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Using an Alesis SR-16

SBassman

SBassman

Jun 8, 2003
9,799
3,364
Northeast, US
#1
In another thread, I tried to seek out the names of drum machines that allowed for seamless, in-touch pattern switches in real time - for live performing.

The Boss DR series does this, and so does the Alesis.
Unfortunately, the lowest end DR series does Not have a way to back up patterns, so I am looking at the Alesis.

Have you ever used an Alesis for performing live? If so, could you share your experiences?

Have you ever backed up the patterns and songs of Alesis?
Did it work? How did you do it?

Thanks.
 
#3
SBassman said:
Unfortunately, the lowest end DR series does Not have a way to back up patterns, so I am looking at the Alesis.
Click to expand...

Not sure of the model you're speaking of, but couldn't you do a SYSEX dump via MIDI to save stuff?

I had used a SR-16, as well as its predecessor quite a bit some time ago (exclusively for recording), and owned a Boss DR-660 up til a couple years ago. The DR was far superior in most every way IMHO.
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c
 
#4
chrisp2u said:
Not sure of the model you're speaking of, but couldn't you do a SYSEX dump via MIDI to save stuff?

I had used a SR-16, as well as its predecessor quite a bit some time ago (exclusively for recording), and owned a Boss DR-660 up til a couple years ago. The DR was far superior in most every way IMHO.
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c
Click to expand...

The DR-3 doesn't have MIDI out. The others do, but there's a steep increase in price.
 
#5
I actually used an SR16 live for a little while. It's fairly easy. I suppose you could do it with MIDI, but I used a couple of momentary footswitches to toggle between things. With the SR16, each pattern has an A and a B variant with two fills that can also be used as patterns in their own right, and it's easy to switch between these live (not as easy to switch between different pattern banks).

You can back up patterns into any MIDI-equipped sequencer (I've done this), and it's also possible to back them up to tape (!).

Though the sound is really kind of cheesy in many contexts, I kind of like the SR-16.
 
#8
I know this machine is old, but it has been revved over the years, and it really does have life in it. So, I'd like to stoke the dialog here if possible.

Some of the sounds are indeed cheesie, but there are so many, that if you go through the library, you Will find sounds to assemble a good kit. IMHO anyway.

My real question is: regarding the low tech backup to tape. Has anyone ever tried doing that backup and restore using - PC audio. i.e. a WAVe sound file?

I'd try it myself, but I can't risk destroying what has already been programmed. [We're setting it up for some gigs actually.]

Anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?
 
#9
Anyone with an SR-16 willing to help me test the restore of a backup? I can't do it myself, because I can't risk the content on the machine.
[Which is being programmed for imminent gigs. Yes - we're going to perform with it live.]

Rather than using a tape backup, I'd like to see if it would work to:
- Backup to a Windows WAVe sound file
- Restore from that file

Then I can store my backups on CD.

Theoretically, this should work. But ...

Anyone with expendable content on their SR-16 willing to help test this?
 
#11
wow, that's crazy thinking. If you have the wave files on the computer already you could look at them and determine whether the signal is clear enough to be read back again...

I have an SR-16 with nothing useful stored on it, but I'm not competant with it, so you'll have to walk me through what I need to do. I'm not sure I have all the equipment I need but if I can i'll help!
 
#12
Techmonkey said:
wow, that's crazy thinking. If you have the wave files on the computer already you could look at them and determine whether the signal is clear enough to be read back again...

I have an SR-16 with nothing useful stored on it, but I'm not competant with it, so you'll have to walk me through what I need to do. I'm not sure I have all the equipment I need but if I can i'll help!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I appreciate the gesture.

If you want to go for it, PM me your e-mail address. If your e-mail can handle it, I'd send you a 3 Meg sound file, and I'd walk you through the attempt.

To do it, you would need a 1/8 jack cable, to run from the Alesis tape jack to the Line In of your computer.
 

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