Hey Mark. Can I get some of your instructions for the Alesis SR18? I
purchased it and now haven't a clue how to use it. Thanks
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Mark Dew
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2021 7:37 AM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: Accessible drum machine
Hello Jim, in my opinion the Alesis SR18 drum machine is the best.
It is pricey , around $250.
My avice is to buy an use one on Ebay.
You should be able to get one in excellent condition for arround $150.
Each patern has an A and B side along with a fill patern for each.
It is easily programmable and it can be handled by a blind individuall.
I used this machine for 12 years at the Hideaway where I worked.
Before that, I used the Alesis SR16 drum machine.
Purchased it back in 1991.
The Alesis SR16 is still available new today.
But the SR18 is more advance.
Just like everything else, there is a learning curve.
There are 2 foot switches, one starts and stops playback and the other
switches from patern A to patern B.
Using the tap tempo button you can tap in the tempo you wish.
You can also hold the tempo button and turn the data dial.
or punch in the tempo using the number pad.
There are 12 sensitive drum pads.
500 drums sounds, 50 drum kits, 100 presets and user paterns.
Song mode to link paterns to complete a full song.
Effects reverb, compressor, tuning for each drum pad and much more.
You can even take the ring out of the drums if you wish.
For example, I really loved the flat drum sounds back in the 70s,
particularly the toms.
You can use it for any type of music, Jazz, Hip Hop, Country and so on.
It also has many bass sounds and you can program it to play bass lines for
you along with the rhythm section.
But I personally never used it for that.
You can use this thing in a live situation like I did playing live at the
Hideaway.
It Gaves me the basics.
It is capable of extensive programming for more complex rhythms.
I even programed the SR16 to play wipe out.
I thought at one time to program it to play caravan but never got around to
it.
Use the number pad to select the patern you wish to use.
Simply enter the patern, for example patern 32 might be a shuffle beat that
you can use for many different songs.
Playing live like I do, I had my drum machine setting right in front of me
between the lower digital piano and the top keyboard.
During performance, when it was convenient, I would play my own drum rolls
myself by hand using the 12 drum pads.
I have two of these babies, one I kept at the Hideaway and the other I used
on my side jobs.
Do a youtube search for the Alesis SR18 drum machine.
There is a great PDF manual for it.
If you decide to go with it, I have a lot of instructions text files on it.
Below is the info from Alesis.
Good Luck, Mark.
Product Information
If you want to travel the world with your drumset in tow the easy way, the
Alesis SR18 drum machine will make it possible. This portable device helps
musicians achieve professional sound without a full drum set. Offering
musicians and composers a variety of features and effects that mimic real
drums, the SR18 can even plug into instruments, such as electric guitars,
for instant collaboration and setup simplicity. Performing and recording
whole suites of music with no prior knowledge of playing musical instruments
is now at your fingertips. Whether you're a beginner, an amateur, or an
experienced pro and in the studio, live, or on the go, one of these
electronic drum accessories will keep the beat at your fingertips. It
connects wirelessly too, and it has a battery option. The Alesis SR18 drum
machine is the next generation of Alesis's popular SR16 drum machines.
Improving on its predecessor, the SR-18 drum machine comes with 32MB worth
of sound sets for its 12 pads. This includes over 500 kit drums and
percussion instruments as well as 50 bass synth audio options. Among these
are 100 user locations and 100 preset patterns. The presets give you access
to a myriad of authentic drum kits. This more advanced incarnation of Alesis
drum machines can perform more complex music. This is because it supports as
many as 32 polyphony voices. The SR-18 can also be powered either by an AC
adapter or 6 AA batteries. You can plug a guitar, keyboard, bass, or another
instrument into the SR-18 and accompany it with this setup. You can also
produce bass lines directly on the unit's pads. A third option is to connect
a MIDI keyboard. Its internal system, which includes Dynamic Articulation
Technology, ensures that your music sounds true by modifying and adapting
sample sounds as you make them. This takes velocity response to a whole new
level. Based on how you hit a pad, the unit automatically modifies more than
just volume; it also modifies the timbre and color of the tone to mimic its
acoustic counterpart accordingly.
In addition, the SR18 features an effects engine capable of Alesis reverb,
EQ, and compression so that every set sounds authentic and lays down
perfectly no matter where you perform it. A Pattern Play mode lets you
activate various patterns by simply tapping a pad directly. These electronic
drums have a built-in drumroll feature that's programmable. Mute and solo
functions let you mute specific instruments. The unit features a backlit LCD
screen and a tempo/value dial. It includes a TRS 1/4-inch auxiliary output,
standard headphone jack, MIDI input and output, and instrument input. It
also includes two inputs for foot switches. One is for a start and stop
footswitch, and the other is for a count/A/B/fill footswitch.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Jackson <mailto:cs2011@xxxxxxx>
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2021 10:35 PM
Subject: [ddots-l] Accessible drum machine
Hello all, I'm considering purchasing one. I'm not sure what I should pay
for a decent drum machine with good jazz patterns and accessibility. Can
anybody steer me in the right direction? Thanks
