Thank You Keith for producing this video! I had originally picked up the Nitro and found myself not quite satisfied for many reasons (some you pointed out). Additionally, the drums did not register hits in my BFD software, despite my dialing in and ensuring proper config. The software would even recognize the module as an input but hits would not register. I found this to be a common problem and really, with a kit that doesnt provide what its sold to be, I was disappointed. Happy I found your vid as I originally had my sites on the T50. Glad I gave it a try. I'm nearly done with the setup, which is much MUCH easier than the Nitro. I can tell the build quality is better and sturdier than that of the Nitro as well. I can't wait to actually finish setting it up to give it a go! I had to put it aside for now (which I also find to be much easier to do thanks to its durability) because my kid is sick and need to do some dad stuff. Once I get back to it though, its on like donkey kong! 🤣 Thanks again for the video Keith! You hit all the points right on the money! No bias, no tom foolery, straight truth. Keep up the great work Brother!
Ive learned, the longer you look, the more info you get. ....Ive spent weeks thinking, Simmons is the cheap junk. Then just today, Finally settled on Alesis Max ..... now this video has changed things Again. .... No matter what I find & decide is best for me, I can still find video proof that I had the wrong idea .
Thank you for this in depth review. I'm not a drummer, but I needed a kit for my various band rehearsals at my house. I bought the Titan 50 based on your thorough comparison.
Dang, I really have been looking into the Alesis Max for a while now. Saw a comment on another video saying to check out the Titan. Thankful for you and this video sir. Thank you!
After watching almost every single vdo I could find on the Nitro Max kit, I finally bought it 3 days ago. I'm never satisfied with stock kits on modules, and I have built so far about 5 custom kits, and I must say this kit rocks seriously. It gives my Roland TD11KV a big run for it's money. I don't have any of the issues of sagging snare, or excess wobble as I am meticulous about setting things up properly. (using a spirit level) to see that all the vertical posts and the arms are 100% level. I believe that that's why it isn't such a problem for me. Also, I found that the rubber boots on the vertical posts were not clipped on properly. The bit of wobble it does have is due to the grooves in the arms where the T piece locator fits into - it - isn't a snug fit, hence the play. This system is a great idea as it prevents the pads from sagging and being moved out of place when transporting the kit, but it should be a tighter fit. Another reason is that it's just very light - even my Roland wobbles a bit , but not as much as it's a very big and heavy kit. You need to re - tighten a the fittings after a few days as the connectors will "give" a little bit over time. The module has great sounds that are very usable and the Bluetooth works like a charm and connects to your phone instantly. The 3 way EQ is awesome as is the reverb on this module. The sensitivity surprised me as it is as good as my Roland and the pad settings are too - you are able to manipulate the sound very well to suit your taste. The only thing I miss is not having individual EQ, but at this price point it's not gonna happen. I have already added a second crash and am going to soon add a third one. The bass drum tower tends to move away from you, but I've fixed that by tying a piece of thin nylon cord around the center piece of the stool to the bass drum peddle - sorted. Doesn't move a millimeter. The Hihat pedal is very efficient and extremely precise, as is the choke on the crash. The extra piece they've added onto the module to hold your phone/tablet is great, also it's rubberized for added protection. This kit beats all it's predecessors hands down - it absolutely chalk and cheese, and it also blows away the TD - 1K that I had. The BFD drums are ok - just don't expect Superior drummer 3 - not at this price. I can't believe this kit is so reasonably priced, it's not a mid speck or high end kit, but its still an awesome kit, with a lot of the features those kits have. (and more)
-Im new to drumming. checked out a ton of reviews, tried all sorts in the music shops. In the end I rented an Alesis Nitro Mesh kit. I'm new, so it took me 4 hrs to set-up. On Alesis website they recommended to 'adjust' the parameters for the individual drums /cymbals. - another 4 hrs. I'm at the point where I can start to practice. I did place the snare onto its own stand for stability. I guess as soon as I got into the set it up I knew I would not be buying this unit. I know it is an entry level system but I don't think it will last if used a lot.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen, not just for drum kits but for stuff in general, it has a lot of details that i haven't seen in any other Alesis Nitro Max review out there (that are a LOT) and also helped me to decide to go for the Simmons kit, thank you sir, well f'ing done!
Titan 50 remains honestly one of the best kits on the market. i bought one mid August as my first electric drum kit, and i havnt loved it any less than i did when i bought it. amazing kit.
This video is hitting my algorithm at the right time. I'm days away from purchasing my first electronic kit, more specifically the Titan 50. Been scopin' out your videos for the past few weeks as I have gotten more and more serious about making the purchase. In between your videos I have been stopping by my local music store to try a few kits that you have made videos on. Thanks for your videos and insight. Take my subscribe and like!
I've been waiting for this one. I bought the Max as my first kit a little over a month ago and I love it. I was kinda glad the store didn't have a Titan 50 in stock because I woulda sat there for a few hours trying to decide. Fantastic video. Thanks, man. Cheers!
