DTXtreme clinics

[jrcel]

http://www.giles.com/yamaha1/whatsnew1.html

[Mikster]

Called up Sam Ash yesterday and was told the DTXtreme was all set up.
Walked in today and the guy says "man, you should have been here 2 days ago. Tony Verderosa was here and he put on an unbelievable clinic!"
Ah, horsespit.
Anyway, sat down with Xtreme today for a full hour after watching about a 15 minute demo tape that the guy opened up and popped in their VCR which was very good and informative.
I like the Xtremes alot.
The video shows how easy it is to convert to mesh heads which I think would be necessary to match up to the V's. You simply take off the head and take out these 2 pads and replace them with an uneven "waffled" pad (included) and then simply place mesh heads on the drum. I wasn't quite sure, however, how easy it is to get double ply mesh heads to fit the 8",10" and 12" drums. Given the price difference between the V's and the Xtremes this would not bother me having to get the mesh heads. Actually the heads that come with them aren't all that bad though the mesh heads are better. I asked the guy at Sam Ash if, on my return, he could make the changeover to mesh since I would need to check out the switch. I also told the guy that if he put mesh heads on the display model he'd sell more Xtremes than V's given all the factors, especially price.
The drums look real nice.
The rack is extemely sturdy, well thought out, and also nice looking.
The features on the Xtreme unit are really nice and I like the way the unit is set up.
While it's more difficult to just sit down and navigate all the ins and outs I didn't think, by watching the video, that it would be all that difficult once you became familiar with the unit.
The set I tried had only 1 crash and 1 ride which was not enough for me. The Xtreme pamphlet does show a "Special+a Kit" with 4 toms and 3 cymbals. The other kit has 3 toms and 2 cymbals.
The sounds......
At first I wasn't too thrilled or too sure about the sounds but then I started playing with the sliders and proportioned everything to my liking and everything started sounding better. I couldn't remember what was suggested on this board to improve the sounds coming out of the headphones and it was only when I got home that I read in the pamphlet about the "localizer effect"
Still the V Session kit was right there and so I sat with them for awhile for comparison and, while I only compared the preset kits for comarison, I did like the Xtreme sounds better. There were more useful sounds and kits on the Xtreme. Of course the V's felt better because of the mesh but that's a minor point which can easily be changed as mentioned above. As has already been discussed on this board they can't put mesh heads on I'm sure for patent reasons. But that doesn't stop anyone else from doing so.
Yamaha makes it easy and gives you the changeover "waffle" pad to do it on your own. They finally had the new V cymbals adjusted properly and so they swung easier though they still didn't sound that good. They kind of sound distant or muted. I looked at the unit and it said TD10. Does the new kit say TD10 EXP or something else on it? In any event I will assume that the flat or distant sound is the fault of the setup. I definitely, however, like the Yamaha bell better than the bell on the V ride. Most of the kits had separate sounds for the heads and the rims which was great.
In other words you don't have to hit the heads and rims simultaneosly to get a separate sound.
All in all I liked the Xtreme better than the V's and so, unless I change my mind, I'm eventually going to buy the Xtreme along with a drumKat and keep various elements of my acoustic kit since,as great as E drums are, they can't reproduce the feel of real
cymbals,hihat,and snare. In fact, when I got home and started playing my acoustics they sounded and felt unbelievably great. I can't give them up totally and so I've decided to marry the acoustics with the E's. Was very tempted to post my feelings under "Psychotherapy Part 2"


[This message has been edited by Mikster (edited March 28, 2001).]

[Zorro]

As far as price, what does the DTX go for as opposed to the V's? Some one told me they were on par with the V's as far as price is concerned.

[Mikster]

At Sam Ash the V's were $1,000.00 more !!!
Even if you love the V drums there's no way
anyone who sits down at both sets side
by side, imagining the DTXtreme with mesh
heads, and figuring that cost, can say
that the V's are $1,000.00 better. No way
no how. In fact, in my opinion,as I wrote,
the DTXtreme wins the comparison test.
The Xtreme module is a better module, with
better features and more inputs. That,
would seem to me, is an indisputable fact.
I'm sure people will argue which module
has the better sounds. I, again, liked the
Xtreme module better.
The Yamaha drums are better looking.
The rack is nicer looking, if not more
functional and sturdier as well, though
I'm no rack expert.
The Xtreme is more professional looking and
more polished, in my judgement.
The V cymbals are OK but I didn't think there
was a world of improvement over Yamaha's
cymbals, and the Yamaha PCY10 bell is
great as has often been pointed out in
this forum.
So, you must ask yourself --- why the heck
is the Roland $1,000.00 more ?
If you love the V Session kit and can't live
without it I would suggest that you wait.
Those inflated Roland prices will have to
come down this time around, though they
really didn't in their first go round.

[MPCman]

For all DUTCH drummers; Ton Dijkman is going to give clinics with the DTXtreme and the Hipgig. A few dates I know are;
-10 april 20:00 Feedback rotterdam
-24 april Feedback utrecht
(source; mr @oM, so if it's not correct; blame him)
-3 April Interdrum Winterswijk (www.interdrum.nl)

[cliff]

Keep in mind the Sessions can be had for $4200 so the price is less than you might think. IMHO the Sessions are superior to the Xtremes in the following areas:
Positional sensing- Yamaha only has PS on the snare, Roland has PS for all inputs. PS is subtle but makes the kit sound very natural.
Cymbals-Yamaha has no "ping to swell" feature( a big minus in my opinion). The V Cymbals are simply incredible. Once the "pad bank" is dialed they simply play and "move" like no other e-cymbal.
X-stick/rim-shot-Yamaha no, Roland yes
Pads- Yamaha's look great, Roland red pads look great also and feel beter with out the foam underneath. I also like the "brush" feature that is impossible with the Xtremes. That adds up to at least a $1000 worth of features to me.

[cliff]

I MAY eat my words. I will wait to buy a V Session until after the clinic in Tampa on Mon. We will see if I'm swayed.

[jrcel]

The V Sessions are from $4700 to $4900. I was quoted a price from Midwest Percussion for $2800 for the Xtreme's.

[Mikster]

$2800 had to be for the DSXD10 3 tom setup.
Still, that's a great price.
The DTXT11 4 tom setup can't be far behind that $2800 figure as the difference between the 2 kits at Sam Ash was $200.
At Sam Ash the prices were $3700/$3500.
I'm going to give Midwest a call myself to inquire.
Thanks for the info.

[This message has been edited by Mikster (edited March 30, 2001).]

[Mikster]

Wow, you were right.
Just got back from Midwestpercussion.com
Got 2 instant quotes for the DSXT10 $2800
and the DSXT11 $3000
Those are really good prices.
God, this is as close as I've ever come to pulling the trigger.
Boy I wanted to try out those DDrums first.
All those D heads over at DDrum.com really love their sounds.
They scare me.
Could those D sounds possibly be that much better than either the Yamaha or Roland modules? They make it sound like it's night and day!
This is very tempting.
Hmmmmm.
What to do.....
Obeewan Kenobe, you're my last hope.
Heeeeeeeelllllllllpppppppppppp!!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Mikster (edited March 30, 2001).]

[cliff]

jrcel
Midwest has the Sessions for $4250 and BPM beat it for $4200.
cliff

[sepdrums]

"D" heads eh...

Honestly....they do sound great. Perfect for me and what I use it for...maybe not so perfect for the next guy.... You should at least play them...

Erik