Shopping for expensive electric drums is miserable. The manufacturers and retailers have limited info, you can't try them in stores, and there's so many mixed reviews. Thank you so much for what you do
It really does suck, there's a high chance not to be able to play the expensive kit in person at a music store before purchase. I hope that improves in the future
I know right! They only go over the most noticeable things most of the time. Sometimes I might want to know “can I hit the crash on the bell” or “does the drums have rim zones” and there’s nothing about that. Instead of the minor details like that it’s always just the big highlights instead of going deep.
Now imagine how miserable it is to try buying in non-EU or non-US The closer we get to even test the expensive drums we are trying to buy is these YT videos... Is just not fair
@@psychodrums8138 ...and that's to say nothing of the price. I'm VERY close to just spending the money on a Pro-tec kit, who to this day (at least to my knowledge) makes the very best feeling e-kits on the market. But, their cost is disgusting (and that's being nice about it). And, they're in Germany, on top of it. And, God help you if you get a product that you're not happy with, then having to return 10 boxes. The entire retail market has been absolutely destroyed. Either they don't carry a product, or the customer service is beyond horrible.
I got thrown into ekits via the pandemic. I can not thank you enough for all you do, Justin. So much good info in every single video. You've helped me fix mistakes ive made, gave me all the info ive needed for buying gear I was looking for, and made the transition from A to E much more enjoyable. Thank you, Sir.
Justin, your playing has really amped up dude! I noticed quite a difference. Sounding great. Love your channel! I have an older DM10 Studio with upgrades but I am seriously eyeballing the Strike Pro SE now. Keep up the great work!
Well I wasn't sure how to process the pros and cons between the two sets. Being a brand new drummer, I prefer the looks of an acoustic kit. Unfortunately, my wife is ill and she would not be able to deal with the noise of my constant out of time banging and unnecessary fills, LOL. I chose the Alesis Strike Pro SE because of the appearance and color screen. Both, completely unnecessary, but to each his own. I haven't been disappointed one bit with my purchase. I have done quite a btt of trigger tweaking based on various videos I found here on TH-cam. This also taught me quite a lot about my module, the menus, and how things work. I have had this kit for about six months now, and I haven't had anything fail. I am very happy with my purchase and all that you offer on your channel. Not all of us can justify a VAD706 and your videos keep things real from the average Joe's perspective. Please keep up the excellent work!
Can you choose from three to five colours for the TD-27KV? Hell, they aren't even half-shells. Drum wrap is relatively cheap and a kit can be wrapped casually in a weekend. Hardly a con when the comparison kit doesn't have the options you're requesting. ;)
Martin M not a fan of red. Or red sparkle. Think it’s pretty clear if you actually read my statement. Thought it would be slightly cool to choose a different color or wood look. Just an opinion.
I owned an alesis dm10x i sold it and bought a yamaha dtx400k which iss the lowest end serie yamaha makes Its betterrr at least i can count on It's durable triggers will never fail Even tho alesis mesh pads are nicer but it gives hard time It doesn't always trigger welll Its make the playing feeling suck because of that
Excellent review Justin! You've taught me something... "Stage presence" is an important factor to consider, explains where my head it at and why I can't get acoustic design e-kits off my mind. Acoustic kits will always be a first love but e-kits are way more practical however generic looking models are less fulfilling in the long run IMO. Needed to hear an honest review so thank you.
Thank you so much for this deep dive Justin! I was having a hard time choosing what e-drum kit to get but you have, pretty assuredly, sold me on the Alesis Strike Pro SE kit. Seriously though, thank you so much for all the work you do! Please keep it up and I wish you the best!
In every demo video on e drums I never hear the narrator mention the decibel level of the kit without amplification. That is a big concern for those of us in apartments.
Pintech Concertcast are VERY Quite, probably because of the solid metal constuction...I have the Pintech 12" dual zone snare. I have the Alesis Command set. Much louder pads! I don't know if the Strike's are that loud or not, however.
Since I switched to using drum software(AD2), I don’t pay attention to module sounds anymore. So I’m paying attention to pad design, sizes, head quality/rebound, and how realistic the cymbals swing and feel. I like the Alesis for the overall sizes, and the Roland for the cymbals. The sample import option in the Strike module is nice, but I don’t see it replacing my computers hard drive anytime soon. I’m too used to stand-alone AD2 and it’s awesome editing options. So hard to choose between Roland and Alesis, because they are both good quality kits.
I love the sounds of the Strike module, but I also love the technology of Roland's digital pads. So I would recommend Alesis to make their own special snare pad, so then the experience of playing the Strike module is better than before.
I really appreciate the fixed functionality on the Alesis hi-hats, but I am not so sure on having the bottom be just the controller now, instead of having an actual bottom piece with a controller in it. It leaves the hats too much room to wiggle around when closed, they should be really tight when closed.
I had an old Yamaha DTX ekit several years ago to play in the winter time and keep my chops up. I sold it a while ago. Without following the edrum industry I saw the Alesis Pro Strike SE on line and loved the sound. Flat out - to me, one of the best sounding e kits I've heard (only on line). I went to buy one to find that it's no longer in production. I did actually track one down in a shop that still had one in stock, and not having ever played one, ordered it. Took me a good while to set up but I love the sound of it. Needed tweaking to get it where it should be. It's great value for money. Couldn't be happier. Then I see this video thinking oh no, should have got a Roland, but it just proves the Alesis Pro Strike SE rocks! Thanks for making. I subscribed.
Great channel and a timely discovery as I'm about to pass along my acoustic set to my son and replace it with something more compact and less noisy. As an older music hobbyist - basically hacking away at guitar, drums, and keyboard - I don't need stage presence, a zillion sounds, or even resale value. For me, durability equates to value, and quality enhances enjoyment. Glitzy options (on almost any product) tend to be "bait" for the average user with average skills and needs; you might feel tempted initially, but in time you'll forget about the frills you would rarely use anyways. Again, well-executed videos here, with efficient, balanced, down-to-earth observations and guidance. Thanks!
1000ms equal 1 second. 3ms is a fly wing flap and 5ms is a honeybee wing flap. It takes 80 ms for sound to reach you from 30 meters (about 98 ft) away according to science. Video software when syncing usually has audio ahead of visual for it to sync and misleads people into thinking it is instant (this is standard practice if you look it up). 2ms to 5ms is typical response time for LCD monitors. This is just some data I am providing for context. I have been asking various people for data on drum modules speed because I do not experience it and no has provided me data from reputable sources. Only Roland claims to be the fastest and people who have been told this over and over again. Anything under 10 milliseconds is not noticeable on a kit and the Roland TD20 was between 5-10 milliseconds (if I remember) from pad>module>headphones or amp. Pearl Mimic Pro and Roland TD50 says it can do it around 3ms. Even if the Alesis is slower, lets say 15 milliseconds (which I doubt compared to the Roland TD20 and Pearl Mimic Pro I use) it is still faster than a Two hundred fifty-sixth note at 60 BPM. If the old Roland TD20 was 5-10 milliseconds and people were fine with it then the slightly slower speed on a Alesis Strike should not be a issue. I do see a lag even with acoustic drums through a PA the farther away I am from a stage and the same rule applies for electronic drums through a PA system therefore using a stage for comparison is not a valid argument. However if using in studio and it is 8 milliseconds slower on playback, just edit or snap to beat. It’s not that hard and even using a Roland TD50 people will play off beat so you have to edit those parts anyway and if the person is on time then it is a cinch to snap into beat. And if the audio for a Alesis is off 10 milliseconds on recording, remember Roland TD50 is 3-5ms off too because of the time it takes to travel and you will have to make sure it is in sync to the beat. Not arguing just providing context for people to realize how meaningless to dread over or actually under 10 milliseconds of audio. I am interested in improvements to reliability with Alesis. And its not the pads that cause the delay, its the module but Roland is still using basic hardware for its module. It is not a 8 core processor so it shouldn’t cost that much. It’s all in the OS and algorithms now.
This is the only thing for me to consider Alesis is how long it will last. I want to buy one that last 15+ years playing at home/recording mostly and maybe a few gigs out here and there so I do think it will last and love everything they've done to it. Roland gets me with nearly perfect hardware in terms of long lasting but it isn't the most fun to play. Nothing exciting about it I feel.
Foot switch MASSIVELY beneficial if you want to switch between single or double kick (hi hat control) One hit of the foot switch and you’ve got closed hats for double bass play, then hit it again to revert to controlled hats. Before, I had to flick the kit over to a dedicated double kick kit on the module. The Alesis does sound like it has the better drum samples though?
