Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi all

Hopefully picking up my DTXpress III tomorrow - I'm going to need a 
bass pedal and have been looking at the Tama HP200 ( baby cobra ? )
looks like a good pedal and can get one for £50 with the kit - is 
this a good choice or are there better ones ( for around the same 
money )any advice ?
Also - will be wanting to input some tunes to play along to possibly 
from a Discman - assume you need a lead with a jack plug on either 
end to do this and take the external speaker socket from a CD player 
to the input of the brain ?
Anyone got any advice about sticks - the rubber half coated ones read 
up well - best choice ?

As you can tell, haven't done this for a Loooooong time so some 
pointers would be great.

Thanks

Andy

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Griffin" <andygk7@y...> wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> Hopefully picking up my DTXpress III tomorrow - I'm going to need a 
> bass pedal and have been looking at the Tama HP200 ( baby cobra ? )
> looks like a good pedal and can get one for £50 with the kit - is 
> this a good choice or are there better ones ( for around the same 
> money )any advice ?
> Also - will be wanting to input some tunes to play along to possibly 
> from a Discman - assume you need a lead with a jack plug on either 
> end to do this and take the external speaker socket from a CD player 
> to the input of the brain ?
> Anyone got any advice about sticks - the rubber half coated ones read 
> up well - best choice ?
> 
> As you can tell, haven't done this for a Loooooong time so some 
> pointers would be great.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Andy

I got some half rubber coated sticks and quite like them - they don't
fly across the room as often as ordinary ones and they seem to damp
out vibrations a little.

Keith.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Griffin" <andygk7@y...> wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> Hopefully picking up my DTXpress III tomorrow - I'm going to need a 
> bass pedal and have been looking at the Tama HP200 ( baby cobra ? )
> looks like a good pedal and can get one for £50 with the kit - is 
> this a good choice or are there better ones ( for around the same 
> money )any advice ?

Congratulations, Andy. Personally, I find it hard to make 
recommendations about staples like pedals and stands, partially 
because my references are spotty and partially because of the old 
adage about one man's meat (or vegetables). With low- to mid-level 
kick pedals, the variables aren't that wide; most of the name brands 
should do fine. I always liked the entry-level Yamaha, but I'm sure 
that the Tama is just as good. You are unlikely to suffer buyer's 
remorse whatever you happen to choose at that price. But you can 
nitpick the really expensive ones to death. 

> Also - will be wanting to input some tunes to play along to 
possibly 
> from a Discman - assume you need a lead with a jack plug on either 
> end to do this and take the external speaker socket from a CD 
player 
> to the input of the brain ?

For most discman-type players, you'll need a stereo cable with 1/8" 
plugs, which is exactly what's necessary for the aux, input on the 
DTXPU. If you run a cable from the back of a full-sized CD player, 
you'll need an RCA to 1/8" adaptor on the DTX end. If you use 
headphones with it, don't press the discman's into service; it won't 
work. Post if you need recommendations.  

> Anyone got any advice about sticks - the rubber half coated ones 
read 
> up well - best choice ?

Just a few days ago, we had a string of posts (again) about sticks. I 
won't rehearse it. We tend to emphasize keeping them on the slender 
side both to allow the module do the work of creating volume and to 
protect the components from brute force. I like the Zildjian 5A DIPs, 
at least until the rubber wears away, but there's no universal
"best." Chances are that if you had a favorite style/size years ago, 
you can resurrect it now--unless, of course, it was a bludgeon.

Keep us informed.

Ed

Many thanks for the info - I'll check out what the shop has - I think 
he'll do me a good deal anyway on whatever I choose and he has loads 
of different ones in stock - just liked the look of the Tama - seems 
fairly "sturdy".
I might try the Zildjian's - I have my old ticks, but they are like 
two brush handles ..LOL
Been waiting 24 years for tomorrow ... :o)

Roll on the weekend ...

