Putting a DTXPress through PA

Wittaih! · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:56 pm Post subject: Putting a DTXPress through PA

Hi peeps - intersting reading on the plastic-drums front....

I've had a Yammy DTXPress for a couple of years, and my band and I are soon to be playing a small gig in a room round the back of a nice ole English pub. Capacity about 100-150. We play hard-rock.

I'm pretty happy with the sound from the drums, but want to "amp them up" rather than play an accoustic on the night.

Does anyone have any idea of what sort of PA (Power/Amps) etc are required to give my kit some attack with the rest of the bands' equipment (2x 100W Marshall Guitar amps and a 150W Trace Elliot Bass Amp). The venue said it will supply vox PA

I've heard that the power/wattage I'll need for drums far exceeds the strung instruments, but I just don't know what's required!! Any help will be most appreciated!

Thanks
Wittaih!

Saurencaerthai · King Kong Joined: 24 Sep 2002 Posts: 2609

I haven't heard anything about it needing more watts than strings. I would say any amp between 100-500 should do you fine. One or two of the Roland amps might work. As well, they do manufacture an amp set geared towards electric drums: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040623095956146115066160869259/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/441919/

Drumlord · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 10:07 am Post subject:

Hi, newbie here (but not to electronic drums).

It is true that you will require more power than your guitarists. A 100 watt amp for the drums will not compete with a 100 watt Marshall, especially if (like most guitarists) they are deaf to their own sound. The reason is simple: Guitars produce a fairly even level over the duration of their sound. It doesn't "peak" and fall off quickly. They also inhabit a limited range of frequencies. Drums, on the other hand, produce sharp signals that are all across the audio spectrum. I use a 150 watt Roland KB-500 and it can't even begin to compete with my guitarist's 150 watt Krank amp set at 2.

Roland makes the TDA-700 which might suffice. A couple of 400 watt 15" w/horn speakers would be better. If you're playing in a harder rock group and your guitarists just can't get into it if their amps aren't on 11, anything less would be a major disappointment.

I plan to buy 2 Peavey 1-15H 400 watt speakers and a Nady power amp next month because I am tired of listening to my drums all distorted just so I can hear them over the guitar.

What ever happened to e-drums being advantageous because you can turn them down??? Confused

At least now if someone complains about the band being too loud we can blame it on the guitarists. Twisted Evil

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Drumlord
http://www.saturnkat.com/drumlord
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Wittaih! · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for the heads up guys - most appreciated Smile

I didn't realise specific e-drum speaker/amps were available, so I've learnt something there - thanx for those www-links.

I've started to form a picture of what sorta stuff'd be required - I think I'd like to hire some PA that'll do the trick (can't really justify making a full blown investment for one gig.....yet), so I've been looking around

I found this place (http://www.capitalhire.com/pa_equipment.htm) and I've been looking at maybe using their PA Package 600 - does anyone think that'd be good enough? I guess I could spoend an extra 15 quid and go for the PA 1000. Their top-whack stuff (PA2500) seems a bit excessive, but maybe worth it for a laugh #evil

- I'll probably give them a call.

Thanks again - sometimes I feel like I'm the only e-drum player - especially in a rock band - you know they don't carry much kudos when it comes to looks, but if you win 'em over on sound......well....

Wittaih! · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

Just to complete this message thread (and possibly to help others), I'll just let you know what I've arranged:-

A Mackie SWA1501 Active Subwoofer and 2x Mackie SRM450's - from the Capital Hire place in London I've previously mentioned.

Since starting this thread I've learnt a bit more about what's needed/required, and I also hunted around and found a local(ish) supplier of a Roland TDA-700. The TDA-700 is an awesome piece of kit - no mistake, and you can even daisy chain them together(!!) Trouble is, here in rip-off UK, they don't seem to come in much cheaper than a grand, so I'm definately going the hire route as above. What's more, I think what I've arranged would seem to be more powerful than even a TDA-700, so I should be able to compete with my pesky "I wanna play on 11" guitarists come the night of the gig..... Twisted Evil