Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "mgk66219" <machinegunkelley@h...> 
wrote:

> I have never understood the reason that Roland products are pushed 
> in music stores and Yamahas are thrown to the side, I am sure its 
> money related whether in profit margins that the store makes or 
> maybe its some kind of salesmen incentive that Roland offers to the 
> stores sales force. Either way Yamaha needs to figure a way to 
> correct this.

Frankly, Roland owns the market. If a company has lots of products to 
offer, and these product lines sell, then the store will feature this 
company's products. It's a self-validating cycle, especially from a 
comparative standpoint; no one is remotely poised to challenge 
Roland's dominance. They market well, they mass-produce to back up 
the hype, and for the most part, the stuff is good. Pintech and Hart 
don't count in an economy of scale. Yamaha's predicament speaks for 
itself. First, they drop the mid-level product (DTX), and then the 
high end (DTXtreme). Granted, the Xtreme was due for an overhaul. 
Roland's patent on woven-head technology put Yamaha at a distinct 
disadvantage, and the electronics were getting old in the tooth. I 
firmly believe, however, that if the DTXpress were not doing so well, 
Yamaha would have a greater incentive to develop more products, or at 
least develop them more quickly. Too bad, really. I think that Yamaha 
is in the best position to manufacture a genuinely advanced module. 
What other electonics company has such a range of acoustic 
instruments to sample? Their only inherent weakness, to my mind,  
revolves around the e-cymbal samples that they offer--too few good 
ones. I'm hoping that the licensing problem that they're having with 
the new module concerns rights to use Ziidjian, Sabian, etc.

> Good to hear the VDRUM users have become more tolerant of Yamaha 
> users since we all really have the same goals in mind, it makes 
> sense to help each other out.

When word got out that the Xtreme was discontinued, many on the 
vdrums forum couldn't wait to take advantage of the discount. At the 
same time, as if to justify their new-found interest, the comments 
about Yamaha started to improve as well. It's amazing what a lower 
price can do to the perceived quality of a rival product.

Ed