News, Tips & Reviews
B&H Gift Cards
The Professional's Source Since 1973
Ask Our Experts800-606-6969
Hello, Log InAccount & Orders
My Cart
Video Chat with a Pro Audio Expert - Live
Home

Alesis SR-18 Portable Drum Machine

BH #ALSR18 • MFR #SR18
40 reviews
Print
Alesis SR-18 Portable Drum Machine
Key Features
  • 12 Pads
  • Built-In Effects, EQ, and Compression
  • Battery or AC Power
  • Backlit LCD
The SR-18 from Alesis is a professional-quality drum machine for today's working musicians. It has 12 responsive pads, and is packed full of drum kits, electronic drums, hits, and other sounds that allow you to create music in any genre. Integrated effects include reverb, EQ, and compression for customizing your sound.
More Details
Temporarily Out of Stock
No Store Display
$229.00
+
Save the Tax‡
or Pay $39/mo. suggested payments for 6 Mos.§ when you use the Payboo credit card. Learn More
Free 2-Day Shipping
Ask an Expert
800-606-6969

Alesis SR-18 Overview

The SR-18 from Alesis is a professional-quality drum machine for today's working musicians. It has 12 responsive pads, and is packed full of drum kits, electronic drums, hits, and other sounds that allow you to create music in any genre. Integrated effects include reverb, EQ, and compression for customizing your sound.

Connectors include MIDI inputs and outputs, a 1/4" input, two stereo 1/4" outputs, and a 1/4" headphone output. Two footswitch jacks are provided for hands-free control. In addition to being fully-featured, the SR-18 is also highly portable. The slim design is easy to take on the road, and it can operate on AC power or on six AA batteries so you're never caught without power.

Slim, portable design
32MB sound bank with drum kits, electronic drums, and hits
Plenty of control from 12 responsive pads
Operates on AC power or on six AA batteries
Large backlit LCD
Built-in reverb, compression, and EQ effects
MIDI and 1/4" inputs and outputs, plus a 1/4" headphone jack
Two footswitch jacks for hands-free control
UPC: 694318010570

Alesis SR-18 Specs

Key Specs
Sound Generation
Digital
Number of Pads
12x Velocity-Sensitive Pad
Number of Sounds, Kits, or Samples
500x Sound Preset
100x Factory Drum Kit
100x User Drum Kit
Internal Memory
Factory Content: 32 MB
Media/Memory Card Slot
No
Audio I/O
1/4" / 1/4" Headphone
MIDI I/O
1x DIN 5-Pin Input
1x DIN 5-Pin Output/Thru
USB I/O
No
General
Item Type
Drum Machine
Kit Components
Sound Generation
Digital
Number of Pads
12x Velocity-Sensitive Pad
Transport Controls
Yes: Record, Stop, Play
AD/DA Conversion
24-Bit
Standalone Operation
Yes
Sounds
Display
LCD
Number of Sounds, Kits, or Samples
500x Sound Preset
100x Factory Drum Kit
100x User Drum Kit
Tempo Range
30 to 300 BPM
Number of Song Presets
100
Maximum Polyphony
32 Voice
Internal Memory
Factory Content: 32 MB
Built-In Effects
Reverb
Dynamic FX: Compressor
Built-In Speaker
No
Sequencing & Recording
Sequencer
Note Resolution: 96 ppq
Tempo Range: 30 to 300 BPM
Number of Recorder Tracks
1x MIDI
Media/Memory Card Slot
No
Connectivity
Audio I/O
1x 1/4" TS Hi-Z Input
1x 1/4" TRS Headphone Output
2x 1/4" Main Output (1 Stereo Pair)
1x 1/4" TRS Stereo Aux Output
Trigger Device & Pedal Inputs
2x 1/4" Footswitch Input
2x 1/4" Footswitch Input
MIDI I/O
1x DIN 5-Pin Input
1x DIN 5-Pin Output/Thru
CV/Gate I/O
No
Sync I/O
No
Network I/O
No
USB I/O
No
Wireless
No
Power
Power Requirements
AC/DC Power Adapter (Included), Battery
AC/DC Power Adapter
Included
Battery Type
6x AA
Physical
Color
Gray
Included Accessories
Power Cord
Packaging Info
Package Weight
3.74 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.7 x 12.25 x 5.15"

Alesis SR-18 Reviews

Alesis sr18

By Gary
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2025-12-31

Only a few beats I can use because the volume or loudness varies on the beats. I don’t know how to edit the programs. Maybe someone before me had changed it. I had a sr16 and the volumes were all the same. I kept it but not that happy.

Good investment

By Johnson Gary
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2017-07-03

Bought this unit to build sample drum tracks for song arrangements. Interface is understandable, and somewhat intuitive, but takes some effort/practice to gain proficiency. Good features and good quality samples without a lot of crazy sound effects nobody uses. Pads are functional, but seem a little uneven in terms of pressure requirements. I get a few double-strikes, depending on how I strike the pad (especially the kick). Overall, worth the money.

See any errors on this page?

Does this model have a built in speaker?

Does this model have a built in speaker?
Asked by: john
This does not have a built in speaker. You can plug it into external speakers.
Answered by: Daniel
Date published: 2020-07-13

How long will it run on a single charge

How long will it run on a single charge
Asked by: Leonard
The Alesis SR-18 Portable Drum Machine does not have an internal, rechargeable battery within but rather can be powered via 6 x AA batteries or the included power adapter. Run time when used with batteries is not indicated by Alesis and can be affected by the battery type (lithium, NiMh, etc) as well as certain settings on the SR-18 itself, such as screen brightness. The SR-18 also has a Low Battery Warning feature that helps to alert the user when new batteries are needed.
Answered by: Matt Z
Date published: 2022-06-26

question

Where can I find a list of the 100 patterns it has?
Asked by: Vincent
There is a Sheet Included which lists all of the Pre-Programed Patterns. As a studio drummer I recommend creating your own patterns and saving them. The included patterns are more for reference and inspiration.
Answered by: Jose M.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

does this unit have a pre-programed 3/4 waltz beat in it????????????????
Asked by: Anonymous
Yes it does have 1, I wish it had more, but as you get used to the machin, you can buold more of your own.
Answered by: Thomas H.
Date published: 2018-08-27
  • y_2026, m_5, d_31, h_13CST
  • bvseo_bulk, prod_bvqa, vn_bulk_3.0.46
  • cp_1, bvpage1
  • co_hasquestionsanswers, tq_4
  • loc_en_US, sid_542061, prod, sort_[SortEntry(order=HAS_STAFF_ANSWERS, direction=DESCENDING)]
  • clientName_bhphotovideo
Whatever You Need, We've Got It