Every Alesis Drum Set Worth Buying (2022)
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- Опубліковано 23 вер 2024
- E-drum companies offers so many drum sets that it just becomes confusing. So this is a series were I break down the entire lineup of each major electronic drum company, and which ones are with buying.
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The Drum Sets In This Video*
*there are amazon links here that support the channel at no cost to you
✅Total amzn.to/331S2R9
✅Turbo Mesh amzn.to/3zuHKFp
✅Nitro Mesh amzn.to/3EZ9287
✅Surge Mesh amzn.to/3n1sVVU
✅Command Mesh amzn.to/338blbH
✅Crimson II SE www.guitarcent...
✅DM10 MKII Pro amzn.to/3t0OlGg
✅Strike amzn.to/3zx7LDV
✅Strike Pro SE amzn.to/3t18gor
You're doing a huge service to electronic drummers everywhere man. Thank you
💯 Agree
And to parents/people trying to save money.
Strike Pro SE owner here -- I came from a Roland TD30-KV, which I owned from 2014 - 2019. I needed another e-drum kit recently, didn't wanna drop flagship Roland money (again), so I picked up the Strike Pro SE.
Coming from the prior flagship Roland model, the Strike Pro SE plays just as good (even better in some ways)... after three VERY important things:
1. Spend time fine tuning pad sensitivity settings across the entire kit. It does not play naturally outta the box, whereas Rolands mostly do.
2. Yep... you really gotta adjust that hi hat trigger and settings. It's truly the achilles heel of an otherwise stellar kit, but definitely workable after some adjusting. I'll end up upgrading it later, but for now, it's mostly fine.
3. I updated the heads to Drum-tec Real Feels all around... even the kick. World of difference.
The one thing my old TD30-KV truly has over the my current Strike Pro SE is the rack. The TD30-KV's metal rack is on a different level of sturdiness compared to the Strike Pro SE's. No comparison, but that Roland also costs twice as much.
As far as sounds, the built-in sounds are mostly excellent -- better than the TD30 in my opinion. Some kits are useless, yes -- but the more time I spend with it, the more useable many of the kits become, especially when used within a mix.
Overall, I'm actually quite happy with the Strike Pro SE. I've got some videos playing kits on my channel, click my profile if you'd wanna check that out.
Good luck!
What kind of adjustments do I make on the high hat? I have no idea how to improve it
@@joelg3038 I went down a UA-cam rabbit hole for that, I watched a ton of videos and just messed around with every setting till it began to feel as natural as it could. There are a few videos here on YT!
I've heard mixed reviews on the drum tec heads. What do you prefer about them over the mesh?
@@zakkwylde5545 Hey Zakk -- I've used a number of different mesh heads over the years, the Real Feels are my first go with Drum-tec. Really depends what you're going for. For me, I wanted replication of the weight and response of an acoustic drum head so the transition back to an acoustic kit was as fluid as possible. And these do that. They're louder than traditional mesh heads, so I suppose that's a downside... but I use mine in a music studio with no neighbors to bother. I may find that to be an issue later if / when the kit comes home, but for now, I'm super happy with it. They are pricey, but worth it.
What killed me is the Hi hat cymbal pads. Too STIFF.
Good tips. There's a way around the Alesis Nitro mesh, tho. I'm a prog metal drummer, and I have the Alesis Nitro Mesh. But what I did is, I found a 2nd Alesis kick tower pad & hooked it up via a Mono Splitter (sharing all settings with the 1st kick tower). It works great! Especially after trying a double pedal to find what you said true: the hammers struck too close to either side of the edge of the pad. But a 2nd tower and mono splitter works great! I just recorded a CD with it (a hybrid kit, but with real snare & cymbals).
Thank you for saving me some trouble. I have been wanting to get him a double bass pedal, but I am going to try this for my son's kit maybe for a Christmas present. Great idea, bro!
@@joshludlum9344 I currently play with the old version of this kit - I found that it actually works fine for double bass if you screw the pedals and pad tower down to a piece of plywood :) Personally the main issue I have with the kit and why I'm now looking at others is that it is very hard to play super quiet technical stuff. The hi-hat especially (I may just have a faulty kit) doesnt want to trigger for very light hits. I talked to someone else with the new kit who said he doesnt have that problem, so ymmv
I thought about doing the same but using the 4th Tom wire and programming a kick to it. Don’t have the expansion pack or any real need for another tom. Maybe another cymbal would be nice.