It definitely appears the Simmons is the better value. I actually just picked up a very lightly used Alesis Surge for $300. That one is closer to the 70. It has metal frame, dual zone on all the toms. I also don’t see any Allen wrench bolts. Only the drum key bolts. Buying used I didn’t have to assemble either, so win win!
Thanks for doing this video! They seemed pretty even until the end, when you say that Simmons is in a whole different class. I’ve watched all your videos (and others on YouTub) and Simmons just seems to sound so much better. I’m hoping to pick one up this week while the Titan 50 is on sale. Thanks again!
my university has the titan 50's available for public to use! Thank you for pointing out the differences, it's a close call but I think the bluetooth/recording options and portability is what is going to make me purchase the titan 50's with expansion :) thank you sir! I just hope they make an android app soon...
woah! That's awesome!! Just picked mine up today at guitar center :D thank you for the great news. Any chance you have a link of the beta?@@KeithronPowell
Just got the Titan 50 (B-EX) for my birthday, but the guy who sold me this set really kept recommending the Nitro Max until the end, so I went home a bit worried thinking I made the wrong decision and decided to watch some reviews. Now that I’ve seen this video, I’m very relieved… I’m sure I made the right choice! 😅
Yeah… I did a video on how the reps always push Alesis. No they don’t make more money. The commission is the commission on all products. The issue is they’ve never given Simmons a fair shot because they know Guitar Center owns it. They just assume it’s cheap. Alesis has made a name for itself because on the Strike Pro. They compare everything to that drum and then say Simmons are cheap.
Was agonizing over these 2 sets. Just bought the Simmons expanded. Its on sale for 408 with the expansion tom and cymbal included. At Guitar Center. That price sealed the Deal!
Well Keith I was the one who asked for this about two weeks ago or so and you said you was gonna be the FIRST to do one !!!! Ok so I already bought the Titan 50 kit about two weeks ago and I HOPE I made the wise choice ...and I think it boiled down to the RACK !!!!! Great tones with both specially with this BFD and the DRUMEO included with the Alesis ....BUT the kick PEDAL itself is much better build quality with the Simmons !!! But I went with the titan also due to the NATURAL tones from the Simmons specially the DECAY with the toms and cymbals!!!!!.... So again I HOPE I went the right way!!!!!
Great comparison. Just got the Titan 50 for $329 on sale with additional 5% off using target card fulfilled by musicians friend. How long would it take a complete noob to set up? I’ve never set up a kit. Thanks again.
I mainly want a kit to play clone hero and maybe get into real drumming. I was concerned with the double bass compatibility and the simmons seams better for the double bass pedal. I really wanted the nitro but after this video I'm definitely leaning towards the Simmons
Thanks for the review! I've watched a few of your reviews recently on e-kits and one thing I wish you'd cover... can you do a portion commenting on how loud they are to the rest of the room that isn't listening to the headphones. I.e. how much noise do they make when playing them?
I did a short video on that. The issue is trying to record live room sound and truly reflect what’s happening. The thing you need to know is that it’s like hitting pillows on your couch or bed. It’s really not that much louder.
i own the alesis turbo drum module and i do love the fact it uses a drum key setup and overall i love my kit and have it setup different than the diagram the only things i do not like is the lips and that it can work itself loose if not tightened right the first time ,the kit as a whole almost earns ten stars and for me the way i play and how i setup to record the kit has made me love the feel of mesh heads and i have been considering adding another kit or expanding on what i have for a beginner or intermediate drummer i think this kit is perfect
Hey love your channel! You do a great job going through all the products! Really appreciate your work. Was able to pick an electric drumset off of your multipw reviews! Thank you so much!
So. Looking at these two. The only thing that’s making me hesitate on getting the Simmons is the lack of a foot splash on the high hat. How important would you say that is? This will be my first set. Loved the drums for a long time and finally gonna get into it. Was set on the Alesis until I saw this video. Now I’d say I’m leaning towards the Simmons so just wondering about your thoughts on the high hat splash or lack thereof. Thanks!
My choice was initially set on the Max, but the sound of the Titan is much more natural. However, I wonder about the long-term quality of the Titan since I am not familiar with the Simmons brand.
This video answered almost all my questions between the two. But one thing I noticed on other videos is that the Titan is not dual zone on the cymbals, so I'm assuming no bell sounds. Here you said the cymbals are the same. Are there bell sounds for the Titan cymbals?
One of the things I like about the Max is that it has 3 way EQ - I wonder if the Simmons has that? Also, the Alesis has 2 trigger inputs on the module. Cable splitting can be a bit unreliable.
Yes to EQ and easy in the app for your phone or tablet. I think you misunderstood what I meant by splitting… they both have the trigger but you can split each tom to have a total of 8 single zone Tom’s.
I'm considering a Titan 50 and I'm pretty new to drums so excuse me if I don't have the terminology correct or if my questions seem strange. I know you can rim shot the snare but what about the toms? Does the high hat emulate a half open high hat or variable position?
