Alesis SR16 Questions

[tonyoci]

I've seen these now for around $80-$100 on ebay. For a home/hobby musician is this is a good / the best unit for this price ???

When using this can you, for example, program a bass drum kick to repeat on pattern, then manually hit the pads for snare etc ?

Does the unit have a number of tracks, since I only have 2 hands can I play kick and snare on track 1, then add hi hat and cymbals on 2 etc ?

Sorry for the dumb questions.

Tony

[warble]

Best unit? Well depends what sound you're looking for. I own an SR16 and do not use it with its internal samples anymore - I use it as a midi trigger to trigger drum samples on my computer. I purchased it back around 1990 or so, and at that time, I was good for 80's drums sounds - lots of samples that were recorded with reverb (which is not changeable). The sounds now are pretty dated with only really a limited few that would work now. These are mainly dry snares and a kick or two. It uses 16-bit sample quality which is pretty good, but you'll find some noise in a good number of the samples.

I don't think it has "tracks" so to speak - just patterns you can program with A/B and fill A/B. You set up a pattern, the using the metronome you can record a kick, then a snare, than a hi-hat, etc. You can layer each element within the pattern. Not a bad little machine, it's just the sounds.

Thing to look out for on ones that are the age of mine, would be the rubber pads used to trigger the sounds. Mine have to be pressed pretty hard at this point to trigger the samples. I'd ask a seller on Ebay before buying one unless you really don't care.

HTH.

[tonyoci]

Thanks a lot, I don't really NEED a drum machine it was just an idea but you've thouroughly put me off now

Any other suggestions ?

[warble]

Sorry Didn't mean to dissuade you The SR16 has been good to me, I just think now you can do much better. Are you thinking $100 is about the top end of your budget? I'm not 100% up on the new stuff, but the Boss units (at least certain models) have gotten some kind words around here. Maybe try a search here for "boss dr. rhythm" - think that's the name.

[homestudioguy]

The SR-16 is a nice piece of equipment for the money.
I have had mine since 1994-5.
I agree that it sounds outdated in many ways.
However, it gives me enough flavors to get the tracks down with a beat.
I have a yamaha AW16G that allows me to track first with a click that lays down midi time code then I can go back later and add the SR-16 drums. Doing it this way gives me both hands to add material or kick in the fills/breaks.
If you have a portable DAW, you can use the SR-16 to put down the basics and then take your unit to your drummers house and let the live drummer replace the stereo drum tracks from the SR-16.
There are better things out there.
As always, it depends on your budget and what you plan to do with it.
BG