Help! Surely Someone has Nailed the Alesis SR 18 Drum Machine?

[ChrisDowning]

There seems to be very little out there on the web and YouTube on how to use the Alesis SR 18 for both recording and live work. I'm now onto owning one a second time (again) after being without it for 3 years and can't wait to really get into it this time. I think I didn't get deep enough into the instruction manual last time. I wanted to programme both drums and bass and perhaps was trying too much too soon. Holy Moly, what frustration! Any tips - pointers - gurus out there. Or am I on my own? In which case I'll do the grunt work and YouYube it at the same time - hell there's no one out there doing that with the SR18 after.....how many years!!!

 

[ndcaster]

I've still got mine and use it now and then. I don't use the MIDI functions but got pretty good with step mode and layering sounds. What problems are you running into?

 

[schmee]

I hated mine. My old Yamaha was far better. Then again, I'm not a techno nerd so "easy" is good for me!

 

[MatchlessMan]

Years ago I had the SR16 and used to laboriously step program beats. More recently I got an SR18 but never found time to get into step programming it. Instead I tend to find appealing rhythms to jam along with on bass guitar. Speaking of which, the first thing I do when I turn on my SR18 is to mute the bass! I also use it as a drum sound module in conjunction with my DAW.

So no, I haven’t nailed it...

 

[Tuneup]

There's plenty of videos on the SR18, you just have to knuckle down to it.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alesis+sr18+tutorials

 

[ndcaster]

Woops, I have an SR-16. Never mind!

 

[Chester Burnett]

It’s really tedious to program and there are no shortcuts. I used to gig in a duo that used one. We would pretty much just launch a groove with a foot switch and step on the switch to end the song. Pretty boring but it sounded decent and the grooves worked for the folk-y stuff we were doing. For awhile we plugged in a second switch that I’d step on to insert fills, which worked ok but wasn’t really worth the effort. We moved on to creating grooves in EZdrummer and playing them from a tablet. Much better sounding and dead easy to create songs. You had to be very tight and not get lost with in your arrangements though. If you forget where you are in the track you’re sunk

 

[ChrisDowning]

There's plenty of videos on the SR18, you just have to knuckle down to it.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alesis+sr18+tutorials

I think you are right - there are a number of videos on the SR18....but generally I've only found the ones showing what the presets sound like and some pretty basic pattern arrangements. I'm surprised no one ever really got into it.

 

[Tuneup]

I think you are right - there are a number of videos on the SR18....but generally I've only found the ones showing what the presets sound like and some pretty basic pattern arrangements. I'm surprised no one ever really got into it.

Everyone uses VST software drums these days.

 

[ChrisDowning]

It’s really tedious to program and there are no shortcuts. I used to gig in a duo that used one. We would pretty much just launch a groove with a foot switch and step on the switch to end the song. Pretty boring but it sounded decent and the grooves worked for the folk-y stuff we were doing. For awhile we plugged in a second switch that I’d step on to insert fills, which worked OK but wasn’t really worth the effort. We moved on to creating grooves in EZdrummer and playing them from a tablet. Much better sounding and dead easy to create songs. You had to be very tight and not get lost with in your arrangements though. If you forget where you are in the track you’re sunk

Well the EZDrummer was what I was messing with the other day and it was pretty easy to just pick a groove and a tempo - drag it into the 'play track' then pick a fill.... drag it down....pick a chorus section rhythm ....drag. etc. You get the picture. Took me about 90 minutes to 'build' the drum part for Rockin in the Free World. Now that's way easier than the SR18...BUT....you have to be happy with the preset rhythms, fills, ends, intros etc....that's all you got....say like about 200 'lego' bricks of drumming. I just don't want this SR18 beating me.....I have a feel there's good stuff inside. I might just have to YouTube the whole 'expedition' because there's a whole load of guys with these SR18s in the loft!! And in lockdown - we got at least another three weeks - what else can yer do?!

 

[ChrisDowning]

Everyone uses VST software drums these days.

