Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 Electronic Percussion Pad: Versatile Performance and Production Powerhouse

The Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 is a robust and flexible electronic percussion controller featuring a unique 12-pad layout and an expansive sound engine. It stands out for its ability to cater to various playing styles—from sticks to hands and fingers—and its deep integration capabilities, making it a workhorse for adding electronic elements to acoustic setups, standalone performances, and music production.

Expressive Pads and Multi-Mode Playability

The DTXM12 features 12 velocity-sensitive pads arranged in a compact, split-level configuration, providing an intuitive and comfortable playing surface. These pads are highly responsive, allowing for nuanced performances whether played with drumsticks, hands, or even fingers.

A key differentiator of the DTXM12 is its Multi-Mode playability:

• Stick Mode: Optimized for playing with drumsticks, offering robust response for traditional drumming.

• Hand Mode: Designed for hand percussionists, allowing for subtle expressions and techniques like muting or changing sounds by pressing down on a pad as it's struck.

• Finger Mode: Ideal for intricate finger drumming, providing extreme sensitivity for fast and complex patterns.

Additionally, the DTXM12 includes creative pad functions such as Stack Mode, where multiple assigned notes are triggered simultaneously with a single strike, and Alternate Mode, where assigned notes are played individually in turn with each strike.

Expansive Sound Library and Custom Sampling

The DTXM12 boasts a massive sound library of 1,277 voices, drawing from Yamaha's renowned MOTIF series synthesizers and advanced percussion sampling techniques. This comprehensive collection includes:

• 1,061 Drum and Percussion voices: Covering a rich variety of acoustic drum sounds, ethnic percussion, chromatic percussion, folk instruments, and DJ sounds.

• 216 Keyboard voices: Expanding its sonic palette beyond percussion.

The unit also supports user sample import, allowing musicians to load their own WAV and AIFF audio files from a USB memory device. It features 64MB of battery-backed Flash ROM for storing these custom samples, transforming the DTXM12 into a powerful sample playback device.

The DTXM12 offers extensive sound shaping capabilities with a robust effects section:

• Variation Effects: 42 types for enhancing individual voices.

• Chorus Effects: 6 types.

• Reverb Effects: 6 types.

• Master Equalizer: A 5-band master equalizer for fine-tuning the overall sound.

Integrated Sequencer and Comprehensive Connectivity

The DTXM12 includes a built-in sequencer for creating and playing patterns:

• Preset Patterns: 128 different MIDI playing patterns from various musical genres.

• User Patterns: 50 user-definable patterns.

• Sequence Capacity: Up to 152,000 notes.

• Recording Method: Real-time overdubbing.

• Tap Tempo Function: Allows for easy setting of tempo for patterns and the click track by simply striking pads.

Connectivity is comprehensive, designed for seamless integration into a wide array of setups:

• External Trigger Inputs: Five external trigger inputs (one 3-zone, four mono) for connecting additional pads (e.g., kick pads, snare pads) to expand the playing surface.

• Hi-Hat Control and Footswitch Jacks: Dedicated inputs for a hi-hat controller (for realistic hi-hat operation) and a footswitch (for controlling functions like kit switching or pattern start/stop).

• Audio Outputs: L/MONO and R 1/4-inch phone jacks for main output, plus a stereo 1/4-inch PHONES jack for monitoring.

• MIDI I/O: Standard MIDI In and Out ports for connecting to other MIDI devices.

• USB Connectivity: A USB TO HOST port (Type B) for direct connection to a computer for MIDI and audio data transfer (e.g., controlling DAW software or software synthesizers), and a USB TO DEVICE port (Type A) for connecting USB memory devices for data backup and sample import/export.

• Bundled Software: The DTXM12 often comes bundled with Steinberg's "Cubase AI" DAW software, allowing users to start recording and composing immediately.

The Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 is a versatile and expandable electronic percussion pad that serves as an excellent solution for enhancing acoustic drum kits, creating electronic drum setups, producing music in the studio, and delivering dynamic live performances across various musical styles.