Great comparison! I weighed all of my options and bought the Alesis Strike Pro SE. Why? As you mentioned, it's like a TD-50KV for around $2500-2600 vs. $8000 Roland charges for the TD-50. I really like that the Alesis has all of the toms, bigger drum heads, tons of kits, great sound kits, and 8 different outs! I record primarily with a Tascam Model 24 before getting anywhere near a DAW and I love that I can separate kick, snare, cymbals, toms, etc. as separate outs to the Model 24 and mix those with guitar, vox, bass, etc. before I switch to a DAW for final production. The TD-50 has separate outs but yeah, $8,000. Wouldn't the Alesis USB out also work to send audio to a DAW? I know the Roland can send audio through USB, but that ties you to a DAW. I specifically like that the Alesis lets me send out my various drum components to the Tascam Model 24 without any DAW involved, and I can add FX to each separate track (kick, snare, etc.) in the DAW once I'm ready for final production. I can even move those audio samples around if the mood strikes, or record new parts in the DAW (same as Roland), but the separate outs really help if you prefer a recording mixer as I do. With the Tascam Model 24, you can also move those parts between mixers. So, I can record my guitar, vox, bass, lead guitar on one Tascam Model 24, move the SD Card to the drum room and then record on dedicated drum channels which differ from the originals. Then I can mix the entire song on the Tascam as much as I want. This is where the separate outs on the Alesis really shine if you don't want to be stuck in a DAW during the initial inspired songwriting process. Of course if you have drums in the same room as everything else you only need one mixer such as the Model 24, but you can use two seamlessly. Per Tascam's manuals, you can even move songs from smaller mixers (such as the Model 12 or 16) to a Model 24 and vice versa. It will populate as many channels per song as there's room to do so. I also just love the LOOK of the Alesis. As you've mentioned, it's got stage presence and I really like the red sparkly metallic finish. So nice. Even if I had a ton of choices here I'd probably still go with the red.
interesting. it seemed the drummer was more freestyling and feeling the groove on the roland, and while the alesis sounded cooler probably just tuned differently, his first freestyle on the alesis looked and sounded more rehearsed. as a musician in general it speaks volumes that the roland felt more like the real thing, even if the otber produces more "cool" sounds out the box.
From a strictly basement studio for recording only perspective with SD3 I still am leaning towards the TD-27 just because of the digital snare and ride. Most hit items.. low latency factor. Smaller foot print doesn’t hurt. Known for being able to take a beating.. but the more things to hit for less is a major plus but not if they are delayed and it mucks with recording.. midi is over USB 28 tracks to DAW... what about the Alesis?
VAD is better. The triggering is next level and it has so many mixing options. They also look absolutely insane and the cymbals are real size. The ride is insane you choke it by placing your hand on top of it
Man!!! I dig your channel 👊🏽 I’ll be in the market within a year to upgrade from my TD-12. It has served me very well seeing how it was originally a gift to me after a near fatal car wreck in 2005. Keep making these videos brother! I’ll give on Patreon.
Td12 still a very good module. My brother just got a td50x and I was surprised how good my td10exp still sounds in comparison! You might experience the same when listening to new modules.
Dude... you’re chops are getting really really really good. I’ve always looked to you for a source of information, I can see you have been seriously shedding on the kit. Awesome playing man
Thanks Steve! I'm kinda hit or miss sometimes. Especially at events like NAMM where I'm running around playing 10+ drumsets in one day. Hard to play perfect like that. The more time I have with a kit, the better the footage tends to be.
Alesis all the way. Just having free updates with new kit sounds on top of all the rest is just the cherry on top. I don’t really care about latency as long as it’s not noticeable, I’m not like buddy rich about to do the fastest snare roll ever it’s just not something I care about unless it’s a genuine thing that’s holding me back. But the biggest selling point for me personally is the acoustic sizes of everything. I’m one of those people who wants to be able to go from electric to playing on acoustic without there being an adjustment period. The feeling and sizes of the drums, along with all the features (like bell zones and rims) is all that I’m looking for and the Alesis does that and more.
Regarding latency - Digital Drummer measured the Strike Module at 6.4ms. Most Roland modules hover around 4ms. I doubt many people would notice that difference.
The one thing that puts me off the Strike Pro SE is the latency that you mentioned compared to the TD27. I am assuming though that, in reality, the difference is barely noticeable. In which case I will definitely lean towards the Alesis. I'll definitely have to try them both out first.
Justin, you said you liked the Alesis heads better than the Rolands. I've switched over to the Real Feel heads. How do the Alesis heads compare to the Real Feel heads? Thank you. Always look forward to your reviews, knowledge and playing.
Put a Strike Pro SE on order today thanks to your phenomenal videos. Having previously owned 2 Roland kits (TD-11 and 25), I was looking for something with better value for money over the TD-27. The toms on the Alesis kit sound so natural. It seems Roland still can't get past that machine gun sound that I've always known them for. Thanks for the quality videos!
@@whiskyweasal89 I actually returned it nearly 6 months later as I just couldn't get along with the awful hi hat. Everything else with the kit was pretty great to be totally honest. The sensitivity of the hi hat, missed hits, terrible zone triggering just made it unusable for me. This was after a ton of back and forth with Alesis and even sending me a new module. I wish I would have gotten a TD-27 at the end of the day 100%. Hope that helps!!
That comparison between TD-27 and Alesis Strike Pro SE should never be made. It's a non-contest situation. The TD-27 is better in basically everything but the size/number of pads.
You made a point to the mesh heads on the alesis set - how do you think they compare to the tripple ply on the pd-140ds snare and i belive the new roland floor tom? I completely agree on the older roland pads that they are just complete trampolines, it is especially jarring on the pdx-100 "floor tom". I don't know if the new roland toms use tripple ply or if they've just stuck to their old mesh.
Once again I already bought the strike se BUT I enjoy so much watching your videos !!! Keep them coming especially now that we have to stay at home. Greetings from Greece
@@pablovicioso no problems regarding built quality I am still tuning the hi hat settings but I got them 95% dialed in. I keep seeing posts on FB group about ride cymbals going bad but mine works great
@@notsogreatcourier9536 yes currently , but note that needs a lot of tweeking to bring it to your personal preference , second note if you are new to e drumming you might need some time to adjust your playing , think of it as a new instrument that is related closely to an acoustic drum set but not quite one! And lastly it's quite noisy for the ppl living bellow you as are almost all e kits because of the kick pedal.
I purchased the SE a few years ago and am very happy with it, don't regret anything. So like with most E-kits, no matter how quality a cymbal pad is, they will never be able to register every note depending on speed and strength. I use a double pedal so obviously it's better to have a 2-legged hi hat stand, which will still move when I hit it but that decreases it's ability to register while you're just rockin on it, so I got a clamp and hooked the hi hat stand to the actual rack for the kit, so now it doesn't move at all, and it registers better. It's not like a night and day change but you will definitely notice.
I know Alesis has had durability issues over the years, but that they've changed their build quality. Does the Pro SE solve the durability and triggering issues for the most part?
I don't get why natrural sized electronic drums are so hyped. I mean, i get the it feels more natural on the snare for example. But that means you'll need more space, and it take more effort to move it around. That's one off the good sides of ED, it's more practical to have smaller drums. Great channel BTW, cheers from sweden!
Actually my conversion set ended up taking less space than my ekit. I was surprised. And the feel of a 20" mesh head to an 8" mesh head on the bass drum is night and day.
The only reason I'm still a drummer is because of electronic drums, I hit that age where I wasn't going to play out anymore, and didn't have the space to set up an acoustic kit, that Roland kit I got allowed me to continue my journey as a drummer, but that pithy purchase was in like 2009 (a td-9 w/rubber pads with a mesh snare) and it's time to take the next step. I love my Roland, but I think for my purposes I'm going to go with the Alesis this time around. One Amazon supplier has it for $2125 and you can get it at Guitar Center/Musicians Friend/Sweetwater for around $2200 free shipping with all. I keep wondering if I should wait till their third version is released, but that could be years so I'll probably just pull the trigger sooner rather than later. In a couple years they'll have an even better version with sparkle purple....mmmmmm PURPLE!
I guess Im asking the wrong place but does someone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Matteo Omari I really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and im trying it out now. Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Matteo Omari WTF IT REALLY WORKED! Literally got access to my ig login after roughly 30 minutes of using the site. Had to pay 15 $ but for sure worth the money =) Thanks so much, you saved my account :D
I"ve been going back and forth. This review was So helpful. I loved the Alesis kit because it was like sitting at my acoustic right off the bat. I also felt the Roland sounded like samples from the early 2000's. It just sounds fake. I will be ordering the Alesis, and hoping they last a good while.
The only reason you can change so much about the drums on the Roland is because they use highly processed samples, if you can even call them that. I have yet to hear a Roland drum sound that doesn't sound like it came from the 80's. Strike uses real drum samples, hence why you cannot do advance editing to the drum sound within the module. The strike module sounds a heck of a lot better than the Roland does...
@@Carriesaglock based on? I have owned many alesis products... A have a Q88 keyboard that has been going strong for 2 years... I owned a strike kit which didn't have any issues at all... I owned a DM10 MK2 Pro kit that I used the module, cymbals, and triggers from for my acoustic conversion.. I still use my strike snare, which is frankly the best available next to a digital Roland snare...
@@Carriesaglock super helpful thanks! I think the guy (Landon) just might edge you out a bit because he took the time to actually say something objective.
After much deliberation (especially after the teething troubles of the previous model), got my Strike Pro SE six weeks ago, and I'm never looking back - you just get so much more bang for your buck over the Rolands. OK, only time will tell on longevity - feels very solid and up for a beating, but I'm not a thrasher. To my ears, its sounds great out-of-the box, but the level of customisation, sampling and editing options on the module is insane and will certainly keep me busy over the coming months of god-knows-what.
