Guide to Alesis Electronic Drum Kits

Alesis have been pioneers in drum machine and E-drum technology for over three decades. They've now brought the same superlative feel and response of mesh head technology into their entire drum range - from the starter Debut kit, right up to the mighty Strike Pro Special Edition.

About Alesis

Established in 1980, Alesis was founded on innovative semi-conductor chip technology and award-winning industrial designs. These allowed entry-level musicians and recording artists to afford professional studio recording products that were never accessible to them before. This new technology allowed any artist or musician to capture studio quality recordings. Today, Alesis is a mainstay in studios and on stages internationally, with a ground-breaking electronic drum kit roster and other creative essentials, including studio monitors, MIDI controllers, digital pianos and much more.

Shop All Alesis Electronic Drums

Designed by drummers, for drummers, there is an Alesis Drum kit to suit every player 

The entire Alesis Drum range has all mesh pads on every kit. Mesh electronic drum pads feel more like acoustic drums and ensures that the pad is quieter too. There's other great features as well, such as built-in metronomes (a counting aid) and auxiliary sound source connectivity with every kit. 

As you progress up the product line, you'll get bigger drum and cymbal pads with enhanced sensitivity and playability. You'll also notice more pads on the kits and multi-zone designs (having multiple sensors in each pad lets you hit different areas to trigger different sounds). The top-end of the range has pro features including onboard sampling, and the ability to upload and then perform using your own sounds. 

Which one is right for you though? From pads to modules, racks to cymbals - let’s take a look at each kit in detail. We’ll help you find your perfect set!

The Andertons Quick Guide

Here you'll find everything you need to know about the whole Alesis range in one quick summary. All of their current products feature all mesh pads and every kit comes with a years warranty. The whole range also has aux in's - for connecting an audio source to the modules - USB connectivity and metronomes. Alesis kits are broken into three tiers.

It's worth mentioning that a lot of these electronic kits require accessories to make the kits playable. Why not check out the electronic drum bundles on our website to make your purchase even easier? Let’s get started.

Tier 1 Kits

Tier 1 is great for all starters and budding drummers - especially where space and budget are of high priority. These are still instruments rather than toys, though. The four kits in this tier include the Debut, the Turbo, the Nitro and the Surge. 

30 Second Guide: 

  • The Debut – For Children under 10. Comes with everything you need in one box.
  • The Turbo – Starter kit for all ages with bigger mesh pads. Will need accessories.
  • The Nitro – Feature packed kit with more kit sounds and play along tracks. Will need accessories.
  • The Surge – Bigger mesh pads and industry stand 1.5” chrome rack. Will need accessories. 

The Debut kit is a smaller kit designed for children (aged 5-10 years old) and is a basic kit with the easiest to use module and fewest amount of features. With a small library of sounds and ten preset kits, it's the simplest kit in the range and includes everything you need to get started. 

The first full sized kit in the range is the Turbo mesh kit which remains compact with a small footprint and 8” pads. The module offers a host of built-in coaching functions. 

The Nitro is one of our best-selling kits and is a solid option for starters looking for more options. The module contains 40 preset kits and 60 play along tracks, as well as coaching functions. The Surge kit has the same feature filled module as the Nitro, but has an industry standard 1.5” chrome rack.

Tier 2 Kits

Tier 2 is equally good for beginners and more intermediate drummers looking for more customisation and bang for their buck. These kits have better build quality, have stronger hardware, and will last longer. 

30 Second Guide:

  • Command Mesh - For intermediate players wanting to customise their sound. Requires accessories.
  • Crimson II - For intermediate players wanting bigger mesh pads (on a budget). Will need accessories

The Command Mesh kit is a real step up, especially when it comes to the module. The kit features 8” and 10” mesh pads and a sturdy four post chrome rack. The module has 70 kits - 50 preset and 20 user ones - so you can customise and save your own. It also has MIDI USB out for recording and allows you to load your own samples into the module via a USB stick. 

The Crimson has bigger mesh 10” and 12” pads and a very similar powerful module with extra presets. The Crimson also has the new white mesh heads shared by the flagship Strike kit. 

Tier 3 Kits

Tier 3 will suit any starter or intermediate, but will also suit a seasoned player. If you want to be more involved in your sound, you'll be able to edit and create custom kits onboard the module to customise and tailor your drums. These two kits offer the most features and have a MIDI interface built-in (like every other kit in the range). This lets you record straight into a laptop from the module. 