I bought the Strike Pro SE in april last year, I noticed people werent to happy with the cymbals from Alesis, but they like many others provide warranty and I therefore took my shot. I am playing quite heavy music, quite often and quite hard hitting. Still works for me all of it, and it feels really nice playing on it! Feels natural, and responsive. Would totally reccomend!
If you bash the snare a lot like me, don’t buy any of the lower value kits/avoid Alesis. My snare trigger broke after 3-4 months of use and it’s been 30 days since I took it to the repair shop and haven’t gotten it back yet.
I'm mainly a guitarist but wanted a kit to record demos and mess around on. Wound up buying a Command Mesh kit and love it. Got the extra cymbal and tom, and eventually added a couple more cymbals and another kick tower by splitting toms. I absolutely love it and it made my desire to get better at drums skyrocket.
This video comes too late to be helpful to me but luckily it just confirms that I made the right choice with my Alesis Surge :)
Same lol i just set mine up last night, gotta program the midi to assign my getgooddrums setup on it
10 months later--- how has the Alesis held up? I read a lot of reviews of bad sensor quality-- failing components that won't trigger any more.... Any issues??
@@SoCalCommuter Snare lost its main zone after just 3 months, got it replaced cause warranty
@@Taka_Does_Stuff dang fr? I was thinking about getting the Alesis Surge but now i'm not so sure. Is there another electronic drum set you would have chosen now that you have the hindsight?
@@johnhennessey5 nah, I'm happy with it tbh. Like I said, make sure you have a warranty and don't be scared to use it
just bought the surge cant wait to try it out
I've had the Surge for a year and love it. You can easily get past the poor module sounds with a USB cable and free software (as covered in other videos here). No issues with durability yet.
I didn't know there was free drum software sounds!
Any update on durability?
@@raphaelpio5721 still feels like the day I bought it, and that's after very regular use.
@@tylerdaniels4601 thanks!!!
been a Roland guy for years, then I saw the Alesis SE kit at a recent Halloween party, so I decided to rent the SE (planning on buying it) and it's really nice for the $$ and the sound was amazing!, I as well heard alot of issues with the hi hat, the only thing I noticed is the open/close when you hit the hi hat pad while playing a 4/4 time on it, you have to hit it a little harder to get that sound while opening it, but the clapping, slosh sound while open works great...but I can overlook all that with the sound samples it has to offer! I've noticed no trigger issues, ride, toms, crashes everything works great!
happy drumming!
Alesis line up time stamps
0:10 alesis debut
0:58 alesis turbo mesh
1:33 alesis nitro mesh
3:17 alesis surge mesh
4:48 alesis command mesh
6:19 Alesis crimson II SE
7:43 alesis dm10 MKII Pro
8:45 alesis strike
10:37 Alesis strike pro SE
thank you man, I wish he would pin this comment lol
I got the Surge for my wife as a Christmas gift (as a musician and frustrated drummer, I also use it haha). I love it but I dislike that it has the same Module as the Nitro, which sucks, and the fact that only the Nitro has expansions. Meaning that if I expand the Surge, i won't have the same built quality as the drums I already have. But overall, for the price, I'm quite happy. Especially because I was able to pay in instalments on Amazon Germany.
I got the Crimson II SE and you are 100% right about the the kick drum lacking. I'm a beginner so it is still an amazing kit for me.
Easy upgrade
Perfect time to release this series, as I am currently looking to get an E-Kit. I've settled on the Roland TD-17 KVX. I was going to pick the Alesis Strike Pro or DM10 MII, but confirmed it was not worth the price for what I'm looking for. Thank you!
Solid kit. And Roland is pro level stuff. It should trigger very well out of the box. I have Roland pads 24 yo that still trigger perfectly. And could probably go another 24!
Good choice the TD line is phenomenal and can be upgraded to a pro kit
Strike Pro SE owner here, and no regret! It’s absolutely beautiful and amazing! The Alesis team it’s incredible, my Ride had an issue with triggering and they sent me a new one, in less then a week.. I have some drum cover videos in my channel with this kit
Where do you live bro cause I've read that there's no good support
As someone that played percussion for 14 years as a lad into my early 20s....(now 44) I feel lost...