I was torn between these two, but for my needs the Roland fits the bill much better. I record demo's at home. Space savings are important. The smaller footprint and knowing that I won't be transporting this kit from my home studio is consideration number 1. Rolands digital snare and ride, higher resale value as percentage of original sale price along with notoriously fantastic and sturdy build quality are consideration number 2. Taking some cue's from the ultra high quality TD-50 with Bluetooth, and the ability to send out 28 tracks of data via USB helps massively as I also integrate into my DAW so that was my 3rd consideration. In my opinion, the Alesis kit is very 80's looking and just screams "cheap" to me. The shininess isn't alluring to me. The addition of more cymbal and tom pads and the color screen, that essentially adds nothing to the playability, seems like another attempt at Jack of All Trades, Master of None. You mention triggering differences, and that is a major consideration from my perspective. The whole idea is to get a non-digital "feel" from Electronic set, and to just know without thinking about it, that the Roland will respond accordingly, all the time. I need that fluidity and confidence. The Roland to me is the Acura of drum sets. You know you're getting high quality, dependability and good if not great perfomance. The Alesis is the Dodge Charger (V6 version). It looks great and has potential for high performance and does some things pretty well, but It doesn't give you the feeling of high quality and great re-sale value. Which one will still be kicking ass in 7-10 years? I'd put my money on the Roland.
In my opinion the Alesis has way better sounding crashes and tombs the hi hat is a little weird but you get used to it so again my opinion but.edit this comment was late at night and i was fanboyin lol
@@steezyboiiii808 if you have the Alesis, im not knocking it. I really was torn between them for several weeks before pulling the trigger. I'm sure the Alesis will fit the bill for many folks. But one hidden unexpected surprise that I found within the TD27, is the ability to tweak everything to your hearts content. Some stock sounds are "meh". A few are really, really great, and some are outright bad. But, I got the same impression from the Alesis, and Roland makes the very best snare and ride in the business as far as I can tell. I added an extra tom and cymbal splash, upped the kick pad to a bigger/better model, and now I am beyond happy with every practice and recording session..
I just did the same thing and went for the Roland bundle from sweetwater. I would like to upgrade the bass drum and add one more cymbal but other than that I think I made the right choice. I do think the alisis has better sounds but I don't want a broken set in a year.
Personally I would take a standard strike pro (my current kit) over the td-27kv. It's just far more enjoyable to play the 5-piece kit with an extra cymbal; plus, with the exception of the ride, most of the pads are significantly larger. The module also sounds much better in my opinion. If you're serious about hardware longetivity and already have a drum VST or like Roland sounds then go for the td-27 though.
Thanks for the videos! A thought - it would be so helpful if you kept an ONGOING list of what YOU feel are the top drum sets in each price category. It'd be a huge help for those of use wanting to get started, but NOT wanting to do weeks of research (and we don't have access to these drums anyway even if we DID want to spend the time). I'd rather hear what an expert like yourself has to say, because I know my budget, but I DON"T know drums. At least yet. Thanks! Gary
How do you feel about your decision now? I'm torn between those two kits as well. 17kvx is 1500 with a free $225 throne and strike pro SE is 2700 with $300 gift card after purchase at sweetwater which would buy the alesis 1200 amp later. The 17kvx just looks so small and boring but I don't want the SE if everything is just going to fail and break over time. The 27kv is the same price as the SE and you get that same throne, so that's a possibility as well. The 27kv2 looks amazing with the digi hats but that's 3500 with no extras. Too spendy for me.
I got my SE months ago and love it. I added two Nitro cymbals as well that I use as splashs via splitters off the toms. Then, I assigned the tom rims to a splash via the module. Since you have 4 toms, u can add up to 4 cymbals. The value of the SE is far greater than shit overpriced Rolands. I spent a lot of time tuning and got a really good hard rock drum sound.
If you split the tom inputs how can you direct the cymbal pad to play the rim trigger and not the head trigger. In other words why wouldn't the cymbal pad play the head sound. Does the module understand that its split, and you then have the ability to decide which sound you want the cymbal pad to play? I havent bought the kit yet.
I’m a 55 year old ex drummer who wants to press the button on one of these kits. Wouldn’t it be an idea for these companies to sell these kits in versions that only have a headphone out option? I’m never going to need all these individual output options for my application. A lite version if you will...
Your right like listen to the Tom's in the very first clip they sound like cardboard boxes and there's no difference in pitch at all Roland sucks idk what these to idiots are talking about^^^^^
when you actually play alesis it doesnt feel great. bounce and all. (tuning them didnt really make them work like rolands) and yes there are pros and cons to everything but to make it how you want it to sound, while sounding pretty real, roland wins hands down. they got pre - sets setup nicely with hi hat decays sounding natural and all. alesis, yamaha they just even come close! I would say best 2 electronic drums thats out in the market ATM is ATV and roland. go figure.
@Duke’s Underworld You're coming at it from the drummers ( Feel) perspective. All I'm saying and a lot of people have said thru out the years is that Roland Sound Modules suck! And, that the new Alesis Module sounds better. I'll add as well. FOr the money Roland is asking for their brains, they should not be using "Compressed" sound sources. aka sample. For that money, the Roland Modules should be up there with the Pearl Mimic and Software ( $300.00) Drummers like Superior Drummer3. As a Producer, I've purchased and tested a lot of Roland Drum Modules, and it's both sad, pathetic, and downright insulting that in the year 2020! They ( Roland) area still producing BS! Low- quality sound Modules at a F#@k@ Premium price tag. And, Year after Year everyone keeps asking, why are they pricing this crap so high!, when they haven't upgraded the sound source at all!
Justin, Great video as usual. You favor the Strike Pro SE over the TD27KV, but is it worth the extra expense compared to the TD17KVX which I know you really like from other videos. Is it worth $900 more?
Great job Justin for your video. If I found a use Roland td30 is it better Than the new alesis strike pro for the sound and the quality? Thank you! Mike..
I really like the 27. I own a 17 a 9 and a DM 10. I think I will sell all of them and get a Strike module. I don't mind Roland sounds but buying the 27 and having to shell out the money for the snare and the ride being I own a full set of ATV cymbals (Besides the hi-hat I have VH-11) just doesn't make sense. What do you guys think?
Awesome video. I looked but couldn't find the answer. At about 1:13 of the video, did you miss the bass drum hit or did it just not register in the module? I really want this Strike Pro SE kit, but triggering issues such as that (if that was the case) are a deal breaker. Wicked playing as always!
You should mention that the cable snake inputs for ride and snare on TD27 get disabled when you plug in the digital pads. I really wish there was a firmware fix for this but it looks like its a hardware limitation.
I have just bought the TD-27. I bought it for a couple of reasons, one is the digital snare and ride, second is it is more compact and I have limited space, the Alesis is just too big, third is Bluetooth, forth is tuning ability...
Which brand would you trust on stage if it's your only kit at a gig? Alesis failed me in the middle of a song at a live gig when I relied on their Strike Multipad to trigger a tambourine and clap sound on two different pads I'd hit during an important bridge section (it was on a stand next to my acoustic kit). I exchanged it for a Roland SPD-SX the following Monday and have only been using Roland ever since that happened in late-2019.
1st of all thanks a lot for your videos. They are indeed a great help in many ways. Im building my own own eletronic drums with low volume cymbals and I have one question: whats is the best module/price related that you would recomend? Alesis strike se vs td 17 vs td 27? Regards. Dan
My strike pro was nothing but problems. Intermittent base drum, couldn't build user kit, and my ride had the bell in the edge and edge in the bell. They sent me 3 modules and new ride and it just didn't work. Returned it and bought the flawless TD 50. I really hope you have better luck than I did. Eric
Ouch! No doubt about it, the early versions of the Strike were a complete mess. I couldn't recommend them for years. But the SE is a very large improvement. Still not up to par with a TD50 of course, that kit is in a league of it's own. It's also in a price category of its own. The best stuff will always be pricey unfortunately
I'm wondering about your latency comments and where in the chain that hit exists. That is to say, if being used to send MIDI to a DAW, would that be sent without most of the latency hit that the processed sound would incur, thus shifting any latency hit to the DAW and audio interface?
not really, no disrespect but I thought it was very plain and nothing unique at all. I'd never show off in a music store or at event if that was the extent of my ability. again no disrespect
@@shamicentertainment1262 that's completely subjective. alot of people say cooperdrummer is a great drummer, everytime i watch him i feel like I'm in a twilight zone episode or I have the sunglasses from They Live, only those wearing them can see the truth..in his case the fact that he's well under decent. id def put 65 over him but not by much
I have the Alesis Strike Pro SE now for 3 mouths and can't stop playing them and they sound great through a PA system. Roland drums are good to but everyone has a different flavors when it comes to E- Drums Great Job Justin!!
Can you beat the shit out of them? I have a cheaper Alesis model but the snare and bass pad give out quickly. I bought insurance for them but it's always a pain to replace them every other month. I want the strike pro SE!
