kit can do when properly
amplified), but it will permit a direct window on the inherent
quality of the sound characteristics. But they have to be good studio
headphones. Good consumer phones will work, too, though they might
not hold up physically or might have too much impedance to provide
enough signal. Portable-type headphones, however, need never apply;
they will be terrible.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "flexsez" <staff@m...> wrote:
> > Ed, maybe you can help me answer a question for me? I plan to run 
> my 
> > kit through some yamaha speakers on Saturday (gotta use phones 
> > tonight so I don't wake up the whole house).
> > 
> > Is there anything I should be aware of so I don't destroy my 
> > speakers? Also is it OK to run the kit through a high powered 
home 
> > stereo with some 500w Cervin Vega speakers?
> > 
> > Here is a link to the Yamaha speakers I have (MusiciansFriend.com)
> > 
> > 
> 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040312081310063224027133599455
> > /g=live/g=live/search/bigpid/base_id/111870/
> 
> Bret,
> 
> The link wouldn't cooperate. I didn't find any Yamaha pro audio
> speakers at MP with search IDs starting with "1," only with "6." 
Give
> me the model number, and I'll be happy to take a look. But an
> important rule of thumb is not to run an electronic drumkit through 
a
> home stereo. Some very high end amp/speaker combinations can handle
> it, but ordinary audio systems, even those boasting (usually 
> inflated) high-wattage capabilities, should be spared from
> any pro audio applications. The enormous unfettered dynamic and
> frequency range that an e-kit can generate can severely test them.
> The transients can fry your speakers at the drop of a hat. Some
> people get away with it, but if you decide to give it a try, turn it
> way down and don't hit too hard (following this advice will almost
> negate the reason for playing it through the home stereo anyway).
> Unless you have a monitor made to take the punishment, listen 
through
> your headphones, and if you're worried that headphones won't do
> justice to the kit, don't be. A good set of cans (recommendations
> forthcoming if you need them) will give you a better indication of
> how the various components sound than will extraneous amplification,
> which is subject to far more variables (from quality of the
> electronic and mechanical elements to room effects, speaker
> orientation, volume, etc.). A headphone feed might not satisfy your
> need to feel the rafters shake (which an e-kit can do when properly
> amplified), but it will permit a direct window on the inherent
> quality of the sound characteristics. But they have to be good 
studio
> headphones. Good consumer phones will work, too, though they might
> not hold up physically or might have too much impedance to provide
> enough signal. Portable-type headphones, however, need never apply;
> they will be terrible.
> 
> Ed

Ed, thanks for the honest replies. Here is the model on those 
speakers.

Yamaha YSTMS50B 80. The only reason I thought I would try them is 
that they have a powered sub, and if they blow up on me it's not the 
end of the world.

I am very interested in getting a super high quality pair of phone 
for the kit. I guess I can see my way clear to pend about $150 bucks, 
but could go up to $200 if there is a pair that will just blow my 
mind.

Any suggestions would be great.

Bret

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "flexsez" <staff@m...> wrote:
> Ed, thanks for the honest replies. Here is the model on those 
> speakers.
> 
> Yamaha YSTMS50B 80. The only reason I thought I would try them is 
> that they have a powered sub, and if they blow up on me it's not 
the 
> end of the world.
> 
> I am very interested in getting a super high quality pair of phone 
> for the kit. I guess I can see my way clear to pend about $150 
bucks, 
> but could go up to $200 if there is a pair that will just blow my 
> mind.

Brett,

On the Yamaha computer speakers, I wouldn't bother trying them. Even 
if they managed to hold up for the night, they won't allow you to 
hear anything remotely like what your kit can do. I'll save you some 
money and recommend a few quality, studio headphones with about $100 
street price that are available at most web or brick and mortar 
stores (like Guitar Center). My personal favorite is the Sennheiser 
HD-280 Pro, but the Sony MDR-7506 is probably more popular for its 
bass boost. The AKG 240S is also worth a try, but make sure it's 
the "S" version. All of these are closed-design, low-impedance, high- 
senstivity types that should allow you to hear yourself play with 
enough volume to drown out extraneous stick noise and other unwanted 
interference (though many people still like the sonic headroom and 
convenience afforded by a separate headphone amp or mixer, neither of 
which need to exceed the $100 price point). There are other 
headphones available that have these characteristics, but the three 
that I've mentioned are widely supported. In-ear buds (like the 
Etymotics) are also a possibility for more money. They're comfortable 
and good-sounding. You should be able to get a firsthand view, if not 
listen, at your music store.

Ed

emf said:
>> Here is a link to the Yamaha speakers I have (MusiciansFriend.com)
>> http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040312081310063224027133599455
>> /g=live/g=live/search/bigpid/base_id/111870/
>
> Bret,
>
> The link wouldn't cooperate.

http://www.TinyURL.com is your friend! :) Here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/2vxva

From the looks of it, this a small Sub + 2 mid-high unit speakers,
similar to the type that come with computer systems. I would suggest this
would be useful only at *very* low volume levels. The transients produced
by the kick drum might be too much for the sub. Most "recorded" music has
it's dynamic range strictly controlled to stay within a certain dynamic
range. The DTXpress brain is an actual musical instrument that will
create a broad dynamic range and I think would have the capability to
cause damage to many small "home" style audio amp/speaker systems... Just
my $0.02... :)

Vern

-- 
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Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
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