I'm looking for an electronic kit, due to ease
of moving and noise control. But it seems limited in many cases. I am used to dual high hats 10 piece set plus oodles of cymbals. It wasn't for ego.... I used them all. My teacher attended Berkeley and graduated from CCM (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music U.C.) I was one of his protege. I could have done more but GrANG lifestyle snd drugs derailed me for a bit.
I'm s good man now, once again. Trying to correct the sins if my past. I appreciate the video this helped me eliminate a few kits...
I have the strike pro SE and I haven't had any problems with it.
I recommend the surge mesh, i was hesitant about buying an e kit but I love it. It has pretty much all of the tones/sounds I desire and the kit itself feels sturdy- even though I play harder than I should.
Zero issues and I have had this kit for almost a year. I thought I was “settling” for a lesser kit, but I was wrong. This thing is great.
I'm getting the Surge mesh kit over the weekend! Only thing i may do down the line, is convert the hihat from a controller pedal to an actual hihat stand (with a module trigger). But the surge mesh kit, feels great, rebound on the kick drum is close to an acoustic shell kit.
What a great video. You answered so many of my questions about the Alesis line. And because I trust your judgement, I also have a solid basis for choosing a specific Alesis kit within my budget, as well as having a baseline against which I can compare the other brands. Thank you, Justin!
Dang. I just ordered yesterday an alesis nitro expandable. I wasn't able to check the surge. If i just knew all those toms are dual zoned before buying, I would have just got that one.
In my country, Nitro + Expa it's more expensive than the Surge😂
For the nitro mesh if you want double kick and don’t really care if you spend a lot you could replace the kick drum with a different one, I replaced mine with a Simmons kick drum
@2:22 - Alesis Nitro Mesh owner with full upgrade pack and several extra cross braces for areas of the kit. The upgrade pack gives you a second snare-type pad, a 3rd tom pad and another dual-zone crash. All up on 7 3/4" bed risers. Each time I wail on that kit I am SUPER happy I purchased it. It's especially good for late-night, drunken weekend jam sessions at 3am.
I keep coming back to 65 Drums. No BS, no rambling on and on. Just packed with the facts.
I picked up a Command mesh shortly after release. Pricing was a bit lower then, which is true for most of the sets on the list, around 750 I think. When I'm at home, I use Ezdrummer with it. But, when I take it out to jam with friends, having the bigger library of sounds is great, even if they aren't the best. I guess when your amp is 30+ years old, it doesn't matter too much. The only issue I've had with it is the glue on the crash cymbal came loose about 8 months into owning it, but that was a 10 minute fix. Besides that, It's been great. I like that I can chuck it in the back of my car and just take it wherever.
I picked up the Alesis Command Mesh from ZZ sounds for only 500, and turned it into an 18 piece monster!
Can you compare each brand at different price points and explain the pros and faults of each kit and which one you prefer? All in one video?
I have the strike and got it in 2018. I was very happy with it and if anyone is considering getting it i would defiantly recommend it
but now there is a strike pro which i also reccomend
I've had the alesis strike pro SE for awhile and I love it and like it way more than most roland sets for that price range. I've played drums for my entire life since I was 9 I'm now 32. I've always like acoustic sets but the alesis strike pro se sold me on Edrums. I've had literally zero issues, I heard they fixed all the bugs they had originally.
How long have you had the strike pro se and can you give an update on your current level of satisfaction with it? Thanks!
Thanks for this! I weighed my options and went for the Alesis Strike Pro SE vs. the Roland TD-27 or TD-50. I love the larger drum heads, the look of it, the 20" kick, the expansive sound and kit library, the sample-based sounds, and best of all I really like the 8 individual outs from the module itself. I use a Tascam Model 24 for recording and final DAW production so I like that I can edit each kit component separately for volume, effects, compression, EQ, etc. I can even move clips in the DAW and copy measures or spot-fix errors. So, I can keep it as 'human' or 'mechanical' as I want. The Roland with individual outs is $8,000 (TD-50). I know there are USB audio outs on some Roland modules but I don't record with a DAW and only use it for final production so individual outs are important.
I definitely recommend the Alesis Strike Pro SE.
I recently played a strike pro se at GC and was actually quite impressed with the feel of it. The drums really felt nice to play. Sounds were pretty decent too.
