Yamaha DTXPRESS Owner's Manual

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the YAMAHA DTXPRESS. This manual provides comprehensive instructions for operating your DTXPRESS, a compact drum trigger module equipped with an AWM tone generator and sequencer functions. Please read this manual carefully and keep it in a safe place for future reference.

The manual is divided into two main sections: Basic Guide (covering setup, controls, and fundamental operations) and Reference (detailing each function in depth). An Appendix includes specifications, error messages, and lists of voices, songs, and setups.

About the descriptions: Button names are indicated with square brackets (e.g., [PLAY]). Combined button presses are shown as [SHIFT]+[START/S]. Page references are indicated by m P. X. Display messages are shown in quotes (e.g., "Complete!"). Illustrations are for instructional purposes and may differ slightly from the actual unit.

Inside this package: The DTXPRESS unit, Power Adaptor, and this Owner's Manual.

DTXPRESS Main Features

The DTXPRESS offers a compact half-rack 1U size body with advanced features for drummers:

Drum Trigger Function

Tone Generator Section

Sequencer Section

Interface

GM (General MIDI): A standard ensuring common tone formats for easy MIDI song data transmission and compatibility across different tone generators.

Precautions

WARNING: To avoid serious injury or death from electrical shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire, or other hazards:

CAUTION: To avoid physical injury or damage to the instrument/property:

Battery Notice:

Saving User Data: Save all data to an external device (e.g., Yamaha MIDI Data Filer MDF3) to prevent data loss. Yamaha is not responsible for damage caused by improper use or modifications, or lost data.

Environmental Issues: Yamaha strives for user safety and environmental friendliness. Dispose of batteries and products responsibly according to local regulations.

Name Plate Location: Model number and power requirements are on the top panel; serial number is on the rear panel. Record these details for your purchase record.

Multilingual Notice (Netherlands): This apparatus contains a lithium battery for memory back-up. Consult your retailer or Yamaha Service Department for battery removal upon disposal. Do not throw away the battery; hand it in as small chemical waste.

Lithium Caution (Nordic/Baltic languages): Warning: Lithium battery – explosion hazard if handled incorrectly. Replacement must only be with the same manufacturer and type. Return used battery to the supplier.

Controls and Functions

Front Panel

Rear Panel

Setting Up

Ensure power is OFF on all devices before making connections.

Connecting the Pads

Connect pad output cables to the rear panel Trigger Input Jacks (1 KICK to 8 HI HAT, 9/10). Jacks are labeled for corresponding pads. Stereo pads are compatible. The DTXPRESS automatically assigns settings for labeled inputs, but manual adjustment of sensitivity (via [TRIG] button and Trigger Setup Edit mode) may be needed for different pad characteristics.

Input Attenuation Switch: 'L' position for low sensitivity pads (TP, KP, PCY, BP); 'H' position for high sensitivity (DT10 Drum Trigger).

Special Notes:

Setting up with Acoustic Drums

Attach optional Yamaha DT10 Drum Triggers to acoustic drums. Connect triggers to the DTXPRESS rear panel jacks. Ensure suitable settings are made in the Trigger Setup Edit mode ([1-1. Pad Type]).

Attaching Drum Triggers: Mount sensors on the batterhead near the rim (avoiding contact with the rim) for bass drums and toms, or on the shell near the rim for toms. Ensure the sensor does not contact the rim or other instruments.

Removing Drum Triggers: Carefully remove sensors with a knife before loosening the head. Avoid pulling the cord.

Taking Care of Drum Triggers: Clean surfaces with alcohol before mounting. Secure sensors and cords with tape to prevent damage from vibration. Use Yamaha Ring Mutes to prevent double-triggering from irregular vibrations. Use new tape when remounting.

Connecting a Mixer or Audio Equipment

Connect DTXPRESS [OUTPUT L/MONO] and [R] jacks to a mixer or audio equipment for external speaker playback or recording. Use the appropriate cables for your equipment.

Connecting a MIDI Device

Connect DTXPRESS [MIDI OUT] to external device [MIDI IN] (or vice versa) using MIDI cables. Set [HOST SELECT] to "MIDI". This allows data storage (Bulk Dump), control of the DTXPRESS by external sequencers, and transmission of DTXPRESS performance data.

