I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the new Yamaha DTX900 Series Electronic Drums. Then, just like their predecessors, I couldn't believe my ears. Not only did the sleek design draw my attention but then suddenly the pads on the drums themselves. I have to admit I'm on the fence about the DTX-PAD technology. It's nice to know you may never have to replace a "head" on this kit but I wasn't thrilled about the feel of it. It was almost like hitting the memory foam on a bed. And that's been a chief complaint I've heard (in person) and seen (online). Another thing that I personally never like on any e-kit is the lengthy distance the module is from the drummer. It seems silly to have the mod far away especially if you want to change sounds on the fly. Below is Yamaha's description and technical information about the DTX-900 Series. And at the very bottom is the price. Without a doubt, it is a major investment that should however pay dividends to you for your performance or recording needs.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Here is Zak Bond's Promo Video so you can see and hear it for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO0_OsemoUk

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The DTX-PAD: a next-generation electronic drum pad

Yamaha has been a proud and dedicated designer of acoustic drums for many years, and that's why Yamaha knows what it means for drums to feel good and to work just right during performances. In its relentless pursuit of drumming perfection, Yamaha has channeled all of its experience into the creation of a new generation of electronic drum pads. Yamaha sought the help of the world's top drummers, reflecting their detailed sense of perfection to give form to the drummer's ideal. The result of this quest for perfection is the DTX-PAD.

The Yamaha DTX-PAD achieves an exquisite feel that satisfies even the world's top drummers. The surface of the pad features a Textured Cellular Silicone Head, made using unique molding technologies developed by Yamaha. It has a different stick response for the snare and toms, which provides a natural feeling when you use the pads in a drum set. The sensitivity of the pad has dramatically increased by employing a floating design. Its durability has been proven through Yamaha's severe testing process and yet achieves a level of quietness during play that is on a different level from other contemporary e-drum pads.

Realistic cymbals and durable kick pads

This kit employs the vertically mobile RHH135 hi-hat pad. This pad is incredibly quiet, and its pedal has a natural feel. You can control different sounds with the pad and edge areas, and foot splashing is supported. It includes the HS740A hi-hat stand.

There are two types of cymbal pads included—the 15-inch PCY155 and the 13-inch PCY135. They both have three zones: the pad, edge, and cup. Each zone produces a different sound. Because sticks bounce and vibrate on these pads in almost the exact same way that they do on real cymbals, you'll get that same feeling that you do playing on an acoustic drum set. Also, you can choke the cymbal pads by grabbing their edges after you hit them.

This electric drum kit also includes a KP125W kick pad, which guarantees stable play, even when you're using a double foot pedal. A protective sheet that covers the entire drumhead makes each kick pad extremely durable.

HXR4LD Hex Rod DTXtreme III Curved Rack System

Yamaha's hexagonal tubing prevents clamps from slipping and adds strength and stability to the rack. Cymbal arms mount from front vertical tubes and clamps rotate on ball joints for superior adjustability.

This rack includes three 46" curved bars, six HXTC tom/cymbal arms, four tom arms, two CH-750 cymbal booms, and one CH-755 cymbal boom. With available accessory clamps and tubes(sold separately) you can create any custom configuration. The matte finish resists fingerprints better than chrome.

The high-quality tone generator and superb operability of the DTX900 module

In addition to a collection of essential Yamaha acoustic drum sounds, the DTX900 also features a broad spectrum of voices taken from the world-renowned MOTIF-Series synthesizers for a grand total of 1,326 voices. Even on a live stage, these subtle, yet dynamic voices bring forth a compelling presence. The Expanded Articulation System, which creates subtly different samples even when you strike the drum with the same strength, can create more natural snare rolls and re-create the feel of a legato ride cymbal or staccato hi-hat. This module is equipped with rich and powerful DSP effects. This includes global effects, such as reverb and chorus, which can be used commonly throughout the whole system, as well as variation effects that can be used on each drum kit. It is equipped with a chain function that enables you to program drum kits freely, in any order that you desire. Even during a live performance, you can switch to another drum kit easily just by hitting a pad.

