drum machine Alesis SR16

Spencer Johnson · Post by **Spencer Johnson** » 5 Aug 2006 4:43 pm

Need info on this drum machine. Is this easy to navigate? Does it have 3/4 timing? Is this a good machine for a steel player to use?

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 5 Aug 2006 9:25 pm

It's pretty much the standard "step" or "real-time" input, build "patterns" to make "songs",lots of good drum sounds device: http://www.alesis.com/downloads/manuals/SR16_Manual.pdf
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=Alesis+SR16

I had the original version and thought it to be an excellent machine.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Aug 2006 1:52 am

ahhh..3/4..Almost all of the drum machines out there are very limited on stock 3/4 patterns.I think a few don't even have one.

With the Boss and Alesis machines you can program your own 3/4 patterns, actually , make that, you NEED to program your own.

Leave it to a Steel player to want a 3/4...

been there done this..

The Alesis is a fine machine..

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 6 Aug 2006 2:07 am

The Alesis SR-16 does NOT have a 3/4. If you want one you will have to program it yourself into the user memory.

It amazes me that they don't have one - they have almost any other kind of drum track pre programmed.

Your aren't too far from Lake Panasoffkee where we have our Florida Steel Guitar club meetings/jams (we have one this Wednesday evening). If you want to make arrangements I can bring my SR-16 and load yours with my user programs that include a 3/4. www.floridasteelguitarclub.com [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 06 August 2006 at 03:11 AM.]

Spencer Johnson · Post by **Spencer Johnson** » 6 Aug 2006 5:54 pm

Hi Jack,
Thanks for your offer to program a drum machine. Thanks for inviting me over to the FL steel guitar club. The last time I was there is June '03, but it makes it a long, long drive home. Will try to make it back over there some time to see you guys.

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 7 Aug 2006 4:37 am

I'm very technical-minded and have no problem using any gadget.....but the SR-16 was just overly difficult to build patterns. So much so, that I sold it.

Plus, I couldn't find drum sounds that sounded like vintage drum sounds from the '50s - '70s. Everything sounded like '80s - '90s drums (up front, in your face, sharp attack).

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 7 Aug 2006 7:04 am

Alesis must have done something right since they are still making these things after more than 15 years. Maybe it's the low price. It's almost the only drum machine that you can get new for less than $150.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Aug 2006 7:51 am

I know several singles and duo's in the Tampa area that are using an Alesis SR-16 drum machine. They are relatively simple to use, with the built in programs. Not having a 3/4 is a negative.

It doesn't have a pattern that is really good for "Sleepwalk" and when I cut that on my first CD I wound up using a Band in a Box track that my friend Don Sulesky created. It uses the "Sam Cook" 12/8 pop style.

One plus is the drum sounds are not MIDI samples but actual drum sounds that were recorded and built into the machine. Makes for a more realistic sound.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 7 Aug 2006 8:15 am

However - programming your own drum patterns is both pretty easy once you get over the very first learning curve, and a very good education in time and meter.

Q: If all drummers are just overpaid, simpleminded bangoholics, why aren't you doing it instead of working so darn hard?

[This message was edited by David Mason on 07 August 2006 at 09:16 AM.]

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 7 Aug 2006 8:58 am

I have used both the SR-16 and the Boss DR-670 a lot. The DR-670 has a few waltz patterns built in. I did all the drum programming on my songs and if you want to have good intros and endings you will be forced into this. I ended up writing out the song patterns in Excel to automate some of the drudgery before entering them into the machine. I like the Boss better overall but the SR-16 will do the job. It IS a great education to be forced to write your own patterns. It will make you listen to the drum parts of every song you hear and you will begin to think about how songs are put together. This is good knowledge to have and will not be acquired in just a few weeks.

Greg

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gregcutshaw.com"><img align="left" src="http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Greg%20Williams%20Guitar.jpg" width="80" height="80" ></a>
Greg's Web Page
MSA/Steel King Sounds

Complete Songs Added 6/26/2006![This message was edited by Greg Cutshaw on 07 August 2006 at 10:01 AM.]

Fuzzy Plant · Post by **Fuzzy Plant** » 7 Aug 2006 3:36 pm

I'm not familiar with the Boss or the Alesis drum machines, but I use a Zoom MRT3B, from Zzounds.com for around $100. It meets my needs for the most part. Most patterns I will never use, but it does have a few 3/4 patterns that may be what you're after.
Jack...I used it for Sleepwalk; the B67 pattern is like a 12/8, and I set it for
68bpm and it's not that bad. What more could I expect today for $100.

Fuzzy

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Aug 2006 3:50 am

It looks like the Zoom needs to be programmed for whatever you want. The Alesis does not require programming as the factory drum programs can be used as is for songs. That's one of my beef's with most drum machnies - you must program them for whatever song you want, where the Alesis SR-16 you just "turn it on and use it".

