Updated: August 17th, 2022
One thing you’ll notice right away about this Alesis Nitro review, mainly if you’re more of a starting drummer, is that Alesis Nitro is one of the cheapest electronic drum kits in the world today.
And what is more: Alesis recently released a brother version – the Alesis Nitro Mesh – which is the cheapest e-drum set with mesh heads in the history of electronic drum kits.
This is no less than astounding since, when I bought my first electronic drum set in 2002, these things were freakin’ expensive ($1000 and more).
But it also brings out a question: has Alesis lowered the price of their drum kit by sacrificing quality?
You might also be unsure about the differences between the Alesis Nitro and the Alesis Nitro Mesh.
Or you might have heard good things about their best-selling predecessor, the Alesis DM6 and wonder whether that would be a better fit for you?
Well, I’ll answer all these questions in this Alesis Nitro review – and don’t want to waste any more of your time. So let’s jump right in…
Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit
Alesis Nitro vs Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit
So what is the difference between the Alesis Nitro and the all new Alesis Nitro Mesh?
Well, very simple: the module is the same, but the hardware is different in exactly 1 major and 1 minor respect:
- (Major) The Alesis Nitro mesh comes with mesh heads; the Alesis Nitro features rubber ones – and I’ll explain what that means in the next section.
- (Minor) The Alesis Nitro Mesh has a slightly different HiHat control pedal as well as a different bass drum pedal. In my testing, though, I didn’t notice that one of the 2 kits has an edge in terms of the pedals. Rather, they both do their jobs just fine.
As such the Alesis Nitro looks like this:
And the Alesis Nitro Mesh looks like that:
So when you open the box that any of these 2 kits comes in, you’ll find:
- The Nitro drum module (more about this further down)
- Five 8” drum pads functioning as snare drum (1 pad), toms (3 pads) and kick drum (1 pad with stand). Note that the kick pad is big and sensitive enough to accomodate a double bass pedal.
- Three 10” cymbal pads (Hi-Hat, Crash and Ride cymbal)
- 1 Hi-Hat controller
- 1 bass drum pedal
So both the Alesis Nitro and the Alesis Nitro Mesh are ready for you to play right out of the box. And setting them up isn’t very difficult either (this video shows how). Each of them took me about 45 minutes, and it shouldn’t be much longer for first-time assemblers.
Feel and Noise of the Pads
Whenever I browse around the web for electronic drum set news, I find that 2 myths keep being told over and over. So be prepared for some clarification:
- Electronic drums are not quiet. They are more quiet than acoustic drums, but the pads still do make noise – depending on which material their pads are mainly made of.
Since the Alesis Nitro features rubber pads while the Alesis Nitro Mesh comes with mesh heads, the Nitro Mesh will be more quiet than the Nitro. (Rubber on the left, mesh head on the right:)
And to give you an approximation of what “more quiet” actually sounds like: hit a page inside an open book with a stick. The “noise” produced should be similar to hitting the Nitro’s rubber pads. Conversely, hit a sturdy cushion with a stick and you’ll be at about the “noise” level emitted by the Alesis Nitro Mesh.
So if you’re concerned that your neighbors or family might be distrubed by your drumming, I recommend you go for the quieter Alesis Nitro Mesh. - Hitting the pads of electronic drums does not feel like playing an acoustic kit. And that isn’t a bad thing either. It’s just logical, since acoustic drum heads are not made out of rubber or mesh – they are made of mylar (a type of plastic). So when playing the Alesis Nitro Mesh, you won’t get the exact feel of an acoustic kit (although it does feel pretty similar to me). Yet, you will get to:
- change your entire drum kit sound in 40 ways (!) in seconds and by only pushing a few buttons on the module
- record your playing without messing around with microphones, because that function is built into the module
- use the built-in metronome or have the module coach your training (more on that below)
So what I’m saying is: No, an electronic drum kit does NOT feel like an acoustic one, but that in no way means that it feel worse – only different. At the same time, though, the Alesis Nitro Mesh can do a whole lot of things an acoustic kit can’t do.
And the other good news is: anything I say below applies to both the Alesis Nitro and Alesis Nitro Mesh – since they share the same module.
For you this means that it’s time to make up your mind on whether your prefer mesh heads or rubber pads now.
Sounds in the Alesis Nitro Drum Module
The Alesis Nitro module comes with 385 drum, cymbal and percussion sounds on board, and out of those Alesis has built 40 preset kits. That’s the largest quantitiy of sounds and presets in this price range of electronic drum kits.
And it should provide more than enough flexibility for any live gig, as you could change your drum set sound for 40 consecutive songs.
And do the presets sound good?
Want even more flexibility? You can modify any of the presets. That used to be possible only with much more expensive Alesis kits such as the Alesis DM10.
Recording with the Alesis Nitro
Quality recording on a budget is what electronic drum kits are good at, and the Alesis Nitro is no exception. There are 3 ways to go about recording:
- Hit the module’s record button while you’re playing. You can then listen to this recording through your headphones or speakers. But you cannot export it from the module.
- Connect the audio output(s) on the back of the module to a recording device (could be as simple as your smartphone), hit record and lay down your track. This way you’d have basic recording quality with minimum effort.
- Connect the module to your computer via the MIDI outputs or the MIDI-USB (to the left) and use the Alesis Nitro as a MIDI trigger. (You’ll need a recording software for this and for a beginner I recomend the free and awesome Reaper – but you can also use Logic, Ableton, Garage Band etc.) This way you can achieve good sound quality – even out of your practice room:
Playing to Your Favorite Music
I think there is nothing more exhiliarating than playing one’s favorite songs (this can replace your next workout too). And with the Alesis Nitro this can be done with the push of a button.
Just connect your smartphone / iPhone or mp3-play to the the module via this adapter, hit play on your phone and you’ll hear the music through your headphones or speakers – as well as your drumming.
And if you have mastered all your favorite songs, you can move on to tackle the 60 play-alongs the Alesis Nitro has on board. They range from Pop to Rock to Jazz to BigBand, Dance and more and sound like this:
What’s cool here: you can mute the drums on the play along so that it’s just you and the music. Note: that doesn’t work with the songs on your phone unless the’re using drumless tracks (some of which you can find on Youtube).
Practice Made Fun with the Alesis Nitro
Yes, I think playing along to music counts as practicing. But you still need to work on those beats and grooves. And sometimes it’s hard to get yourself to start practicing them.
From that perspective, the Alesis Nitro’s “learning mode” is the most useful new feature. “New”, because so far only much more expensive sets like the Yamaha DTX450K and the Roland TD-11K came with built-in training functions. And “useful” because it’s much easier to practice when there’s someone to guide you (the module) and when the whole process is staged as a playful challenge.