30 Second Guide: 

  • DM10 MK II Pro -For drummers wanting more customisation, bigger pads and a sturdy rack. Will need accessories.
  • Strike Pro Special Edition - For drummers wanting pro level options with authentically sized pads. Will need accessories

The DM10 is the first advanced kit in the range. It has extra drums and extra cymbals, bigger sizes and an industry standard rack. The Module has around 700 sounds, coloured back lit buttons for stage use, WAV uploading and sample editing. 

The flagship kit - the Strike Special Edition - is the biggest and the best option from Alesis. This kit boasts a traditionally sized pad set with 8”,10”,12”,14” toms, a 14” snare, and a 20” bass drum. Also included is the real up and down hi-hat (stand sold separately). The Strike has the most advanced module in the range and is packed with pro level features. It contains 1800 instruments with over 45,000 samples, 136 kits and even more pad inputs (if you want to add drums or cymbals to your setup later). When buying the Strike you get a 16GB SD card and the software needed to make your own multi-layered samples. You can then layer samples and change EQ, with even more studio-based mixing functionalities to precisely create your drum sound. 

The Entire Range In-Depth

Need more info? We take a deep-dive into every Alesis kit in the range down below - exploring the unique features of each.

The Debut Kit

An all mesh kit for children with everything you need in one box. The easiest way to start playing drums, all of the essential accessories and 60 downloadable drum lessons are included. These are from Melodics and can be accessed on your PC or tablet. Melodics™ is an app that helps you improve your timing, expand your drumming vocabulary, and makes practicing with your Alesis drums fun and effective. 

New Alesis Debut - The Best Electronic Drum Kit for Kids & Beginners?

Features 

  • (4) 6-inch Adjustable Mesh Head Drums
  • (3) 10-inch Cymbals
  • Bass Drum and Hi-Hat Floor Pedals
  • Sturdy metal mounting rack
  • DM-Lite drum module with 10 kits and 120 sounds
  • Connect to a computer or music player for play-along
  • Drum throne, sticks, headphones, and cabling included
  • Melodics learning software included

The Turbo Mesh Kit

With great-feeling mesh heads and superb sounds, the Turbo Mesh makes for a great starter kit! Add to that a sturdy steel rack and an array of coaching modes, and you've got a perfect entry-level kit. With an acoustic-like feel and response, you have 10 kits and 120 sounds which will inspire your creativity. You can practice to your hearts content thanks to the super-quiet mesh head technology.  

Introducing the BRAND NEW Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit

Features

  • Mesh drumheads for a quiet yet natural response
  • Everything you need - 8” snare pad, 3x 8” tom pads, 3x 10” cymbals, hi-hat, crash, and ride, kick pedal & hi-hat pedal
  • Steel rack for stability and durability
  • Connection cables, drumsticks, drum key, and power supply included
  • Includes the Turbo Electronic Drum Module
  • 10 ready-to-play classic and modern kits — 120 sounds.
  • 30 built-in play-along tracks, built-in coach and metronome features
  • CD/MP3 aux input to play along with your own songs.
  • USB/MIDI connection for virtual instruments and recording software
  • Stereo line outputs and headphone output

The Nitro Mesh Kit

Featuring a lightweight aluminium rack, the Nitro Mesh is not lightweight when it comes to features. The pad set consists of all-mesh drums, a dual zone snare, kick tower with included chain-drive pedal, and 3 cymbals. Even advanced techniques such as rimshots and cymbal chokes are catered for. The flexible Nitro Module is packed with great sounds and jam tracks, plus that essential onboard metronome; Alesis Drums know that practice makes perfect! There is even an advanced sequencer and recorder built-in, so you can improve your techniques and listen back to self-critique. This kit walks toe-to-toe with its pricier counterparts and is a great option for any drummer starting out.

