Alesis has become a highly reputable brand in the electronic drums and percussion industry. And one of the things that amuse me is how the company keeps some things simple. They have been doing this for several decades, and still, they are going as strong as ever. Every time they introduced a new product, it brings something new to the table.
Even though technological progress has taken over the world of music, Alesis makes products geared towards the user. And the Alesis SR16 is one such item, just an amazing accessory for drums.
Tapping into the importance of electronic drum machines, this is one of Alesis‘s favorite toys.
Let’s see what this gadget is about.
About the sr 16 is not a new machine on the market. It has been on the market since 1990. And despite the technological benefits of the modern world, you can always rely on the machine that has been a best-seller for more than 30 years. These kits 50 are still the highest-rated among the old users, and because of its compact body and most straightforward design, people still want to have this device around. Thirty years is a long period for a particular model to stay around, but when you’re as good as this machine, everything is possible.
alesis sr-16 drum machine review: Summary Of The Features
- 233 samples.
- Digital effects
- Customizable sounds.
- 12 velocity-sensitive pads
- 16 voice polyphony
- Tempo range of 20 – 255 BPM
- 200 user presets and 50 kits
- 200 factory presets and 50 kits
- Two stereo pair
- 2-foot switch jacks
Wow! There are so many features here. But I will talk about the main ones.
The construction
A drum machine comes with simplicity like no other. Two, the SR 16 is, indeed, a compact and portable machine that shows how simplicity can be great at the time.
It is lightweight and extremely easy-to-use. Compared to modern devices with so many complex functionalities, here you only get the most basic functions. Two, the sr 16 is designed according to the modern requirements, but the functions are pretty simple and straightforward. As a new buyer, you’ll not face any difficulty while using sr 16.
The Alesis drum machine bears a simple menu with no-hustle usability. Nonetheless, it features a combination of excellent software and sounds quality. This is a feature that has to keep the drum machine on the top all these years.
It has excellent software and great sound quality, the software is like any other modern software, and the sound is as loud as any other brand. The simple usage is what makes it long-lasting, and its lightweight enables you to carry it around.
The hardware
I am quite amused that the SR16 is still in production. Even more, its design has remained the same all these years. The major factor in its long-lasting ability and compactness is its design and hardware that make sure that the machine will not get hurt easily.
On the surface, it is the same machine that was produced three decades ago. Such a vintage look will never miss impressing. The outer look of sr 16 might remains the same over these years, but this drum machine is evolving in terms of features, construction, and adaptability.
The features it carries have remained relevant until today. This is perhaps why Alesis hasn’t thought of making any adjustments. Even after so many years, the sr 16 has made sure that it remains the best drum machine among all, that’s the reason they have not opted for any irrelevant changes.
Its size has remained the same too. It is compact in dimensions. Hence, it is extremely portable, great for those who move around a lot. Its portability is a plus point for those who want to carry it around; its lightweight and small size make sure that you won’t get tired while carrying it around.
Touch ‘n’ go
The board of this drum machine is pretty classic. It comes with a good amount of buttons on its 9.55×65 inches body.
You get buttons for the menu navigation and other settings. This dynamic articulation feature enables every handler to manually control 16 voice polyphony and a large tempo range.
However, most of the surface patterns are left for the 12 velocity-sensitive pads. There are eight patterns of the velocity, all of which are useful in a lot of situations. For instance, you can assign various music to each level. Also, a player is able to alter the dynamics much easily. This drum machine offers you full control over its features, and even a newbie can handle it correctly.
Connect to essential devices
As stated above, this a pretty simple tool. Hence, you should not expect tom get very many inputs and output on the back.
Nonetheless, it comes with the most important ones. It has a total of four ins – as simple as Left, Right, Headphones and AUX. These four tools are of the best quality and provide you loads of ease and comfort in terms of usage. Whether you want to use headphones or any other option, this drum machine will not let you down.
They don’t seem like much, right? Well, you also get the MIDI ins and outs together with tow footswitch inputs. An average user will not need anything more. The sr 16 has everything a user looks for, and the best thing about the sr is that all of its functions are simple and highly convenient.
Sound quality
You may not believe it, but 24-bit does sound impressive. When you are buying a classic drum machine, I believe you don’t expect all those digital instruments from the latest products.
But this does not stop the SR16 from performing. The main reason the sounds are manually recorded in a studio using real instruments. For this reason, you will not get anything but quality sounds.
The sound quality is as good as any other latest or digital drum machines will ever have. Also, these drum machines give you a classic touch as well. When it comes to performance, its working ethics are out of the chart.
The device will serve you in live performances when composition. However, you will be asking too much if you expect the quality of studio recording with this device to be on at the top. These drum machines will give you as much as they can, but like every other device, they have their limitations.
Still got the sounds
Since we are referring to a device made a long time ago, there is not you would expect. But let me surprise you. The Alesis SR16 has a full bank of sounds of preset – 233 sounds and kits 50 preset patterns. Then there are 50 user slots for preset patterns.
Pros:
- Best selling
- Simple use
- Great sounds
- Excellent sound quality
- Highly portable
Cons
- Vintage design and functionality
Verdict
I can recommend the Alesis SR16 for its simplicity, longevity, and affordability. It is best suited for those who are looking to try out something new.
