In this issue I would like to present you the

great flagship of Yamaha Drums in detail.

The DTX900 module offers so many great

features, you could fill a complete Music

Production Guide.

So let's better start small and get a first overview of this

great drum kit.

The ComponenTs

•Module 1xDTX900M

•Rack 1xRS700includingholders

•Snare-Pad 1xXP120SD

•Tom-Pads 2xXP100T

•Floortom-Pad 1xXP120T

Yamaha DTX920KI plaY sIlICone... whaT abouT You?

•Kick-Pad 1xKP100

•Crashes 2xPCY135

•Ride 1xPCY155

•HiHat 1xRHH135

•HiHat-Stand 1xHS740A

The RaCK Rs700

Due to its size the rack provides a convenient arrangement

of all components. The clamps are super stable and have

been equipped with the proven ballclamp tom holders for

the Tom Pads. The cymbal holders are also super flexible

thanks to their boom arms. Two holders are integrated

in the rack, the third is on the right arm of the rack. All

brackets and holders can be set to meet your personal

preferences of where you like to have your Pads. The

YAMAHA.COM 22

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 05|2016

Module has its place on the left side. From there, you can

operate the entire drum kit. Due to the length of the left

side arm the Module does not interfere with the drummer's

playing.

The paDs

The Tom Pads and the Snare Pad have a natural rebound

and a good feel thanks to their special silicone head. The

silicone material was differently foamed with air bubbles,

so that the various Pads all have their distinctive feel.

As on an acoustic drum kit, a hit on a Tom Pad feels softer

than a hit on the Snare Pad, since an acoustic snare head

has a higher tension than a tom head.

All Pads have three Zones for playing different sounds.

The Toms offer a rim sound on the top Zone on the rim,

the normal sound on the middle head Zone, and the tom

sound together with the rim on the bottom Zone on the

rim. The Snare can be played in the same way with three

sounds Closed Rim, Open Rim, and Center.

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 05|2016

YAMAHA.COM 23

The dial in the top left corner can have different functions:

To virtually lose or tighten the snare, change the tuning,

control effects or filters, or adjust the tempo of the click

and the sequencer.

The KICK paD

The KP100 is extremely quiet and equipped with a fabric

drumhead. The drumhead and the base of the Kick Pad

are large enough to be used with a double pedal. The

Kick Pad features an output and an input. The small Gain

Knob provides adjustment of the trigger sensitivity. A foot

pedal is not included. So you can make your own choice

between a single pedal or a double pedal.

The hI-haT

The Hi-Hat stand is of good

Yamaha quality and makes

a great combination with

the 2-Zone Hi-Hat Pad. The

following sounds can be

produced with the Hi-Hat:

•Open Hi-Hat: Two Sounds,

bow and edge region

•Closed Hi-Hat: Two

sounds, bow and edge

region

•Pedal Hi-Hat: The sound

of using the pedal to clash

the cymbals

•Splash Hi-Hat: If you shortly step on the pedal and

release it straight back

Yamaha has also programmed a "Hi-Hat Pitch": When

you play an acoustic Hi-Hat in closed position and then

add more pressure to the pedal, the resulting sound of

the Hi-Hat becomes slightly higher. This effect is mimicked

perfectly with the controller.

The CYmbal paDs

The Cymbal Pads also feature three Zones and thus offer

the most important sounds: The Cup, the Bow, and the

Edge region.

You can choke the Cymbal and keep playing muffled with

your hand on the Cymbal Pad.

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 05|2016

YAMAHA.COM 24

CablIng

The Pads are connected to the Module using single cables.

This has the advantage that you can customise the cabling

as you like it, and in case of loss or defect individual cables

are replaced quickly. The supplied cables are marked and

can be easily layed. Velcro straps help in mounting them

to the rack.

effeCTs

The Module is equipped with an effects processor,

which not only offers Reverb and Chorus, but also many

variations like Flanger, Wah, or Delay.

•9 Reverb types

•19 Chorus types

•51 Variation types

•51 Insertion types

•9 Master Effects

•5-band Master EQ

The InTeRnal

sequenCeR anD

The pRaCTICe songs

The factory settings also include 44 Playalongs (Practice

Songs) in various musical styles from rock to funk to jazz

stored in the Sequencer of the Module. With the help

of these great Songs you can excellently practice and

improve your drumming. You can change the Tempo, you

can mute the drums, or play only to the bass. The internal

Sequencer has a capacity of 152,000 events - which is

more than enough to record your own drumming or to

load MIDI songs in Standard MIDI format from a USB

drive into the Module.

The moDule DTX900m

The tone generation system of the Module is working with

drum samples. The various drum & percussion instruments

were professionally recorded in a studio. In this way, you

play as on an acoustic drum kit. Also, all cymbals that you

might need as a drummer can be found in DTX900M. The

percussion sounds are fantastic and cover the music styles

of different countries, for example, Cuba, Brazil, Africa,

Asia and so on.

The module contains 1,115 drum sounds and 211

keyboard sounds. In addition, 512 MB of RAM memory

is available for your own samples in WAV and AIFF file

format - enough for a variety of own sounds, loops, and

backing tracks. They are easy to load into your Module

via a USB drive. Changes to the samples can be made

directly in the Module, the most important audio editing

functions are available. The AUX input can be used as a

sampling input. In this way, the samples can be recorded

directly with the DTX900M.

There are 50 Preset Drum Kits of different music styles

available. You can create your own Drum Kits using the

additional 50 User Drum Kits where you can let your

imagination run wild: Each Pad Zone can be assigned

with a different sound, and on top of that you can also set

its Pitch, Damping, Decay, Attack, and many more options

- to help you program your perfect Drum Kits.

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 05|2016

YAMAHA.COM 25

The meTRonome

The Metronome provides very comprehensive features.

Of course, Tempo and Time Signature can be changed.

In addition, you can set different Accents and start or

stop the click by hitting a Pad. If desired, the click signal

is heard only through the headphones - perfect for live

performances.

The ConneCTIons aT a

glanCe

•MIDIIN/OUT

•USBTODEVICE/TOHOST

•OUTPUTL/MONO,R(standardphonejack)

•DIGITALOUT(S/P-DIF)

•INDIVIDUALOUTPUT1-6(standardphonejack)

•Trigger Input jacks 1 - 9, 12 - 15 (standard stereo

phonejack,L:TriggerSignal,R:RimSwitch)

•TriggerInputjacks10and11(standardstereojack,L:

TriggerSignal,R:TriggerSignal)

•AUXIN/SAMPLINGIN(standardstereojack)

•PHONES(standardstereoheadphonejack)

•HIHATCONTROL(standardstereophonejack)

•DCIN16V

fRee auDIo RouTIng

The Module is equipped with individual outputs. So you

have the option to route the Pads to different outputs

to provide the sound engineer with the respective

instruments on separated channels. The click signal can

also be assigned freely. There are six individual outputs,

the Master L / R, and the headphone output. If you use all

of them you have are a total of ten outputs at hand.

Cubase aI

Included with the Drum Kit comes a download voucher for

the latest version of Steinberg's Cubase AI studio software

for Mac or PC. With this software you can record not only

your Drums, but complete bands. But of course, an audio

interface would be advantageous for that purpose. You

also have the option to control VST plug-ins and play

other drum sounds.

mY ConClusIon

This Drum Kit is a professional all-round package. The

Kit is suitable for live use, for the studio, and of course

for practising. The Pads provide optimum playing comfort

and naturalness. The great real drum sounds are totally

convincing, and all the features are second to none. Try it,

you will be impressed.

YourRalfMersch

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 05|2016

YAMAHA.COM 26