Alesis or Boss Drum Sounds?

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 13 Nov 2012 4:20 pm

I have a Boss BR-600 recorder with programmable drums. I also have an Alesis SR-16 drum machine. Which one is most prefered for the best sounding drum tracks? I'm getting ready to start a winter home recording project.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 13 Nov 2012 5:22 pm

I've been using an SR-16 (primarily) and an SR-18 in my studio for quite a while.

Don't know anything about the Boss.

I like the Alesis because of the built in programs.

I have a lot of drum samples that came with Sonar X2 (Producer) but I haven't got into that yet.

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 14 Nov 2012 5:12 am

Both are good. I have the Alesis SR-18 too. I like this machine although I haven't fully utilized it yet in programming complete songs. I still have yet to make a full song with the bass guitar and have a verse part and separate bridge. These are easy machines to work with.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 14 Nov 2012 8:47 pm

Jack Stoner wrote:I've been using an SR-16 (primarily) and an SR-18 in my studio for quite a while.

Don't know anything about the Boss.

I like the Alesis because of the built in programs.

I have a lot of drum samples that came with Sonar X2 (Producer) but I haven't got into that yet.

Jack, does your Alesis SR16 have 3/4 time waltzes?? I have one but no waltzes in it.. otherwise an excellent drum machine..

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Nov 2012 3:04 am

I have one that was user programmed by a local music store and loaded into my SR-16. I don't know why that was not included in the factory programs.

The SR-18 does have 3/4 programs.

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 15 Nov 2012 3:13 am

You can do pretty well any beat that you can think up with the SR-18

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Nov 2012 3:16 am

My most often used in my studio is the SR-16 "31A" program. That can be used for most "country" songs, including the 4/4 shuffles.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 15 Nov 2012 8:39 am

I used an SR-16 on many sessions where people couldn't tell it from real drums. You can program just about anything you need, and the save to cassette function is great in the studio. Two good tricks- you can separate the snare (and kick) off onto the 2nd set of outputs, and process them separately with different EQ and reverb. Then try tracking a real crash cymbal... one of the "machine" giveaways is the decay of the cymbal sample. If you just track somebody hitting a real crash, it fools the ear very well.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 15 Nov 2012 10:21 am

Can you replace the snare with a rim shot on the "preset" drum measures? And, a 4/4 (shuffle) kick? Or maybe, dump a "preset" to "user" and editing? I'd like to fine tune a "preset" to my taste without starting over with a complete drum set built from scratch.
I haven't worked with my sr-16 for 4 years and got into the basics at that time. I'm having to re-learn.
I like many of the Boss br-600 drum "presets", but not sure if it's as flexible as the Alesis?

John Gould · Post by **John Gould** » 15 Nov 2012 12:29 pm

One of the cool things about the BR series recorders is you can load in different drum sounds with the software that Boss lets you download for free. I used the 600 a bunch and I now have the 800 and I also own a SR-16. One of the big advantage of using the built in drums is you never have to lose a audio track to record the drums to.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 15 Nov 2012 12:53 pm

John, yes, I was thinking that also. Since the br-600 drums are onboard and in sync with the other tracks, I should be able to change the drum measures or whole kit, if I want, at any time or before the final mix? Is there a way to change any of the "preset" drum kit pieces? Ex: eliminating a snare and adding a rim shot?

John Gould · Post by **John Gould** » 15 Nov 2012 9:01 pm

you can change out any of the drum sounds
http://www.bossus.com/support/downloads_updates/
Download the Boss Br 600 drum software and you can load midi drum files and change out the drum sounds and build your own custom kits

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 16 Nov 2012 8:08 am

I don't do any programming on my Alesis SR-16 or 18. The reason I bought them over other brands is that you don't have to program songs - just use the built in programs.

Mark Wayne · Post by **Mark Wayne** » 29 Nov 2012 8:20 am

Dennis, I used the SR-16 for years, and even midi'd them to a drum set, but a better choice for drum tones, more styles and user friendliness in this category is the Boss DR-3. Just my opinion. Its also portable. I had to program waltzes into the SR-16, whereas the DR-3 had them already. Go to YouTube and at least take a listen. You won't be dissappointed.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 29 Nov 2012 1:29 pm

Mark, Dr-3 sounds impressive. Did I perceive correctly, it has bass guitar built into it also?
Is there a good 4/4 country preset with rim shot and kick on every beat?
I've had to build my own drum set on the SR-16. And, will have to program a good 4/4 to make use of it. A bunch of tweaking time.

Mark Wayne · Post by **Mark Wayne** » 29 Nov 2012 1:59 pm

That's correct, Dennis. It does have bass patterns in it, too. The kick on the SR-16 was one of my favorites, but the DR-3 tends to sound more natural. With alot of guys going to software now days, those drum machines should be pretty inexpensive.