Getting a drum set for my son, he’s 5 would the titan be alright? Or is it too big for a child, just a note he isn’t like taking lessons or anything he just likes to play with drums at the music store and asked for it for Xmas so would he be able to grow into it or is it just unusable? Also I wanna play with them lol
First of all, congratulations on the content. My name is Gabriel, I live in Brazil, in January I will be traveling to the USA and I will buy my first drum kit, my intention is to buy the titan 50. but watching your video I had some doubts. The rack is already pre-assembled, but I wanted to know if it was possible to disassemble it to facilitate storage (to be able to put it in the bag).
Found a kit for sale near me on Marketplace for a decent price but can't find a decent review for it. Have you ever had a chance to play a kit from Cool Music model DD8? Definitely would appreciate your input if you have.
No clue… likely you wouldn’t be able to tell… they would cancel.. but who in the entire planet would play both at the same time. 🤷🏽♂️ there’s absolutely no reason to play both at the same time
I was considering getting the Nitro Max, but after this review it seems I might have to do some more research. Is the Simmons Titan 50 not available everywhere? I can't seem to find it at all in Italy. Alesis seems to be the only option, but now I feel like I'm missing out haha
@@KeithronPowell Aw that's a shame, thanks for the response tho. I'll get the Nitro then, seems to be the only option available. Thanks for the review!
Hi you've helped me out so much with making my decision. from all ive seen from you about these two i definitely want to go with the titan 50, i run a medium sized studio & im wondering how useful this can be for recording sessions with bands. is the only way to record midi through the midi option in the module OR when you plug the usb into your computer does it read as a midi controller immediately? thank you in advance if you see this.
also can i send individual channels of the kit to single channels in my DAW? i.e having a my snare send midi through one channel & the kick sending midi through a different channel, etc, etc.
The simple answer to all of your questions is YES! You can also run it like I do L/R to a sound board… or Bluetooth midi and record the sounds directly from the module.
KP - Great video thanks for the comparison. I currently have Simmons sd350 kit and am wondering is the Simmons sd350 rack more sturdy and more stable than the alesis nitro max rack? Is it possible to put the alesis nitro max pads/heads, cymbals n module onto the SD350 rack(if its a more sturdy n better rack)? Also i will use snare stand for nitro max snare. Let me know ur opinion. Thanks
Ohhhh yeah ...the APP situation with Simmons.....BEFORE I bought Simmons I spoke with a service rep from Simmons and they told me the ANDROID version would be released in December of this year ....and I HOPE they are being truthful this time due to me being a Android user and habe never owned an apple product ..... So how do you adjust levels and settings on the computer WITHOUT using an apple product?????
Not sure what ya mean “this time” as they’ve never said they were doing an app - officially. I have submitted people to be in the beta test group. I was asked but I don’t use Droid. It’s gonna be nice for them to finally close that door!
I said .."this time" due to what the rep from Simmons said ....he said they had it slated to drop in October ...BUT ...lol....so they said .."we have been working very hard on the app everyday to get it ready and it "SHOULD " be released in December .....until then ...how does us Droid peeps gotta use the controls on the brain alone to set everything .???????....or break down and spend even MORE money to buy a good used I Pad ...lol.......I just HOPE Simmons is told me the truth and it will drop next month !!!!!!!
I hear ya! I know they wanted it out back in October but I’m sure they ran into what I’ve spoken about when it comes to making an app for droid. The thing is they’re much further along now. I think they’ve settled on the drum makeup for the future and that helps overcome the droid app issues. That just my opinion but I’m likely not far off.
I love the Simmons for its newer tech. here are some links to both let me know what you decide. guitar-center.pxf.io/5gQZMn or guitar-center.pxf.io/Py9VOQ
I have an alesis kit. And the hardware is not great. It's really cheap, if you over tighten it. It's strips the plastic, i have had 2 brackets brake on my in the 3 years of owning it. And have gone through 2 hi hat pedals. I need a 3rd but haven't replaced it yet. And it's harder to put together out of the box as well.
I have an older Alesis DM6 kit and it uses a drum key for all the hardware. Poor decision on their part to go cheap and start using an allen key instead.
The app just makes it a lot simpler to use. You can do everything from the module but that Simmons App makes everything easier! Plus, you get access to all of the features.
It’s a simple matter of basic engineering.. the Alesis “rack” is round tube the Simmons is rectangular.. therefore the plastic hardware the fixes it in place is more apt to slip (or rotate) because it is round versus the Rectangular which is impossible to rotate.
those simmons seem like there a great bang for buck,,alesis is not up with all their shit,,then they have all these up dates and for me its a pain,im not good with computers
Could you explain what issues youve had? 2 years ago I was at a GC playing a simmons (I'm not sure if it was a titan 50 but it was about $600) and it felt better and had more customizability than a Roland td07. I've been giving some thought into a simmons lately.