And “learning mode” does just this. It either asks you to…
- play along to a rhythm or pattern after a count-in
- or plays you the rhythm or pattern without the drum part, which you’d have to supply.
In both cases, your playing is recorded for you to listen to later. And you’ll receive a score for your accuracy. This is objective feedback and it’s challenging. Both has increased the motivation of my students quite considerably.
What rhythms and patterns does the Alesis Nitro have? Here’s a quick overview from inside the manual:
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the footprint of the Alesis Nitro and Alesis Nitro Mesh?
Any of the 2 kits will take up between 5′ x 3′ and 6′ x 4′ depending on your size and preferred positioning. That makes it the largest kits in its price range, but also the sturdiest.
Do I Need An Amplifier To Hear Myself Playing?
You’ll need either headphones, in-ear monitors or an amplifier. If you’re using headphones for your daily dose of music anyway, you can connect them to the Nitro through a 1/8” to 1/4” adapter. If not, you can check out what I consider to be the best headphones for electronic drumming.
Alternative #1: Alesis Nitro vs DM6
Apart from that, the Alesis DM6 has been a best seller for years and – if you can get your hands on it – costs less than either the Alesis Nitro or the Alesis Nitro Mesh. So you might wonder: why go for those newbies when the DM6 is so well tested and trusted?! Well…
An Alesis sales rep confirmed to me that the Nitro and Nitro Mesh are meant to successively replace the DM6. And while that alone doesn’t mean they are better, it does mean both Nitro versions are newer and that there are differences between them and the DM6. And those differences are:
- The Nitro kit has 385 sounds and 40 preset kits on board while the DM6 only comes with 108 sounds and 15 slots for presets.
- The Nitro kit has “learning mode” whereas the DM6 doesn’t have built-in training functions.
- The Alesis Nitro can be expanded (plus 1 tom and 1 cymbal) by buying those pads and simply plugging them into the side of the module. The DM6 doesn’t have any (native) expansion capabilities.
So, I hope you do notice that I recommend you go for the Alesis Nitro Mesh instead of the Alesis DM6.
But to confuse us even more, Alesis has one more very similar kit up their sleeve: the Alesis DM6 Nitro…
Alternative #2: Alesis DM6 Nitro Vs Nitro
Alesis released this kit as an updated version of the DM6 – namely one that comes with the DM6 hardware but the Nitro module. That in itself was a good thing at the time, but I think their naming couldn’t have been more confusing.
Today, though I wouldn’t go for it any more, since you can usually get a better price on the Alesis Nitro Mesh – and that one is a better kit for 2 very simple reasons:
- The Alesis Nitro Mesh comes with mesh heads where the Alesis DM6 Nitro has rubber ones
- The Nitro Mesh has a 4-pole rack instead of being based on 2 poles like the DM6 Nitro is. This will make your kit more stable while playing and also makes it look more professional in my opinion.
So now I’m really glad we have all these subtle version and naming differences out of the way 🙂
Buyer Feedback & Your Questions
Gabriel has shared his experience with the Alesis Nitro in a comment elsewhere on Kickstart Your Drumming, so that you don’t have to rely on my opinion alone. Thanks, Gabriel, for making this article a better Alesis Nitro review!
Can you help others by sharing your opinion about the Alesis Nitro or Alesis Nitro Mesh too? Or did this review leave any questions open?
If so, please drop me a comment below. I respond 100% of the time and usually within 1 day.
Freedrum- Play the drums anytime, anywhere
- Sensors are super accurate
- Good Value for Money
- Compatible with all major music software / DAWs
Also Read:
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Hi! I have the Alesis Nitro kit and I hit the snare and it is not responding that well. I have to hit it pretty hard to get any sound at all. I have gone thru all the settings in the module but found nothing. I do notice that all the drum pads feel like there is something loose inside.
I thank you for your help!
Hey Carlos. That’s unfortunate. I haven’t had any problems with the Nitro so far. Please try what’s described in this Alesis support forum thread. And let me know if you need further help!
Hi!
I got the Nitro kit brand new and I was complaining that all the pads had something loose inside. But back then I did not have the pads mounted and the noise was the only the adjusting butterfly and the lack of volume was a cheap headphones that I had. No I am using the BlueAnt Embrace headphones and it sounds awesome with my iPhone and my Poweramp Music Player app. It’s a great kit and I love it (by the way, this is my first edrum ever). This beats any acoustic set, because it can sound the way you want it to and your neighbours will still like you!!!
Carlos Fuentes
Thanks for the update, Carlos. That makes perfect sense. I’m happy all seems sorted for you now!
I hope you don’t mind that I added the two links so other readers can find your awesome recommendations. (For you others, also check out my best heaphones for electronic drum sets review.)
Your article was very informative it taught me a lot but I still have a lot of other questions I just recently had my kick Tower go out only after 5 months and was disappointed that elise’s didn’t have a warranty of some kind that would cover that
You’re review says this kit doesn’t do cymbal chokes but the Amazon description (and product reviews) say the crash has a choke. Were you simply referring to the fact that the other cymbals don’t have a choke?
Hey Andrew,
that was actually a slip on my part as the Nitro’s crash cymbals does have a choke function. I just tried it with my own kit. Thanks for pointing that out!
Hey,
I can’t get the cymbal’s choke function to work. How can I fix this?
Thanks!
Hey Matthew,
Thanks for your question! Here’s what you can do:
1. The Alesis Nitro comes with a 10″ Crash and a 10″ Ride cymbal. The Ride has no choke functionality, but the Crash does. Have you made sure that it is the Crash you’re talking about / that it’s set up in the right place?
2. Perform a factory reset by holding the “<" and ">” buttons simutaneously while powering on the module. It will show “RST—” on the screen for a few seconds and then the module will switch back on.
Let me know if that helps!
I’ve tried the reset, and it didn’t work I’ll try again and I’ll switch the pads. Will let you know, thanks.
Also can you adjust the hi hat pedal? Doesn’t seem to work as accurately as it should. Thanks again.
Hey Matthew,
Okay, try that and do let me know!
About the Hi Hat: what’s the problem here specifically? Is it not loud enough?
If so, try hitting the HiHat and press the corresponding “Pad Sel” button > press “Utility” > press “Page/Select” until you reach the desired setting: “SEN” for sensitivity (to increase the volume that each hit produces) or “THR” for threshold to lower the point at which your pad will register a hit as a full Hi Hat sound.
I’m a beginner.
Which electric drum should I buy?
I can only afford $500.
So I’m confused among Alesis Nitro, Alesis Forge, Roland TD1K
I need advice. …so plz???
Hey David!
Are you looking primarily for a practice kit? Then I’d recommend you go with the Alesis Nitro. It’s perfect for practice, you can also take it up on stage and you’ll only need slightly more than half your budget (and could invest into a good budget double bass pedal).