Yeah it does sound decent. And some guys are really good at stacking sounds and using compression to make it sound even better
@@65Drums from what i can tell, Alesis really seems like they’ve been improving their customer service when it comes to replacing faulty parts. i just got a strike pro so i guess I’ll find out for myself if I need their help at some point
Both of you guys put out great content. Love to see the communication between you both. Thanks for the Totally useful info. Hit the SUB and thumbs up button for both of these guys !!!!! They keep us informed and save us big bucks 👍🏻
Good to see a comprehensive review like this.
I own the Mesh Nitro and play it for about 3 months now. I also play an acoustic set in our church band.
I agree with your recommendation to buy this rather than the less expensive kits Alesis offers. The transition between the Nitro kick and my acoustic set is easy, it feels very similar. Transitioning between the Nitro's switch type pedal and a real hi-hat pedal I do not find so easy - but in this price range there is simply no electric set with a physical hi-that pedal.
The small snare takes getting used to. I much prefer the 14" snare I play at church or other acoustic sets. I knew this, but didn't want to spend a lot more money than I have a larger snare.
Overall the Nitro is fun to play and very good value for money.
You often hear that people say the Alesis sound isn't good. I have to agree and disagree. Several of the pre-programmed kits do not sound nice, IMHO. This is a petty because it is possible to create a very nice sounding kit by picking voices from the library individually and tweaking the settings. There are UA-cam videos how to do that and it's not hard. For the price the module is nice but more care should have been taken selecting and programmed the factory setting kits.
I have to say that I drool when I see something like the Strike with a 14" snare and hi-hat with physical pedal, but that's just too expensive for me. And if I spend that much money one day I would look into all the other brands and see what's best for me. I quite like the idea of Yamaha or Roland.
I got lucky. 1 yr ago I bought a strike pro (not SE) used. The owner had it for 2 plus yrs and home use only. Got it for $1500 including all DW hardware (2000 double petal, 3000 hat stand and snare stand).Only issue was one of the three crash pads had triggering issues which I was able to almost fix completely with settings of sensitivity. Love the look and functionality of this kit. Lots of chrome and an intuitive module which I think is the strongest point of the set overall Same module w/ the SE variation. Other e kits I have played I hated due to small size. This one looks and plays like a full sized drumset. I get compliments on how it looks. Alesis has me hooked. I would never purchase any other brand after seeing numerous vids (thanks Justin) and comparing prices and functionality. I do believe you short changed the module in this vid and did not mention some of its best aspects but I love your vids and of course have subscribed.
I basically bought my Alesis strike Pro special edition solely based off Justin's awesome reviews and I love it
I'll stay with my TD20K Roland. Still largely ahead what i hear here. Nothing to compare...
He's comparing the Alesis range Bro, not Roland..We all know Roland kicks arse ok..But not everyone can afford them. Peace.
I got the DM10 last year and maybe it’s because my expectations were so low initially but I think it sounds phenomenal. I also had the mindset that a similarly priced Roland kit wouldn’t have given me nearly as many features. It’s a great size kit and I enjoy the feel of it. I’ve taken the time to play with the module and customized a bunch of kits to include room settings, cymbal sustain, sensitivity, etc. and I think taking the time to do that really changes the whole experience. I really do wish that I would’ve spent the extra money and gotten the flagship kit because I can see myself being an e drummer for the foreseeable future. I did have an issue with a faulty trigger on the snare as well as a torn bass head and Alesis was pretty good with their customer service in replacing it for me.
Thanks for that. It is worth pointing out that when you get to the advanced module with the Command and upwards it’s not just the module that improves (quite a lot) but you also get their Real-Hats HH pedal which is continuous versus just open/closed like on the Nitro-based module.
I have the surge mesh as a beginner drummer. I love it! 😁
I've had the surge mesh for two years and while I enjoy playing on it (the feel is great), the durability has been a nightmare. I play mostly metal and I'm definitely a harder hitter, but I've punched straight through the bass drum head twice now, the screws fall out of my right most cymbal (setup as a china) after about a month of playing, and I have had constant triggering issues with the first tom. To make matters worse, I live in Canada and finding ANY alesis part is basically impossible, and ordering new ones from the company takes 6 months to arrive. Strongly recommend something like a Roland which has better durability and parts available easily.