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 8 Aug 2006 6:05 am

I have the Alesis SR-16 you mentioned and it does have two 3/4 time settings although they're almost unusable. There's not a good old boom-chick-chick waltz at all. I bought mine about 5 years ago and lived without the waltz, I was in Guitar Center one day talking to the keyboard/recorder/etc. saleman about my Alesis and he said to bring it by and he'd put some things in it for me at no charge. In about 5 or 6 minutes I had a nice standard waltz beat, a waltz with a rimshot accent on beat 3 which is used a lot now, and also the triplet type ballad beat which is used on Sleepwalk and others. The triplet beat when slowed down a lot is also the same beat as used on "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" and other Willie/Waylon type things. All in all, if you can get the programming thing down, this machine will do most of what you want. Some of the Boss units I've seen don't have a footswitch jack to stop/start the thing. The Alesis is a great little unit in my opinion. The only thing I wished it had was a "lit up" window so you could see the settings in a dark bandstand....JH in Va.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Fuzzy Plant · Post by **Fuzzy Plant** » 8 Aug 2006 6:50 am

Jack... I might not have explained fully about the Zoom MRT3, but it does have 396 preset patterns, and ability to program 99 of your own patterns. Also, it does have a footswitch input. Just thought I'd maybe fill in some blanks.

Fuzzy

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 8 Aug 2006 8:46 pm

We had aget togather in Montgomery Al. Sat. Pee Wee brought out his drum machine and we played to it. I liked it so well I called him and asked him what it was and oedered one from Musician Friends, Power Supple, foot switch, total of $237.72 with added 2 year warrenty included, they pay shipping.
It was an Alesis SR 16.
It sounded as good as any I have heard, I almost bought the oher one it recorded.

ernie

gary darr · Post by **gary darr** » 9 Aug 2006 6:30 pm

Yes the SR-16 can be user programed to do waltz time or tripolet beats. I am living proof that even the most bone headed guitar players can program electronic devices too.
One tip that I have learned about creating waltz time is to set your beat length in intevals of three,six,or nine beat measure instead of the standard four or eight beat measure, whats this does is let you use the tap-tempo feature to set your tempos,if you dont, you will never get the actuall tempo to sink up with the tempo that you tapped out

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Fessenden S-10 3P and 5K Session 500,American standard Strat,Shecter tele,Peavy Classic 50

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 10 Aug 2006 3:05 am

I've got a question for you guys that have a SR-16. How do you live with that big fat cross stick with the seemingly reverse room reverb on it.

I was going to buy one once and took it home and demoed it and it seemed to only have 1 cross stick and it sounded like a baseball bat hitting the rim with a real short bright room sounding reverb.

I played with it for a couple of days and never did get the cross stick to sound any better. Even after I eq'ed it and put some of my own reverb on it the original reverb was so obtrusive I couldn't live with it.

Maybe they have changed the samples on it since then because that was when it was 1st released. If they have changed it maybe I should revisit it. I also guess I should consider that not everyone wants a thinner sounding cross stick but I'd at least want 2 of them one thick and 1 thin. There's also the good chance that I didn't find all the sounds in it

Bob

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 12 Aug 2006 11:11 am

The drum machine I ordered came in yesterday, they sent a Boss Drum Doc. the very worst sounds I have ever heard on one. it is boxed up to return, then I ordered the R16 again hope they get it right this time.

ernie

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 12 Aug 2006 11:59 am

Check out the new Roland 880 drum machine. It has 500 drum built in patterns and 500 slots to make your own patterns if you like, as opposed to the now very outdated SR 16. The sounds and patterns are incredible. More expensive but worth every penny.

edit. Forgot to add that the 880 lets you also program bass sounds to your rhythm patterns. You can pick from several different bass sounds to suit your style. You can program into it 100 songs complete with bass patterns to play along with. It already has country patterns and 3/4 patterns in it too. You can send the bass patterns out a separate output so you could have the drums stereo out and then the bass out a separate 1/4" out. There are two extra outs to send separate drums though in case you wanted to send the kick and snare out separatly. You can easily program a song complete with the chords you want and the bar numbers for the verse, chor, and bridge and push a button and play along.

I tested one of these at a local music store and was knocked out by the sounds and the patterns. I have one on order right now from a friend who is a dealer.

[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 12 August 2006 at 03:06 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Aug 2006 12:40 pm

The Alesis SR-16 may be dated but it's great for traditional country. Just add the 3/4 pattern and you're "good to go".

Most of the others need to be programmed for each song or the have hundreds of rock, hip hop, etc but almost no useful traditional country patterns.

Lloyd Potter · Post by **Lloyd Potter** » 19 Aug 2006 4:51 am

The SR 16 will have to be programed for 3/4 time. I have used the SR 16 for three years in our shows.I get a lot of static from drummers, but when I tell them that I don't have to pay it, it keeps perfect time and if it gives me any trouble, I unplug it. I have the foot pedal next to the volume pedal on the pedal board, so you can start and stop it while playing the steel.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 19 Aug 2006 9:06 am

It was those teeny tiny read out LCD's on drum machines that made me get my first computer to begin with.