Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine for Composition Recording

Great machine, versatile and easy to use.

Does what it says on the tin for a reincarnation of a product that has been around for decades. What I like is the replacement of the 9V ac power supply with 12V dc which means I can run it off an external battery rather than mains.
Only criticism is that there are too many preset drum patterns, most of which one would not use. It would have been better to have fewer presets, leaving more room for user patterns.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: 2ndtry22

Still a great tool

It's my second one, I killed the original accidentally on moving country with an incorrect power supply. It's a great tool for live or recording ideas (in midi too). The only draw back it ever had, no back light!!.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: divadilly

A really decent if ordinary drum machine

The market for drum machines these days seems dominated by 808 wannabes and analogue rhythm monsters, so this machine is something of a curiosity, dating from the time when drum machines were actually aiming to emulate real drummers. There's something to be said for drums with a real feel, and many of the patterns were apparently played in by real drummers. Looking down the list of rhythms might bring back bad memories of rhythm patterns from old electronic keyboards, and there is a certain dominance of rock etc., but having worked with electronic beats for a while, I find these actually quite refreshing and not as cheesey as they might first appear. Also the actual sounds are quite punchy and of a high quality. Add this to the MIDI capabilities, footswitch support, A/B.fill and user patterns, and I think you have quite a decent bit of kit for the money, useful for performance and recording. If I was to nitpick I would say the display is in need of an upgrade to something visible in low light (even a backlight would help, OLED would be marvellous) and the drum pads are not up to todays standards (Push etc.) Otherwise, a nice device. And great for the price!Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: refurbished • Sold by: why.buy.new

Great for those after the sound of a real kit.

Great range of realistic drum sounds. Pads took a little getting used to (like any drum machine) but now managing to get some of my own beats that sound like they're played on a real kit (nothing wrong with the presets - they're just not my sort of thing).Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: bxtxc2012

A great product for the price.

For the price, it's a great value drum machine. I am not a professional musician, but it does all I require and more. It will take me quite a while just to learn (from the detailed booklet that is provided) all the functions, and hopefully store some good drum riffs to accompany my guitar playing. A lot of reviews are critical that it has no backlight for the l.e.d. display, but I've not found this a problem at all. Perhaps if I was outdoors in bright sunlight, but how many musicians would worry about that ? Indoors it's fine and easy to read, so don't let that put any prospective purchasers off.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: firefly2363

good for the money

Sold the sr18 to buy this. Sounds are not quite as good as sr18 but the 18 was ridiculously complicated to use.

Good all round for the price.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: absolutemusicso...

Does exactly what I needed it for

Getting band together can be tricky, and this will allow band practice if we cannot get the drummer there.
Does not eat or drink food either 😁

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Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: rob362051

perfect for home a studio

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: sebago-uk

Greta drum machine

For so many years this was the "go to" drum machine used by professionals the world over. Eventually, a newer, somewhat improved model was released (the SR18) but the SR16 still stands out as an exceptionally flexible and useful composition and recording tool for the singer songwriter and home composer or demo creator. Read full review

Drums again

Great machine. So many different combinations will give you all the beats you need to perform music across the decades

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: olliejones777