Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I just purchased some concertcast 101st meash pads.
What settings in the module do I need to change to get the best use 
out of these pads and what to change them to? I pluged them and used 
my standard setup from my yamaha pads (pretty much factory setting)
I am getting some hits not triggering and others really loud and then 
really soft with the same striking velocity. I have any hit them 
really hard in the center and i get a real soft sound, not loud like 
I would expect seeing that the sensor is in the center. Also the 
hithat pedal HH-10CV is there somthing special in the module to 
change to get it to work?  
If someone is using these pads with a Yamaha module it would be 
helpfull to know what your settings are so I could have a starting 
point.   Or would the pintech trigger better with another module type?

Thanks

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rtmt91drummer" <rtmt91drummer@y...> 
wrote:
> I just purchased some concertcast 101st meash pads.
> What settings in the module do I need to change to get the best use 
> out of these pads and what to change them to? I pluged them and 
used 
> my standard setup from my yamaha pads (pretty much factory setting)
> I am getting some hits not triggering and others really loud and 
then 
> really soft with the same striking velocity. I have any hit them 
> really hard in the center and i get a real soft sound, not loud 
like 
> I would expect seeing that the sensor is in the center. Also the 
> hithat pedal HH-10CV is there somthing special in the module to 
> change to get it to work?  
> If someone is using these pads with a Yamaha module it would be 
> helpfull to know what your settings are so I could have a starting 
> point.   Or would the pintech trigger better with another module 
type?

I used to use the Pintech CCs with a Yamaha module. I'll give you the 
basics of my setup. In the trigger menu, change the pad types to DT 
snare, DT tom, or whatever the case may be, saved to trigger setup 
#5, DT10/20 (eventually stored to a custom setup as you start 
tweaking). On the back of the module, flip the DIP switches 
corresponding to the inputs with the CCs to the "up" position, which 
increases the signal. In other words, treat the Pintechs as if they 
were triggered acoustics. Voice, gain, min.velocity and rejection 
settings are at your discretion. 

This configuration should at least be a good starting point. Some 
people have noted that the Pintechs lack sensitivity at the softer 
end of the dynamic range through the DTXP module. It never bothered 
me much; if it bothers you, you might want to consider splicing a pot 
into at least your snare cable, or buying a cable with its own pot, 
like the Guyatone, which costs about $45 (DIY is much cheaper).

The Pintech hi hat controller is a Roland-type that doesn't match 
Yamaha's polarity. It will work with a simple adaptor. Drumbalaya 
carries it.

Ed

Thanks for the info I will give it a try.
Here is another issue.  I also purchased a Pintech Zenable dual zone.
I am seeing that when I hit the rim switch nothing happens (most of 
time) sometimes it does. If I hit the pad part it works fine as long 
as I don't hit it really fast in sequnce. When I do the sound cuts 
out. I am using a new trs cable and tried a couple of others to make 
sure. Also I used a mono cable and would experience the same sound 
cut out when hit... not all the time.. It also seems to double 
trigger on occasion.  What settings do I need to check/adjust.


Are the issues I am having with the pintechs common when used with 
the DTXpress? Would they trigger and track better with a Alesis DM5 
module? These pads I purchased are for a 2nd set for practice at home.
I would consider buying another module if it would work good out of 
box.
I use my DTXpress at church and was just wanting to take the module 
back and forth, to save money.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rtmt91drummer" <rtmt91drummer@y...> 
wrote:

> Here is another issue.  I also purchased a Pintech Zenable dual 
zone.
> I am seeing that when I hit the rim switch nothing happens (most of 
> time) sometimes it does. If I hit the pad part it works fine as 
long 
> as I don't hit it really fast in sequnce. When I do the sound cuts 
> out. I am using a new trs cable and tried a couple of others to 
make 
> sure. Also I used a mono cable and would experience the same sound 
> cut out when hit... not all the time.. It also seems to double 
> trigger on occasion.  What settings do I need to check/adjust.

The first thing I'd try is various pad type assignments. I think that 
I ended up with misc. 2, if I'm not mistaken.
 
> Are the issues I am having with the pintechs common when used with 
> the DTXpress? Would they trigger and track better with a Alesis DM5 
> module? These pads I purchased are for a 2nd set for practice at 
home.
> I would consider buying another module if it would work good out of 
> box.
> I use my DTXpress at church and was just wanting to take the module 
> back and forth, to save money.

Three people have recently expressed trouble (see SEA's post before 
yours and Creighton Higgins a week or so ago). Don't do anything 
drastic yet. I hope those who have had more success with the Zenbals 
will offer some suggestions. We can always ask Brian about it, too. 
He's working a little bit with the DTXPIII module for the new Zenbals 
and PCs. Maybe he can hook one up himself and duplicate the problems.