If you’re looking for something to play on stage with (now or in the near future) and if you need a wide variety of sounds or a more professionally-looking kit, go with the Alesis Forge. You can see that compared to many other sets in this post.
Please don’t buy the Roland TD1K. Compared to the 2 Alesis kits, I think it’s overpriced and delivers much less. It also looks more like a toy than an electronic drum set that one could put in front of an audience.
Keep the questions coming if you have more!
Hi ,
I am a beginner drummer and would like to buy a e drums . The option are the Alesis nitro , Millenium MPS-150 and Td – 1k. Which one should i go for. For me space taken by the drums is also a factor and which of the above kits will
be suited for a live gig. I need advice .plzz??
Hey Uday,
Thanks for your question and great that you’re looking into buying edrums!
From these three, I would opt for the Nitro, because you can now even get it with mesh heads (more quiet and feel more “realistic”) at an unbeatable price.
The Nitro, too, is the only one of those that I would take up on stage in smaller venues. If you’re looking to play bigger stages, though, I recommend you also look into the Alesis Surge as this one looks a little more professional.
Best,
Yannick
Hey Yannick,
Thanks for your prompt reply. In India the service provided for Alesis products is not good and i was just curious whether Alesis will be able to last longer than drums made by Roland as the latter brand has more quality .
Btw i had a question , inorder to play live gigs with e drums do you need to plug it into a drum amp and then mic it up to the mixer or the e drums could be directly plugged into the mixer.
I don’t think that Roland drums are better quality than Alesis in every case. Yes, Roland kits cost more and a probably better, but I’ve seen faulty Roland kits just as well as Alesis ones. Finally, even if Alesis’ quality control weren’t as good as that of Roland, that doesn’t mean Alesis kits are bad – quite the contrary in my opinion! So I wouldn’t have a problem buying an Alesis kit anywhere in the world.
As for the other question, both plugging into the mixer directly as well as going through an amp are possible.
Hope that helps!
Hi Yannick, thank you for this great review. I have question, i noticed i had to press down a bit harder on the hi-hat pedal controller to get the closed hi-hat sound. I checked online and my hi-hat pedal controller a bit different with some online pictures. There is no single screw at the front to adjust the pedal (with drum key), see this video (towards the end) https://youtu.be/4i0gP9wMRxI
or this picture https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41bADsisnSL._SY200_FMwebp_.jpg. Mine has 2 screws and the lower one can’t be opened. Is yours the same? Thanks again
Hey Mik!
Hm, no, mine’s exactly like the one in the video. It’d be most helpful if you sent me a picture of your pedal through the contact form in the navigation bar at the top. I’ll look into it then!
Best,
Yannick.
Do you know the difference between the Alesis Nitro kit vs DM6 Nitro vs DM6 USB?
Does the DM6 Nitro have the larger DM6 pads with a Nitro brain?
Hey Paul,
I’ve explained the most important differences between Alesis Nitro and Alesis DM6 USB in the post (near the end).
The DM6 Nitro is the exact same set as the DM6 USB except for the module – which is taken from the Nitro kit.
The reason behind this is that the DM6 has been on the market for a few years and the Alesis Nitro has been meant as its successor. However, people still find the DM6 valuable (and buy it), so Alesis wanted to offer the awesome functionalities of the Nitro module to DM6 users too.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Hi, I’m from philippines. I would like to order alesis nitro kit from amazon but I want to estimate the shipping fee. Anyone who has an idea how big the package of this drum kit in inches and how heavy is this set in pounds? thank you.
Hey there,
just excavated my box from the attic 😀 This Alesis Nitro comes in a box of 37.0″ x 20.0″ x 13.0″ that weighs 40.8 pounds.
Hope that helps!
Hi Yannick and thank you for the reviews. I’m finding them to be very helpful. I am a beginner and am trying to decide between the Nitro and DM6 Nitro. Considering they both have the same module, it comes down to the difference between the toms and cymbals. I know about the size differences between them but is there a quality difference too, or any other differences that would make the DM6 Nitro worth the extra cost? Thank you for any information you can provide.
Hey Jimmy,
in my view, there’s nothing that justifies paying more for the DM6. The Nitro is the latest beginner drum set by Alesis and has several advantages over the DM6:
– more sounds (385 instead of 108) and more preset slots (40 instead of 15)
– training software on board (which the DM6 doesn’t have at all)
– module allows for expansion (+1 tom / cymbal)
And remember: the Alesis Nitro is currently discounted, so eventually it will be more expensive than the DM6 (as it should be in terms of quality & features).
So, I’d strongly recommend to go with the Alesis Nitro!
If you decide to do so, I’d appreciate if you purchase through this link.
Best,
Yannick.
Thanks, but I’m not considering the Nitro and DM6. I’m considering the Nitro and DM6 Nitro, which apparently is just a DM6 but with the Nitro’s module. So unless I’m mistaken they’d both have the same functionality in terms of your three bullet items.
I’m really just wondering if there is any quality or functionality difference in the actual percussion hardware between the Nitro and DM6 Nitro. I already know that:
– Nitro has 10 inch cymbals, DM6 Nitro has 12 inch – is that a big deal?
– Nitro’s crash cymbal has a choke, DM6 Nitro’s doesn’t – how important is that?
– Size of the toms are the same on both
– Nitro has a 4-post rack, DM6 Nitro has a 2-post – not sure if that matters?
And is the build quality of the toms and cymbals better on the DM6 Nitro? Or is it basically the same on both?
I’m definitely leaning toward the Nitro. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something before I make the purchase.
Thanks again for your informative reviews. When I make the purchase it will definitely be via your link.
Oh right, gotcha!
1. The only hardware functionality difference – as you said yourself – is the crash cymbal choke. I’d say this only matters for home recording and in there only for very special occasions. Crash cymbals on most songs you hear on the radio for instance will not be chocked 99% of the time. So it’s not a big deal.
2. Cymbal size doesn’t matter in terms of sound. This comes down to purely subjective preference (how it looks, how much space it takes up)
3. A 4-post rack will give more stability to the kit. This might matter if you’re planning out playing hours and hours of death metal on these drums. Generally, both will be solid. But I think the 4-post rack gives the Nitro a more professional look. And that is important because people will judge you by how your gear looks.
4. Generally there is no difference in build quality between Nitro and DM6 Nitro. Both have been bestsellers on Amazon for a long time and have earned great reviews. (That doesn’t mean everything works flawlessly 100% of time. But I’m sure that’s not what you’re asking for.)
>>> As you see, you’re not missing anything crucial. These all are minor questions and both kits will serve you very well as a beginner. But for the (minor) reasons indicated, I’d still go with the Nitro 🙂
PS
If you want to kickstart your drumming once you’ve sorted out your purchase, consider this: https://www.kickstartyourdrumming.com/
Thanks so much, Yannick. I really appreciate the advice. I will go for the Nitro, probably within the next week. Can’t wait to get this kit.
