Alesis DM5 18-bit Drum Module Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great machine!!
You do can adjust pretty much everything, the pitch, the gain, noise, pan...etc
Very realistc, you can play super fast or slow and still recognizes the weak hits and the strong hits. The perfect mate is the Ddrum acoutic pro triggers :)
I use all this for metal. Awesome help for home and professional use.

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A classic drum-sound module for drummers, programmers, and producers, the Alesis DM5 18-bit drum module contains 540 stereo, 18-bit drum sounds that can be assigned to any of the 21 programmable drumsets. And 12 trigger inputs enable DM5 to be used with all Alesis drum and cymbal pads, SURGE Cymbals, and the triggering devices from most other major manufacturers.
This drum module also has full MIDI I/O so it can be used as a sound source for composing, programming, and sequencing with a wide variety of controllers including keyboards, pad triggers, MPCs, and more. Built-in Alesis studio effects including reverb and ambiance ensure that you can send a complete, finished sound to the PA, recording system, and your headphones with no additional processing. And the DMF offers Alesis' exclusive Dynamic Articulation technology, which modifies sample sounds so they change as you play them.

Key Features
540 drum, percussion, and cymbal sounds
Dynamic Articulation modulates tone and pitch of sounds for realism
Stereo samples with reverb and ambiance
Seven-position, user programmable panning
128 dynamic levels via MIDI or trigger inputs
21 drumset-memory locations with defaults stored permanently

Dynamic Articulation Discerning ears will notice that each sound is actually a series of different samples; multiple dynamic-level samples and articulations are all built in so as you play harder and softer, the drum or cymbal changes its timbre, not just its volume. This engineered realism is known as Dynamic Articulation, an Alesis exclusive.
This results in sounds that respond accurately not only to dynamic changes, but also with the appropriate timbral and color changes you'd expect from their acoustic counterparts. You can play with or without reverb for different room sounds and enjoy a wide variety of rimshots, rim clicks and different stick-placement sounds on the cymbals. The Random Sample feature also ensures you don't get the same sound twice for further creative realism.
Specifications
Inputs: (12) 1/4-inch (each with 5 user adjustable trigger parameters)
Outputs: Two 1/4-inch stereo pairs
Headphone: 1/4-inch TRS with variable gain
MIDI: In, Out/Thru
18-bit sample resolution
48kHz Sample rate
Footswitch: 1/4-inch, assignable to hi-hat control or program advance
16-voice polyphony
Panning: 7 position, user programmable
Kits: 21 Memory locations w/defaults permanently stored in ROM
Tuning Scheme: Coarse (chromatic) and Fine (cents)
Data Input: Data knob, front panel keypad (sound auditioning via velocity sensitive
Preview button on front panel)
Expanded Dynamic Articulation: Modulates tone and pitch
Power: 9V AC external transformer, UL and CSA approved
Dimensions: 19 x 1.75 x 6 inches (WxHxD)
Weight: 4.5 pounds

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Alesis MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 Mixer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was a little nervous to buy this without reading someone's assurance that it would do specifically what I wanted: record our band multi-tracked into a MacBook.
But it works great. No hiccups while streaming 6 channels at once into Garageband. Amazing at the price.

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Designed with low-noise analog electronics, the MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 mixer lets you take advantage of 100 studio-grade 28-bit digital effects. Whether used for mobile or studio recording, the MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 mixer makes recording high-quality audio to your computer fast and easy. The MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 mixer is also bundled with award-winning Cubase LE software for instant creativity right out of the box.
Key Features
10-direct outputs to your computer for recording and 2 return inputs for monitoring
High-gain mic/line (XLR and 1/4-inch balanced) inputs with phantom power, 2 stereo balanced 1/4-inch
Line inputs, aux send (to onboard or external effects), stereo aux return
Switchable 75Hz high pass filters
100 onboard 28-bit preset effects including reverbs, delays, chorus, flanging, pitch and multi-effects
3-band EQ per channel with high/low shelving and mid band pass/reject
Separate 1/4-inch balanced main and monitor outs, headphone out
24-bit, 44.1 to 96 kHz operation with high-end A/D and D/A conversion through an integrated USB 2.0 Audio interface
Steinberg Cubase LE included

