A budget 16-bit
drum machine manufactured by
Alesis in 1988.
For its
MSRP of US$170 (it can likely be found at a price one sixth that, if you were to buy one
second hand), it actually has quite a diverse array of reasonable quality drum samples. Its 49 sounds may be
sequenced conveniently in either real-time or step, or you may choose from any of the preloaded 100 patterns or 100 songs. The only real negative points are the buttons, which tend to come off after enduring too much use, and the fact that the
samples it comes loaded with are meant to mimic real
acoustic drum sounds. This makes it unsuitable for making traditional electronic "
dance music." However, an updated model (the
Alesis HR-16B) offering a variety of more
techno oriented sounds is also available.
Default sample bank:
- 10 bass drums
- 7 snares
- 5 toms
- 2 open hi-hats
- 1 closed hat
- 3 cymbals
- 1 hi conga
- 1 lo conga
- 2 woodblocks
- 2 cowbells
- claves, cabasa, shaker, agogo, triangle, tambourine, handclaps, finger snap, side stick
One well known electronica act known to use this drum machine in their studio is
Orbital.