Yeah, you should be looking forward to it. It’s a great kit!
Glad I could help!
I’m glad I found this blog and extensive review. Very helpful as I’ve been quickly narrowing down a purchase for my son for Christmas. (Hoping for some great deals, too.)
Of several kits in this price range ($269-$299), I’m landing on this kit. I like the Alesis brand.
Amazon alerted me of these two versions of the Nitro, so I’ve been going nuts trying to compare them.
Strangely, my biggest question is one of size. I really like the compact 2-leg design of the DM6, and the newer Nitro seems huge by comparison. But – your note that it can be somewhat compacted is helpful.
Are the two “wings” able to swing in from the 2 center poles, making the footprint smaller? Does it feel as big as it looks in the picture? Or is the unit still fairly compact?
Bottom line:
How much different REALLY is the Nitro from the DM6 in terms of physical size?
Significant difference, or slightly bigger, but not obnoxiously so?
Thanks for the input.
Really appreciate your thorough responses here.
Hey Matt,
Thanks for your kind words! You’re looking at 2 of my favorite kits there!
Now, the wings of the Alesis Nitro do swing in, and I wouldn’t really infer too much in terms of size from the pictures. Set up comfortably, the Nitro would have a footpring of about 6x4ft, while the DM6(-Nitro) would have one of 5x4ft.
So the difference is slight and that is because the DM6 has the module in the center between the toms – making that bar somewhat longer than on the Nitro (which is long mainly because of its wings). But for the DM6 you’d still have to calculate that you’d place the Hihat trigger to the left of the left-hand side pole, so you don’t save that much in lenght there.
As for width, do remember that you’d need to place a throne in front of the kit, so there won’t be any real difference here.
In short: 6x4ft (Nitro) vs. 5x4ft (DM6). And if you set it up more tightly, the Nitro might even come down to 5.5x4ft.
Let me know what you decide!
Does a double bass pedal setup fit into the size of the bass drum pad? I ordered my Nitro kit, but I don’t have it yet, so I can’t eyeball it.
If the pad isn’t large enough would I be able to purchase the larger bass drum pad Alesis makes and just plug that right into the Nitro? Thanks.
Yes, Corey, generally the kick pad is wide enough to fit a double bass pedal onto it.
“Generally” means: unless you have one with an unusually wide space between the beaters. I’m saying that, because I can’t know all the bass drum pedals on the market. But I do not that any of the pedals in this article would fit.
Have fun with the Alesis Nitro!
Hi, I just wanted to ask if you have any advice on using a Mapex 500 double kick pedal with the Alexis Nitro kick pad.
I purchased one and while both pedals do fit in the space of the pad, it doesn’t seem to register hits unless they’re close enough to the center, and I can’t seem to get them both close enough to register.
If I can’t get this to work I will likely buy a RealHead kick pad from Alesis.
Hey Darren,
I see. Although I’ve owned both the Alesis Nitro and the Mapex 500 double pedal, I’ve never tested the 2 in conjunction. So I cannot give you a solution from personal experience right now (I don’t have a Mapex 500 at hand), but I think this thread could help you. It’s actually about the Alesis Forge, but I think the same solution should apply to your case too. If your short on time, only read the last comment at the bottom as well as all of the replies to that (in one of them is the solution – posted by “Bryan perez”).
Hope that helps!
Thanks for the quick reply!
It turns out I just needed up the threshold for the kick pad. It worked perfectly after doing that.
Perfect. I’m happy it works now!
Thanks for this review page, it’seems been extremely helpful so far. I’m thinking of purchasing the nitro soon, I was wondering if it’s possible to download sound samples to play with. The Behringer xd8 is the other set I’m looking at and reviews say that it sounds slightly better. So is it possible to get sounds from maybe other kits and use them on the nitro in anyway? Thanks! Even if the sound quality is slightly better onow the Behringer, I’m still leaning towards the nitro, but just curious.
Wow… my autocorrect really butchered my spelling there… let me know if there is something you’d like me to clarify. Thanks!
No worries! And thanks for your kind words and your question!
No, you cannot load samples into the Alesis Nitro. That’s a functionality of higher end kits & the cheapest model on the market that can do that is the Alesis DM10. Just one side note though: I’d recommend not to rely on what reviews (even mine :-)) say about sound quality. Because this is just such a subjective category. So give the Behringer and the Alesis a listen yourself and decide based on your impression. There’s no right or wrong here.
I found 2 useful videos for you to compare their sound: Behringer (relevant sounds start at 3:07) vs. Alesis
I don’t know the Behringer in great detail yet, but from what I’ve seen I’d stick with the Alesis too.
Would you please let me know what you decide. I’m interested!
Thanks,
and best regards,
Yannick
Sams Club currently has the DM6 for $259 and Amazon sells the Nitro for $299. Are these possibly a different year or I am missing something? Which is a better buy in this case?
Amazon has the DM6 much more expensive than the Nitro. Thoughts?
Thanks for your help!
Hey Kennon,
Thanks for pointing me to that. I’ve never bought on Sam’s Club before so I can’t say anything about them as a store.
But what you’re looking at there is basically the hardware of a Nitro kit coupled with the module of a DM6. You can find this on Amazon too, but apparently it never took off.
In any case, I would advise against buying a kit with a DM6 module. This is technology from 2010 – and you can get much better (for the reasons explained in this review) when buying the Nitro. I’d only go for the DM6 (but then + NItro module) if you have some specific need / attachment to that kit.
Does that answer your question?
Best,
Yannick.
Thanks, Yannick! I greatly appreciate your information.
So the $299 price of the Nitro kit on Amazon is the best deal and product in the price range?
In my opinion: definitely!
Hi Yannick, best review I’ve come across so far on the Alesis nitro. Thanks for your hard work. My son 5 year old and I want to start learning drums. How easy it is to adjust the height up and down? The Roland TD1KV looks easier in that respect but I see your comment on Roland being overpriced.
Thanks in advance.
Hey Francois,
Thanks for your kind words!
It’s very easy to adjust the height. Just open the wings on top of the 4 stands and move the left / right / center bar(s) up and down. Adjust the drum throne accordingly and that’s it. You can imagine how it’s done looking at the product picture here already. Should be working for your son!
I hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Would you go with the Forge kit for $100 more?
Hey Michael,
That depends on the purpose you want to use the kit for. Quality-wise I can highly recommend both kits (and have owned both myself), but I suggest you check out this article to find the right electronic kit for your needs.
Hope that helps!
