I am teaching myself to play bass and wanted something more interesting to practice with than my metronome. I am also following Ed Friedland's Bass Groove book, which recommends using a drum machine.
I vacillated between this and a software/computer/drum pad/dac setup. I'm really glad I chose this. It is a great one-box set up for practice and it has a ton of flexibility that makes it useful (and fun) in a variety ways I hadn't thought of initially. For practice, I plug the bass into the instrument input, my headphones into the output and away I go. I keep it powered up with rechargeable AA's that keep me going for several multi-hour sessions before I need to swap them out. Very portable, very compact.
The drum sounds, as others have commented, are great - clear, crisp, realistic, and stereo! Over the headphones, it is great. The deeper bass and kick drum parts kick serious butt when amplified. The library has a nice balance of sounds that covers a large enough spectrum to keep me busy for a while. Programming is not hard if you actually read the manual and play with it a bit. For my purposes at this point, it has way more capability than I need.
Bonus:
- The multiple outputs are really cool. You can, for example, map the bass or percussion track to go out through the auxiliary channel, you can then run that part through a bass-synth or reverb pedal for example, and just have fun twiddling the dials. Very fun and sounds cool - and can make the bass samples come alive.
- Although the bass sounds are pretty lame as many have pointed out, they give you something of a bass line sketch to work from. At my beginner level I find it is actually great to be able to slow the machine down to hear the note selection and timing of the bass parts. No, it's not Tony Levin, but for learning I am finding it gives me a great starting point. I can run it for awhile trying to follow it with the bass line turned on, then I can mute the bass part to see if I can keep up without the "teacher" or come up with variations that fit. Nice tool. Since you can make it almost arbitrarily slow, it really helps for being able to pick up the patterns.
- Instrument input/headphone out. Nice touch. Volume knob works just on the drum going to headphones, you control instrument outboard so the volume is a really like a mix control.
- Battery operation is great, and using rechargeables really sets you free.
- The build is nice and solid. I've paid way more for way less.
Features one could want this decade:
- It's weird for a device sold in 2015 to not have USB or SD card support. No doubt that would raise the cost, but the midi Sysex dump process outlined in the manual for backing up user patterns and songs seems antediluvian. Heck, maybe they should have put an rs-232 serial console on it too while they were at it (smirk).
- The ability to import sounds to extend the ROM package would be a nice feature in this day and age where a few gigs of flash ram costs a few dollars.
To sum up, this is a great self-contained drum machine that gives you a lot of power, flexibility, and good sound for a not-ridiculous price. The world seems to have mostly moved on to software, and if you have already made the investments in time educating yourself and getting all the pieces to work together plus the money to get all those pieces (Midi pads, DAW, computer, DAC in/out), then the SR18 is probably redundant. But, if you just want to make some beats that sound really nice, keep them in your bag, and not get all complicated, then this thing is great.
Add to your order
-
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) -
24/7 support when you need it. -
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
3-Year Protection $25.99
4-Year Protection $34.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Frequently bought together
$159.00
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers also search
Page 1 of 1Page 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
The Drum Machine That Started It AllAs one of the most popular drum machines ever made, the SR-16 has been used by everyone from songwriters to live performers to remix engineers as their drum machine of choice. |
Easy to UseYou can have the SR-16 setup up in minutes. There are tons of built-in rhythmic variations (with A, B and two Fill sections) for composing complete arrangements, customized patterns and songs. |
Built-in Digital EffectsNatural drum sounds are offered both in dry form and sampled with our incomparable digital reverbs. Our Dynamic Articulation feature enables drum sounds to change its tonal content as it's played harder |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
233 Professional SoundsThe Alesis SR-16 features a great selection of 233 realistic, natural drum sounds that have been meticulously sampled to sound authentic and amazing! Nothing better than analog sound from a digital machine. |
50 Preset PatternsThe SR-16 features 50 preset patterns that were actually played in by top studio drummers, not just programmed and quantized, giving you some serious patterns you can use right out of the box. |
MIDI ImplementationThe SR-16 offers complete MIDI implementation, a footswitch input, flexible programming and editing features and velocity-sensitive pad buttons. This drum machine puts no limit on your creativity. |
Includes
- SR16 Drum Machine
- Power Supply
- Safety and Warranty Information
Features
Complete MIDI support for use with keyboards, computers and electronic drum kits.
233 professional sounds included.
Built-in digital effects for added realism.
Create and save your own customized patterns and songs.