@@xaydegonzalez6007 I have the Nitro Mesh that comes with a drum pad instead of mesh, the issue with that is when I'm using my Pearl Demon drive pedal (with wooden beater), is definitely damaging the pad. Also I can't use double bass properly on that one due to small pad size. But all the mesh drums will last long enough even on a daily use. Its lifespan will usually depend on how you take care of it. My snare is still in really good condition, but not the bass pad. I'm convinced that the Strike Pro can take the abuse.
One of the Alesis weaknesess is 2x longer latency - what does it means ? This latency make you any discofort while playing ? Do You hear this latency ? Thanks for answer !
@@daveseemerollin6357 TBH, i dont really buy into these latency thing. I'm using my Alesis DM5 with VST, it worked fine for live setting. To me, if a module that I bought 13 years ago with high latency works well - I can't imagine the newer module has issues
Hey Justin, how did you find the new Roland cymbals? Did they feel better to play with now that they're made lighter or is it not that much of a difference?
Great video, I feel it was tailor made for me, I'm choosing between these two right now! I'll mostly use it connected to VSTs, so the onboard sounds aren't as important, pushing me towards the TD27 (space could also be an issue). Where do you think the ATV EXS-5 sits in comparison to these two? It's a lot cheaper, and has great triggering, but it seems like it doesn't have any additional inputs? The small number of sounds isn't an issue for me (cos of VST use).
@@wout9022Would the better triggering on the TD25 not be better for feeding into eg Superior Drummer? While I'd like bigger pads, I'm wary of how well the full se kit would fit in the room.
@@grahamwilson2400 if it wouldnt fit I wouldnt go alesis ofcourse :) but if it does I dont think the triggering on the alesis will be an issue. I have no experience on both but it is what I would do.
Keep in mind that just because the Alesis is bigger, that you have you use everything. You could set up part of the kit in the room you have and then if and when you play out then you have more to use. I dont know which one I want either but just thought I would point this out to you.
I own a TD-17 and use ezdrummer 2 with it. I have a below 5 ms latency on it, so actually even with the VST, the latency is as good as the module alone. The question I can't answer is, if the alesis has the higher latency because of the bigger sound files and therefore needs to process longer while you play, or if it is just slower in general. Because if it is "only" because of the build in sounds, than go for alesis. Plus you could put your favorite sounds from the VST on the alesis module and you wouldn't need an additional laptop in a live situation.
Hey Justin, I’m on the fence between the Roland vad506 and the Alesis SE myself and was hoping you had some advice on that either or scenario? Also, is it possible to swap out the heads for acoustic heads and play a gig on the Alesis or 506 acoustically? That would solve a ton of issues
I've waited for this video for a while so thanks for putting it up. It's the fixes that Alesis did to the original kit that makes this seem like the better option. $500 more isn't a deal breaker if you're spending over $2000 I think especially when it will be the one to use for years to come however, how long will Alesis kits last is the only thing I consider against it.
What would be the cheapest way to get a two zone ride on a Alesis Command Mesh? Could you split inputs and just upgrade the cymbal or would you need the upgraded module?
In the next few months i will need to buy an e-drum, and i took like the 80% of the informations that i needed from your videos. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience🙏🏼
Alesis got the lead now no jk... i thought roland was better but looking at the price and features alesis is way better!!! Edit- Wasn't a sub before but watching this 23 minute long video, i am subbing... dude u r awesome , i've never seen anyone giving this long review for their fans. Most reviewers will just include pros and cons.
Glad to find this video. I'm replacing the module on my edrums which are rolands. My TD-20 expanded module is very limited and to upgrade to the td30 isn't much of an upgrade for roughly $1500+. I just got a sweet deal on the Alesis strike module and can't wait to get it.
@@johndef5075 long story. Yes I bought the Strike. I could never get my hi hat to work. It would never close. I adjusted sensitivity but nothing. One of my cymbals would never work. When I hit the snare I got cymbal crosstalk. After watching countless videos and questions on forums, I gave up. Sent it back to Sweetwater who was awesome to refund my money. I ended up finding a super deal on a TD30. Is it the answer? No. But, it’s quite an upgrade from the TD20X.
So can you connect the Alesis to your PC/DAW through USB and have full control? That part wasnt clear. Also, can you extend the inputs of the module using another module without having to use split cables, i heard its possible?
I'm planning to buy electronic drums for home practice. For me it sounds like Roland has better upper audio series and overall better depth of the sound quality. I think it makes Roland sounds more like real drums. Am I wrong? Also better triggering is plus. Sad thing is that I can't test these kits.
Hello Justin, Thanks for your all your hard work! What Very Good Episode! You are definitely improving your drumming skills immensely! Congratulations!! I’ve owned, oh…….let’s just say a few e-kits…..1…2…12…..21……..😅 Including the TD-30’s I enjoy my Strike Pro SE’s the most! I agree, IMOP……Alesis has way better factory sounds. I did some trigger editing and found that the Strike Pro SE trigger sensitivity are as good if not better than the Roland’s Please Keep up the Great Episodes!
Great video! I'm interested in the Alesis. Just a quick question please. Have you tried connecting the Alesis to ezdrummer or superior drummer? I'm especially interested to know if the cymbal chokes work in superior/ez drummer. Thanks again!
Shopping for expensive electric drums is miserable. The manufacturers and retailers have limited info, you can't try them in stores, and there's so many mixed reviews. Thank you so much for what you do
It really does suck, there's a high chance not to be able to play the expensive kit in person at a music store before purchase. I hope that improves in the future
I know right! They only go over the most noticeable things most of the time. Sometimes I might want to know “can I hit the crash on the bell” or “does the drums have rim zones” and there’s nothing about that. Instead of the minor details like that it’s always just the big highlights instead of going deep.
Now imagine how miserable it is to try buying in non-EU or non-US
The closer we get to even test the expensive drums we are trying to buy is these YT videos... Is just not fair
@@psychodrums8138 ...and that's to say nothing of the price. I'm VERY close to just spending the money on a Pro-tec kit, who to this day (at least to my knowledge) makes the very best feeling e-kits on the market. But, their cost is disgusting (and that's being nice about it). And, they're in Germany, on top of it. And, God help you if you get a product that you're not happy with, then having to return 10 boxes. The entire retail market has been absolutely destroyed. Either they don't carry a product, or the customer service is beyond horrible.
I bought an Alesis Pro Strike SE and I could not be happier. It's fucking awesome.
Have any of the pads failed yet?
I got thrown into ekits via the pandemic. I can not thank you enough for all you do, Justin. So much good info in every single video. You've helped me fix mistakes ive made, gave me all the info ive needed for buying gear I was looking for, and made the transition from A to E much more enjoyable. Thank you, Sir.
Completely agree.
I'd love to see an updated review of this.
Justin, your playing has really amped up dude! I noticed quite a difference. Sounding great. Love your channel! I have an older DM10 Studio with upgrades but I am seriously eyeballing the Strike Pro SE now. Keep up the great work!
Well I wasn't sure how to process the pros and cons between the two sets. Being a brand new drummer, I prefer the looks of an acoustic kit. Unfortunately, my wife is ill and she would not be able to deal with the noise of my constant out of time banging and unnecessary fills, LOL. I chose the Alesis Strike Pro SE because of the appearance and color screen. Both, completely unnecessary, but to each his own. I haven't been disappointed one bit with my purchase. I have done quite a btt of trigger tweaking based on various videos I found here on TH-cam. This also taught me quite a lot about my module, the menus, and how things work. I have had this kit for about six months now, and I haven't had anything fail. I am very happy with my purchase and all that you offer on your channel. Not all of us can justify a VAD706 and your videos keep things real from the average Joe's perspective. Please keep up the excellent work!
Alesis Con: only comes in cocktail bar red sparkle.
Wish you could choose from maybe three to five colors. Including one or two being wood finish.
Can you choose from three to five colours for the TD-27KV? Hell, they aren't even half-shells. Drum wrap is relatively cheap and a kit can be wrapped casually in a weekend. Hardly a con when the comparison kit doesn't have the options you're requesting. ;)
You can always buy new wraps which aren't super expensive. The Alesis drums are full shells, wrap them anyway you want!
yea green would look cool
roland con: only one color also. i dont see the point you're making.
Martin M not a fan of red. Or red sparkle. Think it’s pretty clear if you actually read my statement. Thought it would be slightly cool to choose a different color or wood look. Just an opinion.
Alesis for me... more things to hit, greater sound library, better looking, cheaper,
Durability plays a big factor
And Alesis’ drums aren’t that durable
More pads don't matter much when they regularly fail to trigger.
Trigger failing
Poor durability
Alesis make drumsets you can't count on
I owned an alesis dm10x i sold it and bought a yamaha dtx400k which iss the lowest end serie yamaha makes
Its betterrr at least i can count on
It's durable triggers will never fail
Even tho alesis mesh pads are nicer but it gives hard time
It doesn't always trigger welll
Its make the playing feeling suck because of that
It would be nice to see how the ATV EXS-5 stacks up in comparison to those two sets.
Haukur Þórsson it would
it would be nice if ATV still sold in the USA.
If only they sold those kits in the us
Do you know of there is a difference at all in the alesis module from original to se
@@chriscasarcia9341 No its the same.
