Just got a Micron--alesis SR16 for drums?

[mellotron]

I'm wondering if I can create drum tracks using the Micron? Or if getting a drum machine would be a good idea?

[warble2]

Don't have a Micron, but looks like it has a rhythm sequencer? What does the manual say about it?

I have owned and used a SR-16 since the early 90's - great little drum machine. Sounds are a bit dated, but I still use it to program drum patterns that drive my EZDrummer software in Sonar. Pretty easy to program and has velocity sensitive pads.

When I say "dated", I'm referring to the lush reverb on a lot of the samples. Back in the early 90's, this thing to me was the cat's meow capable of producing big drum tracks. Now, I'm spoiled by samples in software like EZDrummer and the like.

[The Green Hornet]

Yea, verily:

Warble is right about the sounds. The SR16 is a decent box but the Boss 880 has great sounds and about 499 different patches. Plus a bass line to use if you want. And, you can change the keys of the patches. And, write your own sounds if you want to.

You should stop at a Vendor's and listen to the Boss 880, if that suits your gear set-up. The Funk patches are interesting as "they don't wait for you."

As Warble said, the SR16 is older technology and the patches are not pumped up as much as the Boss 880.

Have fun,
Green Hornet

[Kirk Markarian]

Yes, you can make drum tracks with the micron. In fact, you can use it to create songs, but it takes a lot of work.

[warble2]

Originally Posted by Kirk Markarian

Yes, you can make drum tracks with the micron. In fact, you can use it to create songs, but it takes a lot of work.

Looks to have sparse "button-age".

My own word for not having many buttons.

[Kirk Markarian]

Oh yeah...you're right about that! Very few buttons. But you don't use the buttons to make drum beats - you use the keys to program in rhythms in the dedicated "rhythm" bank. The keys are the buttons. Likewise for musical patterns. Once you do this, you can then assign certain keys to trigger certain rhythm or musical patterns. Then you can compose a song by playing the keyboard in a song mode. It's pretty fantastic what this keyboard can do, but the polyphony makes it difficult to do anything really complex. So, if you like minimalistic electronic music, what it can do will more than satisfy your hunger for beats/patterns.

[warble2]

Interesting. I've never had my hands on one, but thanks for the lowdown on it.

[Kirk Markarian]

Originally Posted by warble2

Interesting. I've never had my hands on one, but thanks for the lowdown on it.

No prob dude!