Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

John,

These are good points. Many people regard e-drums as more sui generis 
than as substitutes for acoustic drums. Nonetheless, e-drums are 
often used as substitutes for acoustic drums, and they have both 
advantages and liabilities in that regard. After all, standard e-kits 
are configured in the image of acoustic drums, and most of their 
samples derive from acoustic drums/cymbals/percussion. The fact that 
e-drums often require a different technique from their acoustic 
cousins hardly means that they can't substitute for them when need or 
convenience so dictate. The extent to which they fulfill this 
difficult mission, however, is dependent on how believable the sounds 
are, how authentic the response is, and how extensive the dynamic 
range is--usually not too good in the case of the typical rubber kits 
and their modules. 

I agree with you about the quality of the DTXtreme rubber pads. But 
not all mesh heads are too forgiving, even if they don't respond 
exactly like mylar or calfskin. I mentioned a couple of examples 
earlier. But electronic modules also have a range of accuracy in 
sound and sensitivity. The ddrum module, made by Clavia, though no 
longer young, or terribly efficient in current computing terms, has a 
dynamic range that easily approximates what "real" drums can do, 
mainly because the trigger section is analog, and its samples are 
pure, complex, and undigitized. In fact, its original purpose was to 
mimic acoustic drumkits/percussion; it has few pretenses to acting 
like a synth. On snares, it permits everthing from well-articulated 
soft press rolls, with no machine-gun effect, to mammmoth individual 
hits, according to the force exerted. Cymbal rolls and dynamics can 
also sound and feel much like those on acoustics. People only 
familiar wih the Yamaha and Roland modules, which in many other 
respects exceed the capabilities of the ddrum system, are often 
amazed at how well the ddrum4 and ddrum3 can approximate acoustic 
settings. Ddrum was sold to an American company that promises to 
create a more up to date ddrum5 module, but so far dedicated 
ddrummers are left with the 4th generation, which suffers from memory 
and kit-size limitations. 

I won't go into any more detail about the ddrum system, but I offer 
it only to make the case for electronics sometimes being able to 
occupy the same space as acoustics. Ddrum has always had its pro 
supporters--and for good reason.  

Ed