Excellent review Justin! You've taught me something... "Stage presence" is an important factor to consider, explains where my head it at and why I can't get acoustic design e-kits off my mind. Acoustic kits will always be a first love but e-kits are way more practical however generic looking models are less fulfilling in the long run IMO. Needed to hear an honest review so thank you.
Thank you so much for this deep dive Justin! I was having a hard time choosing what e-drum kit to get but you have, pretty assuredly, sold me on the Alesis Strike Pro SE kit.
Seriously though, thank you so much for all the work you do! Please keep it up and I wish you the best!
In every demo video on e drums I never hear the narrator mention the decibel level of the kit without amplification. That is a big concern for those of us in apartments.
You can here them in next room. Not annoying at all. Probably cant here anything next apartment.
Pintech Concertcast are VERY Quite, probably because of the solid metal constuction...I have the Pintech 12" dual zone snare. I have the Alesis Command set. Much louder pads! I don't know if the Strike's are that loud or not, however.
@@JayJay-ii5un Can't where anything next apartment?
@@attempt58 if the walls between are insulated or thick I would guess not.
Pintech Concertcast have been the quietest for me. It’s like putting a mesh head over an iron skillet. Nothing vibrates to make noise thankfully!
Been waiting for this for a long time!
Thanks for waiting :)
Since I switched to using drum software(AD2), I don’t pay attention to module sounds anymore. So I’m paying attention to pad design, sizes, head quality/rebound, and how realistic the cymbals swing and feel. I like the Alesis for the overall sizes, and the Roland for the cymbals. The sample import option in the Strike module is nice, but I don’t see it replacing my computers hard drive anytime soon. I’m too used to stand-alone AD2 and it’s awesome editing options. So hard to choose between Roland and Alesis, because they are both good quality kits.
I love the sounds of the Strike module, but I also love the technology of Roland's digital pads. So I would recommend Alesis to make their own special snare pad, so then the experience of playing the Strike module is better than before.
I really appreciate the fixed functionality on the Alesis hi-hats, but I am not so sure on having the bottom be just the controller now, instead of having an actual bottom piece with a controller in it. It leaves the hats too much room to wiggle around when closed, they should be really tight when closed.
I think you have the best drum info vids on YT. Thank you!!
I had an old Yamaha DTX ekit several years ago to play in the winter time and keep my chops up. I sold it a while ago. Without following the edrum industry I saw the Alesis Pro Strike SE on line and loved the sound. Flat out - to me, one of the best sounding e kits I've heard (only on line). I went to buy one to find that it's no longer in production. I did actually track one down in a shop that still had one in stock, and not having ever played one, ordered it. Took me a good while to set up but I love the sound of it. Needed tweaking to get it where it should be. It's great value for money. Couldn't be happier. Then I see this video thinking oh no, should have got a Roland, but it just proves the Alesis Pro Strike SE rocks! Thanks for making. I subscribed.
Great channel and a timely discovery as I'm about to pass along my acoustic set to my son and replace it with something more compact and less noisy. As an older music hobbyist - basically hacking away at guitar, drums, and keyboard - I don't need stage presence, a zillion sounds, or even resale value. For me, durability equates to value, and quality enhances enjoyment. Glitzy options (on almost any product) tend to be "bait" for the average user with average skills and needs; you might feel tempted initially, but in time you'll forget about the frills you would rarely use anyways. Again, well-executed videos here, with efficient, balanced, down-to-earth observations and guidance. Thanks!
1000ms equal 1 second. 3ms is a fly wing flap and 5ms is a honeybee wing flap. It takes 80 ms for sound to reach you from 30 meters (about 98 ft) away according to science. Video software when syncing usually has audio ahead of visual for it to sync and misleads people into thinking it is instant (this is standard practice if you look it up). 2ms to 5ms is typical response time for LCD monitors.
This is just some data I am providing for context.
I have been asking various people for data on drum modules speed because I do not experience it and no has provided me data from reputable sources. Only Roland claims to be the fastest and people who have been told this over and over again. Anything under 10 milliseconds is not noticeable on a kit and the Roland TD20 was between 5-10 milliseconds (if I remember) from pad>module>headphones or amp. Pearl Mimic Pro and Roland TD50 says it can do it around 3ms. Even if the Alesis is slower, lets say 15 milliseconds (which I doubt compared to the Roland TD20 and Pearl Mimic Pro I use) it is still faster than a Two hundred fifty-sixth note at 60 BPM.
If the old Roland TD20 was 5-10 milliseconds and people were fine with it then the slightly slower speed on a Alesis Strike should not be a issue.
I do see a lag even with acoustic drums through a PA the farther away I am from a stage and the same rule applies for electronic drums through a PA system therefore using a stage for comparison is not a valid argument.
However if using in studio and it is 8 milliseconds slower on playback, just edit or snap to beat. It’s not that hard and even using a Roland TD50 people will play off beat so you have to edit those parts anyway and if the person is on time then it is a cinch to snap into beat. And if the audio for a Alesis is off 10 milliseconds on recording, remember Roland TD50 is 3-5ms off too because of the time it takes to travel and you will have to make sure it is in sync to the beat.
Not arguing just providing context for people to realize how meaningless to dread over or actually under 10 milliseconds of audio.
I am interested in improvements to reliability with Alesis.
And its not the pads that cause the delay, its the module but Roland is still using basic hardware for its module. It is not a 8 core processor so it shouldn’t cost that much. It’s all in the OS and algorithms now.
This is the only thing for me to consider Alesis is how long it will last. I want to buy one that last 15+ years playing at home/recording mostly and maybe a few gigs out here and there so I do think it will last and love everything they've done to it. Roland gets me with nearly perfect hardware in terms of long lasting but it isn't the most fun to play. Nothing exciting about it I feel.
Yeah, anything under 10ms sounds fine to the player.
Eddie - E11World I agree longtivity is the issue for me but I can’t stand the price, cheap sounds and small sizes of Roland.
have to handle this problem Alesis According to
thank you so much for clearing all that up. I've always been a little confused on how much I should be concerned with it....cheers
Foot switch MASSIVELY beneficial if you want to switch between single or double kick (hi hat control) One hit of the foot switch and you’ve got closed hats for double bass play, then hit it again to revert to controlled hats. Before, I had to flick the kit over to a dedicated double kick kit on the module. The Alesis does sound like it has the better drum samples though?
Great comparison! I weighed all of my options and bought the Alesis Strike Pro SE. Why? As you mentioned, it's like a TD-50KV for around $2500-2600 vs. $8000 Roland charges for the TD-50. I really like that the Alesis has all of the toms, bigger drum heads, tons of kits, great sound kits, and 8 different outs! I record primarily with a Tascam Model 24 before getting anywhere near a DAW and I love that I can separate kick, snare, cymbals, toms, etc. as separate outs to the Model 24 and mix those with guitar, vox, bass, etc. before I switch to a DAW for final production.
The TD-50 has separate outs but yeah, $8,000.
Wouldn't the Alesis USB out also work to send audio to a DAW? I know the Roland can send audio through USB, but that ties you to a DAW. I specifically like that the Alesis lets me send out my various drum components to the Tascam Model 24 without any DAW involved, and I can add FX to each separate track (kick, snare, etc.) in the DAW once I'm ready for final production. I can even move those audio samples around if the mood strikes, or record new parts in the DAW (same as Roland), but the separate outs really help if you prefer a recording mixer as I do.
With the Tascam Model 24, you can also move those parts between mixers. So, I can record my guitar, vox, bass, lead guitar on one Tascam Model 24, move the SD Card to the drum room and then record on dedicated drum channels which differ from the originals. Then I can mix the entire song on the Tascam as much as I want. This is where the separate outs on the Alesis really shine if you don't want to be stuck in a DAW during the initial inspired songwriting process. Of course if you have drums in the same room as everything else you only need one mixer such as the Model 24, but you can use two seamlessly. Per Tascam's manuals, you can even move songs from smaller mixers (such as the Model 12 or 16) to a Model 24 and vice versa. It will populate as many channels per song as there's room to do so.
I also just love the LOOK of the Alesis. As you've mentioned, it's got stage presence and I really like the red sparkly metallic finish. So nice. Even if I had a ton of choices here I'd probably still go with the red.
@Shane Apple Very!
@@spacep0d I almost bought one yesterday, Have you had any HH or drum trigger issues at all? Thank you.
@@user-zt1er1uj6i No issues!
The Alesis sound in the opening demo speaks to me in a way the Roland doesn't.
interesting. it seemed the drummer was more freestyling and feeling the groove on the roland, and while the alesis sounded cooler probably just tuned differently, his first freestyle on the alesis looked and sounded more rehearsed. as a musician in general it speaks volumes that the roland felt more like the real thing, even if the otber produces more "cool" sounds out the box.
It also breaks in a way that the roland wont...
00:01:12
Am I the only one that noticed the bass drum didn't trigger?
Well done, Alesis.
en el minuto 13 tampoco
Yea lol just shows you Roland triggering is well worth the money :3
@@sergiomataloni802 si
I own a strike pro se and have never experienced a trigger fail.
