Got both Alesis Pads

I have both the Alesis Performance Pad and the Alesis Control Pad in my line up. I use the Performance Pad mainly for live road gigs when I just need a quick easy set up for a duo gig or to add a few electronic sounds in addition to my acoustic kit. I can understand why they didn't put a MIDI IN jack on it, while the SR16 sounds are good, I have a ton of other drum machines and sound modules that give me better sounds in the studio, so anyone who's looking for a MIDI IN jack on this to use it as a sound module - should keep looking or just buy an SR16 for $149, it’s cheap enough. The MIDI OUT is the more critical feature here, because i can send my drum hits OUT into my Alesis SR18, my DR770, or my Korg Triton.

As far as the foot switches go, they’re not trigger inputs - just switch inputs, so while you don't get any velocity sensitivity, I guess it's still good they put them on there anyway, good for beginners or even pro’s who just want a portable easy practice kit. The switch pedals it uses are just keyboard sustain pedals and only cost like $20 each, trigger pads would cost over $100 each, so for the Performance Pad - switch jacks are actually the best bet.

Aside from my Performance Pad that I use on the road, I use my Alesis Control Pad in the studio because it does have two switch inputs AND two trigger inputs, so I can use my kick pad rig off my Roland V Drum kit and get velocity, I also use a separate snare pad into the other trigger jack. Even though the Control Pad has no internal sounds at all, the MIDI IN/ OUT and USB allow me to access all the sounds in my arsenal or drum machines and modules.

I think both Alesis Pads work great, Performance Pad on road for a quick easy set up, great sounds, and the Control Pad in the studio, where I have time to think about what MIDI channels I’m sending on, and for what you are getting, the prices are fantastic! Alesis did a great job of covering all the bases possible while still keeping them affordable.

Alesis has opened new territory for my recordings.

Once I figured out how to connect my new Alesis Performance Pad to my recording device (with the help of my Sweetwater sales professional), the fun began. I quickly learned how to incorporate this easy to operate performance pad into my existing and new recordings. The sounds and flexability of this system are proving to be a great asset to the professional results I am seeking.

really close but how could they have missed ????

It is what they say it is, but I was disappointed when I learned...

there's no MIDI input so don't plan on using this as a midi drum sound module.

The external triggers for hat & bass are "momentary" switches not triggers (???). Don't plan on connecting any pads to trigger sounds. I find that fairly usless, ever tried playing a bass pattern on a switch?

The sounds are good, but I'm told that it's the exact same bank of sounds as in the SR-16. This is essentially as SR-16 with a ControlPad wired to the 8 of the drum sounds.

The "dynamic articulation" (whatever that is) seems to help a little but I think that term is BS for slightly improved pad sensitivity. I bought a Control Pad and found that you really had to swat the thing to get it to trigger. This is the same deal, however because the sounds are so good loud or you work in headphones, you don't notice that you're really smacking the thing. The case is plastic, I hope it holds up.

I a major project, I don't know what I'd use this for. Possibly to play / record MIDI drum notes and play them back on a sampler. The sounds are good but I don't think I'd want to record directly from the stereo outputs. There aren't individual outputs.

They would have a fantastic product if it weren't for those small oversights. Add a MIDI input, add real trigger inputs.

A great idea but engineers didn't check out similiar gear and why it works

Alesis should let real drummers use this for a month and then listen to people scream!. Not using "real" trigger inputs for kick and Hihat inputs, instead uses Momentary switches. Try using a momentary switch (sustain pedal) on a real gig, totally laughable. No MIDI input, even other brand toys have midi ins and outs. What's up? someone should lose their job over this one. What a bone head. Buy a Roland SPD-S, twice the price but 10 times the value and features, Done right! Guys, Why not put in an extra hour and get it right.