One last comment - regarding using headphones - the plan was to input 
the music either from a CD player / Amp I have in the loft - or a 
Discman - and then use my normal Pioneer Stereo headphones ( large 
ones ) assuming I will be able to hear the mixture of drum sounds 
from the kit combined with the music I am feeding in - don't tell me 
it doesn't work that way ??? quick before I blow £750

Cheers

Andy



--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Griffin" <andygk7@y...> 
wrote:
> > Hi all
> > 
> > Hopefully picking up my DTXpress III tomorrow - I'm going to need 
a 
> > bass pedal and have been looking at the Tama HP200 ( baby 
cobra ? )
> > looks like a good pedal and can get one for £50 with the kit - is 
> > this a good choice or are there better ones ( for around the same 
> > money )any advice ?
> 
> Congratulations, Andy. Personally, I find it hard to make 
> recommendations about staples like pedals and stands, partially 
> because my references are spotty and partially because of the old 
> adage about one man's meat (or vegetables). With low- to mid-level 
> kick pedals, the variables aren't that wide; most of the name 
brands 
> should do fine. I always liked the entry-level Yamaha, but I'm sure 
> that the Tama is just as good. You are unlikely to suffer buyer's 
> remorse whatever you happen to choose at that price. But you can 
> nitpick the really expensive ones to death. 
> 
> > Also - will be wanting to input some tunes to play along to 
> possibly 
> > from a Discman - assume you need a lead with a jack plug on 
either 
> > end to do this and take the external speaker socket from a CD 
> player 
> > to the input of the brain ?
> 
> For most discman-type players, you'll need a stereo cable with 1/8" 
> plugs, which is exactly what's necessary for the aux, input on the 
> DTXPU. If you run a cable from the back of a full-sized CD player, 
> you'll need an RCA to 1/8" adaptor on the DTX end. If you use 
> headphones with it, don't press the discman's into service; it 
won't 
> work. Post if you need recommendations.  
> 
> > Anyone got any advice about sticks - the rubber half coated ones 
> read 
> > up well - best choice ?
> 
> Just a few days ago, we had a string of posts (again) about sticks. 
I 
> won't rehearse it. We tend to emphasize keeping them on the slender 
> side both to allow the module do the work of creating volume and to 
> protect the components from brute force. I like the Zildjian 5A 
DIPs, 
> at least until the rubber wears away, but there's no universal
> "best." Chances are that if you had a favorite style/size years 
ago, 

> you can resurrect it now--unless, of course, it was a bludgeon.
> 
> Keep us informed.
> 
> Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Griffin" <andygk7@y...> wrote:

> One last comment - regarding using headphones - the plan was to 
input 
> the music either from a CD player / Amp I have in the loft - or a 
> Discman - and then use my normal Pioneer Stereo headphones ( large 
> ones ) assuming I will be able to hear the mixture of drum sounds 
> from the kit combined with the music I am feeding in - don't tell 
me 
> it doesn't work that way ??? quick before I blow £750

Andy,

You plan to go from the CD player/amp into the DTXpress, with no 
intermediary mixer or headphone amp, right? If so, your headphones 
should be rated at a low impedance (under 100 or so) and a high 
sensitivity (100 or so), and they should be a closed design--all of 
which will help to achieve enough volume to drown out extraneous 
stick noise, the phone, travelling salesmen at the door, etc. Another 
thing to consider is where the cord comes out of the phones. If two 
lines meet under your chin before they join together for the trip to 
the DTXpress, you may find yourself getting all tangled up in the 
heat of battle. Studio cans, like the ones that I outlined above, 
generally run a line out of the left ear well out of harm's way. By 
all means, try the Pioneers at home, or, better yet, if you can, drag 
them to the store and see what happens when you use them with a floor 
model (you still may not really know if you can live with them until 
you've sat behind the kit at home and let'er rip). 

Ed

i have the tama iron cobra power glide and its the best pedal my foot 
ever stepped on, i tryed lots of pedals and nothing compares to the 
iron cobra, im actually inlove with it :D its like playing by it self.
as for the sticks, i use ahead 7A titanium ones.. i dont know about 
others but i love the feeling on the cymbals and everything:)

demetris

Picked up the kit yesterday - decided on a premier pedal because it 
had two chains which made the pedal feel a bit more sturdy, and side 
by side, seemed as good as the Tama - set it up last night and had 
a "go" - excellent.
Will need to read the manual properly as I just turned it on and got 
right on with it - I was a little dissapointed with the quietness of 
the hi hat and was a little worried until I found ( by pressing some 
buttons ) that it could be turned up ;o)
Does everyone find they have the volume on full ? like I said - must 
read the manual...! Very impressed with the "feel" of the pads - 
surprisigly bouncy feel - not what I expected - much better.
having all the wires labelled made set up peice of cake - 1 minute to 
do and they are tied at pints to make it like one bunch instead of 
wires everywhere.
I have my old Pioneer hi fi headphones which are open backed so 
definately need some new ones to stop the pad hit noise.
Really impressed with the bass drum - nice and powerful.

