Alesis USB Pro Kit Drumset with SURGE Cymbals Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the first drum kit without any rubber triggers at this price point. Or at twice the price. Real drum heads, real brass cymbals. And loaded with features. All the triggers except the kick are dual zone. The ride is dual-zone, bell and edge. The crash is chokeable. The mounting hardware is plenty rigid, much more sturdy than I expected. It's too soon to say how it will last, but since the joints and mounting collars are tightened with metal nuts and bolts (with drum key heads) I know there won't be any problems stripping plastic threading.
For an entry-level kit, it has quite a bit of upgrade potential too. The TriggeriO interface is also being used as standard equipment by other trigger makers (such as RET) so adding a larger snare or better toms will not be an issue. Feel free to mix 'n match. And since the stock triggers use real drum heads, switching to mesh heads is also an option.
It does take a bit of tuning. The default settings on the TriggeriO result in lots of cross talk. Be sure to punch in the recommended settings from the back of the manual immediately, or your initial experience will be disappointing. This really should have been taken care of at the factory. The BFD Lite demo software included is also underwhelming. You will need to budget for either BFD Pro or EZdrummer to get drum sounds that show this kit off to best advantage.
These are really quibbles though. Even after adding the cost of a little time and a few extra bucks for software, this kit is a great bargain.

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Designed for USB/MIDI performance with your Mac, PC, or other MIDI device, the Alesis USB Pro Drum Kit features dual-zone RealHead drum pads, genuine alloy SURGE Cymbals, and a compact, studio-friendly StealthRack drum rack. The true touch of real, tunable, mylar drum heads, combined with the natural feel of brass-alloy SURGE Cymbals creates an acoustic-feeling, great-sounding drumming experience.
It also includes the Alesis Trigger I/O, which enables you to connect the Pro Kit to a wide range of MIDI sound sources. Use up to ten trigger inputs to play traditional MIDI devices like drum machines, sound modules and synthesizers, or connect the USB output directly to your computer to play software drum modules or lay down tracks in your favorite MIDI sequencer application.

Key Features
Five-piece electronic drum set with USB/MIDI computer interface
RealHead drum pads feature genuine 8-inch mylar drum heads for customizable feel
Alloy SURGE cymbals with built-in triggers for serious acoustic-cymbal feel
SURGE Cymbals feature sound-dampening underside coating to cut their acoustic sound
Dual-zone snare and tom pads for a wide palette of sounds from a standard setup
Ultra-fast triggering with software sequencers, recording software, and MIDI hardware
10 TRS inputs'for kit expansion with additional pads, cymbals, and acoustic drum triggers''

USB/MIDI For Hardware And Software Just plug the kit's Trigger I/O interface into your Mac or PC's USB port, load up your sequencing, recording, or virtual instrument software, and you're ready to play. Because the USB Pro Drum Kit is MIDI compatible, you can track a performance, and then go back afterward and tweak your sounds. And it opens up a new world of software including BFD, Toontrack, and Reason to drummers and producers looking for realistic drum performances.
Advanced Drum Pads The USB Pro Drum Kit's acoustic-feeling RealHead drum pads are built around 8-inch mylar drumheads and acoustic-dampening foam for quiet response. The snare and tom pads are dual-zone, enabling rimshot or rim-click sounds on the snare and additional sounds such as wind chimes, cymbals, gongs, and cowbells on the tom rims. The heads are tunable with a standard drum key for adjustable tension and feel. The triple-flanged counterhoops are covered in removable, sound-reducing rubber sleeves, which further cut acoustic noise.
The USB Pro Drum Kit includes a self-standing RealHead Kick Pad with stand, to which any model of single or double-bass-drum pedal can be attached. The kick pad also features a tunable, 8-inch mylar playing surface.
Cymbals With Built-In Triggers The best choice in electronic cymbals, the Pro Kit includes the following SURGE cymbals: a 12-inch SURGE Hi-Hat, a 13-inch SURGE Crash with choke, and a 16-inch SURGE dual-zone Ride Cymbal with choke. Comprised of a genuine alloy cymbal coated with a clear sound-dampening layer, SURGE Cymbals feel like acoustic cymbals because they begin life as just that. The Crash and Ride cymbals feature large choke strips on the undersides for even more attention to accurate cymbal control. The SURGE Ride also features multiple-zone triggering on the bell, face and edge. The SURGE Hi-Hat Cymbal offers continuously variable control using the included pedal.
StealthRack and Hardware The fully adjustable, compact StealthRack is built of 1-1/2-inch metal tubing, which is standard throughout the drum industry. It's easy to expand the USB Pro Drum Kit with any manufacturer's clamps and mounts. All necessary clamps, professional 1/4-inch cables, and mounting hardware are included. All clamps adjust with the included drum key. Pad-mounting L-arms feature non-round arms to eliminate slippage from playing. All of the hardware on the USB Pro Drum Kit is designed for sure grip and extensive adjustability.
What's in the Box
(4) RealHead 8-inch Dual-Zone Pads
RealHead Kick Pad with stand, for use with single or double kick pedals, sold separately
RealHat Pedal hi-hat continuous controller
SURGE 12-inch Hi-Hat Cymbal
SURGE 13-inch Crash Cymbal
SURGE 16-inch Ride Cymbal
StealthRack black drum rack, complete with all mounts and cables
Trigger I/O trigger-to-MIDI USB interface
Software CD
USB cable
Quick start guide

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