I’ve had some similar issues with the durability I’ve only had it for a year and have been through a bass drum head, a snare, and a couple of my toms make are kinda messed up
Simple man here: I see a 65 Drums video, I click...
I have the older DM10 studio kit, my module is different. It has the EQ sliders on it. I can edit every sort of aspect of every drum sample. I always thought it sounded really good. Especially after the update. I've always preferred the Mylar drum heads with Evans sound-offs on them to the mesh heads. Feels more real than mesh heads, and just as quiet.
I too have the older DM10 with the rubber heads upgraded to mesh heads. The module is really very good - 99 presets with space for custom sets too. Four toms and two crashes - it's all I need.
Just got a used Alesis Command - X for $400. Thanks for all your help!
Excellent series which provides practical comparisons between electric drum kits within specific manufacturers. If you know the manufacturer (ie: Roland, Alesis, Yamaha) this gives a wonderful commentary explaining what you get for your dollar. I like when you point out when it is worth it to go back to a cheaper model rather than always upgrade to the next. The one thing I haven't yet seen (and maybe it's out there already) is something that compares drum kits across manufacturers. Excellent videos!! This is a tremendous service for those of us who don't have the opportunity or the knowledge to shop around with an expert.
What would recommend for someone looking for great components but doesn't care about modules at all? I have a studio with great software drums so I don't care about the built in sounds at all. Seems like there should be an alternative rather than just paying for an expensive module I don't care about.
Your videos help a lot for beginners to choose - I always recommend my students also to look at your channel - very important to have a 2nd opinion (or first of course ;-)
looking to pick up a drum set again. it looks like ill be going with the alesis surge mesh and using my laptop to get better sounds.
really awesome watching through the 3 different brands videos. Would be cool to see them all combined in one video to compare all the models by price point.
Got my kid the surge mesh for Christmas. I think it’ll be a perfect first kit
Thank you a lot for these series
Upgraded from a mid 2000’s DTXPRESS III to a surge with a double kick peddle and it’s amazing
I have the Alesis Nitro red expanded version. The only thing I wanted to add is that the extra Tom on that kit does have the dual zone tech, so you can make the side a ride bell (as I like to do, or whatever sound you want). I hook mine to a 2020 8 gb MacBook Pro (INTEL mind you) and works great with the drum samples from Toontrack - which is very easy just using a usb-b cable (cables for some Keyboards and printers, etc) - I don’t even use the module for it’s programmed drums; as there is a whole universe of samples and sounds you can get that you can just add to your pads. For the exact reason you stated; I actually had to get rid of the 6” bass drum head/tower and get a Simmons 8” bass tower, thereby making double bass playing wonderful (just make sure to add a double bass protection patch on the tower head to not cause friction to destroy the drumhead). The other issue is that I had problems with the plastic drum mounting kit, and tightening bolts would strip and break, so I had to end up keeping the drum set upright by using computer cables, 2 camera tripods, and a double step stool. I’m flexible, but it was a pain in the ass always fixing it before my last solution. I love this thing, but I would recommend a computer you can hook it to for the finest drum samples. Toontrack makes it easy and maps most Edrum sets automatically based on the model. Or whatever software tickles your fancy.
DM 10 Mk II for 3 years now. 3-5 good kits in the module. I just pass thru to my MacBook using MainStage, EZ Drummer and Addictive Drums. Have not had the failure of triggers. Thanks for your analysis as always and Best Wishes for 2022!!
Does a double pedal work good? Are thr triggers good for fast hitting?
Thank you so much for this Alesis product lineup clarification!
I snagged the Nitro for $265 (new) off of Amazon (pricing glitch maybe?). I'm planning on buying some furniture risers to elevate the kit and I'll probably also invest in a 10" snare. I saw on another UA-cam channel the guy moved the (dual zone) snare to tom 2 and used the rim as a ride and then switched the ride cymbal to a 2nd crash. Been playing guitar for 20 years and the only experience I have is dilly-dallying around on friend's drum sets over the years. I figure since I'm getting older I have to work the beer gut off somehow. It was either this or a rowing machine 🤣
You can also get 1/4” stereo to mono plug
adapters and put two pads on each input for even more expansion.