Ed

rtmt91drummer wrote:

>Thanks for the info I will give it a try.
>Here is another issue.  I also purchased a Pintech Zenable dual zone.
>I am seeing that when I hit the rim switch nothing happens (most of 
>time) sometimes it does. If I hit the pad part it works fine as long 
>as I don't hit it really fast in sequnce. When I do the sound cuts 
>out. I am using a new trs cable and tried a couple of others to make 
>sure. Also I used a mono cable and would experience the same sound 
>cut out when hit... not all the time.. It also seems to double 
>trigger on occasion.  What settings do I need to check/adjust.
>
>
>Are the issues I am having with the pintechs common when used with 
>the DTXpress? Would they trigger and track better with a Alesis DM5 
>module? These pads I purchased are for a 2nd set for practice at home.
>I would consider buying another module if it would work good out of 
>box.
>I use my DTXpress at church and was just wanting to take the module 
>back and forth, to save money.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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I have had similar isues with my Zenbal and DTXpress. Be sure you set 
the trigger type in the trigger menu- I think I've settled on "Type 4". 
(at work now- no drums here- dang) I added an Aquarian Cymbal Spring 
which has improved triggering. When you hit the cymbal a second time you 
activate the choke feature, so this is normal. I use this beast only as 
a splash/crash and add a lot of decay in the voice menu. (adding decay 
means you punch in negative numbers- go figure). I am curious how ithis 
goes for you. I love the quality of construction of this beast, but it 
is fussy.

I finally got the pintech pads set up on the rack (the sprit rack is 
not very good for allowing positioning of drums... anyway)The drum 
settings I think I have tweaked enough to work (time will tell) but I 
will difenatlly have to patch in a poteniometer for the snare. It is 
just to hot. I have the dip switches on the rear flipped up. Up seems 
to hot....but down seems not enough, I have the gain for that pad set 
at zero.   I still need to get the hihat pedal to work. Someone 
suggested that I need to change the polarity. Can I do this with out 
buying an adapter?  I tried using a cable and swithed the tip and 
sleeve connections. Is that what needs to be done? Because it didn't 
work. 




--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rtmt91drummer" <rtmt91drummer@y...> 
wrote:
> Thanks for the info I will give it a try.
> Here is another issue.  I also purchased a Pintech Zenable dual 
zone.
> I am seeing that when I hit the rim switch nothing happens (most of 
> time) sometimes it does. If I hit the pad part it works fine as 
long 
> as I don't hit it really fast in sequnce. When I do the sound cuts 
> out. I am using a new trs cable and tried a couple of others to 
make 
> sure. Also I used a mono cable and would experience the same sound 
> cut out when hit... not all the time.. It also seems to double 
> trigger on occasion.  What settings do I need to check/adjust.
> 
> 
> Are the issues I am having with the pintechs common when used with 
> the DTXpress? Would they trigger and track better with a Alesis DM5 
> module? These pads I purchased are for a 2nd set for practice at 
home.

> I would consider buying another module if it would work good out of 
> box.
> I use my DTXpress at church and was just wanting to take the module 
> back and forth, to save money.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "rtmt91drummer" <rtmt91drummer@y...> 
wrote:
> I finally got the pintech pads set up on the rack (the sprit rack 
is 
> not very good for allowing positioning of drums... anyway)The drum 
> settings I think I have tweaked enough to work (time will tell) but 
I 
> will difenatlly have to patch in a poteniometer for the snare. It 
is 
> just to hot. I have the dip switches on the rear flipped up. Up 
seems 
> to hot....but down seems not enough, I have the gain for that pad 
set 
> at zero.   

I think that the pot would be a better idea than trying to find a way 
to tinker with the piezo and muffle inside the drum. People have 
reported that taking the signal down a peg that way improves dynamic 
range immensely. Brian said something about possibly adding a 
sensitivity control to the pads themselves somewhere down the road. 
If he does, maybe you can get a retrofit at the factory.


> I still need to get the hihat pedal to work. Someone suggested that 
I need to change the polarity. Can I do this with out 
> buying an adapter?  I tried using a cable and swithed the tip and 
> sleeve connections. Is that what needs to be done? Because it 
didn't 
> work. 

That was me, but I think that the incompatibility might be more 
fundamental (your way would probably reverse open and closed on a 
properly working hat), though I'm sure that an adapter is available 
to fix it. What I don't know is how exactly the Pintech pedal is 
wired. If it were like a Roland FD-7, I've heard that the Drumbalaya 
adapter or a Radio Shack Adapter (less than $5.00), which changes 
stereo to mono/mono to stereo (I think it was feefer who made this 
discovery at vdrums some time ago) would work, or even the Drum Tech 
Hat Adapter, if it's still out there. But rather than endlessly 
speculate, you might just call Pintech. I have no doubt that they'd 
answer your question once and for all. The number is 864-242-2150.

Ed