Alesis Nitro Mesh Electronic Drum Kit Review

Features

  • Mesh drumheads for a quiet yet natural response
  • 8” dual-zone snare pad, 3x 8” tom pads
  • 3x  10” cymbals:  ride cymbal, hi-hat, crash w/choke
  • Kick drum, kick pedal, hi-hat pedal
  • 4-post aluminium rack
  • Connection cables, drum key, and power supply included
  • 40 ready-to-play classic and modern kits — 385 drum and cymbal sounds
  • 60 built-in play-along tracks, sequencer, metronome, and performance recorder
  • CD/MP3 aux input to play along with your own songs
  • USB/MIDI connection for virtual instruments and recording software
  • MIDI in and out ports connects directly to stand-alone MIDI gear
  • Stereo line outputs and headphone output

The Surge Mesh Kit

The Alesis Surge Mesh Kit is a complete five-piece kit with three cymbals. The kit includes everything any intermediate drummer needs to play like a budding pro. There is a 10” dual-zone mesh snare, as well as crash and ride cymbals that can be choked. Dual-zone toms complete the configuration. Finally, there's an 8” mesh bass drum tower pad. It comes with a pedal and is a perfect size if you want to add a double kick pedal later down the line. All of this is securely mounted on an industry-standard 1.5” chrome steel rack which can easily be folded away once you’re done!

All New Alesis Surge Mesh Kit!

Features

  • 10” dual-zone mesh snare and 3x 8” dual-zone mesh tom pads for great feel and natural response
  • 8” mesh kick drum tower with kick drum pedal included
  • 3x 10” cymbals: ride cymbal w/ choke, hi-hat, crash w/choke
  • Surge Drum Module with 40 kits, 60 play-along tracks and 385 sounds
  • Record your own playing or connect your mp3 player to the aux input
  • 4-post chrome rack
  • Connection cables, drumsticks, drum key and power supply included

The Command Mesh Kit

The Command Mesh kit is all about creativity and customisation. This enhanced five-piece kit with three cymbal pads features a dual-zone snare and toms, and single-zone cymbals. This gives you the option of splitting sounds over one pad, allowing you far more playing options. The heavy-duty chrome rack features boom arms to ensure pad placement is perfect for your preferred setup. Powering all of this creativity is the Alesis Command Drum Module, featuring 70 drum kits with 671 sounds, 120 play-along tracks built-in, and of course, an onboard metronome. You can take it even further; the module also features a USB memory stick input, perfect for loading your own samples and assigning these to any zone of any pad.

Alesis Command Mesh Kit - New from NAMM!

Features

  • 8” mesh kick and 10” dual-zone snare pad for enhanced feel and playing response
  • 3x 8” dual-zone toms deliver great sound and feel
  • 3x 10” cymbals: ride cymbal w/ choke, hi-hat, crash w/choke
  • Kick drum pedal included
  • Alesis Command Drum Module with 70 kits (50 factory pre-set + 20 user-customisable) and 671 sounds
  • Load .WAV samples and play-along tracks via USB memory stick
  • Real-time recording (5 tracks internally; up to 99 tracks via USB memory stick)
  • USB/MIDI output for use with virtual instrument and recording software
  • Premium chrome 4-post rack and boom cymbal arms
  • Connection cables, drumsticks, drum key and power supply included

The Crimson II Special Edition Kit

Introducing the Crimson II Special Edition, where digital meets tradition. Featuring an immersive multi-zone pad set, this kit will feel immediately familiar to any drummer - no matter whether you are looking to practice, record or perform live.

New Alesis Crimson II Special Edition - Strike Mesh Technology at an Affordable Price!

The Crimson II Special Edition features the Alesis Advanced Drum Module, loaded with 671 sounds and 120 play-along tracks. Also included is USB audio recording and custom WAV sound loading features. When you sit at this kit you’ll be struck by the enhanced pad set – a 12” dual-zone snare on its own proper snare drum stand takes centre stage, flanked by 3 dual-zone toms (including a 10” floor tom, a 12” hi hat, two 12” dual-zone crash cymbals and an amazing 14” triple-zone ride cymbal). All of this is mounted on a high-quality, 4-post steel rack which features a sturdy, quick-lock architecture.

Features

  • 6-piece pad set with 8''/8''/10'' dual-zone toms, a 12'' dual-zone snare and an 8'' kick pad
  • Includes power supply, mounting hardware and connection cables
  • High-quality, sturdy 4-post quick-lock steel rack 
  • Double braced snare stand
  • Hi-hat pedal included
  • Use alongside recording software and virtual instruments via the USB/MIDI output
  • Real-time recording 
  • Load your own custom MP3/WAV samples and play along to favourite tracks using a USB stick
  • Powered by the Crimson II drum module - select from 671 sounds and 74 kits 
  • White mesh drums heads make for a realistic playing experience 
  • Four cymbals (crashes feature a choke function; the ride contains a triple zone playing surface)
  • Five-pad configuration (dual-zone toms and dual-zone snare)

The DM10 MKII Pro Kit

The DM10 has been around for a decade now and has seen many generations and improvements over the years, with various setups and modules - however, the latest version is its most advanced model so far. Designed for both the studio and live performance, the DM10 MKII Pro Kit is a big kit for players with big ideas. 