Hey Yannick,
Great review. I’m new to drumming so I’m looking for an affordable e-kit. I really like that this kit has lesson options. I’m also looking at the Yamaha DTXPLORER, do you have an opinion about which kit might be better suited for me? I’ve seen the Yamaha used for about $320. Thanks a lot!
Hey Jim,
In terms of the lessons option both kits achieve the same goal (helping you learn some new rhythms + helping you stay in time) by slightly different means. So there’s no big difference here. One thing though: don’t think of these functionalities as a replacement for lessons. They are nice tools to help you practice, but there should be someone telling you what to practice in the first place (as well as showing you how it is played properly).
Since, however, the Alesis Nitro has more sounds, looks more professionally and is much cheaper (in terms of list price), I’d definitely recommend for you to go with the Nitro.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for the speedy response Yannick. You’re point about the programs on the e-kit not being a solid replacement for real lessons I’m taking to heart. I plan to get lessons but it will be nice to have a little direction from the brain once I get my new kit up and running.
I’m almost 100% convinced on the Nitro. One last question: space is extremely limited at my current living situation and I noticed that the DTXPLORER folds up nicely when not being played, do you know if the Alesis has similar fold-up-ability?
Also, I’d love to see you play, do you have any projects, current or former, I could checkout? Thank you so much for input.
Jim
Thanks a lot, Jim!
Somebody over here (Matt) has asked about the size / storage of the Nitro before, so I think this should answer your question too. See here.
As for me playing: here’s a video of one of last year’s gigs. Enjoy! 😉
Thanks for all your hard work. With your help I’ve decided on the Nitro and I’ll be sure to order through the links you’ve given to get you some money for all you’ve done for me and everyone else.
As for your band, I absolutely love it. Multi gender bands aren’t very common which is a shame and you’ve surrounded yourself with great musicians. The guitar tones are downright mean, the vocals are gritty and emotional and your pounding on the drums is concise and the drums sound excellent. How long until the new album comes out? Tape Shapes is really impressive and it seems like the band is having a great time playing live which I always find very enjoyable. You and your band have a bright future. Cheers friend.
That’s very nice to hear (both of it). Cheers to you!
Hi!
Writing from India. I recently bought this kit, unfortunately the volume on the headphones is so low that the drums are hardly audible, all I hear is the tapping of the sticks on the pads (like using 7 well placed practice pads!!) I have tried this with 3-4 headphones, and also connected the same output to the Aux of my home theatre system- on that too the drums can be heard only of the volume on the controller is FULL and on the system it is pumped up to 75 or above- and that makes them sound highly distorted.
I am pretty sure I am doing something wrong here, because most reviews on this kit are raving about it- so I guess it is just me Or my bad luck !!
Any guidance will be of great help.
Hey Durgesh,
I’m very sorry to hear that. I’ve never had or heard about that issue before myself. However, here is a thread about it in the Alesis support forum. You’ll find quite some things to check there, but I’d kindly ask you try them all. If nothing helps, please get back to me and I’ll inquire further!
The thread is over here.
Best,
Yannick.
hi, Durgesh
i think i have solved this problem, i found that when i use my headset the volume was way too low as well, i could barely hear anything besides myself tapping on rubber pads. anyway long story short… i have the aerial tank DJ headphones that comes with two cables to connect it with, one with mic and the other without a mic. when i used the cable with integrated mic the volume was low, i changed over to the other cable and to my surprise the volume was much better. a clear difference. hopes this helps!
Awesome, thanks so much for sharing, Ruan! I’ll notify Durgesh…
Cheers!
Hi Ruan, thanks for your post and happy to note that it worked for you.
The 4 headsets I tired, one of them was a regular one- i.e. without a mic, but in my case there was no change.
I also tried to look up the impedance of the unit- it is 32 ohms, and then I borrowed a headset with the same impedance- but then too no luck.
I tried connecting a guitar amp to the sockets on the back of the unit and these seem to work well- at mid level setting of volume on the unit and on the speaker, the volume was loud on the speaker (10W).
This makes me conclude that there is something wrong with the amplification circuit of the unit or the volume on that socket is low by design (such that it would require external amplification).
Thanks once again,
Durgesh
Currently on Amazon, the Nitro is $299, while the Nitro DM6 (with throne) bundle is around $280. This would be my first drum set, and so, since I would need to buy a throne anyway, I’m looking at $330 for a Nitro vs. $280 for Nitro DM6. Big difference for me since I’m not sure I’ll stick with it. Regardless, I like the 4-leg sturdiness and size of the Nitro, but I’m not sure it would be worth the $50 difference in price. Although you seem to recommend the Nitro (plain), it also seems that the real differences between the sets may not be worth the added $50. I would love to hear opinions on this.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for your question!
Even with the module being the same, the Alesis Nitro still has, in my opinion, the following advantages over the DM6-Nitro:
– more sounds (385 instead of 108) and more preset slots (40 instead of 15)
– training software on board (which the DM6 doesn’t have at all)
– module allows for expansion (+1 tom / cymbal)
That said, whether spending $50 more makes sense or not depends entirely on your purpose. If you want to use it only for practicing and perhaps for smaller / simpler gigs, then the DM6-Nitro is fine. If you’re looking to play diverse song material, home record or expand the kit, I’d go with the Alesis Nitro.
However, it seems that the DM6-Nitro-Drum-Throne-Bundle has gone up to $338.95 again. In that case you’d get away cheaper with a Nitro and this good & affordable throne.
Does that help you?
Best,
Yannick.
Yes, that answers my question perfectly. I didn’t realize there were module differences between the two nitro sets.
Thank you so much for your reply. Your site is very helpful!!
Thank you very much, Mike!
I have a nitro kit and I want to play with double bass. How can I put another pedal on my drumkit?
Hey George,
Thanks for asking!
I’m not sure I’m understanding you correctly. Do you mean which pedals you can use?
In that case, I can tell you that all of the double bass pedals that I’ve reviewed here, fit onto the Alesis Nitro kick pad.
Hope that helps!
Hi there, I just purchased the Alesis Nitro Drum set and I read in other forums that there are updates to the software on the module and you can update the drivers and all that. But when I search the Internet and their site, I can’t find anything at all. Please help! If there is an update somewhere, then how do I do it and where are the updates? Thanks in advance!
Ps.
Your tutorial was very helpful. Thank you.
Hey Gabriela,
Thanks for your kind words. I haven’t heard about such an update and my search of the Alesis Forum and Google didn’t turn up anything either. Also it would be rather unlikely for Alesis to publish a firmware update already, since the Alesis Nitro only came out about a year ago.
Would you mind telling me where you read this?
Best,
Yannick.
Awesome! Thank you. I read it on reviews for the product on Amazon. It also said it on Reddit when someone was talking about the product. But it just confused me because they didn’t explain how they updated it, all they said was they did. Maybe it was on an older model? I’m not sure. Thank you for responding none the less!
