Alesis D5 Drum Module

Very easy to use. Display is bright and clear at most viewing angles.
Editing is parameter based with cursor keys and a large alpha type dial. The manual is good.

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Sounds are ok and there is an interesting selection. Listening to a QS8 it sounds as if Alesis just ported some of the sounds to the QS8.

It still works flawlessly. No backup required.

The couple of times I've called them (Circa 1998) they were very good.

I wouldn't replace it if stolen. I've had it for several years and have never used it on a song. It still has the plastic on the display - it just sits in one of the racks and looks pretty. I still believe it's a good piece of gear. I just didn't really need it and shouldn't have bought it.

This review (7-05-02)will be #21 for the product. I own two D5s and two D4s. Never had any lock up experiences with the D4s but in one small classroom wherethe speakers are facing the trigger pads and cymbals the D5 occasionally freezes. The student usually just shuts it down waits a few seconds and fires it up. It returns to the exact last setting. I assumed it was because the Radio Shack piezos (both schools have custom home built sets) had all been massively assaulted by the decibel onslaught of drums, two guitars, bass and keys all under the command of the typical adolescent decible junkie.in the room. The piezo transducers probably self=oscilate at their fixed frequency but still I'll try the method of "upgrading" transformer's amperage. These suggestions and hints are a valuable aspect of the USER GEAR feature of Harmony Central.

this is a simple drum module and is therefore simple to use. if you want to work hard to get the sounds you want, buy a more complex module.the manual is exellent, an example being the diagrams used help set up the external triggers.

polyphoney is adequate viz 16 note poly. no fx, but thats really no loss when you consider the standerd of fx that that are bolted onto most modules. use the aux outs and buy a secondhand quadraverb - job done. no expansion slots, but you do get 550 sounds to play with.
you get 550 sounds and simple editing. triggers are truely exellent!(see overall rating)

the sounds that are in the d5 are exellent. whether they have the sounds for you is a subjective matter. quite a wide range. world, hip-hop, dance, rock, pop - they are all covered to some degree. lets be honest, no module covers all the bases, if that were so, we would all have that module.

mine has been gigged - alot. it has been used in the studio - alot. it has never played up - ever. i do use a spike and voltage protector with my gear, this may have some thing to do with it..??

never had to use alesis. but, did download the manual of their website after my dog decided to snack on the original (really!!) their site is v useful with FAQ etc.

would buy one again. get this, my drummer uses a Roland drum kit. never had a problem with the triggers with the d5 - plug and play. he decided to 'up-grade' to a Roland drum module (the change is as good as a rest syndrom). nothing but trouble, mistriggers aaaargh. Roland were crap. went back to shop, swaped back to d5 - no problems since. mmmmmm.
this is a nice drum module, its a professional drum module, it does want it says on the tin, i think you will always find some where to use it, even if its just for the brilliant triggers. so give it a go.

don't know version.

The presents are ok. I wasn't blown away like i was in the time of the D4. although more up to date they are less unrealistic and more organic sounding but still unrealistic somewhat. (industrial kit)

Editing is Ok. Exactly like the D4 if you ever had it. it has a note chase so you can quickly hit the note on the keyboard or trigger pad and find the sound. you can pan each sound, volume. the samples are as is don't think about using any synthisis on them. you get it is as it is.

The Manual was small as is the concept of this unit.

don't know the actual amount of poly on the instrument but it can handle some rather heavy midi calling. (4 drumkit size kits played at the same tiem and no clipping)

NO BUILT IN EFFECTS. the major bad on this instrument. the individual samples come with hard coated effects on them. a bad in my opinon. but then it is not Roland VDRUMS (TD10)

I guess it had expansion capibilities but i never used them.

Well you have 12 analog triggers with this unit. So you can use this on a electronic Kit that triggers pizos. pretty nice and cool. makes for a ok trigger unit for those whom want a digital kit (best Digital Kit: Roland VDRUMS TD10)

no on board sequencer. Flexibility is hard. it doesnt' really change much. so you get what you hear most of the time. 3 of 10

not as realistic as Roland VDRUMS but expessive enough. good hard hitting when you need it. but forget trying to sound cool enough for soft playing with brushes. brushes is bad.

good for very proccessed sounds.

no onboard effects

static playing. doesn't adapt very well.

velocity and aftertouch are ok. but not even half of the vel compared to Rolands VDRUMS.

you can depend on it as far as i can tell. it has kept up well. althought the display on it has a couple lines in it. you judge. *L*

use at a gig with a backup. sure.

N/A never used it.

lost or stolen . . . replace? no. i would use my VDRUMS. probably not worth much over a hundred bucks in my opionon. there are too many good digital set drum mods out there worth better bang for the buck.

it is ok in my system of sounds. i do use it on all my songs but i want to replace with a dance sound that is unique as the sounds in this unit but not as INFLEXIBLE.

i own serveral other peices of gear. (Roland VDRUMS TD10, JV2080, D70, Korg Triton, O1RW, Oberhitem Matrix 1000, Alesis D4 & D5, Yamaha P200 electronic Piano and much more gear but not in synths)