The SR-16 has been in production since the early 1990s and ranks as one of the most widely used drum machines ever made — a title it earned honestly. The 233 sounds cover acoustic, electronic, and percussion voices, all available dry or with Alesis's onboard digital reverbs. The standout feature is Dynamic Articulation: velocity-sensitive pads that actually change the tonal content of sounds as you play harder, which gives programmed parts a realism that most machines at this price point don't approach. The 50 preset patterns were played in by studio drummers rather than step-programmed, and each comes with A and B sections plus two fills — enough variation to sketch out full arrangements. Add 50 user pattern slots, complete MIDI implementation, and a footswitch input for hands-free fill triggers and pattern changes, and you have a machine that has earned its longevity. Straightforward, reliable, and sounds good.
This unit is in very good condition and fully functional throughout.
- Make: Alesis
- Model: SR-16
- Type: stereo drum machine
- Sounds: 233 total, 16-bit stereo samples, dry and reverberated versions
- Polyphony: 16 voices
- Pads: 12 velocity sensitive with Dynamic Articulation
- Patterns: 50 preset, 50 user
- Pattern sections: A, B, and two fills per pattern
- Effects: onboard digital reverb
- MIDI: full MIDI in/out
- Outputs: 4 (2 stereo pairs)
- Footswitch input: yes
- Weight: 2.5 lbs
- Modifications: none
- Includes: power supply, footswitch
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.