-Gabriela
That’s the only explanation I can think of. As far as I know, there is no firmware / software update for the Alesis Nitro yet.
If you want to be 100% sure, ask the Alesis staff over here: http://alesis.com/support
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Hello Yannick I just recently naught the alesis nitro but had a question and you seem to have all the answers. My question is, is it possible to switch out the dual zone ride cymbal with a triple zone ride cymbal?
Hey Ivan,
Unfortunately, the Nitro doesn’t support triple zone cymbals as such. However, if you feel like experimenting a bit, you could go down the route explained by Pierre Valentine in this thread. (I haven’t done it, so I can’t say if it works or not.)
Other than that, it’s quite normal for triple zone cymbal functionality to be reserved for higher-end set, such as the Alesis DM10. So if you don’T want to tweak, I hope you understand that the Alesis Nitro offers really great value for the money – but can’t do everything at the same time.
Hope that helps!
Are the drums and cymbals on the nitro velocity sensitive and is the nitro kit better than the alesis 450 drum kit
Hey Anthony,
Thanks for your question! If, by velocity sensitive, you mean: will the pads vary their sound according to how fast / hard you hit – the answer is: yes.
Which drum kit do you mean by Alesis 450? To my knowledge, there is no Alesis kit of that name. Can you provide a link?
Best,
Yannick.
Hi Yannick
The website I have seen both sets of drums on are Gear4Music.
This is my nearest music shop.
Both set are in the intermediate section.
I see! This set is called “Digital Drums 430”, so it’s not made by Alesis. And I know from previous research in that area that these DD-drums are made by a wholly different company that sells the licensing rights to retailers like Gear4Music, so they can sell it under their name. That’s also why you can see the Gear4Music logo on the module of that drum set. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thin. Just wanted you to know. And in terms of quality…
…the main differences are twofold:
So I’d recommend you think about which specs you prefer here, and make your decisions based on that. Also, if you decide to go with the Nitro, you can currently save about 20 Sterling when going through Amazon instead of Gear4Music.
Let me know what you decide!
Hi, I want to know how well this drum kit works for small gigs and rehearsals with your band. Have you used this drum kit in these situations?
And when you connect the module outputs to the speakers in a live situation, is it possible to hear the drum sound on my headphones at the same time?
Thanks for this review
Hey Alonso,
yes, I’ve used the Nitro both for rehearsals and for a few unplugged gigs, and it did what it was supposed to do. The main reason for taking an electronic kit instead of an acoustic on stage was, for me, that I could change up the sound of the complete kit in between songs. And the Nitro did very well in that respect.
As for the headphone / speaker outputs: yes, you can use both simultaneously. I just tested it and you can see it here in the manual on page 3.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Hey Yannick
I like the idea of selecting different drum kits between songs, That is very cool.
Thanks for the answer, it helps me.
hello Yannick,
I felt glad to see your web page and blogs and since I have decided to start my e drums classes just today and wished buy a entry level kit. I would appreciate if you had any review of KAT KT1 kit. Your detailed review on Alesis Nitro has helped me immensely already to narrow that down to purchase. Cheers and hoping to see a reply.
Much Thanks,
Harish
Hey Harish,
Thanks for your message and your kind words. I will put that review on my list, but it won’t go up any time in the next few weeks, so I’m giving you the short version here 🙂
I haven’t played the K1, but from what I read it doesn’t do too well in terms of volume configuration. The kick pad seems to be too soft to trigger louder hits and the ride cymbal’s sensitivity seems to be lower than that of the other pads as well. What you seem to get is are loud toms, snare and hihat but a fairly quiet kick pad and ride cymbal. Of course you can always tweak the settings, but why make the effort if the Alesis Nitro sound very well out of the box.
Also, the K1 module has 180 sounds and 10 slots for preset kits and, as you can above, the Alesis Nitro has many more.
So I’d clearly go for the Nitro. Not least, because you’re ordering a well-known Brand’s kit which gives you customer support and a reliable warranty.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Hello,
I need to know is it (alesis dm6 nitro kit) suitable for out shows.
I need quick reply . Because i want to buy it.
Hey Thilanga,
Sure you can play shows with the DM6 Nitro. But may I ask: why not go for the Nitro itself? I think it looks a bit more professional and better-suited for the stage. I’ve played shows with it anyhow.
Best,
Yannick.
Excellent .
I Need to know how i can select a speakers and which waltage is suitable for home practice .
Hey Thilanga,
I’d recommend you look into proper amplifiers instead of just speakers. They will be able to voice you (bass) sounds in much better quality and starter models aren’t generally more expensive than speakers. See my article on drum amps further information.
Best regards,
Yannick.
Hey Yannik, I’ve been away from a drumset for 15 years and now that I have a 3 year old son I want to get him into drumming and also use it as scape goat to finally get an e-drum for myself. Would you say the Nitro can be lowered enough for a kid to get started on? He’s 40″.
I only intend on using it at home and plug it into a VST like Addictive Drums. I currently have a Sound Blaster Z sound card, would that be enough to run it without perceptible latency or will I need something like a Focusrite or MAudio audio interface to make it work?
How good is the sensitivity on these pads to trigger ghost notes on the snare and play faster funk beats and such? Will it process drum rolls correctly over MIDI USB?
I know the crash has choke, does the ride have dual zone (bow and edge)? The expandable inputs for additional tom and crash, are those dual zone or single zone?
Hey Alberto,
Thanks for your message. I’ll go over the questions one by one:
Best,
Yannick.
Hi Yannick,
Your Alesis posts have been very informative, and I greatly appreciate your generosity in giving forth your time and efforts in this way. 🙂
I have 3 questions about the Nitro that will probably affect my decision to purchase it or not:
1) Does the hi hat pedal allow for you to tap on the hi hat and produce a “not fully-closed” sound? (I’m thinking about the “wash” effect of playing on a real hi hat when you don’t have the pedal pressed down all the way, but the cymbals are still in contact with each other to some degree.)
2) My intended use for a digital kit would primarily be for recording MIDI to GarageBand and/or Logic. I read on a different forum that the Alesis Nitro and DM6 kits do NOT export velocity information to MIDI, just note ON/OFF info — is that your understanding as well? (If so, sadly, that could be a deal-breaker for me …)
3) I’ve read several things about latency issues when using digital kits (in general) to record MIDI to DAWs (like GarageBand). Instead of recording MIDI directly to GarageBand in realtime, one of the suggested workarounds is to connect a USB drive to the drum kit’s sound module and to record to a MIDI file that would be saved on this drive — then, the next step is to import this MIDI file into the GarageBand project. Sorry, that was a long buildup to the actual question: does the Nitro allow you to record and save MIDI output to a locally-installed USB drive or SD card?