Specifications
Input Channels
Mic In Sensitivity Range: -60dBu to -10dBu nominal, +5dBu maximum
Line In Sensitivity Range: -40dBu to -+10dBu nominal, +25dBu maximum
Mic/Line Gain Range: +10 to +60dB

Equalization
High-Pass Filter: 75Hz, 18dB/octave
High Shelving: 12kHz, +/- 15dB
Mid Bandpass/Band Reject: 2.5 kHz, +/- 15dB
Low Shelving: 80Hz, +/- 15dB

Aux Sends
Aux Send A & B Gain Range: -∞ to +10dB

Aux Returns
Aux Return A Gain Range: -∞ to +15dB
Effects Level/Aux Return B Gain Range: -∞ to +15dB

Channel Levels
Channel Level Gain Range: -∞ to +10dB

Master Levels
Main Mix, Ctrl Room Gain Range: -∞ to +10dB

1/4-inch Inputs
Stereo Aux Return Level: +4dBu nominal, +20dBu maximum

RCA Inputs
2-TRACK IN Level: -10dBV nominal, +5dBV maximum

1/4-inch Outputs
Main Mix, Ctrl Room, Ext Aux Send Level: +4dBu nominal, +20dBu maximum
Headphone Output: 75 ohm output impedance >105mW into 75 ohms, >40mW
into 600ohms

RCA Outputs
2-TRACK OUT Level: -10dBV nominal, +5dBV maximum

Dimensions and Weight
14.5 x 10.75 x 5 inches
7 pounds

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Alesis DM10 Studio Kit Professional Six-Piece Electronic Drum Set Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I looked forward for the DM10 Studio Kit to become available for months, and even downloaded the manual from Alesis when it became availble so I could hit the ground running when I made my purchase. When the unit showed up on my door step I grabbed the hand truck and axiously moved it to its new home. I opened the box and everything was neatly packed and protected. I began unpacking all of the individual boxes and frame peices and spread them around the room. I located the installation instructions. The instructions for putting the entire unit together was on an 8x11 peice of paper in 4 different languages with the diagrams and printing so small it was difficult to read. I immediately went to the Alesis website and down loaded the instructions so I could easily zoom in on my laptop. Problem 1 solved. The frame was fairly easy to put together and rigid enough to support all drums and accesseries. All of the clamps that hold the frame, cymbal and drums to the frame are plastic and I accidently cracked one by hand tightning. Would have been better to have aluminum clamps. There are no ball joints like you would find on an acoustic set for ajusting the tom drums,as it is an L rod that allows side to side ajustment. The clamp attached to the frame will allow up and down movement but can be tricky to get at once the tom is mounted. I mounted the sound module to the frame with the included clamp and proceded to run the cables to the triggers on the drums and cymbals. All cables were clearly marked as well as the back of the sound module. There were two cables in which the desciption did not match what was written on the back of the sound module, I just plugged them into the next available spaces. The cables are pre-cut to length so you cannot vary the placements of the drums and cymbals. Even when placed like the instructions show there is not a sufficient amount of cable to neatly attach to the frame. I actually had to move the sound module to under the hihat cymbal as to not stress the wires on the back of the sound module.
The one major design flaw seem to be the base drum module. It is very top heavy and has no support legs on the sides. It wobbles alot while playing, especially on carpet as it actually tipped over. Be careful that you retract the spikes before putting it on hardwood, vinyl or ceramic tile floors. I also could not get much sound out of the base drum pedal. I think it may have been defective as no matter what I did the volume would not increase like I could get the rest of the triggers to do. The hihat pedal felt nothing like a "real hihat pedal" even though thats what Alesis calls it. I could not get it to calibrate and perform as advertised. Do not buy this unit thinking that when you are done putting it together that it is ready to play. This unit needs alot of calibration and adjustment. Plan on spending a couple of hours doing this. The sounds that the module produces are good and the menues are easy to navigate. As far as the drum heads are concerned, Alesis claims in their advertising it is just like playing acoustic drums and no need to change your playing technique. It could not be farther from the truth. The drum heads themselves may be real but thats about it. I do not know what the material directly underneath the head is but it is a hard spongy type material and fairly noisy. I was impressed with the cymbals as they seemed high quality like you would find on a Roland or Yamaha set.
Like I mentioned earlier I had problems with calibration and getting sound out of the base drum pad. I called Alesis waiting on hold 45 to 60 minutes at a time and giving up. I should not have to wait that long. Just being curious I called Roland and Yamahas customer service departments and had a rep within minutes. After that little experiment, I re-packaged the entire unit and sent it back for a refund. I am now saving up for a Roland or Yamaha unit.

