Drum Related

Products: Yamaha DTXTreme III Special Kit

At the music live show this year I got a chance to play on a Yamaha DTXTreme lll. This kit wasn’t actually for public use but seeing as I asked nicely…!

I was really impressed with the stuff it could do! The guy – Simon if I recall – had set up the pads so that he could play entire tracks using just the kit with no external CD or soundtrack. All the separate sections of the track were allocated to different triggers around the kit. He showed us “Ain’t no other man” by Christina Aguilara – A song I love playing to – and Stronger by Kanye West…. Both very impressive! Some people would watch something like that and say “yeh, it’s alright but the drummer ain’t really doing anything…. he’s just hitting the pads at the right time to make the next bit play.” As true as this is in part, it’s not the case. I had a go and let me tell you, it ain’t as easy as it looks! Not only have you got to hit the right things in the right place in the drum at the right time. You’ve gotta remember where to hit, when to hit it, and the order in which to go round the pads as well as keep it all relaxed and in time with the click – which to be fair, is something I don’t struggle with - Not to mention holding back when you play – something which I DO struggle with! -  Once the triggers are set up you then can’t use the kit in the way you normally would… there are things you CAN’T hit otherwise it triggers the wrong bit of the track in the wrong place!

His demo was really impressive and it did actually really make me want to go out and buy one of these kits. Or at least the brain and some trigger pads just so I can add them to my acoustic set up. I think this is the way forward.

Anyway, here’s what Yamaha have to say about their kit:

DTXTReme III Special Set - Your Style, Your Sounds!
Introducing the new DTXTREMEIII Special Kit, an electronic drum kit like no other. Coming from a long and illustrious line of Yamaha electronic drum kits, the DTXTREME III features a brand new brain that’s based upon ‘Motif’ AWM2 sounds.
The DTXTREME III has an outstanding sampling capability (with optional memory installed) and a powerful sequencing engine. With USB MIDI on board, the DTXTREME III is not only a standout stand-alone instrument, it can function as the front end of a complete music production system embracing live performance, rhythm training, music creation and studio recording.
The DTXTREME’s preset kits and voices are just the beginning. You also have full WAV/AIFF sampling capability that lets you store your own sounds and compile your own kits, and a MIDI sequencer to drive new beats.
The 6 individual outputs make the DTXTREME III the perfect instrument for live- and studio performances as you can mix each channel (as e.g Snare, Toms & HiHat) separately for your individual sound.
The digital output (S/PDIF) enables you to send a signal in digital quality to any external recording device.
With the AUX IN/SAMPLING IN jack, you can attach any CD Player or audio device and jam along with your favourite songs.
The Special Set is equipped with the 4-leg HexRack system that guarantees absolute stability.
Components…
•  DTXT3 – Module
•  HXR4L – Rack System Pad Set:
•  2x PCY135 ( 3- Zone Cymbal Pad)
•  1x PCY155 ( 3- Zone Cymbal Pad)
•  1x KP125 Kick Pad
•  1x RHH135 HiHat Pad
•  1x TP120SD ( 3-Zone Snare Pad)
•  3x TP100 (3-Zone Tom Pad)
•  2x CH750 (Cymbal Holder)
•  1x SS652 (Snare Stand)
•  1x HS650 (HiHat Stand)

Gear Review: Traps – Electronic kit

RRP = £499 (but available for around £420)

“Traps” are a make of kit at the cheaper end of the electric market because they aren’t as technically advanced as some the other products on offer. However, I think they’re great! Not just great value for money, but a lot nicer and easier to play than kits twice their price. The all round “mesh heads” (they give a better response and make less noise!) allow you to tighten and loosen them depending on which drum it represents. The heads are also a lot bigger then conventional electric pads as the pad itself is not the trigger. This means a more realistic set up can be achieved with regards to spacing. The rack that comes with the kit is sturdy and easy to adjust and allows scope for additions. The brain my not be as fancy as some other kits, but at the end of the day most people want an electric kit, not for the fancy things the brain can do, but for the practical fact that an acoustic kit is too loud. They want to mimic an acoustic kit but with as little noise as possible. For that reason I give this kit the thumbs up. I don’t know about how great the components are when it comes to the electronic side. I’ve only spent a few minutes analyzing this kit for “play-ability” so I don’t know how often it would crash or just simply follow the old computer problem of, “just not working!” But as with most things, if you look after them there shouldn’t be a problem. 
Personally I am considering getting a set for my apartment so that I can get some practice done!