by Namesoft

Return to Alesis SR-16 Page

Please note: For this software to operate correctly, you may have to turn off all other midi applications first before creating the two-way connection with your drum machine. Create your samples, then save them in a sysex format.

You may then send your sysex mixes to the machine from any sysex program that is a subset of your midi sequencing program while the sequencing program is running in real time. This, coupled with the ability to send sysex messages to all four channels, gives you an incredibly powerful real time tool for surround channel assignments in your mix. For more information, contact us at the email address at the bottom of this screen.


The SR16 Editor is a software program that allows you to externally program the first 6 of 8 parameters normally assigned with the Drum Set and Tempo page buttons on the SR16 drum machine. The parameters, which can be modified by the Editor, are Drum Sound, Volume, Pan, Tuning, Assign Mode, and Output. The advantage of the SR16 Drum Editor is that it allows you to quickly make changes to your drum sets for use with a sequencer or midi-sequencing program. You can program your changes and export them to the SR16 module to be saved as one of 50 User Drum sets, then later recalled by your sequencer. These drum sets will be recalled as Program changes by your sequencing software. You can also save your parameter settings in a System Exclusive file format to be loaded by your sequencing software as well. This program was designed to significantly reduce the amount to time it normally takes to program the SR16 by hand.

Alesis SR-16 Sound Chart Drum sounds range from 1-233 on the SR16 but are converted to 0-232 in the SR16 Editor.
* Note mapping assignments on the SR16 range from two octaves below middle C (C-2) for Midi note number 0, to eight octaves above middle C (G8) for Midi note number 127. The midi note values are not changed by the editor.

User Drum Sets 00-49
The 12 pad default settings for all 50 User Drum sets are the same. The SR16 Editor will
render the correct sampling of sounds when the note map of the SR16 is in the Normal Mode.

User Drum Sets 40-49 These drum sets are reserved for the SR16 to be used as a drum module. When the SR16 is in D40-49 mode, the SR16 Editor will not render the correct sampling of sounds, because of the Midi Note Map. This mode can however be used in creating unique System Exclusive messages and will respond to changes made by the SR16 Editor.

* Special note for Sysex in Sequencers: It is important to note that if any drum pad or midi note is changed within these 10 drumsets, the sysex data for the other eleven drum map assignments within any drumset will have to be sent in a single sysex message even though the values of these other eleven sounds (notes)  may remain unchanged. For this reason it is a good idea to assign a numerical sequence in the naming of each successive sysex file and to save each drum set configuration as a*.S16 file as well. This way a sysex file's drum set file counterpart can be reloaded into the SR16 editor where minor alterations can be made and saved as the next sequential sysex file.

Main Page

Play Select a preset drum set from the SR16. Sample any one of the twelve pads by clicking on these buttons with your mouse. If you change the drumset on the SR16, you will hear the current selection of pads until you select Get from the SR16

Edit These 12 pads correspond to the pads on the SR16 module. Click on these buttons to enter the editor and change the parameters listed in the center screen. (I.e. Drum Name, Volume, Pan, Tuning,Output, and Mode).

If Automatic Audition is selected, you can sample your sounds each time you select a new drum sound in the menu to the left or select the Play button in the Midi/Drum Auditioning Section on the right. Make the desired changes to the parameters and select OK. Your changes will be displayed on the Main Page in the center of the screen.

New Selecting this option will initialize the SR16 Editor. To determine which drum set will be recalled when the editor is initialized, select Setup from the main page. Choose Preset Kits. Select one of the kits in the left window. Click on Set As Default Kit. After you exit the program, the default kit will not only be loaded when the program is started up again, but will also be reloaded automatically when New is selected on the main page.

Open You can reload files that have been saved as drum kit files (*.S16).

Save Select this option if you want to edit a drum kit and automatically save it with the same name. If you are editing a kit for the first time, you will be prompted with a window that will ask you to give the file a name. Make sure that you type Yourfile.S16 when you name the file so that it can be reloaded with the Open option. The file will not automatically be assigned the extension (*.S16)

Save As Select this option if you want to edit a drum kit and assign a new name to it. Make sure that you type Yourfile.S16 when you name the file so that it can be reloaded with the Open option. The file will not automatically be assigned the extension (*.S16)

Save Sysex You may also save the parameters of your drum kit in a sysex format, to be loaded into your sequencing program. Make sure that you type the file extension that your sequencing software recognizes when you type in the name of the file. The default extension that is automatically assigned by the SR16 editor is (*.ssx)

Send to SR16 This option allows you to immediately export your drum kit selections to one of the 50 User drum sets allowed by the SR16. To save your drum kit export you must press down on the Drum Set button on the SR16 module. Select the drum set location for your new drum set. Next advance through the menu with the Tempo Page Up button or Tempo Page Down button. After the Output option (which is programmable with the SR16 Editor) and before the Set Mode option, there is an option to Save Set to XX? Press down on the Play button on the SR16 module to save this drum set.

Get from SR16
This option allows you to load either preset drum kit settings or user drum kit settings from the SR16 module into the editor. After you make your changes you can either save the settings as a drum kit file (*.S16) or send your changes back to the SR16. Preset settings can not be changed, so you will only be able to send the changes back to one of the 50 User drum sets. If you wish to save the settings on the SR16 drum module, you must use the SR16 to save these changes. See
Send to SR16

Velocity This setting controls the Volume of the Editor, and has no effect on any of the changes sent to the SR16 drum machine.

Setup

Midi Devices Select the Midi In port and Midi Out port for the Editor. The Midi Channel should correspond to the Midi Channel selected on your SR16.

Preset Kits To determine which drum set will be recalled when the editor is initialized, click on Set As Default Kit. To load a preset kit to begin the editing process, click on Load. After you receive a confirmation of your selection, click OK to return to the Main Page.

Midi Note Map Enter the Midi note number that corresponds to each individual drum. The value you select must be between 0-127. The default values of the SR16 are listed on page 43 of the SR16 manual from Alesis.

Important: If for any reason you should alter these settings on the SR16, then you should make the corresponding changes in the SR16 Editor.

Preferences If you wish the default drum kit to be sent to your SR16 when the program is started, then you can select this option. The default is unchecked and recommended. Midi thru is an Option that should be selected only if you are making changes in the editor from a module other than the SR16 through one port and the changes are being sent out a second port to the SR16. Otherwise, you should leave this unchecked.

Automatic Audition is the default and automatically allows you to sample your selection in the Drum Setup window or from the Play option on the Main page.

Exit Exiting the program will prompt you to save your changes if you so desire. The Default kit will remain as such until you should change it.