repeat of born studio- newbie looking for info on the new yamaha

[radioking]

Hi all-

I didn't want to post over the the Vdrum forum cause it doesn't appear that they want to talk about the dtxtreme III.

I was following the other threads and like bornstudio I'm getting ready to make an investment, TD12 or the Xtreme III standard. I'm primamrily using it to record drum tracks in an NYC apartment, moving up from programming an MPC. I'm a full time player, basically I make a living ( small) playing acoustic drums.

Now.. Unfortunately, none of these modules seem to have the Keltner, ?uestlove. Levon Helm, and Steve Jordan samples I'd like. everything seems to sound like a smooth jazz or ameican idol session out of LA.

I don't have any quetions per se... but maybe someone wants to add their own experience and opinions to the roland vs. Yamaha discussion...

thanks !!

[XXL66]

I had the change to test a TD20 next to the DTXIII and i bought the DTXtreme SP. Why ?

The rack is very rugged (in fact all hardware), but I want to use the kit for gig's too.
The sampling possibility is very nice especially the multi-layered. I have done a first test yesterday with my own sampled Sonor Delite toms (5 layers each) and i really like it, they sound very natural. To my opinion all standard sounds on the DTXIII have way too much attack and the default trigger settings are not realistic.

I'm very happy i bought the DTXIII but if you use this kit just in the studio and will be using maybe drum-software it don't think it matters much except maybe playability. Lot's of e-drummers buy meshpads just because it looks more like a drum and not because it plays like a real drum. In my opinion the YAMAHA rubber pads are best compared to real drums, in my opinion mesh pads are much too bouncy, if you think about how a meshpad is made and compare it to a real drumhead it's logical they are much more bouncy.

I once owned a DDRUM4, if i compare it now you can even get a better sound out of the DTX then the DDRUM, but it takes some work. The hardware is much better and it has all other features that i was missing on the DDRUM. Good cymbals, onboard effects, easy MIDI->PC connection, play/record songs etc...

[radioking]

Yea, I'm getting the impression I'll need to buy toontracks or some other good sounding sample library. Nothing out of the box is going to sound as good as I like. I mean, I've got some amazing drums and cymbals, vintage ludwigs, a few gretsch kits, 2 brady snares and some great zildjians, both old and vintage.

thanks for your input. please share any more comments..

and.. i played the mesh heads on a broadway show ... they're terrible !!!

[CaTaPulT]

Hi Radioking and welcome to the forum.
I have a DTXtreme standard kit.
The aluminum rack of the standard kit is also decent and pretty strong, it's by no means as heavy duty as the new HEX rack and it doesn't use the new mounts either.
It uses the standard Yamaha swivel ball mounts as used on Yamaha acoustic kits for many years. The cymbal stands are basically the same top parts as their acoustic counterparts (no bottom part with the legs).
The new redesigned hihat and kick pad has gotten nothing but praise from anyone trying or buying them. The new cymbals are also the best eDrum cymbals I've played on (I've tried Yamaha older cymbals, Roland and Pintech).
As XXL66 said, the hardware is second to none.
As for the sounds, there are many effect built into the new module, compression, flanger, chorus, reverb, etc, you can even make the thing sound like your playing on a old scratched up 78 LP vinyl record! :)
I'm not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, so what you are wanting to do with this thing will require you reading up on the subject, the DTXtreme III manuals can be found here http://www.dtxperience.com/dox.php so by reading up in these might give you a better idea if the DTXtreme III module will perform the tasks you need.
The TP-120sd (snare) and TP-100 (toms) pads are very responsive, they also have 3 zones each, thus being able to add effects or percussion (cowbells, chimes) to the rims of the toms.
Both cymbals of the Standard kit are 3 zones, the hihat is 2 zone (no bell).
And by adding your own ram (DIMMS) you can have up to 512 megs of sampling memory, XXL66 has been having success recording his acoustic kit, layering the toms and having them sound quite natural by using the modules sampling feature.
I'm just a guy that enjoys playing drums as a hobby, so I am happy with the built in sounds but I think this module was designed with the amateur and pro in mind, check it out.
Good luck.
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[XXL66]

This is a small sample i did today, i have only layered the toms, kick is standard sound.

Forgive me my playing. It's just an example how toms can sound on a DTX3.

http://users.telenet.be/u146962/toms.mp3

[radioking]

nice.. i like the overtones on the rack.. not sure if those are your samples or the dtx that you tweeked?

[XXL66]

These are samples (5 layers) i recorded myself from my Sonor Delite kit. Nothing less nothing more. Module was reset to factory settings just before i uploaded samples, so triggering is standard factory settings.

[radioking]

how you doing with the hi hat pad on the new yamaha? i was playing it in the store today and could get the dynamic sensitivity I wanted..

[XXL66]

well of course there is nothing like the real thing, but for me the HH is pretty close, although you may need to tweek settings. I noticed at factory settings that there is too much volume difference in the several samples used on the HH.

[joemcc]

Love the toms!

JoeMcc