The Yamaha DTX900 also features internal recordings of 87 songs from a wide variety of genres. You can mute the drum part and play along with a song, and you can also record your own performance.

The Yamaha DTX900 module is equipped with an Aux In/Sampling In connector. You can connect it to an external sound source or use a microphone and sample your own audio, from instruments to vocals. You can even load original voices from USB flash memory and assign them to different pads.

The module is also equipped with a stacking feature, which plays multiple drum voices simultaneously when you hit a single pad, and an alternation feature, which changes the voice each time you hit a single pad. By combining these features, you can perform in ways that would be impossible with an acoustic drum set.

The drum module has a metronome feature that enables you to set precise types of clicks for different types of notes. You can change the locations of the click accents. It is also equipped with a groove check function, which checks the accuracy of your timing and tells you how off-rhythm you are, and a rhythm gate function, in which the drum only produces sound for accurate shots. This allows you to train for practice as if you were playing a game. With the Aux-In connector, you can connect a CD player, portable MP3 player, or other device and practice using any song you like.

The MIDI and USB connectors allow you to not only play sounds from an external sound source and use the high-quality sound of the DTX900 as a sound source, but to also add power to your music creation by using Digital Audio Workstation software to create a MIDI recording of your own performance. In addition, Steinberg Cubase AI 5 is included. You can use it to change parameters such as the tempo, timing, and tone of your recorded MIDI performances. The unit will also function as a MIDI-controller for VST instruments. With a free download from Yamaha's website, the DTX900 panel switches can even be used to control Cubase AI 5 and other DAWs, allowing for more streamlined music creation.

You can use the six Individual Out connectors to send the snare, tom, and other drum sounds to your mixer individually. You can record to a multi-track record easily without using the complicated miking that you would need to record from an acoustic drum set. Also, you can use the Digital Out (S/P DIF) connector to send digital quality sound from the DTX900 to an external device.

Yamaha DTX950K Electronic Drum Set Features:

Drum pad sizes include:
2 XP100T 10" tom pads
2 XP120T 12" tom pads
One XP120SD 12" snare pad
One KP125W kick pad
One RHH135 hi-hat pad
One PCY155 15" cymbal pad
Two PCY135 13" cymbal pads
HXR4LD Hex Rack DTXtreme III Curved Rack System features:
Hexagonal tubing prevents clamps from slipping and adds strength and stability
Matte finish resists fingerprints better than chrome
Clamps rotate on ball for superior adjustability
Includes 3 - 46" curved bars, 6 HXTC tom/cymbal, 4 tom arms, 2 CH-750 cymbal booms, and one CH-755 cymbal boom
Cymbal arms mount from front vertical tubes
The electronic drum set includes all necessary hardware
Kick pedal and throne sold separately
Yamaha DTX-PAD features:
Textured Cellular
Silicone head
Different stick response for the snare and toms
Proven durability
Improved sensitivity due to floating design
Vertically mobile hi-hat pad is incredibly quiet and has a very natural feeling pedal