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Professional 6-piece electronic drum set, DM10, RealHead 10" snr, 4x 8" toms, DMPad HH, 2x Crash, 3-zone Ride

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Alesis DM6 Kit Performance Electronic Drumset Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had my Alesis DM6 drumset up and running for a couple days and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. Up until now any electronic drumset in the $500 range was nothing more than a toy. Because I know that Alesis knows how to make great electronic drumsets I was hoping that their experience making higher end kits would trickle down to this brand new DM6 line. It did. This drumset is fabulous when you consider the price point and, in fact, has no real competition that I could find.
Pros:
- Everything is included. I've looked at a lot of drumsets and many don't include everything you need like bass drum pedals and more. This has everything you need to play right our of the box, even a pair of drum sticks. OK, a couple things not included you will need and that's a set of headphones and a throne (chair) to sit on.
- Sturdy, well made components. The natural rubber drum heads are quiet but have a very good feel and rebound to them. The rubber cymbals are not as quiet as the drum heads but do what they are supposed to do very nicely. All metal hi-hat and bass pedals. Wide diameter aluminum frame rails and compoents.
- Very realistic sounding drum samples.
- Dual zone snare. You can make the snare sound like a rimshot when you hit the rim. Or program it for a cowbell when you play "Don't Fear the Reaper". Or make it sound like any of the other drum sounds included.
- Ability to interface with your computer via USB. This opens up a world of options including MIDI and recording your performances on your favorite recording software. I don't know of any sub $500 kit of this quality that does that.
- MY FAVORITE THING is I just plug in my iPod into the DM6 module and I can play right along to my favorite songs.
- You can buy an ION Drum Rocker module (I was able to get one on eBay, not sold by Alesis) and use this kit for your Rockband drumset. You'll need 8 new cables too, so while there is extra expense, it's possible
Cons:
- Some kits, including mine, were delivered with firmware that was less than perfect. I, and others I have heard, would sometimes have problems with the snare drum triggering properly. I had to hit it harder than I thought I should to get it to trigger. A quick and easy firmware update totally fixed this problem but I know some people have problems updating thgings like this.
The Botton Line:
- Everything I've said in this review is under the caviat, "...for the price." If you are new to drumming this would be a great first set. But if you are and experienced drummer on a tight budget you will not be disappointed as long as you aren't expecting the DM6 to be a Roland Pro high end drum kit. The bottom line is this is the best $500 (street price) electronic drumset ever made.


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An excellent choice in electronic drum sets for price-conscious drummers and aspiring players, this Alesis DM6 Kit combines the compact DM6 drum-sound module with an electronic drum set with extremely realistic playing surfaces and rugged rack system. The DM6 drum module features a completely new sound-set with 108 quality drum, cymbal, and percussion instruments as well as a sequencer with play-along tracks, metronome, recorder, mix-in jack for playing along with your iPod, and more.

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