Use standard MIDI cables, no longer than 15m, to avoid irregular operation.

Connecting a Computer

Connect the DTXPRESS [TO HOST] jack directly to a computer's serial port using a compatible serial cable. Set the [HOST SELECT] switch accordingly (Mac/PC-1/PC-2). This enables use of sequencer software for controlling DTXPRESS voices and editing sequence data.

Connecting a CD Player, etc. (AUX IN jack)

Connect a CD player or cassette deck to the front panel [AUX IN] (stereo mini) jack. The audio output mixes with the DTXPRESS sound and is sent to the output jacks. Adjust the external audio volume using the [AUX IN VOL] knob.

Connecting a Pair of Headphones (PHONES jack)

Connect headphones to the front panel [PHONES] jack. Adjust headphone volume using the [POWER/VOL] knob. Be mindful of hearing protection.

Connecting the Power Supply

Connect the supplied power adaptor to the [DC IN 12V] jack on the rear panel. Secure the cord using the cord hook. Use only the supplied adaptor. Unplug the adaptor when not in use for extended periods.

Before switching power ON:

The DTXPRESS Quick Guide

This section provides a quick overview of basic functions:

Basic Operations:

Play the DTXPRESS!

Follow these steps to start playing:

  1. Switch Power ON: Ensure all connections are secure, then press the [POWER/VOL] knob. The Drum Kit & Song display will appear.
  2. Hit a Pad: Rotate the [POWER/VOL] knob to set a comfortable listening volume.
  3. Change the Drum Kit: Use [SEL] buttons to select the kit number and [VALUE] buttons to choose from 48 preset kits (1-48) or 32 user kits (49-80).
  4. Change Instrument Volume: Hold [SHIFT] and rotate [CLICK VOL] for Bass Drum volume. Hold [SHIFT] and rotate [ACCOMP VOL] for Snare Drum volume. (These settings reset on power off). For permanent adjustment, double-click [VOICE] to access the volume setting display for each pad.
  5. Change Sound Quality: Double-click [UTIL] to access the EQ display. Use [SEL] to select 'Lo' or 'Hi', and [VALUE] to adjust bass and treble.

Play Along with the Metronome

Use the metronome for practice and check your timing with the Groove Check Function.

  1. Turn On Metronome: Press the [CLICK] button. The [CLICK] button's LED lights with each beat. Press again to stop. Adjust volume with [CLICK VOL].
  2. Set Metronome Tempo: Hold [SHIFT] and press [PAGEt] to access the tempo setting display. Use [SEL] and [VALUE] to set tempo (30-300 bpm).
  3. Set Metronome Beat & Note Value: In the tempo display, use [SEL>] to move to beat/note values and [VALUE] to set them.
  4. Set Click Voice: The metronome has three click voices ('hi', 'mid', 'lo') that can be customized with any drum voice. Refer to Utility Mode [3. Sequencer Group] for details.
  5. Use Groove Check Function:
    1. Set metronome tempo and beat.
    2. Hold [SHIFT] and press [SEL>] to display Groove Check (shows timing accuracy: Groov= for each stroke, Ave= for average).
    3. Press [CLICK] to start metronome, then hit a pad (e.g., snare). The display shows timing accuracy relative to the click.
    4. Hold [SHIFT] and press [SEL>] twice to reset data.

Play Along with a Song

The DTXPRESS includes 95 preset songs for practice.

