Alesis SR-18

I made a mistake purchasing this product. I was expecting a lot more.
I've been using a Korg DDD5 for 20 years and was looking for something more up to date. The display and dial control were attractive features for me. The Korg DDD5 runs circles around this product in all the other features especially for live performances. I thought the manual was poorly written and the presets are poorly organized in the unit. I don't know if I can get any use of the
SR-18 at all.

Nowhere as easy to use as the SR-16. Remembering to save is essential otherwise the unit forgets!!!!
I hate the fact it defaults to Preset 00A everytime i turn it on, rather than what i was working on when i turned it off.
I find the presets useless, there is so much saving involved its bound to end in tears and starting again, either what i recorded or which kits pieces i have used , both need to be saved.

Badly missing pc connectability(usb), unforgivably so.
I like the way i can trigger 24 pads by using the perc as well as the drum section, this is very usefull. I tend to trigger software drum machines and just use the sr-16 as a sequencer.
Cant find a use for the bass and it sounds terrible anyway.
Really needs a pc based editor for labeling ease.
The battery mobility is good so is the instrument input , if i fancy playing along with a guitar and some headphones

Playablity is ok , just remembering to save everything is bound to cause problems. The sounds are good, but drums alwasy date , the bass part is terrible.

Only had it 2 months

They never answered my email and so I phoned them to find out if there was a way of getting the thing to remember where i was when i tunrned it off. Waited ages on the phone and was not given a working soluition , maybe there isnt one. They didnt have one around to try out.
Its a pain trying to find user pattern 57B when it defaults to Preset 00A at the start.

I bought it because i lost the power supply to my sr-16 , its not been and easy transition over to the sr-18. There is a lot more on it but i doubt i will use much of it. As i said earlier i like the 24 midi notes i can trigger samples with.
I think its caused a lot more problems than there are extra good things.

Sounds are much better than the SR-16. But the editing is awkward. You need a good read of the user manual, which is often vague and not well indexed.
In this day and age a USB is a must for saving, editing and importing patterns from a computer.
Iv'e been tempted to use an external sequencer to simplify programing with the SR-18 but that sort of defeats it's purpose

Programming is like going back 20 years when I used old hardware sequencers.
Criminal to not be able to save and edit on computer

Sounds are Okay. Nothing dazzeling

I wouldn't use this without backup, display packed up after 3 month's

Had it 3 month's and the display packed up. Sent it back to Alesis but still after several phone calls have not got it back from 4 weeks ago?
Good job I didn't rely on it for gigs

Not really a great advance on the SR-16 of 18 years ago. If it was lost or stolen would buy something easier to programe and not so limited in it's use of patterns.(e.g. pattern length fixed, verse and chorus have to be same length, so if using bass the only way round this is to write a whole sequenced song
Needs much better editing options and information. Some of the hardware sequencers I had 20 years ago would knock the spots of this for editing possibilities and user information.
If used as just a drum machine without bass it's Okay but forget the bass as it's to complicated and limiting to use

Compared to other drum machines, the SR family is very straightforward, but I am disappointed to report that on more than one occasion it has msteriously deleted my work and I have had to start over again. Also, if you forget to explicitly save what you've done before switching to another pattern, it will lose your work without warning.

The pattern creation features are easy to use. One big disappointment is that there is no easy way to set up a chord progression for the bass when making a song from preset patterns. You have to copy the pattern into user space once for each chord you want and transpose it. This is insanely tedious, and seriously limits the usefulness of having the bass samples unless you also own a sequencer (but then why would you be looking at an sr-18?)

Having traded up from an SR-16, I love the performance oriented features (footswitch inputs, battery operation, effects) and expanded memory. As mentioned above, the bass is a disappointment. Given the length of time since the SR16 debuted, I think it would have been a good idea to have added a USB port at minimum so that backups to a PC/Mac and external software would be a possibility. Overall though, a very good value.

Sound great in my opinion - lots of drum kits to choose from, and great sample and effect sound quality.

So far so good. Have played out with it several times, appears to be sturdy and tough.

I submitted some questions and got knowledgeable replies the same day.

I am going to look around to see if there is anything else out there with a more usable bass module. For drums alone, it is hard to beat the SR-18 on its combination of features, sound, usability, and price.

I use the SR18 live & this review mostly compares it with the original SR16 in the same situation.
The manual is easy to follow and the SR18 is easier to operate than any other drum machine I've encountered - apart from the SR16!
Very similar to the SR16 in overall operation though one or two functions are less accessible live - e.g. the tempo adjust now involves holding down a button while rotating a dial to inc/dec...

