Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi Andy
It sounds like you are relying on the DTXIII to supply the Volume for your kit... 

You should actually be setting the output from the DTXIII as low as you can(less than 1/2 using the volume knob)then adjusting your preamp volume(input volume) high but so it won't clip and then getting your amp to supply the bulk volume.You should then try not to use the dtxIII volume... use the amp or mixer volume.

I have a Tascam recorder that we mix through and it red lights if any of the inputs clip... it's really, easy but a mistake, for the drummer to put some more volume on his kit using the DTXIII volume if he can't hear it properly(usually this is because our monitor setup is not that good) And it will usually clip when he does that as I have already set the preamp input gain as high as I can on the tascam.instead you should make sure the monitor speaker points at the drummer... and adjust the monitor volume.

also don't forget the DTXIII can use stereo outputs so consider working in stereo! it's interesting when you can have the toms each in a different stereo position!

recently we got some bass powered speakers and they really rumble!
Tom


Posted by: "Andy Citron" andycitron@...   andycitron
Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:23 pm (PDT)

I bought a pintech snare and kick drum to go with my dtxpress I system.

I bought the kick drum because the one that came with the system died.
I bought the pintech snare because I liked the feel and the 'rim'.

With the proper settings, they work pretty well. One complaint is that
for live situations they aren't loud enough. I've played with various 
settings
but haven't found a usable combination.

Modifying the gain settings didn't do enough.

They work fine for at home, under headphones.

If you find a way to balance them with the volume of the
other pads, let me know.

cheers,
Andy



      __________________________________________________________________
Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/

Tom, Mick,
Thanks for the info.

I'm using a DTXpress I.  So some of the settings are probably different.
The Pintech is a 'concertcast'.  
I use a roland KC 550 amp.

But really, even when going thru headphones and no amp, the 
pintechs are lower in the mix.

I like Mick's 'duhh' idea of turning the volume of the other pads down.
I'm a bit vague on how to do that best.

It does seem that different kits have different pads that are louder
or softer.  I don't have to adjust each kit do I?  I hope not.

So the next question is:  On the DTXpress I, how do I lower
the individual pads 'globally'. (not for each kit.)

I did watch the video Tom mentioned.  The DTX I has similar
settings to DTXIII but not identical to the video.  The DTX I
is sort of ancient.

I see the video said to set the velocity curve to 'hard 2'.
The docs I got from Pintech don't mention 'velocity curve'.   It
mentions Vel Rng.  I that the same thing?  I don't think there's
a 'hard 2' option in the DTX I.  

Any one know how to do this the the DTX I?

thanks,
Andy

> I see the video said to set the velocity curve to 'hard 2'.
> The docs I got from Pintech don't mention 'velocity curve'.   It
> mentions Vel Rng.  I that the same thing?  I don't think there's
> a 'hard 2' option in the DTX I.  
> 
> Any one know how to do this the the DTX I?

See page 13 of the reference manual.  Under the trigger edit, look for
VelCurve=Normal etc

I am surprised you have problems with the Pintech Concertcast being
too quiet - I have had to add a 100k pot to mine to stop it
overloading the inputs and to get the full dynamic range out of it.  I
run with Gain=99, MVel=1, VelCurve=Normal.  I also have the rejection
settings at zero - with the snare on a stand I don't get any trigger
problems.

Keith.

Check the attenuation switch on the back of the module - try both
positions.

Also, I don't know what you have the pad set up as - I just set mine
up as a standard pad TP1/SnrA (just TP snare on the DTXpress I).

Keith

Hey Andy
I have the DTX1 and used the DTXIII settings! they are all there and work fine. Just push the trigger button(top mid) to get there and then page up and down to get to the gain, velocity page and the other settings. use the two buttons (bottom right) to change the setting and use the next up 2 buttons to shift between settings on the same page. 
-------------------------------
play  trig     Start  <Page>   |
  O    X         O    X    X   | page up/down  
util  voice    Save    <Sel>   |
  O    X         O    X    X   | shift to next/previous setting
click song     Shift  <Value>  |
  O    O         O    X    X   | adjust value up/down
-------------------------------
There is a hard-2 setting. My pintech are concertcast too.