Thanks so much for your help!
Bruce
Hey Bruce,
Thanks for your questions. I’ll go over them in turn:
1. The Nitro can do half-opened HiHat sounds
2. I’m not sure about this one of I asked here.
3. Officially that should work, however some people have reported issues when doing that with other Alesis kits. I can’t try at the moment as I’m on vacation.
Hope that helps!
Yes, thank you!
The reply that you received from Alesis is that the Nitro module does NOT export MIDI velocity data … bummer. For me, it’s inputting the velocity info that proves to be the most time-consuming aspect of composing drum tracks, particularly when it comes to rolls, fills, ghost notes, hi hat tapping … all of that “feel” technique that comes naturally when playing is a big pain to replicate — and QUITE the mental exercise at times — so I was hoping to take a big shortcut by just actually PLAYING.
Alas, it looks like I will need to look at more upscale drum kits to see if they allow for velocity data export.
Also, regarding #3: it wasn’t clear to me if the Nitro module even has a slot for a USB memory stick — I couldn’t find any images that show all sides. But I guess the velocity issue makes it a moot point for me anyway. But your link about other Alesis kits does clue me in to the fact that the use of a USB stick is sometimes problematic, so it’s something I need to consider.
Thanks again, hope you’ve enjoyed your vacation. 🙂
Thanks, Bruce!
Feel free to look at my Alesis Forge and Strike Pro review through the navigation above. Perhaps they can solve your problem (which I totally understand!)
Best,
Yannick.
An Alesis rep informed me that the Forge kit doesn’t export MIDI note velocity either. 🙁
Looking further afield, I learned that this is quite a common thing. (I thought for sure that the latest Roland Octapad model would do it … nope.)
It’s possible that the really upscale e-kits allow for the export of note velocity, but I don’t foresee having the funds available for that kind of expense anytime soon, so it’s a moot point.
Heck, it would be be cheaper just to mic up my own kit — something I was always trying to circumvent because it’s not a cheap thing to make happen either when you have none of the necessary equipment. (Well, plus you lose the ability to change the sound of the kit, to easily pull everything into perfect timing, etc. — all of those good MIDI advantages.)
Alas, until my ship comes in, I guess I’m stuck with the note-for-note method of building drum tracks wirhin the DAW. Bummer. But a First World problem for sure. 🙂
Sorry about that Bruce. But I guess it is a tough problem to solve automatically (i.e. by just playing into the DAW), so the higher price for the kits able to do it seems justified.
Hello,
I really appreciate your detailed helpful review. I am buying a kit for my 12 year old son and was advised that the Nitro was the way to go but the store from which I am buying the kit recommended these three over the Nitro. I would love your feedback if you would share it as you seem to really know your stuff and have no specific vested interest in the Nitro financially.
Millenium MPS-500
Alesis DM7X
Yamaha DTX430K
Thank you so much in advance….
Hey Elin,
Thanks for your question! So here are the differences between the kits:
1. The Millenium: has about a dozen more sounds than the Nitro and a few more kits to store those sounds in. Also has a mesh snare drum head, where the Nitro has a rubber one. These are very good features for the price, but I havent tested the kit, so cant tell you what the actual performance is like. I recommend you go with what the buyer feedback says.
2. I wouldnt recommend the DM7X over the Nitro as it has the hardware of the older DM6 and the module seems to me to be an exact replica of the Nitro module. But: this kit is more expensive that the Nitro (at least in the US), so I see no reason to go with it.
3. The Yamaha DTX430K is a good kit, and helps very well with practicing in particular. Still, since its quite a bit more expensive than the Nitro, I wouldnt go with it!
Best,
Yannick.
Here’s my experience with the Alesis Nitro:
I picked up a Nitro for my 10 year old after his nagging that he wanted to learn drums.
He spent the past 2 years being on drums in the school band where every kid wanted to be a drummer, but less than a handful were selected based on their abilities. After bringing him to the local music store and seeing that he really has some talent (I worked on the road with about a dozen rock/metal bands in my past life) I researched which unit would be best.
I was surprised to see that Alesis actually had such a low-priced unit. So I went right into it. Took me about an hour and a half to set up (like I said, a past life was a long time ago) and right off the bat, it was amazing. I sized the kit up to his size, corrected pad and symbol angles, spaced the pads, strapped the cables and he was off like a bat outta hell!
3 days later, he spends at least an hour a day playing along with his iPad. Got him a contoured throne and you can see his face of contentment after each practice.
I will certainly recommend this kit to anyone interested.
I will advise though, pay close attention to the markings on the cables to ensure you do NOT plug the wrong cable into the wrong pad. It did not happen with us but I am sure it can cause problems if it even works at all.
Go to a home improvement store, go to the flooring section, spend $20 on a 4’x5′ rubber mat. You will really need it to a) absorb the shock of the pedals, b) prevent the pedals from sliding, c) prevent the throne from shifting all over the place.
Thanks for sharing this in such detail, Gabriel! I’ve linked to it from various reviews on the site. I’m sure other readers will profit from it. Great!
Hello.
Can the Nitro kit be switched for a left handed player?
Thank You
Cory
It sure can, Cory!
Hope this helps!
Hi Yannick
What height drummer will the Alesis Nitro accommodate, as I do not want to be hitting my legs instead of the snare drum. I have read somewhere on the internet its ok for kids but not so good for adults.
Hey Anthony,
Thanks a lot for your question! I think this is absolutely untrue. As you can see when you zoom in onto the snare pad in the image over here, the bar holding the pad can be pushed up or down just the way you want it to. It doesn’t go up infinitely of course, but there’s a good bit of room left and none of my students have ever compained that the Nitro wasn’t high enough (and one of them is 6.4′).
Hope that helps!
Hi Yannick
Can you use a pro x hi hat with the nitro?
Thanks
Hey Peter,
Unfortunately you can’t. The Pro X is only for use with the Alesis DM-10. The Alesis DM-10 would be a good option to look at if you’re looking to record music. And all the other brand’s models that allow for a 2-pad HiHat are similarly priced (Roland TD-11). So you’d have to decide between having the two-pad Hi-Hat or paying a lot more for an edrum kit.
OR you look for one of the DIY solutions out there. I know there are some, but I haven’t tried them, so I can’t vouch for them.
Hope that helps at least a little!
Best,
Yannick.
Hey Yannick, great review and I love how on top of the replies you are.
I’m a super beginner (like just 3 days at my friend’s). I’m trying to pick up a drum kit that’s going to give me the best bang for my buck. I found an offer on Craigslist selling an original Yamaha DTXpress 1 for $180. From what I’ve heard that’s a really old kit and wondering whether it’s worth just dishing out like $100 more bucks to pick up one of these Nitros.
