Alesis SR-16 MIDI reference

Model scopeSR-16 Reference Manual Rev C scope, not SR-18. Drum-note assignments are global and may have been changed on a used unit. No physical tests are claimed. Only sourced values are shown. Check each claim’s verification state before relying on it.

Quick reference

MIDI channel: MIDI SETUP page 1: one channel or Omni; Manufacturer documented; §6.1, p. 42
Drum-note reception: DRUM IN: ON V1, ON V2 or OFF on page 2; Manufacturer documented; §6.2, p. 43
External tempo: CLOCK IN on MIDI SETUP page 5; Manufacturer documented; §6.5, p. 45
Example default notes: Kick 36; snare 38; closed hi-hat 42. Assignments are editable and global.; Manufacturer documented; §6.4, p. 44

Receiving drum notes

Manufacturer documented

Press MIDI SETUP and use the Page buttons to reach MIDI CH on page 1 and DRUM IN on page 2. Match the channel or choose Omni, and choose ON V1 or ON V2 for note reception. OFF ignores incoming notes.

Page 4, NOTE, assigns MIDI note numbers to pads globally. The documented defaults include kick 36, snare 38 and closed hi-hat 42. Check the numeric assignment rather than relying on a DAW’s octave label.

Clock without unwanted patterns

Manufacturer documented

MIDI SETUP page 5, CLOCK IN, enables external timing. ON follows incoming clock when it is present and otherwise uses internal tempo. OFF ignores external clock.

For a kit played by incoming MIDI notes rather than SR-16’s patterns, the manual recommends CLOCK IN OFF. When following another sequencer, it recommends CLOCK IN ON and CLOCKOUT OFF.

Browse SR-16 fixes

References

Sources & review

Sources reviewed: 2026-11-05. Documentation does not replace a physical hardware test.

SR-16 Reference Manual · Alesis · SR-16 · Reference Rev C · last checked 2026-11-05

Sections reviewed: §6.1, p. 42; §6.2, p. 43; §6.5, p. 45; §6.4, p. 44; §6.1–6.4, pp. 42–44; §6.5–6.6, pp. 45–46.