I've been eye balling that crimson 2 se for my first E drums so this is perfect timing. I was thinking of getting a $1000 alesis to play around with until I save up for the roland vad306. As a metal drummer you have convinced me just to save my time and money and just save up for the roland. Im not a pro or in a band anymore but still need something that could be ready for a small gig or party if the moment comes. I have some guitar friends to jam with and they want me to get an ekit. The vad306 is about the same price as the alesis strike pro and while it is a smaller kit its still a good sized kit
I haven't tried Alesis but reading the comments has always scared me away. Roland seems to be more reliable and less tweaking out of the box. My Roland stuff is decades old and still works great! Truly pro level stuff.
@@johndef5075 I hear nothing but great things about roland, I'll be comfortable buying one without hesitation. But I always here something about alesis kits that has me hesitant. I have to admit Alesis makes some cool looking kits but performance is everything. When he made the point about ultimately saving time and money by avoiding the cheapest kit in this video it made me realize i should take the same approach on my kit.
Just bought the strike pro se, wish me luck with the triggering 😳
any updates?
Good video. One thing I would mention to anyone considering buying Alesis drums is that their customer service is non-existent. I read that in reviews before buying my crimson 2 drums. I cannot even register my drums online. The site keeps saying there is an error and to reach out to customer service. I did several times. Heard nothing back. Also one of the flaws in these drums is the high hat trigger trips up often. If ook with those issues then otherwise, they are cool to play on.
I have the strike module with Roland mesh pads and cymbals.....the best of both worlds... amazing works great...my kit is a 18pc
I ran a Nitro module into the aux in of my td10 to add 2 pads with the Tom 4 and extra cymbal input. If I get the cable snake I can add another whole set of pads!
I bought the Surge SE and got lucky to score a clearance sale on the nitro expansion pack for $60. The mounting hardware for the expansion pack doesn’t fit on the Surge drum rack, but luckily I had some spare parts from a Gibraltar rack that saved the day. It’s a fantastic kit and now running EZ Drummer with it makes it one hell of a rig!
The only major issue I have run into is when I open EZ Drummer in Ableton Live11, the choke groups on the cymbals no longer work. 😢
Picked up a Crimson 2 (non-SE) last year. At $800, it was a good deal. I'm happy with it. The only minor problems I've had are the small kick drum (not great for speed on double bass pedals) and the high hat can be a bit wonky as it seems to have an odd "sweet spot" but you can get used to it. Ultimately it's a decent set.
Do you have any trouble with the ride bell? I've been using my crimson 2 se and the bell zone is extremely finicky. It'll sometimes just play the regular ride sound
I was so dissapointed when i got the alesis nitro, but then i found out how easy it is to upgrade an e kit to your liking. Also with Alesis, something like Ezdrummer is a must. The modules sounds so bad that it takes away the fun of playing.
Mainly the hi hat, I think the closed hi-hats sound terrible
Yup ezdrummer, or the free editon of Steven slate drums makes a huge difference
@@Fyve Yeah, man it blows! I do like the rides tho, not bad at all.
I played a nitro once and I was not a big fan of the Drum rack. it was too short
@@michaeldavis5106 Me neither. I raised my rack with furniture risers and converted a real snare that i put on an acoustic stand. Ive seen some people turning this kit into a budget flagship so everythings possible haha
Electronic drums year 2022 often still sounds like year 2002.
But interestingly, it really helps to go via midi to a computer and trigger some decent VST drums there instead.
Check out Modo Drum for example. So organic and realistic, and no two sounds are the same.
So the main problem is the modules.
The reason I bought the Command X Mesh was because that module was the cheapest one to offer staff note Timpani. True Nitro offered 4 Timpani tones and the Turbo offered 2, but neither of those offered actual locked-on staff notes, a need for me (There's a reason the sheet music has an F and a Bb on it lol)
I got the dm10 a few weeks ago. Out of the box the sounds are pretty sus, but if you sit and edit for an hour or two you can cobble yourself together a giggable set of sounds. Long term I’m gonna want to upgrade my module to the strike bc I like the faders…
Awesome post J. I've been waiting for this one.
Love this new series! Could I seamlessly upgrade my Alesis Nitro Mesh Expanded SE module to a Yamaha module, or would there be compatibility or other issues?