Yep think your right. The SR18 is kinda like a drum storage brick though - lots of the same stuff as VST just a different format. The big difference is....I wouldn't want to go on the road with a tablet and EZDrummer.....I'm sure guys do....but it feels a bit like flying without a net. Like Chester said you have to keep with the program as there's no cut throughs. If I can work out a good groove on the SR18, say two parts for the steady verse, a couple of grooves for the choruses and solos, then say 4 fills ....then that's a live show .....with lots of flexibility. You could gig like that. Then there's that whole bass thing that years ago did my head in......I think that bit is a last ditch dive.....if ever.

 

[Guitarteach]

Interesting thread... I was looking at a hardware drum machine to use with my Tascam DP32 for non computer based recording when working away from home.

i was looking at the Alesis as I thought it might be easier, being modern, and offer more than one general midi drum kit.

it made me look at my old Yamaha QY700 workstation... the whole drum pattern sequencing is really great on the Yamaha, it was unclear on the Alesis demos if it can do the same? Looking at the manual there does not seem to be a bars based model just ‘parts’. Is a part a bar?

Can you quickly construct a song with variations and fills? On the Yamaha I can see a bar/pattern grid and chords? I get that you have to switch the bass off but can you set chords / basslines too on a bar by bar basis on the Alesis?

No Alesis demo seems comprehensive but it seems a popular device.

i have a few drum apps and classic drum machine emulators on my ipad but not invested much time in one yet. I like the hardware idea.

 

[MarshallHeart]

There seems to be very little out there on the web and YouTube on how to use the Alesis SR 18 for both recording and live work. I'm now onto owning one a second time (again) after being without it for 3 years and can't wait to really get into it this time. I think I didn't get deep enough into the instruction manual last time. I wanted to programme both drums and bass and perhaps was trying too much too soon. Holy Moly, what frustration! Any tips - pointers - gurus out there. Or am I on my own? In which case I'll do the grunt work and YouYube it at the same time - hell there's no one out there doing that with the SR18 after.....how many years!!!

does it have the same sounds like the SR16 ?

 

[codamedia]

Well the EZDrummer was what I was messing with the other day and it was pretty easy to just pick a groove and a tempo - drag it into the 'play track' then pick a fill.... drag it down....pick a chorus section rhythm ....drag. etc. You get the picture. BUT....you have to be happy with the preset rhythms, fills, ends, intros etc....that's all you got....say like about 200 'lego' bricks of drumming.

That's not true... you are still open to a complete world of endless possibilities, some with effort, some without.

1. Every EZ/Superior pack you buy includes it's own set of "MIDI" files. Sounds sets and midi files can be used interchangeably
2. You can buy any amount of midi packs you want from Toontracks to expand the options...
3. THIS IS WHERE THERE IS NO LIMIT! When you drag them into a DAW, you can create/edit/manipulate any and all drum parts with the DAW's editor (often the piano roll).
4. You don't even have to use the provided midi files. If you know how to create a MIDI part in your DAW, your knowledge and imagination are your only limits to what you can do with those products.

 

[Obsessed]

That's not true... you are still open to a complete world of endless possibilities, some with effort, some without.

1. Every EZ/Superior pack you buy includes it's own set of "MIDI" files. Sounds sets and midi files can be used interchangeably
2. You can buy any amount of midi packs you want from Toontracks to expand the options...
3. THIS IS WHERE THERE IS NO LIMIT! When you drag them into a DAW, you can create/edit/manipulate any and all drum parts with the DAW's editor (often the piano roll).
4. You don't even have to use the provided midi files. If you know how to create a MIDI part in your DAW, your knowledge and imagination are your only limits to what you can do with those products.

+1 Yup. Just throw that SR-18 away. Don't curse another soul with it. EZD2 has so many options and as @codamedia mentions, there are a whole bunch of extra MIDI packs from Toontracks that make it incredibly powerful, yet easy to learn and use. Get a dirt cheap MIDI keyboard and you are off and running. An amazing tool.

 

[Engine Swap]

SR-18 have a following - wouldn't toss it - still worth $100-250 on Ebay.

 

[Chester Burnett]

That's not true... you are still open to a complete world of endless possibilities, some with effort, some without.

