Alesis SR-16 (1990–2003)
Portable 16-voice drum machine with velocity-sensitive pads, floppy disk storage, and dynamic articulation for expressive playing.
Overview
The Alesis SR-16 Portable Electronic Drum Machine was introduced in 1990 as the successor to the HR-16 and remained in production until approximately 2003. Designed to be an affordable, professional-quality drum machine, it became one of the best-selling drum machines of all time and a classic in home studios. The SR-16 features 233 drum sounds, 50 preset and 50 user kits, and supports complete MIDI integration with MIDI In, Out/Thru, and sync to MIDI Clock/Song Position Pointer. It was praised for its powerful feature set, ease of use, and surprisingly good sound quality—particularly its kick, snare, and iconic side-stick sample.
Specifications
| Release Year | 1990 |
| Production Years | 1990–2003 |
| Drum Sounds | 233 sounds; 50 user kits, 50 preset kits |
| Patterns | 400 total (200 user, 200 preset), 12,000-note capacity |
| Songs | 200 total (100 preset, 100 user) |
| Presets | 50 preset rhythm patterns, each with A/B variations and fills |
| Polyphony | 16 voice |
| Effects | Panning & Dynamic Articulation; some samples include baked-in reverb and ambience |
| Pads | 12 velocity-sensitive pads |
| Display | 2 x 16-character backlit LCD |
| Storage | 3.5" floppy disk drive |
| Sample Resolution | 16-bit linear sampling / 18-bit DAC |
| Outputs | Stereo (L/Mono, R) 1/4", headphone jack |
| Inputs | 1/4" stereo input |
| MIDI | MIDI In, Out/Thru; sync to MIDI Clock/SPP |
| Footswitches | 2: start/stop, count/A/B/fill |
| Tempo Range | 20–255 BPM |
| Power Supply | 9V AC, 1500mA |
| Memory Backup | 3V lithium (CR2032) |
| Dimensions | 14" W x 9.5" D x 2.25" H |
| Weight | 5 lbs |
Design
The SR-16 is built with robust construction and features a 16-bit sound engine that uses stereo samples stored in ROM. Its Dynamic Articulation function modulates tone based on playing velocity, enhancing expressiveness. An analog circuit generates internal voltages, and the unit includes a 3.5" floppy disk drive for data storage.
Context
The SR-16 succeeded the Alesis HR-16 and was later followed by the SR-18, which added an instrument input. It was designed as an affordable, professional-grade drum machine and was often compared to contemporaries like the Roland TR-505 and TR-707. Alesis continued production after its 2001 acquisition, and the SR-16 remained in production until around 2003.
Market
Used units sell for approximately $100–$200 USD. Common issues include unresponsive buttons due to failed contacts, power supply problems, dim or failed LCDs, floppy drive failures, memory loss from dead backup batteries, and "no sound" output. The floppy drive can be replaced with modern SD/USB emulators, and spare parts like pads, knobs, LCDs, and ICs (e.g., PCM54HP) are commonly available.
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