@@homewardboundphotos wow impressive how long have you had it for
Great Review Justin! Alesis is getting better but I'm still a Roland Fan, for many reasons including quality and resale value.
I love Roland drums too
well you pay more so resale should be more
@@motodrummer My Roland stuff has lasted decades. I wonder what an Alesis Strike would look like in 10 years.
@@johndef5075 that is the thing. I owned a budget kit years ago, it lasted a year.
From a strictly basement studio for recording only perspective with SD3 I still am leaning towards the TD-27 just because of the digital snare and ride. Most hit items.. low latency factor. Smaller foot print doesn’t hurt. Known for being able to take a beating.. but the more things to hit for less is a major plus but not if they are delayed and it mucks with recording.. midi is over USB 28 tracks to DAW... what about the Alesis?
I own the td27 and its epic
Jason I now own it too! Finally...
shane addison just ordered mine today from Sweet water! I hopes it arrives soon!
@@brydrums7037 How do you like your Td27 4 months in?
@@shaneaddison3171 How do you like it now that you have had it for while?
Liked before even watching, great content as always brotha
Thanks Mauricio!
I would love to see a comparison of the Strike Pro SE to VAD506. Not sure which one to get. I really like the idea of hybrid edrums.
my exact issue today trying to find what will work best.
VAD is better. The triggering is next level and it has so many mixing options. They also look absolutely insane and the cymbals are real size. The ride is insane you choke it by placing your hand on top of it
Man!!! I dig your channel 👊🏽 I’ll be in the market within a year to upgrade from my TD-12. It has served me very well seeing how it was originally a gift to me after a near fatal car wreck in 2005. Keep making these videos brother! I’ll give on Patreon.
Td12 still a very good module. My brother just got a td50x and I was surprised how good my td10exp still sounds in comparison! You might experience the same when listening to new modules.
Perfect video. Have been trying to make a decision between these two kits for a while!
As a long-time intermediate drummer, the Alesis Strike Pro SE is amazing and worth the money.
Dude... you’re chops are getting really really really good. I’ve always looked to you for a source of information, I can see you have been seriously shedding on the kit. Awesome playing man
Thanks Steve! I'm kinda hit or miss sometimes. Especially at events like NAMM where I'm running around playing 10+ drumsets in one day. Hard to play perfect like that. The more time I have with a kit, the better the footage tends to be.
best and most unbiased reviews on the web IMO
thanks Justin !!
Alesis all the way. Just having free updates with new kit sounds on top of all the rest is just the cherry on top. I don’t really care about latency as long as it’s not noticeable, I’m not like buddy rich about to do the fastest snare roll ever it’s just not something I care about unless it’s a genuine thing that’s holding me back. But the biggest selling point for me personally is the acoustic sizes of everything. I’m one of those people who wants to be able to go from electric to playing on acoustic without there being an adjustment period. The feeling and sizes of the drums, along with all the features (like bell zones and rims) is all that I’m looking for and the Alesis does that and more.
Regarding latency - Digital Drummer measured the Strike Module at 6.4ms. Most Roland modules hover around 4ms. I doubt many people would notice that difference.
Thanks.
Yeh maybe the Flash would, but not us regular humans 😂
I appreciate your honest reviews.
The one thing that puts me off the Strike Pro SE is the latency that you mentioned compared to the TD27. I am assuming though that, in reality, the difference is barely noticeable. In which case I will definitely lean towards the Alesis. I'll definitely have to try them both out first.
Justin, you said you liked the Alesis heads better than the Rolands. I've switched over to the Real Feel heads. How do the Alesis heads compare to the Real Feel heads?
Thank you. Always look forward to your reviews, knowledge and playing.
Put a Strike Pro SE on order today thanks to your phenomenal videos. Having previously owned 2 Roland kits (TD-11 and 25), I was looking for something with better value for money over the TD-27. The toms on the Alesis kit sound so natural. It seems Roland still can't get past that machine gun sound that I've always known them for. Thanks for the quality videos!
Any follow up after having the kit? Did you like the strike pro or do you wish you got another Roland?
@@whiskyweasal89 I actually returned it nearly 6 months later as I just couldn't get along with the awful hi hat. Everything else with the kit was pretty great to be totally honest. The sensitivity of the hi hat, missed hits, terrible zone triggering just made it unusable for me. This was after a ton of back and forth with Alesis and even sending me a new module. I wish I would have gotten a TD-27 at the end of the day 100%. Hope that helps!!
People need to understand that Roland is simply the better company and stop wanting to believe Alesis will do the job, cause it will not.
@fartpoobox ohyeah tell me more about it when it breaks down
That comparison between TD-27 and Alesis Strike Pro SE should never be made. It's a non-contest situation. The TD-27 is better in basically everything but the size/number of pads.
You made a point to the mesh heads on the alesis set - how do you think they compare to the tripple ply on the pd-140ds snare and i belive the new roland floor tom? I completely agree on the older roland pads that they are just complete trampolines, it is especially jarring on the pdx-100 "floor tom". I don't know if the new roland toms use tripple ply or if they've just stuck to their old mesh.
Once again I already bought the strike se BUT I enjoy so much watching your videos !!! Keep them coming especially now that we have to stay at home. Greetings from Greece
Hey, would you mind giving an update on how the SE is holding up by now?
@@pablovicioso no problems regarding built quality I am still tuning the hi hat settings but I got them 95% dialed in. I keep seeing posts on FB group about ride cymbals going bad but mine works great
you still thinking it was worth it? im going to college soon so i cant bring my acoustic and ive been looking at a strike pro
@@notsogreatcourier9536 yes currently , but note that needs a lot of tweeking to bring it to your personal preference , second note if you are new to e drumming you might need some time to adjust your playing , think of it as a new instrument that is related closely to an acoustic drum set but not quite one! And lastly it's quite noisy for the ppl living bellow you as are almost all e kits because of the kick pedal.
@@GR3G0 alright, thank you so much man
Hey Justin just wondering what your all time favorite electric drum so far would be. Thanks!
The problem with the digital cymbal and snare is that they're not compatible with analog trigger inputs.
I purchased the SE a few years ago and am very happy with it, don't regret anything. So like with most E-kits, no matter how quality a cymbal pad is, they will never be able to register every note depending on speed and strength. I use a double pedal so obviously it's better to have a 2-legged hi hat stand, which will still move when I hit it but that decreases it's ability to register while you're just rockin on it, so I got a clamp and hooked the hi hat stand to the actual rack for the kit, so now it doesn't move at all, and it registers better. It's not like a night and day change but you will definitely notice.
I know Alesis has had durability issues over the years, but that they've changed their build quality. Does the Pro SE solve the durability and triggering issues for the most part?
Great video .. can you do a similar one comparing strike se against ATV of similar price?
I don't get why natrural sized electronic drums are so hyped. I mean, i get the it feels more natural on the snare for example. But that means you'll need more space, and it take more effort to move it around. That's one off the good sides of ED, it's more practical to have smaller drums. Great channel BTW, cheers from sweden!
Actually my conversion set ended up taking less space than my ekit. I was surprised. And the feel of a 20" mesh head to an 8" mesh head on the bass drum is night and day.
The only reason I'm still a drummer is because of electronic drums, I hit that age where I wasn't going to play out anymore, and didn't have the space to set up an acoustic kit, that Roland kit I got allowed me to continue my journey as a drummer, but that pithy purchase was in like 2009 (a td-9 w/rubber pads with a mesh snare) and it's time to take the next step. I love my Roland, but I think for my purposes I'm going to go with the Alesis this time around. One Amazon supplier has it for $2125 and you can get it at Guitar Center/Musicians Friend/Sweetwater for around $2200 free shipping with all. I keep wondering if I should wait till their third version is released, but that could be years so I'll probably just pull the trigger sooner rather than later. In a couple years they'll have an even better version with sparkle purple....mmmmmm PURPLE!
I guess Im asking the wrong place but does someone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was stupid forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Damon Dallas Instablaster :)
@Matteo Omari I really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and im trying it out now.
Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Matteo Omari WTF IT REALLY WORKED! Literally got access to my ig login after roughly 30 minutes of using the site.
Had to pay 15 $ but for sure worth the money =)
Thanks so much, you saved my account :D
@Damon Dallas Glad I could help =)
I"ve been going back and forth. This review was So helpful. I loved the Alesis kit because it was like sitting at my acoustic right off the bat. I also felt the Roland sounded like samples from the early 2000's. It just sounds fake. I will be ordering the Alesis, and hoping they last a good while.
Did you get them already? Considering the same myself....
Same question.. please reply
The only reason you can change so much about the drums on the Roland is because they use highly processed samples, if you can even call them that. I have yet to hear a Roland drum sound that doesn't sound like it came from the 80's.
Strike uses real drum samples, hence why you cannot do advance editing to the drum sound within the module.
The strike module sounds a heck of a lot better than the Roland does...
Alesis is junk.
@@Carriesaglock based on? I have owned many alesis products... A have a Q88 keyboard that has been going strong for 2 years... I owned a strike kit which didn't have any issues at all... I owned a DM10 MK2 Pro kit that I used the module, cymbals, and triggers from for my acoustic conversion.. I still use my strike snare, which is frankly the best available next to a digital Roland snare...