1. Every EZ/Superior pack you buy includes it's own set of "MIDI" files. Sounds sets and midi files can be used interchangeably
2. You can buy any amount of midi packs you want from Toontracks to expand the options...
3. THIS IS WHERE THERE IS NO LIMIT! When you drag them into a DAW, you can create/edit/manipulate any and all drum parts with the DAW's editor (often the piano roll).
4. You don't even have to use the provided midi files. If you know how to create a MIDI part in your DAW, your knowledge and imagination are your only limits to what you can do with those products.

^^This. You can also use a trigger or drum pad to play your own parts using the EZdrummer kits, which sound far superior to the SR18 samples. I’ve built tracks by doing one pass with just the snare, then I do a pass with kick, a pass with cymbals and so on. Each on a separate track. I use this KAT percussion multi trigger pad. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KTMP1--kat-percussion-ktmp1-multipad-drum-and-percussion-pad
I use a pair of drum sticks to trigger the EZdrummer kits. It’s a lot of fun. I'm not a drummer but by going one drum piece at a time I can do things I can’t find a loop for and it comes out pretty good. I find it easier and more organic than programming them. I didn’t actually run EZdrummer when playing live. I just exported the completed drum tracks to a midi file. From there you can use anything that will play a midi file. It doesn’t have to be an IPad. I have a friend that runs backing track from an MP3 player into his small mixer.

If you’ve never played to tracks before it can be a little scary at first but a lot of pros use backing tracks live. It forces you to have nice tight arrangements which can come in handy when you’re recording. Especially if you find yourself paying for hourly studio time at some point.

 

[ChrisDowning]

Well fortunately the SR18 was on trial - the second time I've bought one - and you know what - it's just as difficult to programme as I found it the first time. I just can't bring myself to get into the Quick Start Manual, and the Reference Manual, and the MIDI trigger sheet, and the drum pattern sheet....why am I doing this stuff when I'm a musician and would get better ROI from guitar practice and arranging songs for the band?........it's gone back!!

On the other hand at least I've evaluated whether I got this wrong the first time as I didn't have time - or should I be giving this a good go a 2nd time? Nope! I found programming a song with EZdrummer way easier - well actually good fun. (The hardware route maybe more like the SDRUM from digitech - hit the pedal, scratch some rhythm on the guitar, hit the pedal - auto drum! But giving up on hardware.)

As Codamedai says - there's a whole lot more about EZdrummer I've missed in looking at the demo. And as I would have had to lift the tracks from the SR18 and inport an MP3 file into my DAW it seems the easier option. So Chester Burnett has nailed what I'm going for.....and what's more scary than playing along with a drummer who has his own idea of where the sdongs going anyway!?

Do you guys think the EZDrummer is THE one to use (or does it have a doppleganger out there just and good / better)?

 

[codamedia]

Do you guys think the EZDrummer is THE one to use (or does it have a doppleganger out there just and good / better)?

IMO... EZ Drummer and Superior Drummer (both Toontrack) are the top of their class. There might be other solutions (eg: Addictive drums for one) but I don't believe anything will provide a better platform, an easier platform, better production, more selection, more community support, etc... etc...

Toontracks is always running specials on their website... keep your eye on the sales for expansion packs. You can build quite a library for very little money (comparatively) if you watch for those specials.

 

[Tuneup]

Yep think your right. The SR18 is kinda like a drum storage brick though - lots of the same stuff as VST just a different format. The big difference is....I wouldn't want to go on the road with a tablet and EZDrummer.....I'm sure guys do....but it feels a bit like flying without a net. Like Chester said you have to keep with the program as there's no cut throughs. If I can work out a good groove on the SR18, say two parts for the steady verse, a couple of grooves for the choruses and solos, then say 4 fills ....then that's a live show .....with lots of flexibility. You could gig like that. Then there's that whole bass thing that years ago did my head in......I think that bit is a last ditch dive.....if ever.

I did some stuff with a guy that did techno style dance music, the way he handled it was to bounce all the VST tracks to wav in his studio, that way he was literally playing a recording as his backing track, far fewer problems if you're doing a fixed set.

I get what you're saying, the Alesis is solid and tactile, but with today's tech you could have a reliable DAW and use it as a playback with wav files instead of running problematic VST's live.
If that was even your intent.