Yamaha DTX900 drum module features

Acoustic drum samples and MOTIF-Series synth sounds add up to 1,326 voices
Expanded Articulation System makes more natural snare rolls and legato rides possible
High-quality DSP effects include global effects and variation effects
Chain function enables you to program drum kits freely, in any order
Able to sample through various inputs including Aux In and USB
Capable of triggering multiple sounds either simultaneously or sequentially on one pad
Built-in metronome with a variety of click options
Groove check function checks accuracy of timing and analyzes play
Rhythm gate function only allows sounds through that are in time
MIDI and USB connectors allow the kit to be used as a MIDI controller
Module sliders can also be used to control Digital Audio Workstation
Includes Cubase AI 5
Individual Outputs allow for easy multitracking
S/PDIF out
Yamaha DTX950K Electronic Drum Set Specifications:
Configuration
Trigger Module: DTX900
Rack System: HXR4LD
Drum Pad Set:
DTP900 Pad Set includes:
2 PCY135 3-zone cymbal pads
One PCY155 3-zone cymbal pad
One RHH135 2-zone Hi-Hat pad
KP125W kick pad
2 CH750 short cymbal booms
SS662 snare stand
DTP902 Pad Set includes:
One XP120SD snare pad
2 XP100T tom pads
2 XP120T tom pads
One CH755 cymbal boom
One HS740A hi-hat stand
Tone Generator: AWM2
Maximum polyphony: 64 notes
Wave: 205MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format)
Voices: Preset: 1,115 drum voices, 211 melody voices (GM)
Drum kits:
Preset: 50 kits
User: 50 kits (in the Flash ROM)
External: 1584 kits (or 99 x 16, in the external USB storage device)
Effects:
Reverb: 9 types
Chorus: 19 types
Variation: 51 types (Drum Kit)
Insertion: 51 types (AUX In/Sampling In)
Master Effect: 9 types
Master EQ: 5 bands
Trigger:
Trigger Setup
Preset: 9
User: 5
Pad songs
Play, chase, cutoff
4 songs (max.) can be played simultaneously.
Sequencer:
Note Capacity: Approx. 152,000 notes
Note resolution: 480 ppq (parts per quarter note)
Song recording type: Real time
Song tracks: 2 tracks
Songs:
Demo: 3 songs
Practice: 44 songs
Pad song: 40 songs
User: 50 songs
Sequence formats: DTX900 Original Format, SMF format 0
Click:
Tempo: 30 to 300 , Tap tempo
Beat: 1/4 to 16/4, 1/8 to 16/8, 1/16 to 16/16
Timing: Accent, Quarter note, Eighth note, Sixteenth note, Triplet
Click Voices: Preset: 8, User: 1
Training Functions: Measure break, Groove check, Rhythm gate
Click:
Sampling:
Samples: 1,016 (for the User Voices)
Sampling Source: Audio input signals via AUX In/Sampling In, Audio output signals via Output (Resample)
Sample Data Bits: 16 bit
Digital Sampling Frequency: 44.1kHz, 22.05kHz, 11.025kHz, 5.5125kHz (stereo/mono)
Sampling Memory: Optionally installed, expandable to 512MB (256MB DIMM x 2 slots)
* DIMMs are not included
Sampling Format: DTX900 Original format, WAV, AIFF
Sample Length:
Mono: 32MB
Stereo: 64MB
Sampling Time:
44.1kHz: 6 min. 20 sec.
22.05kHz: 12 min. 40 sec.
11.025kHz: 25 min. 20 sec.
5.5125kHz: 55 min. 40 sec.
*Mono/Stereo
Controllers:
8 sliders: master, phones, click, accompaniment, kick, snare, tom, cymbal, hi-hat, and miscellaneous
Data dial
Display: 240 x 64 dot graphic backlit LCD, 7-segment LED (3-digit)
Connectors:
MIDI in/out
USB to device/to host
Output L/mono, R(standard phone jack)
Digital out (EIAJ CP1201, IEC60958, S/P DIF)
Individual output 1-6 (standard phone jack)
Trigger input jacks 1 to 9, 12 to 15 (standard stereo phone jack, L: trigger signal, R: rim switch)
Trigger input jacks 10 and 11 (standard stereo phone jack, L: trigger signal, R: trigger signal)
Aux in/sampling in (standard stereo phone jack)
Phones (standard stereo phone jack)
Hi-hat control (standard stereo phone jack)
DC in 16v
Power Consumption: 18W
Size/Weight
Dimensions:
Width: 13"
Height: 3-3/4"
Depth: 11-1/4"
Weight: 8 lb.

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For more information check out Yamaha's website at:

http://www.yamaha.com/drums/drumproductdetail.html?CNTID=5101435&CTID=5040587

Guitar Center sells this kit for $5399.99 (list $8699.99)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-DTX950K-Electronic-Drum-Set-584736-i1508095.gc