Nice comparison and good points. I've owned both kits, and I think the Titan 50 is the better of the two overall as well. The Nitro Max rack was just too weak and wobbly, and it felt like every time I played it the snare was sagging lower. Also, I didn't get the impression that the Nitro Max rack was sturdy enough or even large enough to handle mounting another tom/cymbal pad for expansion. Alesis needs to step up their rack game on their budget kits.
Definitely is an ongoing issue. I've got a tip, get a piece of 1000 to 300 sandpaper. Put a strip around the rack tube and then slide the lock adjuster over the sandpaper. U can have the paper facing out or in towards the tube or both. This has kept myself from constantly adjusting things. I also read, using an acoustic snare stand that can close to about 11 or 12 inches has worked great. As we know the snare takes most of the beating. Wish u all the best
Thank You Keith for producing this video! I had originally picked up the Nitro and found myself not quite satisfied for many reasons (some you pointed out). Additionally, the drums did not register hits in my BFD software, despite my dialing in and ensuring proper config. The software would even recognize the module as an input but hits would not register. I found this to be a common problem and really, with a kit that doesnt provide what its sold to be, I was disappointed.
Happy I found your vid as I originally had my sites on the T50. Glad I gave it a try. I'm nearly done with the setup, which is much MUCH easier than the Nitro. I can tell the build quality is better and sturdier than that of the Nitro as well. I can't wait to actually finish setting it up to give it a go! I had to put it aside for now (which I also find to be much easier to do thanks to its durability) because my kid is sick and need to do some dad stuff. Once I get back to it though, its on like donkey kong! 🤣
Thanks again for the video Keith! You hit all the points right on the money! No bias, no tom foolery, straight truth. Keep up the great work Brother!
Wow thanks! Also, congratulations on your purchase.
Ive learned, the longer you look, the more info you get. ....Ive spent weeks thinking, Simmons is the cheap junk. Then just today, Finally settled on Alesis Max ..... now this video has changed things Again. .... No matter what I find & decide is best for me, I can still find video proof that I had the wrong idea .
True. But… I’ve played with the ones that I discuss and believe you me… Alesis is just a name
Well, this video made my decision clear! Gonna get the Titan 50 - thank you!!
👍🏽
Thank you for this in depth review. I'm not a drummer, but I needed a kit for my various band rehearsals at my house. I bought the Titan 50 based on your thorough comparison.
Dang, I really have been looking into the Alesis Max for a while now. Saw a comment on another video saying to check out the Titan. Thankful for you and this video sir. Thank you!
You’re welcome
After watching almost every single vdo I could find on the Nitro Max kit, I finally bought it 3 days ago.
I'm never satisfied with stock kits on modules, and I have built so far about 5 custom kits, and I must say this kit rocks seriously. It gives my Roland TD11KV a big run for it's money. I don't have any of the issues of sagging snare, or excess wobble as I am meticulous about setting things up properly. (using a spirit level) to see that all the vertical posts and the arms are 100% level. I believe that that's why it isn't such a problem for me. Also, I found that the rubber boots on the vertical posts were not clipped on properly.
The bit of wobble it does have is due to the grooves in the arms where the T piece locator fits into - it - isn't a snug fit, hence the play. This system is a great idea as it prevents the pads from sagging and being moved out of place when transporting the kit, but it should be a tighter fit. Another reason is that it's just very light - even my Roland wobbles a bit , but not as much as it's a very big and heavy kit. You need to re - tighten a the fittings after a few days as the connectors will "give" a little bit over time.
The module has great sounds that are very usable and the Bluetooth works like a charm and connects to your phone instantly. The 3 way EQ is awesome as is the reverb on this module.
The sensitivity surprised me as it is as good as my Roland and the pad settings are too - you are able to manipulate the sound very well to suit your taste. The only thing I miss is not having individual EQ, but at this price point it's not gonna happen.
I have already added a second crash and am going to soon add a third one. The bass drum tower tends to move away from you, but I've fixed that by tying a piece of thin nylon cord around the center piece of the stool to the bass drum peddle - sorted. Doesn't move a millimeter. The Hihat pedal is very efficient and extremely precise, as is the choke on the crash.
The extra piece they've added onto the module to hold your phone/tablet is great, also it's rubberized for added protection.
This kit beats all it's predecessors hands down - it absolutely chalk and cheese, and it also blows away the TD - 1K that I had.
The BFD drums are ok - just don't expect Superior drummer 3 - not at this price.
I can't believe this kit is so reasonably priced, it's not a mid speck or high end kit, but its still an awesome kit, with a lot of the features those kits have. (and more)
If it works well for you then it’s great. 👍🏽
@@KeithronPowell 👍🏻Tks.
-Im new to drumming. checked out a ton of reviews, tried all sorts in the music shops. In the end I rented an Alesis Nitro Mesh kit. I'm new, so it took me 4 hrs to set-up. On Alesis website they recommended to 'adjust' the parameters for the individual drums /cymbals. - another 4 hrs. I'm at the point where I can start to practice. I did place the snare onto its own stand for stability.
