Alesis Drums Surge Mesh Kit - Electric Drum Set with Mesh Pads, 385 Electronic / Acoustic Drum Kit Sounds and 60 Play Along Tracks

Product Information

Module user guide – the built in user guide is ok, see our note below about more detailed, unofficial user guides SUMMARY: If you have access to a PC/Mac and BFD, GarageBand, Logic Pro, EZDrummer, or some other drumming software, then the Alesis Surge can be a very good kit. If you are on a tight budget and need serviceable sounds right out of the box, then you are going to be better served by the Simmons Titan 50. There are some more detailed settings available for the individual voices and drum sounds. You can edit the volume, panning and pitch of each sound on the drum kit. You can also adjust the amount of reverb individually for each drum sound. So, for example if you want a good amount of reverb on the snare but not on the toms, you can do that. You can also adjust the MIDI number for each pad, which is helpful if you are connecting to a computer and need to edit MIDI numbers to match up with drumming software. Even though the kit doesn’t sound completely like a real drum set, you’re getting amazing value with the Surge Mesh. Easily adjust any existing kit, or create your own using the 385 superior drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds included in the Surge module.

The Surge drum module allows you to edit some overall kit characteristic as well as individual sounds. This allows you to do a little bit of sound editing and craft the sound of the kits to your liking. Dynamic expression is slightly limited but playability is plenty good enough for a beginner through to intermediate drummer. The hi-hat pedal response is basic. There is a half-open option, although it’s not the most natural, whilst splashing the hi-hat proves a little too much for the module and produces some unwanted triggering. While the Surge Mesh is a fine electronic drum set for a beginner, we think you should consider looking at Roland or a higher-end model from Alesis.I believe the Alesis kit uses the exact same sample across all dynamic ranges; it just changes the volume rather than the actual sample. For beginners, the module features a training mode for learning and even will give you a score upon finishing. It’s super helpful for getting your timing to be spot on. All three cymbal pads are 10-inch pads with rubber trigger zones all facing the drummer. The pads look the same, but function a little different for each cymbal. I have bought this drum for my home studio. I live in the apartment so I have to keep things quiet. This is an ok drum in it's budget range. But don't expect a superb product because it's not. The module sound/kits are cheesy (but let's be honest - so is 99% of other modules), so I recommend using the VSTs. With this kit you get a free BFD Player + basic library (Mahogany Kit). The VST is also ok, but nothing spectacular (has basic options for mix, but honestly - that's all you need, especially if you just want to jam out or you don't want to spend an eternity to mix your own drums in the song). The only downside of this VST is that it has some kind of "humanize" option added to it which I couldn't turn off, so the hi-hat varies in loudness when you play it. I guess they didn't want to have that machine gun effect, but they got carried away with it. The crash pad is also a single zone pad and it also has a choke. It plays like a basic rubber pad and there’s nothing really all that special here.

Note: This appliance is not equipped with a main powerswitch. Even when the appliance is turned off,the power supply to the appliance is not completely turned off when the power adapter is plugged in. Disconnect the power adapter when not using the appliance for long periods.

Alesis offer 40 free drum lessons with this kitfrom Melodics their software partner. Once connected, the software recognises the drum kit and will show the players performance and progress in real time. Many styles are covered and it makes learning fun.

Press Record. The button’s LED will flash and the metronome will turn on automatically. This means the module is record-armed. To adjust the volume of the drum part - Press Song, Then press the Song/select until DRM appears on the display. Then us the < and > to adjust the volume. To start recording, press Start/Stop, or hit any pad. The Record LED will light solid. (To cancel recording instead, press Record again.) Yes! you can connect up an MP3 player, phone, Tablet to the Aux input on the module and be able to play along with your favorite tunes.

Despite the Alesis Surge Mesh having incredible velocity recognition for playing quiet and loud dynamics, they dropped the ball in one area: the samples. Solution home Alesis Support Alesis | Frequently Asked Questions Alesis Surge Mesh Kit | Frequently Asked Questions