Better sounds and twice as much preset/user patterns than the SR16.
Apart from some limitation on assignable main outputs (not a deal breaker for me) the SR18 seems to retain all of the old SR16 functionality plus a handfull of new ones...
Seperate dedicated percussion & bass 'channels' are a nice bonus though programming bass patterns means using drum pads instead of a keyboard or mouse - so I won't be going there! (now if only it could import a midi file track...)
The new headphone output is welcome.
I haven't messed with the FX yet.
I'd gladly pay a lot more for USB PC connectivity, a way to import midi files into patterns (especially for the bass), a 'C' and 'D' section, an on-board sampler, more assignable channel outputs, etc, the list could go on...

The preset acoustic kits and patterms are cleaner, more modern & realistic than those on the old SR16. They sit better in the mix too.
The new dance, hiphop & electronica sounds & patterns are very useful & save me carting a laptop/sampler for these sounds.
The rubber pads don't seem to respond, look, or feel quite as good for programming as the old SR16 ones... Cheaper?

Only have it a few months. Should be fine.
I'd bring a backup on VIP nights. I've gone through a few SR16's in the past and know that SR's hate beer!

Never dealt with Alesis.

I've been doing solo gigs several nights every week for 18 years using acoustic guitar + vocals + drum machine, covering folk, rock, country, sing-along, dance, house, trance... anything.
Considering inflation etc, the SR18 is a fraction of the cost of the original SR16 at it's release - so I have to give it 10 overall because there is no better all-in-one alternative at any price for me - and this thing is dirt cheap. Will somebody please write a software version of the SR18 and incorporate the features mentioned above?!!

Just got it yesterday, turned it on and it hummed like crazy. Very noisy. Tried another amp and things quietened down a bit, but I think I will have to go out and buy some really heavy leads to make it quiet enough for recording. Okay for live gigs though.
Presets sound good. The preset bass patterns are useless since you have to waste time working out what chord they are playing, and in what key. The manual doesn't say.

Heaps of features. I am not familiar with drum machines, but I am savvy with most modern tech so I will pick it up quick enough. Can't backup work without midi. This is disappointing.

Really good pop, disco, house type stuff. For R&R nothing beats a real drummer.

Always gig without backup; I've been working without a machine for many years. If it breaks I don't have to go home.

No idea.

I will write more in a couple of weeks when I have played with it some more.

Easy to use. Very intuitive for those who've owned the Alesis SR-16. Many new features that make it a real pleasure to use. I was getting in a rut having used the Alesis SR-16 for so many years. This is the "new and improved sound" I've been waiting for.

Features are all described on their website. Also, check out the user reviews from other dealers selling this unit. I did my homework: read the reviews, listened to the sound samples, and bought it. I am NOT disappointed. This will keep me busy for a good many years to come...or until the next version comes out in the next 15 or 20 years.

The sounds are similar to the SR-16. Perhaps a little more realistic. The ability to add reverb, compression, etc., as well as change sounds and drum kits is a big plus!
I always had to add effects to the drums while recording, but now I can send the drums directly into the board. I think the critical reviews below, are from folks who are expecting what only a "live" drummer can produce. C'mon! This is a drum machine. It sounds awesome for what it is. I use this in a "live" setting and it sounds like I DO indeed have a drummer behind me.

Have only owned it for a few weeks, but if it's like my SR-16...it'll last.

Haven't had the need to contact them. Have a waranty, and I know that the dealer will back the product as well. Again, no problems ever with the SR-16. Expect the same quality.

Alesis' reputation is well known. The fact that the SR-16 has been the industry standard for so many years says a lot. This new SR-18 is fun to use, easy to understand, and sounds great "live" or on a recording. More presets and more useable styles make this a "must have" for any musician desiring to create their own songs, dial up drums to play cover tunes, or just use as a backing track to jam with. The addition of bass guitar is a blast to jam with. I've been performing and recording for over 30 years and have listened to a variety of other drum machines. They all pale in comparison to the SR-16 and SR-18. If you own the SR-16, you owe it to yourself to check out this new drum machine. You'll be smiling after just a few minutes of playing with this unit.

well, as with anything electroic the machine has its own logic. once you have this figured out, while its tedious, is still capable of learning. i havent had experience with other drum machines so i cant make that sort of comparison, however in-itself there are certain things i would like to do with time changes are a little more technical to get into and use. sometimes i feel like there has to be an easier way.