I guess as soon as I got into the set it up I knew I would not be buying this unit. I know it is an entry level system but I don't think it will last if used a lot.
It’ll last but set up is a lot easier on other drums sets. That Allen wrench is just dumb.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen, not just for drum kits but for stuff in general, it has a lot of details that i haven't seen in any other Alesis Nitro Max review out there (that are a LOT) and also helped me to decide to go for the Simmons kit, thank you sir, well f'ing done!
Thanks for watching!
Titan 50 remains honestly one of the best kits on the market. i bought one mid August as my first electric drum kit, and i havnt loved it any less than i did when i bought it. amazing kit.
Awesome
Can't get Simmons in UK
This video is hitting my algorithm at the right time. I'm days away from purchasing my first electronic kit, more specifically the Titan 50. Been scopin' out your videos for the past few weeks as I have gotten more and more serious about making the purchase. In between your videos I have been stopping by my local music store to try a few kits that you have made videos on. Thanks for your videos and insight. Take my subscribe and like!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy your new drum set
I've been waiting for this one. I bought the Max as my first kit a little over a month ago and I love it. I was kinda glad the store didn't have a Titan 50 in stock because I woulda sat there for a few hours trying to decide. Fantastic video. Thanks, man. Cheers!
👍🏽
Thank you sir. This is why I visit, to get honest opinions and vital information. Well done, ordering now!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, Sir! Thank you! Just what I needed. 💞
👍🏽 thanks
It definitely appears the Simmons is the better value. I actually just picked up a very lightly used Alesis Surge for $300. That one is closer to the 70. It has metal frame, dual zone on all the toms. I also don’t see any Allen wrench bolts. Only the drum key bolts. Buying used I didn’t have to assemble either, so win win!
Thanks for doing this video! They seemed pretty even until the end, when you say that Simmons is in a whole different class. I’ve watched all your videos (and others on YouTub) and Simmons just seems to sound so much better. I’m hoping to pick one up this week while the Titan 50 is on sale. Thanks again!
You’re welcome
@@KeithronPowell Do you see the price of the Titan 50 coming down any further after Thanksgiving? It seems like a great price already.
@@keithinator5874 I’m not that close to the company. lol I’d jump on it if ya budget works
my university has the titan 50's available for public to use! Thank you for pointing out the differences, it's a close call but I think the bluetooth/recording options and portability is what is going to make me purchase the titan 50's with expansion :) thank you sir! I just hope they make an android app soon...
The Android app is in beta testing now. It’s supposed to be out before Christmas.
woah! That's awesome!! Just picked mine up today at guitar center :D thank you for the great news. Any chance you have a link of the beta?@@KeithronPowell
@@KRAMPIU
Just got the Titan 50 (B-EX) for my birthday, but the guy who sold me this set really kept recommending the Nitro Max until the end, so I went home a bit worried thinking I made the wrong decision and decided to watch some reviews. Now that I’ve seen this video, I’m very relieved… I’m sure I made the right choice! 😅
Yeah… I did a video on how the reps always push Alesis. No they don’t make more money. The commission is the commission on all products. The issue is they’ve never given Simmons a fair shot because they know Guitar Center owns it. They just assume it’s cheap. Alesis has made a name for itself because on the Strike Pro. They compare everything to that drum and then say Simmons are cheap.
Was agonizing over these 2 sets. Just bought the Simmons expanded. Its on sale for 408 with the expansion tom and cymbal included. At Guitar Center. That price sealed the Deal!
Awesome
Good review! I've been debating which one is better for me, and after seeing this, I'm pretty sure the Simmons is the one.
👍🏽
Well Keith I was the one who asked for this about two weeks ago or so and you said you was gonna be the FIRST to do one !!!! Ok so I already bought the Titan 50 kit about two weeks ago and I HOPE I made the wise choice ...and I think it boiled down to the RACK !!!!! Great tones with both specially with this BFD and the DRUMEO included with the Alesis ....BUT the kick PEDAL itself is much better build quality with the Simmons !!! But I went with the titan also due to the NATURAL tones from the Simmons specially the DECAY with the toms and cymbals!!!!!.... So again I HOPE I went the right way!!!!!
You did! Lol
Shalom greetings, Thank you for this thorough comparison video!
You’re welcome
Had no idea Aaron passed away... rip to an absolute legend. Great video, the sounds in the Simmons sell it for me
Yeah the great one is gone… the Simmons sounds are great
Great comparison. Just got the Titan 50 for $329 on sale with additional 5% off using target card fulfilled by musicians friend. How long would it take a complete noob to set up? I’ve never set up a kit. Thanks again.
That’s based on your ability… I say 30 min but that’s all up to you
I mainly want a kit to play clone hero and maybe get into real drumming. I was concerned with the double bass compatibility and the simmons seams better for the double bass pedal. I really wanted the nitro but after this video I'm definitely leaning towards the Simmons
👍🏽
Thank you for making this. I was on the fence about the Alesis Nitro Max but for only $30 more the Simmons sounds like the better purchase.
