Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 03:53:12 -0000, liberatusvirus wrote:
>\ufffdI tried the Ecymbal II ride with the DTXpress module for quite some 
>\ufffdtime. I really wanted it to work, but ultimately, I gave up and sold 
>\ufffdit to a very happy Roland owner in Texas. My pal, Walt, who is also a
>\ufffdDTXtreme owner (two Xtreme modules no less) had similar problems with
>\ufffdit, as well as with the hat. As a matter of fact, he contacted Peter 
>\ufffdHart himself, who acknowledged the difficulty and promised to work on
>\ufffdit but never did. At the very least, plug and play does not apply in 
>\ufffdthis case. I ended up trying a Visu-lite ride in place of the Hart.
>\ufffdUsing the same settings, the Visu-lite tracked flawlessly from the 
>\ufffdstart. I've tweaked a little here and there, but every Visu-lite 
>\ufffdcymbal that I've added to my kit was the epitome of plug and play. I 
>\ufffdsubsequently got to know Tom Pickard, the owner and designer of the 
>\ufffdproducts, who agreed to collaborate on a Yamaha version of the Visu-
>\ufffdlite hat, which works on a traditional stand. It's now for sale on 
>\ufffdthe Visu-lite site, as well as at Drumbalaya.

Yeah, I remember you guys all trying and having problems. I'm also 
wondering how consistent Hart's triggers are from unit-to-unit? I'm not 
trying to cast them in a bad light, but maybe there's a fair "spread" 
to their characteristics? As an engineer, these are the things I'm 
always pondering...

I'd also like to try the Visu-lite HH. It looks like a fine piece of 
hardware and the acrylic cymbals have a unique look. Another one of 
those "someday" things.

>\ufffdIf Harts and Yamahas are ever going to get together successfully, you
>\ufffdmay be the one to do it. But even if you succeed, it shouldn't be 
>\ufffdthis hard.

Also agreed -- I'd really love to get some of my test equipment out and 
quantify just what's going on. I know my Hart Pro snare is finicky, I 
can get the snare to trigger great but I have problems with some false 
triggering on the rim -- or vice versa. I still have not exhausted all 
the possibilities of the DTXtreme module yet and I'm getting closer
each time I tweak more.

ave a pretty fair knowledge of what the module's electronics has to do
to turn triggers into sound and I'm honestly surprised all the e-drum
gear works as well as it does, given the variations between piezo
pickups and FSR's.

Matt