presets are good, dont use them though.

manaul is really pretty sound for this device. some things could be arranged differently, but it is thorough.

excellent features. built in effects unit is neat, especially if you have no other effects to hook it up to. one totally awesome thing about this unit is that it hooks up quite easily to my pedal board, and so every effect that i have with that comes through perfectly through the device. i absolutly love this about the machine. in terms of its features, it does everything i want it to.

sounds are excellent!!! very real sounding drums and alot of options. there are alot of different ways to mix and match drums sounds and create ones own drum sets which makes for very unique and original sounding kits. there is alot of freedom as far as tone use. you can tune each individual drum, percussion, and bass sound.

seemingly very reliable so far, however there is a little fuzz sometimes in one of my input jacks. not sure though, could be the patch cord but i dont think it is.

dont know.

good solid piece of equipment with lots of options. does everything i need it to.

Raised on the SR-16, the SR-18 is nothing new in "Ease of Use". A couple of extra features ( the Bass accompainment, and Insturment input)I will not even use. So, to write patterns and songs....nothing has changed.

Again, pretty much the same features as the SR-16 + 24bit samples and the Bass lines. I really wish they would have included a software editor. You'd think after 20 years they would have developed a software editor for this thing.

24-bit what can you say...they sound great.

I just got it. I turned it on and hey...what do you know it works! I could throw it off my roof to see if it still works but I don't want to have to buy a new one just yet. If it's anything like the SR16 then it should last a couple of more decades!

I just emailed asking why, after 20 years they didn't think to include a software editor/ libraian. No reply yet....

The drums in 24-Bit sound great. The method in how you are required to build patterns and songs hasn't changed. One thing that I wish would have changed or that some programming guru would provide is a software editor/ pattern/ song creator. Why not? Don't tell me "But it's so easy on the SR-18 / SR-16!" Software always makes things easier! You would think Alesis after waiting 20 years to follow up the SR-16 they would have gone just a little bit further and provided some PC/MAC editior...this is the 21st century right?

Don't get me wrong, the presets are great. But an editor would have made this piece of gear over the top!

This is the new SR-18 and I've just taken delievery of it in the first few weeks of it's launch. The sounds on this are very realistic - the bass is veryy bassy and the drums very drum-like. In it's default mode it puts some reverb into the output that makes it sound very much like palying in a studio. But you are able to switch this out and play dry. The 100+ patches are quite good and with a bit of practice I think you could just use the patches and a couple of foot switches to toggel between pattern A and B (B is slightly changed - like a drummer does in verse one and two) and then it has fills you can switch in and again there's an A and B version - so it's not too samey.

The manuals are good and clear - although I also downloaded the PDFs from the Alesis site as these can be printed up larger - 14 pages in the "quick-start" and 30 in the Reference Manual. Pretty clear what you need to do to programme it and should be any secrets here as you can go to the Alesis site and download them long before you decide to buy.

Looks like you can save your setting if you have a midi cable. Not too many features - I rather liked it compared to the Boss offering as it was just focused on producing a bass and drum line and didn't do much for anyone wanting loads of guitar effects and the like. You can still plug your guitar into it - but really only as a way of pushing your instrument signal through the same amp as the SR-18.

This box is focused on drum and bass tracks. I'd guesss that's where the money went on this and that's the way I liked it. If you've had an SR-16 - this is the natural next step and there will be a short learning curve.

What can you say - it sounds great. very realist sounds, 500 drum sets to chose, a percussion set to create if you want, and great sounding bass sounds. I think there's 50 of those, so all the usual, click, slap, pop, pick, finger sounds are all there.

Although the top is plastic it has a steel casing underneath. There's even one of those little holes for putting one of those security locks into it so you can attach it to some nearby plumbing or the foundations of the building to stop it getting taken away. So i guess Alesis feel the chassis is quite strong. Anyway all the buttons, knobs and controls feel very solid. I'll give it a predictive 8 as I've only had it a week - but I don't think it looks like it will ever fail.

Haven't done any of this so can't comment.

This is a huge step up for me from my old Dr110 Boss from 1982. So far it all looks very exciting and I'm planning to use this live, in the studio and for teaching. Definately buy another if I need a new drum machine or recommend one. I'll give it a nine overall cause it's so new to me. But I have a feeling it will be heading for a 10. I'll post again in a month.