You’re welcome
Thanks for the review! I've watched a few of your reviews recently on e-kits and one thing I wish you'd cover... can you do a portion commenting on how loud they are to the rest of the room that isn't listening to the headphones. I.e. how much noise do they make when playing them?
I did a short video on that. The issue is trying to record live room sound and truly reflect what’s happening. The thing you need to know is that it’s like hitting pillows on your couch or bed. It’s really not that much louder.
Thank you@@KeithronPowell!
i own the alesis turbo drum module and i do love the fact it uses a drum key setup and overall i love my kit and have it setup different than the diagram the only things i do not like is the lips and that it can work itself loose if not tightened right the first time ,the kit as a whole almost earns ten stars and for me the way i play and how i setup to record the kit has made me love the feel of mesh heads and i have been considering adding another kit or expanding on what i have for a beginner or intermediate drummer i think this kit is perfect
It uses the key for the drums… but the Allen wrench for set up and adjusting. Thats the part that sucks
@@KeithronPowell there are no Allen keys needed on the turbo
@@mcjosh.kampbusker good
Hey love your channel! You do a great job going through all the products! Really appreciate your work. Was able to pick an electric drumset off of your multipw reviews! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome and thanks for watching
Great review, informative, entertaining, relevant to what I want to know, etc. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. Glad it helped
So. Looking at these two. The only thing that’s making me hesitate on getting the Simmons is the lack of a foot splash on the high hat. How important would you say that is? This will be my first set. Loved the drums for a long time and finally gonna get into it. Was set on the Alesis until I saw this video. Now I’d say I’m leaning towards the Simmons so just wondering about your thoughts on the high hat splash or lack thereof. Thanks!
Of no importance. The perfect electric drum set is an acoustic drum set. In this price range the I like the simmons.
Thanks!
Seems like everybody i know plus me had nothing but trouble with the Alesis hi hat!
It does seem to be a lot
Did I miss it? Did he talk about how sturdy the racks are? Did he talk about the relative height of the racks?
It won’t matter. The product sucks! Any song, no song… any day of the week. So you don’t like my theme song? 😂
My choice was initially set on the Max, but the sound of the Titan is much more natural. However, I wonder about the long-term quality of the Titan since I am not familiar with the Simmons brand.
I think the simmons will hold up… they’ve only been around since the 80s.
This video answered almost all my questions between the two. But one thing I noticed on other videos is that the Titan is not dual zone on the cymbals, so I'm assuming no bell sounds. Here you said the cymbals are the same. Are there bell sounds for the Titan cymbals?
If I can remember correctly the 50 isn’t and doesn’t have Bell but the 70 is and does.
@@KeithronPowell Thank you! And thanks for the video, very in depth and informative!
In my experience the Alesis hit registering seems off, including the cymbals. The T50 sounds truer.
Also, the t50 I was playing at the store appeared to have dual zone.
@@omally89 it does
One of the things I like about the Max is that it has 3 way EQ - I wonder if the Simmons has that?
Also, the Alesis has 2 trigger inputs on the module. Cable splitting can be a bit unreliable.
Yes to EQ and easy in the app for your phone or tablet. I think you misunderstood what I meant by splitting… they both have the trigger but you can split each tom to have a total of 8 single zone Tom’s.
@@KeithronPowell 👍🏻
You should decide who will better pay you, Simons or Alesis. Maybe than some of us could appreciate your opinion
That troll comments makes no sense. But thanks for watching. Maybe you should see if they’ll pay you and then we can make sense of ya comments. 😂😂👍🏽
I'm considering a Titan 50 and I'm pretty new to drums so excuse me if I don't have the terminology correct or if my questions seem strange. I know you can rim shot the snare but what about the toms? Does the high hat emulate a half open high hat or variable position?
The Tom’s are single zone so no you can’t get a separate sound from the rim. The titan 70 can
@@KeithronPowell thanks for answering my question and for making the video!
Great review comparison
Thabks
Great review, thanks!!
You’re welcome
Getting a drum set for my son, he’s 5 would the titan be alright? Or is it too big for a child, just a note he isn’t like taking lessons or anything he just likes to play with drums at the music store and asked for it for Xmas so would he be able to grow into it or is it just unusable? Also I wanna play with them lol
I would get it if he’s (you) going to play it. 😂 I’d go Titan50
There’s a link to order it in the description
@ done deal!
Dude..... I have 6 Nitro's, the Allen wrench is so frustrating!!! I was just saying that to myself the other day! Hahaha. Great Video!!!
😂😂😂 I don it understand Alesis! We’ve put satellites in space and they’re still using these wrenches?!?!
