Dynamic expression is slightly limited but playability is plenty good enough for a beginner through to intermediate drummer. The hi-hat pedal response is basic. There is a half-open option, although it’s not the most natural, whilst splashing the hi-hat proves a little too much for the module and produces some unwanted triggering. It has come to my attention that I was originally a little bit too harsh on the Surge Mesh. Having realized what great value lies in this kit, I have updated the review. Alesis is a fantastic company that makes everything from keytars, to MIDI controllers, to electronic drum sets, at an affordable cost. I think it’s hard for people to grasp this concept, but this is exactly why this kit sounds like a machine gun to me. BUT, this isn’t a deal-breaker. After a small amount of mixing (mostly turning the cymbals way down), the kit balance sounds good and every note is complemented by the feel of the mesh heads. The hi-hat pad had a little too much movement for our liking but this was easily rectified by adding an extra felt to hold it in a more secure position. The selection of kit patches is decent, although there are a few, let’s say less inspiring, choices - particularly the toms on the jazz-style kits. If you decide to get a DAW, you’ll also be able to record your performances and be on your way to producing your own music, drum covers, whatever you can think of! One step up from the Alesis Surge Mesh SE

To start recording, press Start/Stop, or hit any pad. The Record LED will light solid. (To cancel recording instead, press Record again.) For beginners, the module features a training mode for learning and even will give you a score upon finishing. It’s super helpful for getting your timing to be spot on. More expensive electronic drum kits from Roland, for example, feature mesh heads that feel much better than traditional rubber pads. Connectors: (1) 25-pin cable input (9-trigger cable snake) (1) 1/8” (3.5 mm) stereo output (headphones) (1) 1/8” (3.5 mm) stereo input (auxiliary) (2) 1/4” (6.35 mm) trigger inputs (Tom 4 & Crash 2) (2) 1/4” (6.35 mm) outputs (main left & right) (1) 5-pin MIDI input (1) 5-pin MIDI output (1) USB Type-B port All three cymbal pads are 10-inch pads with rubber trigger zones all facing the drummer. The pads look the same, but function a little different for each cymbal.

Features

To play and be scored, press Start/Stop,After a count-in 9 (EXM will appear on the display) the beat, rhythm, or pattern will play once without the drum part. Play the drum part as accurately as possible. In the end, you will receive a score (SCO) based your accuracy. To improve your score, practice the beat, rhythm, or pattern without being scored (see above) and try again! The crash pad is also a single zone pad and it also has a choke. It plays like a basic rubber pad and there’s nothing really all that special here. If you already own the Surge Mesh, or a similar kit, it’s very easy to expand the sounds of your drums. Yes! there are 2 ways of practicing on this module, the first is not being scored. Second is with a scoring system. Below are how to set them up accordingly. Yes! you can connect up an MP3 player, phone, Tablet to the Aux input on the module and be able to play along with your favorite tunes.

High-hat pedal – the pedal connects to a cable to electronically control the high-hat open/close sound Now don’t get me wrong. I do like a lot of products that Alesis makes, but I have never been too big on their electronic drum kits. They have always seemed very cheap to me, but I believe they are beginning to turn themselves around. This means, that you’re getting a different sample of the same drum when you tap the drum near the rim versus hitting it hard in the center.To adjust the volume of the drum part - Press Song, Then press the Song/select until DRM appears on the display. Then us the < and > to adjust the volume. To practice without being scored, press Play/Practice( PRAwill appear on the display) After a count-in, the beat, rhythm, or pattern will repeat so you can practice it.

The Surge Drum Module equips the kit with a powerful brain that brings your playing to life. Play one of 40 drum kits (24 presets and 16 user kits) that feature 385 individual sounds that can be custom-assigned to any pad trigger or cymbal.While the Surge Mesh is a fine electronic drum set for a beginner, we think you should consider looking at Roland or a higher-end model from Alesis.

The Alesis Surge Mesh Kit features 40 total kits. There are 24 preset kits and 16 user kits available. Solution home Alesis Support Alesis | Frequently Asked Questions Alesis Surge Mesh Kit | Frequently Asked Questions Note: This appliance is not equipped with a main powerswitch. Even when the appliance is turned off,the power supply to the appliance is not completely turned off when the power adapter is plugged in. Disconnect the power adapter when not using the appliance for long periods. The responsiveness from the Surge Mesh is wonderful and even will allow you to use a double bass pedal.

Warranty and Support

You can reassign pads and create kits on the fly. There are 40 ready-to-go drum kits right out of the box. Even though the kit doesn’t sound completely like a real drum set, you’re getting amazing value with the Surge Mesh. SUMMARY: If you have access to a PC/Mac and BFD, GarageBand, Logic Pro, EZDrummer, or some other drumming software, then the Alesis Surge can be a very good kit. If you are on a tight budget and need serviceable sounds right out of the box, then you are going to be better served by the Simmons Titan 50. Using drum VST plugins, you can get different software like Addictive Drums 2, EZ Drummer, Steven Slate Drums, or GetGood Drums. There are some more detailed settings available for the individual voices and drum sounds. You can edit the volume, panning and pitch of each sound on the drum kit. You can also adjust the amount of reverb individually for each drum sound. So, for example if you want a good amount of reverb on the snare but not on the toms, you can do that. You can also adjust the MIDI number for each pad, which is helpful if you are connecting to a computer and need to edit MIDI numbers to match up with drumming software.