Doubtful. Modules are rarely interchangeable between manufacturers
Wife surprised me with the command mesh x for Christmas. Got it for 650 though. And for that price I got zero complaints 👌🏽
Thanks for this video series, found it really interesting. If you do them again, it would be really interesting to also add the duration and any key info around the warranties that each manufacturer and model offers. Been disappointed with the life span of my Alesis DM10 Pro MKII cymbals (and then the cost/lead time to replace them) compared to friends who have cheaper Roland kits that have lasted forever too!
Been waiting for this one, thanks for making these :)
It would be nice if you made a video comparing upper line kits of all brands, where maybe the Alesis Strike Pro is the bottom priced kit in the video. and talk about what you would buy at each price point and why. I would ask some questions but you never answer any of my comments.
Oh man! The Command Mesh is new for me. The tom sound is so much better! Thanks for convincing me. lol
Man, I could have used this information about 9 months ago. Lol
After crunching all the math and comparing the product choices, from the information available at the time, I purchased the DM10 MK2 Pro Kit on Father's Day (June) 2021. Because I am very much interested in the size of the kit, it seem to be an easy choice. At least on paper, like he said in the video. There is no way I could afford the Strike or Strike Pro. So the choice seemed clear. As a novice, I love the feel and size of the MK2 Pro. It's gorgeous! But that module, frankly, it's weak!!!
I don't know anything about electronic drums, this was my first purchase. And thank you, by the way, for putting out these videos. They really do help to put out better information to make better product decisions with. I do love the kit, no doubt, but I would love another module.
So here's the $64,000 question:
Is it possible to do that?
Can I upgraded the DM10 module on my MK2 Pro kit to something better?
Thanks again for this channel...
Always enjoy your reviews. Detailed and fair
I was planning to buy the Command because of the upgraded module. I really wanted to upgrade the Crimson II SE, but it was $1,100 plus a amp. Luckily the Crimson went on sale for 4th of July so I took the advantage and bought it for $899. The final price still ended up over $1,000 with the amp, kick pedal, and the coverages and warranty. thank you for helping me choose and make up my mind :)
very helpful video for a dad looking to upgrade his teenager’s kit
Thank you bro, Im buyig an electronic this weekend and youre helping so damn much
I have the first gen DM10 set. Being 6' 2", the included throne doesn't get me sitting high enough to have my legs in the proper position for the kick pedals. I say "Pedals" because I bought a double kick for the kit. So I put some wood under the throne to raise me up. I had to also raise the snare stand because it's too low. If it were holding a larger acoustic drum, it might be okay. But the mesh pads are not as tall, so it sits way too low.
It looks like the brand new Alesis Nitro Max has just appeared in stores. White mesh heads and a new module with Bluetooth, I'm not sure if there's anything else.
Thank you for doing these great reviews! I will be choosing an electronic kit from either Roland, Yamaha, or Alesis, and your insight is invaluable. Just a quick note on spelling... "expandable". Thanks again!
i would argue the strike pro is the top end of what most home drummers should be purchasing. if you are a professional there is an argument to be made for higher end kits, but for many (myself included) the strike pro is more than enough.
Thanks. Helpful. One thing that might even improve it is if the name of the discussed set was kept displayed throughout the segment. But most of all - thank you.
i had to sub man. what great detail. this and the drumeo channel and im soaring right now lol
BIG BIG THANK YOU!!! You're a lifesaver!
I have the Alesis turbo mesh kit and the only problem I have with it is that I can’t choke any of the cymbals. Other than that, I love it!
I picked up a Nitro Mesh on Facebook Marketplace for $200. The primary drawbacks are the 3-sample (on/off/half-open) hi hat and the relatively mediocre sounds. Still, for rocking out to some tunes with my headphones on or doing a bit of “after the kids hit the sack” practicing, its a great value.
That's a good deal. And they are a blast!
Thanks for this review. As a beginner, I have the Alesis nitro mesh and it’s reasonable for my needs right now. But I’m curious, do any of these other kits have less of a lip around the drum heads? I find that being a beginner with a smaller drum heads sometimes that deep lip gets in my way. Thanks
I have the exact same problem, after watching thus video I wish j went gir the surge but as I too an a beginner I shall learn my craft on the smaller heads in the hope that after 2-300 hours if oracle and a few professional lessons I could sale/upgrade my nitro mesh kit. If I'm able I would love the Alesis Strike pro!! Like wow that looks and sounds impressive.