Introducing the Alesis DM10 MKII Pro Kit

You get two 10” toms, two 12” floor toms, a 12” snare drum on its own stand, two 14” dual-zone crash cymbals and a triple-zone 16” ride cymbal. Alongside this there's a 12” hi-hat and an 8” mesh bass drum tower. You can truly lose yourself playing this kit, especially if you are used to the scale and size of a full-sized acoustic set. With such a premium setup, you need a heavy-duty module; the DM10MKII Module does not disappoint, with over 700 high-definition sounds, arranged into 80 contrasting kits. You can even import up to 99 of your own WAV sounds and create your own unique custom layered sounds. The USB connection also allows you to record audio directly to your PC or Mac, via its built-in digital audio interface. Advanced onboard coaching functions and 100 built-in jam tracks round out this powerhouse of a module. 

Features

  • Tightly woven black mesh drumheads enhance feel and playing response
  • 6-piece pad set with 10''/10''/12''/12'' dual-zone toms, a 12'' dual-zone snare and an 8'' kick pad
  • Four-piece cymbal set with a 12'' hi-hat, two 14'' crashes, and a 16'' triple-zone ride
  • Heavy-duty four-post quick-lock chrome rack with integrated boom cymbal arms
  • Fully adjustable snare drum stand for optimal positioning
  • Includes DM10 MKII Pro sound module
  • Download your favourite voices to the DM10 MKII Pro Drum Module
  • Mix input for practicing with digital music and audio players

The Strike Pro Special Edition Kit

Sitting behind the Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition kit, you'll feel completely at home thanks to a full-sized pad set and full-sized bass drum - fusing incredible innovation with reassuring tradition. With 6 drums and 5 cymbals (and extra inputs for even more) the Strike has your setup needs covered. The 20” bass drum carries unbeatable stage presence and rock-solid response. Being the flagship kit, you also get the top of the range two part, up and down physical hi-hat pad (stand sold separately). This allows for more precise hi-hat control during grooves. The cymbals are all bigger and choke-able, with a hammered dimple affect in the rubber to make it less like a hard rubber practice pad. Each cymbal is held on a secure boom arm on the sturdy 1.5” rack. The kit provides a very realistic playing experience because of these design choices. 

Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition - Next Gen Mesh Technology!

Strike Performance Module

The Strike Pro Module is by far the most versatile and capable module that Alesis has ever offered. Out of the box, you get 136 kits made from over 1800 instruments. The module has onboard sampling capability and is bundled with a 16GB memory card. You also get the Strike Software Editor. With this, players can assemble their own custom samples into multiple velocity layer and round-robin instruments (round robin is where the module doesn’t repeat the sample and make it sound like it is machine gunning). You can then piece together the perfect drum kit, and then transfer it onto the module via USB. Every feature and control is incredibly easy to keep track of using the Strike Pro Module’s 4.3-inch colour LED screen, which displays all the player’s settings and choices at a quick glance. It adds up to unprecedented flexibility and programmability, combined with total mastery of the kit’s status.

Features  

  • Latest-generation mesh heads for fastest, most natural response ever
  • Patented enhanced articulation System
  • Full-sized 20-inch kick drum
  • 14-inch dual-zone mesh snare w/hybrid wood shell
  • 8, 10, 12, and 14-inch dual-zone mesh toms w/hybrid wood shells
  • 16-inch Strike ride cymbal (3-zone) w/full rubber pad and hammer marks
  • 3x 14-inch dual-zone Strike crash cymbals w/choke
  • 14-inch dual-zone hi-hat cymbal
  • Strike software editor for creating your own custom kits and instruments
  • Strike Performance Module with 4.3-inch colour LED screen
  • Over 1800 drum and percussion instruments and 136 Kits
  • 45,000 sample sounds included or load .wav files through included 16GB SD card
  • Premium 4-post steel rack