The Zec Roland fan boy
@@Carriesaglock super helpful thanks! I think the guy (Landon) just might edge you out a bit because he took the time to actually say something objective.
You can import your own samples into Roland and build whatever kit you want.
We need an update. Starta Prime vs Roland 27kv
Roland 27kv2*
Your drumming is getting soo good dude!
Thanks Ryan!
After much deliberation (especially after the teething troubles of the previous model), got my Strike Pro SE six weeks ago, and I'm never looking back - you just get so much more bang for your buck over the Rolands. OK, only time will tell on longevity - feels very solid and up for a beating, but I'm not a thrasher. To my ears, its sounds great out-of-the box, but the level of customisation, sampling and editing options on the module is insane and will certainly keep me busy over the coming months of god-knows-what.
hows it going now? I know it's only been 2 months but still
Could you please give us an update on this?
Hey there. Any current update on how this has held up for you? Cheers!
Hey man, any updates bout your kit now? Been thinking between this or the TD17’s
I was torn between these two, but for my needs the Roland fits the bill much better. I record demo's at home. Space savings are important. The smaller footprint and knowing that I won't be transporting this kit from my home studio is consideration number 1. Rolands digital snare and ride, higher resale value as percentage of original sale price along with notoriously fantastic and sturdy build quality are consideration number 2. Taking some cue's from the ultra high quality TD-50 with Bluetooth, and the ability to send out 28 tracks of data via USB helps massively as I also integrate into my DAW so that was my 3rd consideration. In my opinion, the Alesis kit is very 80's looking and just screams "cheap" to me. The shininess isn't alluring to me. The addition of more cymbal and tom pads and the color screen, that essentially adds nothing to the playability, seems like another attempt at Jack of All Trades, Master of None. You mention triggering differences, and that is a major consideration from my perspective. The whole idea is to get a non-digital "feel" from Electronic set, and to just know without thinking about it, that the Roland will respond accordingly, all the time. I need that fluidity and confidence. The Roland to me is the Acura of drum sets. You know you're getting high quality, dependability and good if not great perfomance. The Alesis is the Dodge Charger (V6 version). It looks great and has potential for high performance and does some things pretty well, but It doesn't give you the feeling of high quality and great re-sale value. Which one will still be kicking ass in 7-10 years? I'd put my money on the Roland.
In my opinion the Alesis has way better sounding crashes and tombs the hi hat is a little weird but you get used to it so again my opinion but.edit this comment was late at night and i was fanboyin lol
@@steezyboiiii808 if you have the Alesis, im not knocking it. I really was torn between them for several weeks before pulling the trigger. I'm sure the Alesis will fit the bill for many folks. But one hidden unexpected surprise that I found within the TD27, is the ability to tweak everything to your hearts content. Some stock sounds are "meh". A few are really, really great, and some are outright bad. But, I got the same impression from the Alesis, and Roland makes the very best snare and ride in the business as far as I can tell. I added an extra tom and cymbal splash, upped the kick pad to a bigger/better model, and now I am beyond happy with every practice and recording session..
Don McNevin yes that’s a good argument. And I know you weren’t crap in on it lol
@@70mcnevin i feel like if roland gave you bigger tombs and 3 crashes it would be perfect but i hope you enjoy it and have much success with it
I just did the same thing and went for the Roland bundle from sweetwater. I would like to upgrade the bass drum and add one more cymbal but other than that I think I made the right choice. I do think the alisis has better sounds but I don't want a broken set in a year.
Ordered an Alesis Strike Pro Special Editions thanks to reviews likes these, thanks man👍🏼
You'll wish you hadn't lol
Personally I would take a standard strike pro (my current kit) over the td-27kv. It's just far more enjoyable to play the 5-piece kit with an extra cymbal; plus, with the exception of the ride, most of the pads are significantly larger. The module also sounds much better in my opinion. If you're serious about hardware longetivity and already have a drum VST or like Roland sounds then go for the td-27 though.
Hey Justin! Can you make a video on the strike module played with Roland pads/cymbals?? Are the sounds of the strike better overall?
Thanks for the videos! A thought - it would be so helpful if you kept an ONGOING list of what YOU feel are the top drum sets in each price category. It'd be a huge help for those of use wanting to get started, but NOT wanting to do weeks of research (and we don't have access to these drums anyway even if we DID want to spend the time). I'd rather hear what an expert like yourself has to say, because I know my budget, but I DON"T know drums. At least yet. Thanks! Gary
This video convinced me to get the Alesis. I was going back and for between the SE and the Roland 17kvx. Thanks buddy.
How do you feel about your decision now? I'm torn between those two kits as well. 17kvx is 1500 with a free $225 throne and strike pro SE is 2700 with $300 gift card after purchase at sweetwater which would buy the alesis 1200 amp later. The 17kvx just looks so small and boring but I don't want the SE if everything is just going to fail and break over time. The 27kv is the same price as the SE and you get that same throne, so that's a possibility as well. The 27kv2 looks amazing with the digi hats but that's 3500 with no extras. Too spendy for me.
I got my SE months ago and love it. I added two Nitro cymbals as well that I use as splashs via splitters off the toms. Then, I assigned the tom rims to a splash via the module. Since you have 4 toms, u can add up to 4 cymbals. The value of the SE is far greater than shit overpriced Rolands. I spent a lot of time tuning and got a really good hard rock drum sound.
If you split the tom inputs how can you direct the cymbal pad to play the rim trigger and not the head trigger. In other words why wouldn't the cymbal pad play the head sound. Does the module understand that its split, and you then have the ability to decide which sound you want the cymbal pad to play? I havent bought the kit yet.
Could you split the hihat and add another?
@@ChristopherSmithNYC thats a great question. Never tried it
@@ChristopherSmithNYC you assign the Tom rim to a cymbal. Can assign the rim to anything just like the head
How's the SE holding up by now?
I am in between Alesis Strike Pro SE and Roland VAD306. Great video as always.
same, have you decided yet?
Really thats easy, Whenever you have a choice as close as these two, its real easy Rolabd VAD306 is a way better drums set!
I'm in the same situation, also considering Yamaha DTX 8KM!
Is the Latency that noticeable? Can you do a quick video showing it? That would be the one reason I dont get it.
I’m a 55 year old ex drummer who wants to press the button on one of these kits. Wouldn’t it be an idea for these companies to sell these kits in versions that only have a headphone out option? I’m never going to need all these individual output options for my application. A lite version if you will...
Man.Those Alesis kits sound great and live/record ready.. Not a big fan of Roland modules sound quality..
Your right like listen to the Tom's in the very first clip they sound like cardboard boxes and there's no difference in pitch at all Roland sucks idk what these to idiots are talking about^^^^^
The alesis has a lot of bad reviews.
when you actually play alesis it doesnt feel great. bounce and all. (tuning them didnt really make them work like rolands) and yes there are pros and cons to everything but to make it how you want it to sound, while sounding pretty real, roland wins hands down. they got pre - sets setup nicely with hi hat decays sounding natural and all. alesis, yamaha they just even come close! I would say best 2 electronic drums thats out in the market ATM is ATV and roland. go figure.
@Duke’s Underworld You're coming at it from the drummers ( Feel) perspective. All I'm saying and a lot of people have said thru out the years is that Roland Sound Modules suck! And, that the new Alesis Module sounds better.
I'll add as well. FOr the money Roland is asking for their brains, they should not be using "Compressed" sound sources. aka sample. For that money, the Roland Modules should be up there with the Pearl Mimic and Software ( $300.00) Drummers like Superior Drummer3. As a Producer, I've purchased and tested a lot of Roland Drum Modules, and it's both sad, pathetic, and downright insulting that in the year 2020! They ( Roland) area still producing BS! Low- quality sound Modules at a F#@k@ Premium price tag.
And, Year after Year everyone keeps asking, why are they pricing this crap so high!, when they haven't upgraded the sound source at all!
the td27 sounds like drum sounds from the 90s
Thank you for the review. I was struggling to get a real deal comparison I could trust. For me, I’m going the Alesis route.
This set has been out for almost 8 months. Have you heard of anyone having issues?
I’ve been researching all over and haven’t found anybody complain about the SE kit. Just the previous one.
Justin,
Great video as usual. You favor the Strike Pro SE over the TD27KV, but is it worth the extra expense compared to the TD17KVX which I know you really like from other videos. Is it worth $900 more?
Justin I'd be interested as well in your answer
Great job Justin for your video. If I found a use Roland td30 is it better Than the new alesis strike pro for the sound and the quality? Thank you! Mike..
I really like the 27. I own a 17 a 9 and a DM 10. I think I will sell all of them and get a Strike module. I don't mind Roland sounds but buying the 27 and having to shell out the money for the snare and the ride being I own a full set of ATV cymbals (Besides the hi-hat I have VH-11) just doesn't make sense. What do you guys think?
Hey Justin, thanks for another great video. My question is which one is quieter?? In your opinion. i live in a flat
Hard to say, it was really loud when I played both kits
Awesome video. I looked but couldn't find the answer. At about 1:13 of the video, did you miss the bass drum hit or did it just not register in the module? I really want this Strike Pro SE kit, but triggering issues such as that (if that was the case) are a deal breaker. Wicked playing as always!
