A Review of the Alesis SR 16 Drum Machine 

It’s interesting to see you talking about this as a historical piece of kit.I’m considering buying one brand new in 2022. As an entry level device it still seems pretty compelling. I’m stunned that this is true after 30 years.

I just bought one of these to make a grunge album. After realizing Collective Soul used it for an entire album completely fooling me and many other youths of the 90s.thank you

We used one from 91-95. I remember my friends asking me "who is playing the drums?" I recently got another for $50 second - hand. Stoked!

If your drum machine is kinda stiff use double tempo, Then you can move your hits a little off grid to make things a bit free-er.

Remember getting a Boss Dr-550 and wishing I’d got the Alesis. Did made an update a little later to the Dr-660 which was an improvement. I do miss the simplicity these days and the over complex VSTs. Planning on getting one of the to feed into Logic.

I had an SR 16 for about 10 years, it got lost somewhere when I moved. Just bought another one !

Very good review. Great breakdown of this machine. Thank you for your efforts. Very informative. Keep up the good work.

I purchased mine 1991, its software got updated in 1996 and its still working I recently got a Simmons Express and using the midi out from the kit to trigger the way better samples from Mr Al

Always thought it was pronounced "uh lease iss" rather than "uh less iss" great vid!

2023; still selling these. Just gotta used one having eyed these like, 4ever. I like, study, try-2-play Jazz & related styles so appreciate realistic drum / percussion sounds and arranging

Thanks for the review.

: / THEY HAVE BEEN AND ARE STILL BEING MADE TO THIS DAY! INFACT, YOU CAN BUY THEM BRAND NEW FROM GUITAR CENTER, MUSICIANS FRIEND, AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES! FOR $150 BRAND NEW IN A BOX, OUT OF THE FACTORY!

thinking of buying one to help develop my ideas into full songs. i know i could just use a midi keyboard or even something like superior drummer, but i want to use something that's affordable, reliable, and to the point.

My friend just gave one to me, its cool 😎

I just picked one up off of Facebook market place for $50. I'm very pleased.

I just got one of this last week..... my quest for real drum sounds and tired of digging through samplepacks... got this baby to sequece it with an octatrack and have the real drumset feel... MIDI implementation is my graetest interest with this if you feel like diving deeper into that for another video

Great review found a 24bit version so i have ordered one.

I just bought mine from a friend for $75. He got it new but didn't have the patience for it. I like it so far. It's a 24 bit one that's like 2 years old or so.

The song, The Way you Make me feel, came out in 1987. The alesis sr- 16 came out in 1990.

I'm surprised to learn that this machine has not been made for nearly 20 years. We can still buy them new.

The Sr-16 sells new on Thomann, for $ 150in 2021 with some updates,... ;) i consider to buy one, .. owned it in the 90´s Cheers

So, you it will work fine for some dub-techno? Nice review by the way!

Impossible as MJs- The Way U make me feel is from '87.

Inresting, just looked on sweetwater and they are selling supposedly brand new SR-16s Knowing that this design is so old I think I am going to go with the Korg KR Mini

I would have bought one of these when I was out of town for 60 bucks today if I would have seen this first. Now I am about to have to take another road trip.

What’s the difference between the 16 bit and the 24 bit beside the obvious...bit rate ? Thanks

Well done this video, thanks.

Great review. I got a new one for Christmas. When set to loud velocity I am having to pound the buttons unexpectedly hard for full volume. Is this normal or might there me a defect with my model?

Nice sounds! Thanks for the video. Just started using one myself for my computer-less recording setup. Anyone else has a problem with ‘stiff’ response from the buttons? Really have to smash away if i don’t keep the velocity fixed. I have a sense that it might need to be ‘worn in’ (mine looks quite unused), but i don’t know how much sense that makes with gear like this.

Looking at purchasing. My question is, does this have any generational updates or even updated versions or is it just left as basically the original SR 16 unit?

I'm so torn. I really want something I can plug into the Zoom H4n to help me write songs. I'm trying to move away from the computer because I just don't like the workflow for writing songs. Producing music, love it! But it's so difficult to write music when there's RU-vid and Twitter just a click away. So I have my dining room set up which features a pen, a pad, a Zoom H4n, a Tascam DP006 and a pair of headphones. I was considering a Roland TR-8s, but it's expensive and can only sound like electronic music, which isn't a terrible thing but I'd have to sequence it and that might take time away from writing lyrics (which is the bit I struggle with). On the other hand, an Alesis SR16 or 18 would certainly sound a little corny, but it'd potentially be a quicker workflow and sound a little more authentic. However, the TR-8s would be so much fun to jam and potentially create bangers. So basically, I need to buy both.

Great overview but "The Way You Make Me Feel" was released in 1987 before this unit existed but perhaps Jackson used a predecessor?

I've just bought one off eBay for £30 it was sold as spares or repair . . It doesn't power up! Anyone got an idea why it's not working? Maybe it's something simple like a common fault?

24 bit versions are available new as of Nov 2021.

Can I alter the Latin / Rumba beat. I 'd like to create the snare drum with that particular sound and take out some of the added sounds in the preset one... thank you for your time.

I had one for writing because of the presets that could be altered to suit. Haven’t found another machine with this facility. Just sequencers which need sequencing from scratch. You could also midi to another sound source if you don’t like the onboard sounds. Mine Became unusable due to crackle. I was sad bout that.

Great video. I'm thinking of buying one to use with tascam dp 03 sd. How would i connect the alesis sr 16 to the tascam? Would i use the tape out or the aux dual outs and connect to tascam input? I appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks.

Thank you for this video.Question,why is the click track clicking 12 beats to the bar?Thank you in advance.

Can i send Midi to it from a computer and make it play it ?

Hello, great video. I bought one of these and right out of the box it doesn't turn on... no display. Was wondering if you know if you have to plug it into other components, etc. before it will turn on..... or should the display turn on if you ONLY plug it into the wall adapter power supply? Wondering if this is DOA or if I'm just doing something wrong. I did test the power supply with my DMM and it's delivering 12V so the machine IS getting the correct power. I DID press the power on button on the back and it is not broken, meaning it stays depressed as it should when you press it in/ON. Anyone can reply if they know. Thanks!

good morning..I JUST bought the same exact model which has no headphone jack..How did you readliy get around that??I wanted to just sit on the bed with headphones and mess with it,making beats and learning it..

Hi! Can you sync this drum machine with the arpeggiator of the roland gaia sh-01? Because to tell you the truth, i just bought this machine. Thanks Marco agius 🇲🇹

They still make these, eh.

reverb on this machine? thx. W.

Got one of these I’ll sell.

One thing I hate about all synths/drum machines is "presets" which can't be overwritten - it's a lame and ridiculous waste of memory space. If the presets could be overwritten that was an instant major plus for me, regardless any possible cons...

Guy went from drum reviews to inventing cardano

Jesus, no damp sponge handy? Great tutorial but major distraction.

Its not good drum machine,,,because 12 pad very hard,,its for swing tauch problem,,,

Can i use this for a death metal album?