For amping I put the DTXI stereo outputs into a tascam 2488(2 tracks one left stereo one right) From there the 2488 outputs go to a pair of powered bass speakers then from the amp outputs to a yamaha MSR400 and a non powered monitor speaker which we have sitting either side of the drummer, lol like a humongous headphone. Just got me thinking I should consider getting some light headphones and get him to try that. Then his volume would be independent of the mix.

I have adjusted the volume on all the pads to make everything mix properly... some are quiet so I had to tame the loud ones and increase the quiet ones. for each drum kit... I think the dtxI has a brain problem sometimes and it messes with all kinds of things... I regularly do factory resets on the thing!(in the utility settings). There is no ground on the dtxI plug and I've found that a floating ground will sooner or later mess with your digital settings... ok got off topic here!lol anybody know how to easily add a ground to the dtxI?

there is a volume dial up for a pad, but I haven't had any luck getting it to work! check the manual... don't forget the knob on the drum for adjusting the trigger(not on the kick use gain instead--->) and oh there is gain on the trigger settings... I did play with that for a quiet pad.
Tom


Re: Missing / skipping kick beats on DTX1 poll results and my soluti
Posted by: "Andy Citron" andycitron@...   andycitron
Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:32 pm (PDT)

Tom, Mick,
Thanks for the info.

I'm using a DTXpress I. So some of the settings are probably different.
The Pintech is a 'concertcast' . 
I use a roland KC 550 amp.

But really, even when going thru headphones and no amp, the 
pintechs are lower in the mix.

I like Mick's 'duhh' idea of turning the volume of the other pads down.
I'm a bit vague on how to do that best.

It does seem that different kits have different pads that are louder
or softer. I don't have to adjust each kit do I? I hope not.

So the next question is: On the DTXpress I, how do I lower
the individual pads 'globally'. (not for each kit.)

I did watch the video Tom mentioned. The DTX I has similar
settings to DTXIII but not identical to the video. The DTX I
is sort of ancient.

I see the video said to set the velocity curve to 'hard 2'.
The docs I got from Pintech don't mention 'velocity curve'. It
mentions Vel Rng. I that the same thing? I don't think there's
a 'hard 2' option in the DTX I. 

Any one know how to do this the the DTX I?

thanks,
Andy


      __________________________________________________________________
Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php

Keith
Yeah on mine the kick was really really loud I used the volume in voicing to tame it! where did you add the 100k pot? do you have a schematic?
Tom

Re: Missing / skipping kick beats on DTX1 poll results and my soluti

> I see the video said to set the velocity curve to 'hard 2'.
> The docs I got from Pintech don't mention 'velocity curve'. It
> mentions Vel Rng. I that the same thing? I don't think there's
> a 'hard 2' option in the DTX I. 
> 
> Any one know how to do this the the DTX I?

See page 13 of the reference manual. Under the trigger edit, look for
VelCurve=Normal etc

I am surprised you have problems with the Pintech Concertcast being
too quiet - I have had to add a 100k pot to mine to stop it
overloading the inputs and to get the full dynamic range out of it. I
run with Gain=99, MVel=1, VelCurve=Normal. I also have the rejection
settings at zero - with the snare on a stand I don't get any trigger
problems.

Keith.


      __________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at
http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Tom Watson <palomineo@...> wrote:
>
> Keith
> Yeah on mine the kick was really really loud I used the volume in
voicing to tame it! where did you add the 100k pot? do you have a
schematic?
>

Tom,

I have uploaded a drawing to the files section "Pintech Pot.gif"
showing how to wire it.  The connections to the piezo may be the other
way round  on the actual pad - you can try each way & see which works
best.  I bought a small "finger adjustable" pot and put it on the jack
socket in the ConcertCast.  I cannot get to it that easily, but once
set I just left it.

Keith.