First of all, congratulations on the content. My name is Gabriel, I live in Brazil, in January I will be traveling to the USA and I will buy my first drum kit, my intention is to buy the titan 50. but watching your video I had some doubts. The rack is already pre-assembled, but I wanted to know if it was possible to disassemble it to facilitate storage (to be able to put it in the bag).
You can but it’s foldable so you may it have to
Found a kit for sale near me on Marketplace for a decent price but can't find a decent review for it. Have you ever had a chance to play a kit from Cool Music model DD8? Definitely would appreciate your input if you have.
😳Never even heard of them.
So when you use the splitter to expand your kit, will both triggers being hit at the same time produce sound?
No clue… likely you wouldn’t be able to tell… they would cancel.. but who in the entire planet would play both at the same time. 🤷🏽♂️ there’s absolutely no reason to play both at the same time
The ride cymbal "stand" on the the Simmons appears to fixed, extending from corner rack post
It is
I was considering getting the Nitro Max, but after this review it seems I might have to do some more research. Is the Simmons Titan 50 not available everywhere? I can't seem to find it at all in Italy. Alesis seems to be the only option, but now I feel like I'm missing out haha
The Titan series drums by Simmons are typically only available in America.
@@KeithronPowell Aw that's a shame, thanks for the response tho. I'll get the Nitro then, seems to be the only option available. Thanks for the review!
Hi you've helped me out so much with making my decision. from all ive seen from you about these two i definitely want to go with the titan 50, i run a medium sized studio & im wondering how useful this can be for recording sessions with bands. is the only way to record midi through the midi option in the module OR when you plug the usb into your computer does it read as a midi controller immediately? thank you in advance if you see this.
also can i send individual channels of the kit to single channels in my DAW? i.e having a my snare send midi through one channel & the kick sending midi through a different channel, etc, etc.
The simple answer to all of your questions is YES! You can also run it like I do L/R to a sound board… or Bluetooth midi and record the sounds directly from the module.
@@KeithronPowell thank you dude! so much!
Simmons has been making electronic drums since the 70s.
Yep
true that i have a strike module,,and there are very few natural kits
That’s the one thing I wish all the companies would realize… we want cool acoustic sounds.
Get the titan 70 amazing for the money!
👍🏽
KP - Great video thanks for the comparison.
I currently have Simmons sd350 kit and am wondering is the Simmons sd350 rack more sturdy and more stable than the alesis nitro max rack?
Is it possible to put the alesis nitro max pads/heads, cymbals n module onto the SD350 rack(if its a more sturdy n better rack)? Also i will use snare stand for nitro max snare. Let me know ur opinion. Thanks
I believe so
What about the unplugged sound difference for the neighbours, which is louder and more quiet? Thanks for the video.
ThI y are all about the same. The neighbors won’t know you have one if you don’t tell them
@@KeithronPowell Thank you, after going through a bunch of your videos I think I want the Titan 70 now :) Cheers.
@@powerups5434 awesome
Ohhhh yeah ...the APP situation with Simmons.....BEFORE I bought Simmons I spoke with a service rep from Simmons and they told me the ANDROID version would be released in December of this year ....and I HOPE they are being truthful this time due to me being a Android user and habe never owned an apple product ..... So how do you adjust levels and settings on the computer WITHOUT using an apple product?????
Not sure what ya mean “this time” as they’ve never said they were doing an app - officially. I have submitted people to be in the beta test group. I was asked but I don’t use Droid. It’s gonna be nice for them to finally close that door!
I said .."this time" due to what the rep from Simmons said ....he said they had it slated to drop in October ...BUT ...lol....so they said .."we have been working very hard on the app everyday to get it ready and it "SHOULD " be released in December .....until then ...how does us Droid peeps gotta use the controls on the brain alone to set everything .???????....or break down and spend even MORE money to buy a good used I Pad ...lol.......I just HOPE Simmons is told me the truth and it will drop next month !!!!!!!
I hear ya! I know they wanted it out back in October but I’m sure they ran into what I’ve spoken about when it comes to making an app for droid. The thing is they’re much further along now. I think they’ve settled on the drum makeup for the future and that helps overcome the droid app issues. That just my opinion but I’m likely not far off.
@@KeithronPowellwhat's drum makeup?
Hi, thanks for this video. I don't know which buying: Alesis surge special edition or Simmons titan 50. What would you do?
I love the Simmons for its newer tech. here are some links to both let me know what you decide. guitar-center.pxf.io/5gQZMn or guitar-center.pxf.io/Py9VOQ
I have an alesis kit. And the hardware is not great. It's really cheap, if you over tighten it. It's strips the plastic, i have had 2 brackets brake on my in the 3 years of owning it. And have gone through 2 hi hat pedals. I need a 3rd but haven't replaced it yet. And it's harder to put together out of the box as well.
Yep… it’s really hard to put it together compared to many others.
so cool, wish I can choise simmons but Im in Turkey.. :( so I have no chance
Nope
Hi got the titan 50 all is good but am i i doing something wrong cant seem to choke the cymbals is there a particular way you have to do this.Thanks
Only one crash will choke
I wonder what you'd say if you worked for Alesis
I don’t work for Simmons… I don’t get paid to review. I get sent the products and I review them. I’ve played both. I like the Simmons more.
