As a tool for live performance the Alesis SR16 certainly delivers. Its user friendly setup makes recording your own drum loops and patterns easy. Performing using the optional footswitch attachment is easy using the AB and Fill patterns and as an accompaniment for a guitarist or bass player this machine is great fun.
If you are one of those people who refuse to read instruction manuals and prefer to dive straight in then the Alesis SR16 is simple enough for you to get results out of almost immediately. It has a very retro 80s look to it which may appeal to some and features such as velocity sensitive key pads, pre-recorded drum loops and easy adjustable tempo make this an attractive product.
The product falls short however in several areas. Firstly, since pretty much all it is effectively useful for is live performance it would have been nice to have a backlight so menus could be seen in those especially dark venues. Also if it was battery enabled it would be a fun tool that could be experimented with anywhere. Although the SR16 can be used as an effective trigger with its midi function, when it comes to studio quality drum sounds the SR16 fails to deliver to a high standard. It has some editing features such as panning control, but there is not much to play with in terms of sound manipulation.
The SR16 is by no means perfect, but for the price it is certainly a more than competent drum machine to get you started programming and editing rhythms.

Out of 19 Hi Hat sounds, four are reverse samples, but NO foot closed samples!! Very disappointing!!