Yamaha DS9XP DTXpress advice

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speedamp

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Hello everybody! I am selling my acoustic kit, and am looking to enhance my home recording options. I will not be needing the extended features that most electronic kits have, and simply need to record great sounding kits to my VS1680 or n-track software.

Does anyone know if the Yamaha DS9XP DTXpress will suit my needs?
Any positive or negative reviews or advice?

thank you for your help!

-michael
 
First - if you do a search you will find several past discussions on the DTExpress.

I'm a fan of E-drums for recording. I think you can get very realistic sounds (although the cymbals - due to sampling limitations are not always the best).

The DTExpress has decent sounds for the price. I don't think it's a real sturdy set - but if you don't do a lot of setup/tear down and if you play it properly (don't bash it like it's an accoustic kit) it can be a good recording tool.

If you have not actually played a set - you need to spend some time at a local store - some cats coming from accoustic kits don't like the ffel of the rubber pads.
 
thanks a lot.

I am not planning on gigging with this at all. I've played my whole life (28) and this is my first experience with electronic drums.

I've looked at other posts, and have a few questions:

1) are the sounds in this kit samples?
2) will i achieve a realistic sound for recordings?

thanks,

-mike
 
If my memory serves, the DTExpress is a sample playback module which means yes, they are samples. You will have very limited control over tweaking any parameters - but many of the sounds are very good.

I think you would be happy with the recorded sound of the drums - but as I have indicated, cymbals are always the weakest samples (long decay, harmonics, etc.). Many studio's that use E-drums like to use real cymbals/hi-hats. Although I've done several recordings useing E-cymbals and have been very happy. Cymbals should not be too hot in a mix anyway, so any weakness in E-cymbals are normally not that apparent in the mix.

Just keep in mind that the DTExpress only have 2 outs - which limits the ability to add effects and processing at the board.
 
If I recall the TD6 is $1200 and is pretty close in sound and performance to the DTExpress (the Yamaha has better built in sequences and melodic sounds - IMO).

The TD8 is a much better module with several parameters that you can tweak to create more of a custom sound (rather than being locked in to just presets). It also has 4 outs (vs 2) The mesh pads on the TD8 are a significant improvement in feel. The TD8 is a big jump from the TD6 or the DXExpress - but it is also more than twice the price - if you're paying that much you're almost better going up to a TD10 (or Pintech or Hart with the module of your choice).

If I recall the TD7 is the TD8 module but useing rubber pads rather than mesh pads.

Since your original post indicates you don't want the extended features - you may be paying for more than you want if you go with the TD7 or TD8.

I don't know if you have a "big box" store near you (Mars, etc.) but you really need to get some hands on with a few kits to see what you like or don't like.
 
mikeh, you are wrong about the DTXpress kit.

I've owned this kit for a year now, and the parameters and adjustments are almost infinite. I haven't covered one-tenth of what this module can do, and I've played with it for a long, long time.

As far as effects go, it's no problem whatsoever. I don't understand how two (stereo) outs is some kind hinderance to your recording capabilities... especially when you can pan and adjust each drum and cymbal individually.
There's so much I can do with each seperate drum and/or cymbal that it would make your head spin.

I added a Pintech dual-trigger, mesh-head pad for my snare, and it's absolutely amazing how tight the sound is.... right down to the softest roll. I also added the bell-tip on the ride.

Getting a feel for the pads takes only a few minutes of playing time... no problem.

The entire set-up cost me $1,100.... tax included.


The things that you are correct about is that the cymbals aren't perfect.
Damn close, but enough for a "pro" to hear the difference.... not the average person, though.

Secondly, the overall construction is not sturdy enough for constant breakdown & set-up, stage-use, and travel.
But, my drums never leave my studio, so it's the perfect rig for me. :)

speedamp, if you'd like to 2 songs where I used this kit, go here....

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/248/the_mac_brothers.html

Listen to the songs "Angel Child" and "Doin' Nothin"...... that will give you a good idea of how good a moderately-priced set of e-drums can sound.

As for Roland e-drums... nice stuff, but over-rated and waaaaay over-priced.

Buck
 
Hey, Great songs! I like them and to an average listener that loves music, i think this kit rocks! Sounds good enough to me. Thanks for the advice and the link:cool:
 
Buck62 - I appreciate you're corrections to my posts. I was in no way bashing the the DTExpress I just did not feel it provided as many controllable parameters as something like the TD8 or TD10 (which as you point out are much more expensive). Although I'm sure it has more control parameters than most people would care to explore - and in fact Speedamp indiacted he was not interested in all the extended features.

Regarding the stereo out limitations as applied to effects. It is not uncommon to assign one reverb to the snare and a different reverb to the toms, etc. which would mormally be done at the board. Many drum modules provide 4 or 6 or even 8 outs to allow that kind of individual control at the board. I just pointed out that the DTExpress doesn't provide that kind of send flexibility.

Regarding adjusting playing technique, I agree I don't think it is that much of adjustment, but there are several drummers that just don't like playing on rubber pads and I talk to dozens (if not hundreds) of drummers in the drum shop I work in about this (and many other subjects).

Bottom line, I'm sure all your points are accurate and I'm sure you understand I was not trying to bash the DTExpress. Candidly, I have a V-drum set which I got before the DTExpress came out (and yes I think it's waaaay too expensive - even with the discount I got as a drum sales rep). If I could do it over again I would give serious thought to the DTExpress (based on the price point alone)
 
I agree with Mikeh that the cymbal sounds are terrible, and i think i'm going to invest in a ddrum4 brain, and build my own set from scratch.

Any recommendations on the type of setup, pads, triggers, etc I should keep in mind when doing this?

thanks.....

-michael
 
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