Electronic Drum Reviews

Review: Yamaha DTX-950 Digital Drums

It may be difficult to get over being skeptical about digital drum kits — and it was — until a friend, and well-known performer, recommended (and, in fact, insisted) investigating the Yamaha DTX-950 . His point was simply that they are not like anything else on the market and that playing them would remove any skepticism. As a drummer, audio engineer, and a technology writer, the mission was to be impressed. Up to this point, most drummers grade electronic drums on a curve where the quality was only relative to other digital kits — particularly by comparison to earlier models as technologies improve. Yamaha was able to do something that no other similar product (to this point) was able to do. The DTX-950 digital drums combine a more natural playing “feel” with great sound and a ton of features so the sensation is that it is not a digital drum set at all. When you look at the models from some of Yamaha’s competitors, the DTX-950 is larger in its footprint, but not nearly as large as other brands’ “faux-acoustic” drums. The DTX-950 has an incredibly durable feel, tactile appeal and outstanding build quality that holds up to the most aggressive playing allowing finesse and sensitivity down to a proper buzz roll, or for any style of drumming in between.

The DTX-950 will make any drummer want to spend more time playing. It is responsive to each stroke without feeling too bouncy and feels more intuitive physically. For the first time with this type of product, this kit does not feel like an advanced toy or a tech gadget. Without question, this is a professional quality product for any drummer who wants or needs electronic drums. There is so much capability, both built-in and with expansion, that adds to the value of this product.

The test configuration included Yamaha’s DTX-M12 percussion pads as a sidecar, plus (highly recommended) the outstanding Ocean Way Drums sound modules. What you get is nearly limitless possibilities, capabilities, and usability that is a lot of fun to play. With that said, all of this quality comes with a price that is on par with Yamaha’s best acoustic drums; however, when you consider its applications and functionality, the DTX-950 is a great value.

What’s In The Box(es)

Unpacking involves many large boxes and at least an hour of time, but the setup is intuitive. Once you realize the standard Yamaha method of assembly, it all easily comes together. Be sure that you have a lot of space in your setup area to accommodate both the kit and the packaging once they are unpacked. Yamaha’s HEXRACK system is easy to assemble and allows for tension lock placement in nearly limitless positions, but it is important to try inverting the mounts and adjusting the heights — as you would with an acoustic drum kit. After the assembly and initial adjustment of the HEXRACK, mounts slide on with a locking pressure cuff-type system. Of course, some adjustments will be necessary as you get comfortable, but a little fine-tuning of the placement feels like any great drum kit when it is time to play.

MAMA TREBLE CLEF STUDIO: REVIEW: Cherub DP-900 Electronic Drum ...

MAMA TREBLE CLEF STUDIO was founded in the year 2002. As of today, the establishment consists of over 300 music students, and a dedicated team of staff willing to take on any challenge. Mama Treble Clef Studio offers a comprehensive list of music courses, covering everything from keyboards to woodwinds and strings, all under international bodies such as the Musikgarten USA ,Trinity London, London College of Music and ABRSM schools of music from United Kingdom.

INTRODUCTION The drummer's world is an interesting one, with many choices. From pedals to sticks and heads, stands, gloves and all sorts of accessories, we're pretty much spoilt for choice when it comes to things to hit. One such example is the practice pad - basically a rubber pad on a solid surface, practica pads come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The Cherub DP-900 Electronic Drum Pad is a new offering by the manufacturer Cherub. Basically an electronic practice pad, it incorporates many features for the student and professional alike, making stick practice and rudiments entertaining and effective, all in one package. OVERVIEW The drum pad is basically a single unit, combining a metronome, rubber pad, speakers and a sensor below the pad. Made out of black plastic, the yellow rubber pad makes for a striking contrast and it is lightweight enough to be carried to school or classes. The unit has a small screw at its base for use with any standard cymbal stand which allows it to be mounted. There is also a volume control for the metronome, a headphone out jack and several buttons to control the LCD interface. FEATURES The Cherub DP-900 Electronic Drum Pad comes with 2 built-in features; a metronome and a "train" mode (you'll understand when I go through it). The metronome feature is basically what it is, a metronome so you can practice in time and tempo. The BPM is adjustable from 30 to 280, and you can select quarter notes (crotchets), eighth notes (quavers) sixteenth notes (semiquavers), triplets and a bunch of mixed articulated notes. The beat can also be selected from 0 (no strong beat) to 11 (11/4 time signature for the more, um, rhythmically-insane). An interesting feature is the "train" feature; this mode calculates each beat on the head - sort of a stick meter to measure your speed. In this mode you can select up to 4 different times (15 seconds, 30 sec, 45 sec and 60 sec) and the timer begins after the first stroke registered. This is an excellent way to train your sticking and even makes as a challenge among friends or students! My personal record stands at 254 beats in 15 seconds (which would average out to 1,000 beats in a minute) - a long way off from Mike Mangini's record of 1,247 in a minute!

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