Should the old Alesis SR16 really go?

  • Thread starter Thread starter G. Simon
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G. Simon

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I'm a guitar-based singer-songwriter, and I've been using my Alesis SR16 for about 10 years onto 8-track 1/2" tape, and it has been just fine.

However, I'm now planning a new computer-based multitrack system (using Sonar or Cubase) w/my Tascam M208 (8x4x2) mixer, and I'm wondering if maybe this is 'the' time to modernize my drums and percussion a bit without breaking the bank.

Opinions?
Suggestions???

-- Glenn
 
I'm biased for real drums but as far as the one man band thing goes, I've fooled around with Acid and some of the drum loops were pretty convincing. But I'll also say that the SR-16, even though the samples sound kind of cheesy, is the easiest drum machine I've ever used.
 
G. Simon said:
I'm a guitar-based singer-songwriter, and I've been using my Alesis SR16 for about 10 years onto 8-track 1/2" tape, and it has been just fine.
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Well, don't fix it if it ain't broke. How about getting used to one thing at a time - learn your way around the new system and then see if you still like the Alesis.
 
Hang on to it. You can use the SR-16 to trigger your MIDI drums, if needed.
 
:D Yo Simon/Green Hornet Says:]

Well, I've got one of those SR-16s in my vault--good box; you can do nice stuff with it; if you are happy, stay with it.

However, technology gains every year. I now use a Boss 770=very good patches. They are much better sounds than the SR-16.

However, I have the Boss 880 waiting to be plugged in. [I've been on the golf course 4/5 days per week all summer as the SUMMER weather in Michigan has been just outstanding.

So, in a day or so, I will have to plug in the new drum box and I'M sure the patches [pre-sets] will be very good.

Now, you can program any one of the mentioned drum boxes; however, it takes time to do that and sometimes time is essential. Thus, if you know how to use the "fade-out" ending for songs, you will have some good stuff in the final mix.

But, since music is so much fun, do what you enjoy. The new Boss boxes for drums are very good.

Green Hornet :D :rolleyes:
 
I'm an old Alesis drum machine user. Circa 1988, I started with the old gray HR-16 with the flip up lid and moved on to the SR-16. I still have it and pull it out once and a while, especially if I'm fooling around with some type of older 80's music. Most of my newer material, however, relies on loops and loop editing software. I use Abelton with Wav/AIFF files from Drums on Demand, Sony, and a few other sources. The loop packages are suprising cheap and fairly well recorded. They typically can be found dry or processed and you have a great deal of freedom putting songs together from files that correspond to the basic parts of a drum passage (verse, chorus, fill, etc.) The sounds are loops (actual recordings) rather than samples and there is a clear sonic difference compared to a drum machine. They also require a lot less processor speed since you are using sound files rather than software instruments. And some of the newer packages are actually broken down so that you can process/edit/pan individual drums (bass, snare, hats, toms, etc.)
 
Yo D of Willis:}

I am assuming that you use a PC based recording rig? That, in itself, opens up many plums to pick when drum sounds are needed.

However, with the SIAB, such as the Yam 2816, the versatile "drum machine" seems to work better for me. I will probably move to a PC based recording set-up sometime; I'm thinking of creating "another" [Yikes] studio in the lower level of my home. But, that may be a while.

There is SO much to learn and the old song, "Lucky, lucky, lucky me.....8 hours to work, 8 hours to play, & only 8 hours to sleep...." Or, something close to those words. [Help me out guys/gals ]

But, music is so much fun and the creativity is ENDLESS.

Green Hornet :D

Happy Fall
 
The Green Hornet said:
Yo D of Willis:}

I am assuming that you use a PC based recording rig? That, in itself, opens up many plums to pick when drum sounds are needed.

However, with the SIAB, such as the Yam 2816, the versatile "drum machine" seems to work better for me. I will probably move to a PC based recording set-up sometime; I'm thinking of creating "another" [Yikes] studio in the lower level of my home. But, that may be a while.
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Agreed. The drum machine seems better suited to an SIAB, although G.Simon suggested he was moving to a computer-based system. Of course, if your SIAB has a means of transfering files, a computer-based drum setup can still be handy. Just complete the drum tracks using looping software and transfer back to the SIAB. Again, there is noting quite like real drums and a real drummer--or at least a recording of real drums and a real drummer.
 
I say keep it.. It is worth more to you than the money they are going for right now.... I used to use the heck out of mine...
 
Fenderville said:
I say keep it.. It is worth more to you than the money they are going for right now.... I used to use the heck out of mine...
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+1 I vote keep it as well.
 
our keyboard player at church has one all programmed up, sitting on top of his keys for vocal practice and the days when neither drummer shows up. It has come in handy, but it sure sounds electronic, especially in a live situation when all you hear is the drums in the speakers.

anyway, I'd keep it around for uses like songwriting, snazzy metronome, whatever. My HR16 is glued and broke, and glued and broke...but I'll keep it for the $25 I MIGHT get on Ebay.
 
as a rule I never sell old gear, I quit using it, but the second it is gone you will suddenly need it again. If you keep it, ACID loops will be all you ever need.
 
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