Which one would work better for a taller person? I'm 6'3" and I've heard the Alesis wouldn't work for me.
Believe it or not I’d go SD1250. If the budget is the issue go Titan 70.
VARIABLE CC Hi-Hat any of them????? Please help
I have an older Alesis DM6 kit and it uses a drum key for all the hardware. Poor decision on their part to go cheap and start using an allen key instead.
I can’t stand that Allen wrench! Definitely a poor decision. I think they heard my critique because they Strata is all drum key.
Too bad we're unlucky in Europe that Simons can't be bought here 🥺
Same here...:(
Wow… I wish there was a way.
Titan 50 better tbh the kick drum is great better module better pads just generally better than the Alesis kit
👍🏽
What happened to the Simmons Titan bheta app for android ?
You didn’t send me ya info… I’ve sent in multiple people to be part of
It's going to be the Nitro Max for me, simply because the Simmons Titan 50 is not available in the UK or most of Europe.
👍🏽
Looks like Alesis trying to copy the Titan
I didn’t wanna say but… yeah.
Can Simmons use ableton plugins?
The question is in reverse… you can’t bring the plugins into a drum but you can connect the drum to your computer and trigger the plugins.
wish i bought a simmons
👍🏽
Donner ded500 vs simmons titan 70 !
If I get my hands on one I’ll do it.
@KeithronPowell
Thank you very much. I feel both are in the same price category.
Note for double bass players the titans a. Betyer opinion
👍🏽
Keithron, thanks for calling a drum rack, a rack. A cage is not what most drummers call the rack. I'm not sure where you came up with that? 😅😂
I’ve literally heard cage for years
👍🏽
the sounds on this module are cheese,,,yick the sounds in the strike are better not great better
Why compare a set that is 2-4x the cost?
Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they’re great either just saying I’d expect to get a better sound from more expensive.
Better to buy a Yamaha DTX6 or a Roland something-or-other than these kits.
Low end Roland’s are ugly kits.
The Simmons is the best kit at this price point.. the others do not compare
I would buy the T 50 but it isn't avaiable in the UK
Sorry to hear that
Nobody mentions that simmons are NOT COMPATIBLE with ANDROID So if you dont own a Macbook or I phone your screwed.
Actually that’s not true since last year.
i dont have a cell phone and dont want one,,,i hope its not going in that direction
The app just makes it a lot simpler to use. You can do everything from the module but that Simmons App makes everything easier! Plus, you get access to all of the features.
i dont understand why ya cant do the same thing with your pc,,a pc is more powerfil than a phone ,,but phone app might be easy to use@@KeithronPowell
The Nitro rack is flimsy as eff!
True
It’s a simple matter of basic engineering.. the Alesis “rack” is round tube the Simmons is rectangular.. therefore the plastic hardware the fixes it in place is more apt to slip (or rotate) because it is round versus the Rectangular which is impossible to rotate.
those simmons seem like there a great bang for buck,,alesis is not up with all their shit,,then they have all these up dates and for me its a pain,im not good with computers
I understand
your rite about the rack its junk the hard ware gets striped ,falls apart its a toy
I really hate the racks on these lower end Alesis. I’m trying to understand why they all lean.
yes indeed i was going to make one from 2 inch pvc it would be better@@KeithronPowell
Hahaha
i have a strike pro alesis has poor customer service,,very confusing module,,drummers are not computer geeks
Customer service means a lot. I’ve found that Simmons is pretty good with taking care of its customers
Simmons keeps getting worse. I'll never buy anything they make again.
thanks for the comment
Could you explain what issues youve had? 2 years ago I was at a GC playing a simmons (I'm not sure if it was a titan 50 but it was about $600) and it felt better and had more customizability than a Roland td07. I've been giving some thought into a simmons lately.
@@TurkeyShaman I haven’t had any issues but I also have 9 to play and I move back and forth.
No Rim?? no thanks..
Lol
Great video!!!
Nice comparison and good points. I've owned both kits, and I think the Titan 50 is the better of the two overall as well. The Nitro Max rack was just too weak and wobbly, and it felt like every time I played it the snare was sagging lower. Also, I didn't get the impression that the Nitro Max rack was sturdy enough or even large enough to handle mounting another tom/cymbal pad for expansion. Alesis needs to step up their rack game on their budget kits.
💯 % agree
Definitely is an ongoing issue. I've got a tip, get a piece of 1000 to 300 sandpaper. Put a strip around the rack tube and then slide the lock adjuster over the sandpaper. U can have the paper facing out or in towards the tube or both. This has kept myself from constantly adjusting things. I also read, using an acoustic snare stand that can close to about 11 or 12 inches has worked great. As we know the snare takes most of the beating. Wish u all the best
Going to have to deduct a point for they socks :: )
😂