I wonder if I could just change the nitro heads for the larger surge heads one by one as i go? Is this possible?
I have the alesis dm10 MKII pro and I love. got a bunch of covers/jams on my channel using this kit.
Incredibly detailed and informative. Thank you so much!
I got the Mesh SE as my first-ever drum kit and my only real gripe with it is, as you mentioned, it's a bit short (like you, I'm a taller guy). I think it will be fairly simple, though to put some risers under each leg, so I'll see how that goes. I don't have a frame of reference on the snare size since this is all I've ever played, but hopefully it will just make an eventual 10" snare seem HUUUUUUUGE!
Interesting comment in regards to complaints about the ride on the Strike SE. The bell triggers better than the TD 17.
Going to watch yamaha's video. I've heard good things but know nothing. This is my favorite drum channel for sure
I have the Surge mesh and like it better than the much more expensive Roland kit that one of the drum teachers uses where I taught guitar lessons. The last Alesis review; for $2,600 one could buy a beautiful acoustic kit. However, most people buy e kits so they can regulate noise better. Nothing beats the real thing, but the Surge mesh is adequate, I would change the kick pad to mesh and get a different kick pedal as well.
I just got a Surge SE kit last week and I love it! Thanks for the interesting video.
Hey man. I'm planning to buy the Surge SE. How did it hold up after a year?
@@schm0sbyy Buy it! Zero problems with my Surge. And I've bashed the heck out of it.
@@Sternodox thanks man!
@@schm0sbyy My pleasure. Pummel in good health!
I got the DM10 ~2y back for a good deal at 1000€, as a means to get back into drumming after I haven't played for over 10 years (on acoustic back then). I wasn't really looking for great sound because it is just meant for practice, but if I ever wanted to record something high quality with it, I'll just get a VST.
So far, I've been quite happy with the kit. One thing I had to do right away was tweaking the pads' sensitivity, but once that was done it was smooth sailing. The only thing that still bothers me, is that the ride bell triggers not very reliably on softer hits, and sometimes also gives a normal ride sound instead whn hit lightly. The module sounds are more than adequate for playing by yourself, and don't stand out when played along with a song in a bad way. I have had nothing break on me so far as well, but I think it is not really made for playing gigs with a rock band. For moderate home use, it feels well and sturdy though. Nothing wobbles or anything.
My take on it is: For someone wanting many nice large pads and a decent but not amazing sounding module is okay, getting it for a good deal can definitely be worthwhile. Unless you want to beat it up good, and I can't comment on how it fares when repeatedly dis-/assembled and driven around. At about 1k, I'd say get it. For 1500, I would have expected a little better as well, like Justin said.
I have had some experience with a few Alesis products. They all suffer from the same issues that seem to be in each drum brain. Not enough fine adjustment, or enough controls to dial in triggers. A badly working hi hat pedal and hi hat controls in the drum brain. Sloppy midi delivered to my DAW requiring hours of work to clean up. They work great if you are a basher, and want to play everything wide open. There isn't much control to have triggers/pads pick up accurate nuance.
Really hope to see a Strike SE model coming soon. Seems like every store has stopped carrying the Strike kit recently, and that's the kit I was trying to go for, so maybe something new is coming...
I bought the Command X Mesh last year, as my first e-drum kit. I have really enjoyed playing on it. I feel like I'm ready to upgrade my kit now, but don't really want to buy a whole new kit. Can I just upgrade the components in my current kit to what I want? For instance, if I bought a new module, would it be compatible with my pads and symbols? Or if I bought new bigger symbols, are they compatible with my current module?
Curious about this too
Another great review Justin!!
I guess maybe it could be argued that it's a preference but one thing these kits fail to address is that you want your snare higher than your knees, sitting at a point where your thighs slope downward so your feet aren't slammed into the floor. I would only recommend the nitro for kids. It's what they have where I teach and I had to switch rooms because I am 6'1" and I just can't play it without crashing into my thighs.
Do you have a video like this for Simmons drum kits? This is an excellent video and it helps me understand the alesis kits a bit more
It's funny, after numerous videos and reviews, I still ordered the DM10. To me, I think it's the best bang for your buck. I've heard there are some quality issues and I'm hoping I don't experience those. Can't wait for it to arrive!