Drummer-friendly controller
The drum set features the popular Alesis Trigger-IO trigger-to-MIDI interface with high-end drum pads.

These are combined with high-end drum pads and Surge cymbals, giving players a kit with a very realistic feel and virtually limitless sonic possibilities.

A dual-zone snare pad, three dual-zone tom pads and a kick pad each feature an eight-inch mylar, tension-adjustable drumhead and a 2.3 mm triple-flanged counterhoop perfectly mirroring the feel of acoustic drums.

Cymbals with built-in triggers
Surge cymbals are made of brass cymbal alloy and feature built-in triggers. Because they are true, lathed cymbals rather than rubber pads, Surge cymbals offer the most natural cymbal feel available on any electronic drumset. A 12-inch Hi-Hat, a 13-inch Crash with choke capability and a 16-inch dual-zone Ride with choke capability are included.

Sound-generation software BFD Lite is included from FXpansion, placing the sonic flexibility of multiple drum-sound sets with adjustable articulation, velocity layers and microphone positions at drummers\' fingertips. USB Pro Drum Kit is compatible with computers running Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.

In a further development, Alesis has created a special configuration file, which optimizes its SR18 for use as an inexpensive, high-quality drum-sound module for use with the USB Pro Drum Kit. Drummers need only an inexpensive MIDI cable and a custom configuration file, available for free download at the Alesis website. Using SR18 as a sound source enables drummers to take advantage of a host of special features. Explains Alesis Product Manager Jim Norman:

\"We heard such great response from drummers on the sounds in the SR18 that we felt it would be great to find a way to make it work as a drum module. As it turns out, not only does the combination work flawlessly once tweaked with the custom configuration file, it also gives drummers special functionality, such as being able to playing a cowbell sound on the rim of the rack tom.\"

Artists using Alesis drum modules include Marco Pitruzzella, Adrian Erlandsson, and John Longstreth.