Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello everyone,
I just bought a DTXpressII to learn drumming and even after the 
first day (or I should say until deep in the night) I managed to 
upset my neighbourghs with the ticking and footwork (very unregular 
as you may expect from a beginner!)..
I was wondering if someone had ideas about how to further reduce the 
ticking noise and pedal noise ( I have seen the one with the 
tennisballs between two pieces of plywood..seemed interesting but 
has anybody tried it yet? Results?) Different drumstick materials? 
Covering the pads with tissue? etc...

Any comments are welcome..My @@##@&#@# neighbours will be forever in 
your debt..

J-C (Newbee to Drumming and Newbee to DTXpressII..but very excited!)