- Audio Outputs: 4 (2 stereo pairs)
- Pads: 12 velocity sensitive (w/Dynamic Articulation)
- Sample/DAC Bit Resolution: 16/18
- Polyphony: 16 voice
From the brand
Compare with similar items
This Item  Alesis SR-16 - Studio-Grade Standalone Drum Machine With On-Board Sound Library, Performance Driven I/O and In-Built Effects |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $159.00 | $399.99 | -6% $120.00 Typical: $127.00 | -12% $165.98 List: $189.00 | $128.77 | $229.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it May 23 - Jun 7 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Super Deal CoCo | Ohana-RM | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| model name | SR16 | TR-6S | — | RD-6-AM | — | SR18 |
| connector type | MIDI USB | USB | — | USB | — | Auxiliary |
| weight | 2.5 pounds | 1.1 kilograms | 1.98 pounds | 2.82 pounds | 1.98 pounds | 1.15 pounds |
Reviews with images
Great addition to my studio
I've been looking at this for a while considering purchasing it but just now pulled the trigger (received it yesterday) and I wish I had done it sooner. I do have drums in my studio but I'm not a great drummer, I am a guitarist and it's quite tedious when writing to have to play and record the drums and guitars for a scratch track. I've had a Boss DR5 drum machine since the early 90's that I've used as a writing tool but that thing and its sounds are extremely outdated. I actually did purchase the Alesis SR16 circa 1991 but at the time I was young and didn't take the time to learn it (and didn't even know what Quantize meant) and so I just returned it. So, now that I've had many years experience programming drum machines, the SR18 was a breeze to get right to programming in no time. My first impression was that the drum sounds are amazing. They really do have a "real drummer" sound and I haven't even built my own kit from scratch yet. It has tons of advanced features that I will have to get familiar with the more I use it but it already has a place in my studio during my writing sessions. I know that by many tech standards, this is pretty old but the drum sounds are kind of timeless from what little time I've had to go through them. It has a drum sound for most music genres that are on the radio today and I've not scratched the surface of listening to them all, let alone doing a deep edit. Another thing I like, is that I can midi my Alesis Strike Pro drums through the SR18 using it as the drum brain or sample the SR18 sounds into my Strike module. I've always told other guitarists that they should keep a drum machine close by even for practicing at home because it makes playing so much more enjoyable than just the guitar alone and this machine also has bass that is as easy to program as the drums so even looping a beat with a simple bass line draws out more creativity. I highly recommend this to anyone who is wanting a drum machine, regardless of skill level in programming. Oh yeah, lastly, Thank you Alesis for including an actual physical manual (and an extensive one at that) in a time that most companies have stopped including them. They also included a very handy reference list that shows all of the instruments, categories, their names and locations within the machine. Also, stuck right to the bottom of the machine itself is another reference list of the Names and Locations of the Preser/User Patterns.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015
Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
I've been looking at this for a while considering purchasing it but just now pulled the trigger (received it yesterday) and I wish I had done it sooner. I do have drums in my studio but I'm not a great drummer, I am a guitarist and it's quite tedious when writing to have to play and record the drums and guitars for a scratch track. I've had a Boss DR5 drum machine since the early 90's that I've used as a writing tool but that thing and its sounds are extremely outdated. I actually did purchase the Alesis SR16 circa 1991 but at the time I was young and didn't take the time to learn it (and didn't even know what Quantize meant) and so I just returned it. So, now that I've had many years experience programming drum machines, the SR18 was a breeze to get right to programming in no time. My first impression was that the drum sounds are amazing. They really do have a "real drummer" sound and I haven't even built my own kit from scratch yet. It has tons of advanced features that I will have to get familiar with the more I use it but it already has a place in my studio during my writing sessions. I know that by many tech standards, this is pretty old but the drum sounds are kind of timeless from what little time I've had to go through them. It has a drum sound for most music genres that are on the radio today and I've not scratched the surface of listening to them all, let alone doing a deep edit. Another thing I like, is that I can midi my Alesis Strike Pro drums through the SR18 using it as the drum brain or sample the SR18 sounds into my Strike module. I've always told other guitarists that they should keep a drum machine close by even for practicing at home because it makes playing so much more enjoyable than just the guitar alone and this machine also has bass that is as easy to program as the drums so even looping a beat with a simple bass line draws out more creativity. I highly recommend this to anyone who is wanting a drum machine, regardless of skill level in programming.
Oh yeah, lastly, Thank you Alesis for including an actual physical manual (and an extensive one at that) in a time that most companies have stopped including them. They also included a very handy reference list that shows all of the instruments, categories, their names and locations within the machine. Also, stuck right to the bottom of the machine itself is another reference list of the Names and Locations of the Preser/User Patterns.
Oh yeah, lastly, Thank you Alesis for including an actual physical manual (and an extensive one at that) in a time that most companies have stopped including them. They also included a very handy reference list that shows all of the instruments, categories, their names and locations within the machine. Also, stuck right to the bottom of the machine itself is another reference list of the Names and Locations of the Preser/User Patterns.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Ron C. Samson
Great sound
Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2024Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
raul
Buena compra
Reviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2024Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
Wilberth
Muy buena herramienta
Reviewed in Mexico on December 17, 2023Size: 100 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
My search for the best drum machine is over
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2024Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
Vladimiro
TOP Drum !!
Reviewed in Italy on April 3, 2024Size: 200 patternsStyle: Drum MachineVerified Purchase