I followed the advice and went for Zildjian sticks ( 5A's ), but had 
to return them when they turned out to be totally missmatched - one 
was 2.1g, the other was 1.3g !! - I took some scales to the shop to 
make sure the next set was matched  - took a set of nylon tipped 
second time - find them better than the wood tips - don't mark the 
pads!
Up to now - very pleased, snare drum could do with being a little 
higher though, may have so take some bits off and rejig the frame
a little.
so ... Kit, sticks, Premier pedal, and a premier throne - £770... not 
a bad deal?

Trouble is, aircon packed up on the car after I fetched the kit - 
£500 to repair ...oh aye ... typical :o(

Cheers for the advice chaps ...

Andy

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, <nicholas.gunn@b...> wrote:
> Just bought some Zildjian 5A Dip sticks yesterday. They have about 
4 hours
> use and I really like them. I have been using the Nylon tipped 5A's 
for a
> while and these were nearly as good as the dipped sticks. Not too 
bad a
> price either, #7.50 should be all you pay if its more tell the shop 
they are
> charging too much........No No they should be willing to chuck at 
least on
> set of sticks in with the kit.
> 
> On the Pedals I tried a nice Dixon pedal yesterday it was about #75 
and I
> really liked it. I currently used the baby TAMA and that is fine, 
you wont
> go wrong with that if its priced at #50.
> 
> gunny
> 
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: emf [mailto:liberatusvirus@y...]
>   Sent: 22 April 2004 21:43
>   To: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: [DTXpress] Re: bass pedals and input leads ...
> 
> 
>   --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Griffin" <andygk7@y...> 
wrote:
>   > Hi all
>   >
>   > Hopefully picking up my DTXpress III tomorrow - I'm going to 
need a
>   > bass pedal and have been looking at the Tama HP200 ( baby 
cobra ? )
>   > looks like a good pedal and can get one for #50 with the kit - 
is
>   > this a good choice or are there better ones ( for around the 
same
>   > money )any advice ?
> 
>   Congratulations, Andy. Personally, I find it hard to make
>   recommendations about staples like pedals and stands, partially
>   because my references are spotty and partially because of the old
>   adage about one man's meat (or vegetables). With low- to mid-level
>   kick pedals, the variables aren't that wide; most of the name 
brands
>   should do fine. I always liked the entry-level Yamaha, but I'm 
sure
>   that the Tama is just as good. You are unlikely to suffer buyer's
>   remorse whatever you happen to choose at that price. But you can
>   nitpick the really expensive ones to death.
> 
>   > Also - will be wanting to input some tunes to play along to
>   possibly
>   > from a Discman - assume you need a lead with a jack plug on 
either
>   > end to do this and take the external speaker socket from a CD
>   player
>   > to the input of the brain ?
> 
>   For most discman-type players, you'll need a stereo cable with 
1/8"
>   plugs, which is exactly what's necessary for the aux, input on the
>   DTXPU. If you run a cable from the back of a full-sized CD player,
>   you'll need an RCA to 1/8" adaptor on the DTX end. If you use
>   headphones with it, don't press the discman's into service; it 
won't
>   work. Post if you need recommendations.
> 
>   > Anyone got any advice about sticks - the rubber half coated ones
>   read
>   > up well - best choice ?
> 
>   Just a few days ago, we had a string of posts (again) about 
sticks. I
>   won't rehearse it. We tend to emphasize keeping them on the 
slender
>   side both to allow the module do the work of creating volume and 
to
>   protect the components from brute force. I like the Zildjian 5A 
DIPs,
>   at least until the rubber wears away, but there's no universal
>   "best." Chances are that if you had a favorite style/size years 
ago,
>   you can resurrect it now--unless, of course, it was a bludgeon.
> 
>   Keep us informed.
> 
>   Ed
> 
> 
> 
> 
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