Never mind, another video of yours addresses this. If it is fixable within the module, I am in.
Justin, youre playing has improved a lot! Keep it up
I was just thinking that
@65drums (Justin) One year later, are you of the same option or have you changed your mind?
You should mention that the cable snake inputs for ride and snare on TD27 get disabled when you plug in the digital pads. I really wish there was a firmware fix for this but it looks like its a hardware limitation.
I have just bought the TD-27. I bought it for a couple of reasons, one is the digital snare and ride, second is it is more compact and I have limited space, the Alesis is just too big, third is Bluetooth, forth is tuning ability...
Thankyou, for bringing me up to speed on these 2 drum kits.
Which brand would you trust on stage if it's your only kit at a gig? Alesis failed me in the middle of a song at a live gig when I relied on their Strike Multipad to trigger a tambourine and clap sound on two different pads I'd hit during an important bridge section (it was on a stand next to my acoustic kit). I exchanged it for a Roland SPD-SX the following Monday and have only been using Roland ever since that happened in late-2019.
1st of all thanks a lot for your videos. They are indeed a great help in many ways. Im building my own own eletronic drums with low volume cymbals and I have one question: whats is the best module/price related that you would recomend? Alesis strike se vs td 17 vs td 27? Regards. Dan
Nice, balanced, review dude. Good job.
My strike pro was nothing but problems. Intermittent base drum, couldn't build user kit, and my ride had the bell in the edge and edge in the bell. They sent me 3 modules and new ride and it just didn't work. Returned it and bought the flawless TD 50. I really hope you have better luck than I did. Eric
Ouch! No doubt about it, the early versions of the Strike were a complete mess. I couldn't recommend them for years. But the SE is a very large improvement. Still not up to par with a TD50 of course, that kit is in a league of it's own. It's also in a price category of its own. The best stuff will always be pricey unfortunately
I'm wondering about your latency comments and where in the chain that hit exists. That is to say, if being used to send MIDI to a DAW, would that be sent without most of the latency hit that the processed sound would incur, thus shifting any latency hit to the DAW and audio interface?
Such a great video! Thanks for the great content. Subbed!
Videos like this are so upsetting because I can see just how bad my freestyle drumming still sucks...
I completely feel you and I just don’t get how to freestyle that good
Me too 😭
not really, no disrespect but I thought it was very plain and nothing unique at all. I'd never show off in a music store or at event if that was the extent of my ability. again no disrespect
@@sjang816 he wasn't really showing off, he was demoing the drum set. and what was wrong with his ability? He is an above average drummer id say
@@shamicentertainment1262 that's completely subjective. alot of people say cooperdrummer is a great drummer, everytime i watch him i feel like I'm in a twilight zone episode or I have the sunglasses from They Live, only those wearing them can see the truth..in his case the fact that he's well under decent. id def put 65 over him but not by much
I have the Alesis Strike Pro SE now for 3 mouths and can't stop playing them and they sound great through a PA system. Roland drums are good to but everyone has a different flavors when it comes to E- Drums Great Job Justin!!
Can you beat the shit out of them? I have a cheaper Alesis model but the snare and bass pad give out quickly. I bought insurance for them but it's always a pain to replace them every other month. I want the strike pro SE!
@@xaydegonzalez6007 I have the Nitro Mesh that comes with a drum pad instead of mesh, the issue with that is when I'm using my Pearl Demon drive pedal (with wooden beater), is definitely damaging the pad. Also I can't use double bass properly on that one due to small pad size. But all the mesh drums will last long enough even on a daily use. Its lifespan will usually depend on how you take care of it. My snare is still in really good condition, but not the bass pad. I'm convinced that the Strike Pro can take the abuse.
@@xaydegonzalez6007😮😊
One of the Alesis weaknesess is 2x longer latency - what does it means ? This latency make you any discofort while playing ? Do You hear this latency ? Thanks for answer !
It's annoying when you play you can feel a bit disconnected from the beat, versus Roland, Yamaha, Atv, etc
@@daveseemerollin6357 TBH, i dont really buy into these latency thing. I'm using my Alesis DM5 with VST, it worked fine for live setting. To me, if a module that I bought 13 years ago with high latency works well - I can't imagine the newer module has issues
Hey Justin, how did you find the new Roland cymbals? Did they feel better to play with now that they're made lighter or is it not that much of a difference?
Strike pro was the only set Ive ever played that had realistic tactile feel and not that springy bouncy behavior I get from Rolands
=
Great video, I feel it was tailor made for me, I'm choosing between these two right now! I'll mostly use it connected to VSTs, so the onboard sounds aren't as important, pushing me towards the TD27 (space could also be an issue). Where do you think the ATV EXS-5 sits in comparison to these two? It's a lot cheaper, and has great triggering, but it seems like it doesn't have any additional inputs? The small number of sounds isn't an issue for me (cos of VST use).
If you are going with vst sounds I would go with the alesis se, but it depends what size pads you want, etc
@@wout9022Would the better triggering on the TD25 not be better for feeding into eg Superior Drummer? While I'd like bigger pads, I'm wary of how well the full se kit would fit in the room.
@@grahamwilson2400 if it wouldnt fit I wouldnt go alesis ofcourse :) but if it does I dont think the triggering on the alesis will be an issue. I have no experience on both but it is what I would do.
Keep in mind that just because the Alesis is bigger, that you have you use everything. You could set up part of the kit in the room you have and then if and when you play out then you have more to use. I dont know which one I want either but just thought I would point this out to you.
I own a TD-17 and use ezdrummer 2 with it. I have a below 5 ms latency on it, so actually even with the VST, the latency is as good as the module alone. The question I can't answer is, if the alesis has the higher latency because of the bigger sound files and therefore needs to process longer while you play, or if it is just slower in general. Because if it is "only" because of the build in sounds, than go for alesis. Plus you could put your favorite sounds from the VST on the alesis module and you wouldn't need an additional laptop in a live situation.
Hey Justin, I’m on the fence between the Roland vad506 and the Alesis SE myself and was hoping you had some advice on that either or scenario? Also, is it possible to swap out the heads for acoustic heads and play a gig on the Alesis or 506 acoustically? That would solve a ton of issues
I've waited for this video for a while so thanks for putting it up.
It's the fixes that Alesis did to the original kit that makes this seem like the better option. $500 more isn't a deal breaker if you're spending over $2000 I think especially when it will be the one to use for years to come however, how long will Alesis kits last is the only thing I consider against it.
What would be the cheapest way to get a two zone ride on a Alesis Command Mesh? Could you split inputs and just upgrade the cymbal or would you need the upgraded module?
Yep. Alesis all the way. I was hesitant but watching these videos and a few others; I’m sold. I’ll buy mine through Sweetwater I think.
In the next few months i will need to buy an e-drum, and i took like the 80% of the informations that i needed from your videos. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience🙏🏼
Awesome William! Glad the channel has been useful
Alesis got the lead now no jk... i thought roland was better but looking at the price and features alesis is way better!!!
Edit- Wasn't a sub before but watching this 23 minute long video, i am subbing... dude u r awesome , i've never seen anyone giving this long review for their fans. Most reviewers will just include pros and cons.
How does this compare to yamaha dtx 8 drum set as I'm struggling which one to get
Glad to find this video. I'm replacing the module on my edrums which are rolands. My TD-20 expanded module is very limited and to upgrade to the td30 isn't much of an upgrade for roughly $1500+. I just got a sweet deal on the Alesis strike module and can't wait to get it.
Did you get it yet? How do you like it so far?
@@johndef5075 long story. Yes I bought the Strike. I could never get my hi hat to work. It would never close. I adjusted sensitivity but nothing. One of my cymbals would never work. When I hit the snare I got cymbal crosstalk. After watching countless videos and questions on forums, I gave up. Sent it back to Sweetwater who was awesome to refund my money. I ended up finding a super deal on a TD30. Is it the answer? No. But, it’s quite an upgrade from the TD20X.
So can you connect the Alesis to your PC/DAW through USB and have full control? That part wasnt clear. Also, can you extend the inputs of the module using another module without having to use split cables, i heard its possible?
I'm planning to buy electronic drums for home practice. For me it sounds like Roland has better upper audio series and overall better depth of the sound quality. I think it makes Roland sounds more like real drums. Am I wrong? Also better triggering is plus. Sad thing is that I can't test these kits.
Hello Justin,
Thanks for your all your hard work!
What Very Good Episode!
You are definitely improving your drumming skills immensely!
Congratulations!!
I’ve owned, oh…….let’s just say a few e-kits…..1…2…12…..21……..😅
Including the TD-30’s
I enjoy my Strike Pro SE’s the most!
I agree, IMOP……Alesis has way better factory sounds.
I did some trigger editing and found that the Strike Pro SE trigger sensitivity are as good if not better than the Roland’s
Please Keep up the Great Episodes!
Great video! I'm interested in the Alesis. Just a quick question please. Have you tried connecting the Alesis to ezdrummer or superior drummer? I'm especially interested to know if the cymbal chokes work in superior/ez drummer. Thanks again!