  1. Select a Song: Press [PLAY] to show the Drum Kit & Song display. Use [SEL] to select the song number (1-95 preset, 96-127 user) and [VALUE] to change it. The drum kit may also change to match the song.
  2. Listen to the Song: Press [START/S] to begin playback. The [SONG] button's LED indicates the beat. Press [START/S] again to stop.
  3. Mute a Drum Part: Hold [SHIFT] and press [PAGEs] during playback to mute the song's drum part, allowing you to play it. A "" appears next to the song name. Press again to cancel.
  4. Adjust Song Volume: Use the [ACCOMP VOL] knob for song accompaniment volume. Balance with overall volume using [POWER/VOL].
  5. Change Song's Tempo: Hold [SHIFT] and press [PAGEt] to access the Tempo Setting display. Use [SEL] and [VALUE] to adjust tempo (30-300 bpm).
  6. Play Along with Click Voice: Press [CLICK] to start the metronome in sync with the song. Adjust volume with [CLICK VOL].
  7. Change the Click Voice: Navigate to the Utility Mode [3. Sequencer Group] via [UTIL] (press three times). Use [SEL] and [VALUE] to change the click voice category and number for 'hi', 'mid', and 'lo' clicks.
  8. Change the Drum Kit: In the Drum Kit & Song display, select a different drum kit number.
  9. Change Song but Not Drum Kit: If Rhythm Mute ([SHIFT]+[PAGEs]) is active, or if Program Change reception is disabled in Utility Mode [2-2. Channel 10 Program Change/Channel Event Receive], the drum kit will not change when switching songs.
  10. Mute Individual Drums: In the Drum Kit & Song display, press [PAGEt] twice to reach the "Song & Mute" display. Use [SEL] to select drum types (Ki, Sn, Cy, Mi) and [VALUE+] to mute (display "m"), or [VALUE] to unmute (display "").

Record Your Performance

Record your performances to the DTXPRESS sequencer.

Recording System

Start Recording

  1. Select Song: Press [PLAY], select a User Song number (96-127). Empty songs are automatically selected if needed.
  2. Set Recording Conditions: Hold [SHIFT] and press [START/S]. Set Number of Measures, Record Mode (Overwrite/Replace), Track (1 or 2), Metronome Tempo/Beat, and Quantize Accuracy.
  3. Start Recording: Press [START/S]. A two-measure count-in precedes recording.
  4. During Recording: The display shows the current measure. In "Ovr" mode, pressing [SAVE/ENT] allows "Undo" (revert to previous recording).
  5. Stop Recording: Press [START/S] or wait for the assigned measure to finish.
  6. Listen to Recorded Song: Press [START/S] to playback.
  7. Redo Recording: Clear previous data using [SONG] button double-click (Clear Song) or [PAGEs] twice (Clear Track).
  8. Give Song a Name: Use [SONG] button, navigate to Song Name setting, and input an 8-character name.

Create Your Own Original Drum Kit

Customize voices, tuning, decay, reverb, and more for each pad.

  1. Select Drum Voice: Press [VOICE]. Use [SEL] and [VALUE] to select input source (pad/rim), layer number, voice category (e.g., 's' for Electric Snare), and voice number (e.g., "014 Dance01"). An asterisk "*" indicates data has changed.
  2. Edit Voice Parameters: Use [PAGEt] to navigate through settings like Volume, Pan, Tuning (Coarse/Fine), Decay, Filter Cutoff Frequency, Layer Balance, and Reverb Send.
  3. Adjust Volume/Pan: Use [PAGEt] to access Volume and Pan settings.
  4. Adjust Tuning: Use [PAGEt] to access Tuning (Coarse/Fine) and adjust pitch.
  5. Adjust Decay/Filter: Use [PAGEt] twice to access Decay and Filter Cutoff Frequency.
  6. Adjust Layer Balance: Use [PAGEs] to adjust volume balance between two layers.
  7. Adjust Reverb: Use [PAGEs]/[PAGEt] to access Reverb Send level for the voice.
  8. Save Voice: Press [SAVE/ENT], select a User Drum Kit number (49-80) using [VALUE], and press [SAVE/ENT] to confirm.
  9. Name Drum Kit: In [VOICE] mode, use [PAGEt] to access Drum Kit Name setting and input an 8-character name.

Note: Keyboard voices (GM System Level 1) can also be assigned to pads. Change the pad's MIDI channel to non-10 and select the desired MIDI note number.

Getting More Out of Your DTXPRESS

Explore advanced functions:

Reference

This section details each function of the DTXPRESS, serving as a reference guide.

Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Error Messages

Trouble Shooting

No Sound / Trigger Inputs Not Recognized:

External Tone Generator No Sound:

Incorrect Voice Produced:

Low Sensitivity / Volume:

Double-Triggers Produced:

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