Thanks!
Hey Ed,
I’d definitely shell out $100 more for the Nitro if that’s at all possible. The DTXpress is, in my opinion, more of a toy kit. Kits that are no longer produced and bought on Craigslist also would prevent you from getting customer support if you ever needed it (for firmware updates etc. etc.)
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Many years ago, when I was young (and dinosaurs ruled the Earth), I spent a lot of time on the Lu. There’s something very satisfying about going Monkey Mode and beating the heck out of a favorite song. However, after high school (when I played what someone else paid for) I drifted away from it.
Decades later, I’ve decided to get back in, especially since I can get a set of electronics, thus saving the neighbors. Knowing nothing about drum technology of the current century, I hunted around and found your reviews. Thus (since I’m cheap) the Nitro is apparently the way to go.
However, i am still torn between the Nitro and the DM6-Nitro.
I’m not worried about the two-foot instead of four-foot configuration (that’s why they make sandbags), and I dunno if I would care about the difference between 10″ and 12″ cymbals, but I see that, while both the Nitro and DM6 pads are 8″, they are not the same.
So, the question is, which PADS are better?
Do they have the same feel? Durability?
Also, whose sticks do you suggest for these?
Thanks,
Keith
Hey Keith,
Thanks for your entertaining comment!
To me, both pads have the same feel in terms of their texture (i.e. rebound) and I also haven’t noticed any significant differences in terms of wear and tear.
However, the Nitro pads have “more realistic” rims and also don’t have the lugs that can get in the way of your sticks sometimes. So I’d definitely lean towards the Nitro.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
I’m being offered a DM10 X with Mylar, throne, amp and Firth cans for $600 (the bad news, it’s a 500-mile round trip to pick them up, so another $100 for gas). If that deal goes through, I’ll have more drum than I really need. I’m really on the fence about it due to my budget.
What do you think about the DM10 X with Mylar instead of mesh?
Hey Keith,
I like the DM10x a lot for the reasons explained here. The difference between Mylar and Mesh will boil down to a difference in (a) feel and (b) noise.
Feel: Mylar is used in real drum heads too, so expect the rebound and the feel in general to be somewhat more like when playing an acoustic kit.
Noise: Mesh is softer (hence less rebound) and therefore quieter than mylar. Think hitting a sturdy cushion with a stick (mesh) vs. hitting the pages of an open book (mylar).
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Well, tomorrow I make the 500-mile round trip to pick up the DM-10X, for $550, 6 months out of the box and little used (her kid decided that he’s not a drummer after all).
I think I’ll prefer the Mylar heads over mesh for the “real feel” (and there’s nobody to complain about the noise anyhow).
All I will still need is the bass beater, and Craigslist listings around here offer several choices at decent prices. I’m back in the bongo biz!
At my age, other than just playing around, I’m expecting regular sessions to help keep joints limber and muscles working.
BTW, dunno if you caught the reference and homage in my first post. Back in the 1960s, as the Beatles toured, one (I forget which) would introduce the members and tell what instruments they were playing. Over time, the decals on the Ludwig drum set began to deteriorate, leading to the introduction “And back there, on the Lu, Ringo Starr!” At some time prior to my first contact with the drums in the high school band, a student who had been to one of those shows had come back and removed the “dwig” to leave only “Lu,” like his idol played.
Thus, I spent time on the Lu.
I guess now I’ll start “nursing my Ale” (and I don’t even drink)!
Keith
I didn’t catch that reference, Keith, but it’s a cool story for sure! Starting with an “Ale” should be a good omen then 🙂
In terms of bass beaters, you might want to check out my comparison to choose a fitting one on Craigslist.
Best,
Yannick.
Looking to expand my son’s Nitro kit, and he would like a mesh snare for it. I have looked, and I can’t seem to find any that specifically say they are compatible with the Nitro. (I found an 8-inch, but we really want a 12-inch minimum). Can you recommend any third-party mesh snares that are compatible with the Nitro?
Hey Steven,
Yes, theoretically dual-zone mesh heads should work with the Nitro. I haven’t tested it myself, so I can’t guarantee it, but the triggers are all there, so I don’t see a problem.
You won’t find a 12” mesh pad by Alesis though, only a 10” – so if you’re dead set on the 12” you’d have to go for a third-party pad (this is a good one).
If you go for any of those, would you mind sharing your experiences here. This question has been asked a lot and I’ve not been able to give a definitive answer yet. So you’d help us all here!
Best,
Yannick.
Hello Yannick!
Seasons Greetings from NC.
I started taking drum lessons in late August. Kinda got a late start on my music career (I turned 45 in August). Anyways, I take lessons on a Roland kit. My wife found a used Nitro kit for $250. When I got there, the gentleman who sold me the kit would only take $200. He sold me a used, but in pretty good shape, throne for $30 (PDP brand), and threw in 5 pairs of sticks. I tried to give him an extra $20, but he wouldn’t take it. He said he was happy to help and to call him if I ever wanted to jam one day. Stopped at a local resale shop and got a Peavey bass guitar amp for $50. All in all, my entire set up cost $280 or so. I got it home, set it up, and started to play. I love my Alesis Nitro kit. It does exactly what I need it to do and more. I would DEFINITELY recommend that someone get this kit.
Hey Larry,
That sounds like a good start into drumming. Nevermind your age, by the way, if seen novice drummers at your age kickin’ it in no time.
Pretty nice deal you got here on the Nitro anyway and thanks for sharing your experience with it!
If you want my take on a good drumming pathway from where you are foward, I’d be happy to see you subscribe here.
All the best for you,
Yannick.
Hi. Excuse my English, it’s not my mother language.
I’m close to buy an electronic kit, and I’m between the Behringer xd80usb and the Alesis Nitro, I’m looking for durability and a cost under 500 USD.
Between those 2 kits, which one do you recommend me?
Thanks a lot.
Hey Carlos,
I recommend the Nitro, because it has more sounds, more preset kits and I find that the hardware is more durable and looks more professional (in case you want to take this up on stage).
Plus, the Nitro has just become discounted EVEN more, so this is the best deal I’ve ever seen on it.
Best,
Yannick.
Thanks so much Yannick, I think I will go for the Alesis Nitro as you recommended. Thank you for the link, I’ll do the purchase as soon as I can.
My pleasure, Carlos. You decided to buy this at the best possible time 🙂
Hi Yannick, thanks for the great review and insight.
I am in Guatemala and found it a little difficult to find the the Nitro Kit, but I did! Not much of a chance to go price hunting, nevertheless still got a good deal.
This review definitely influenced my decision to go for it, thanks. I appreciate all the feedback and problem solving on this blog. Especially Larry who made me feel young, “turned 45 in august” lol. I’m starting this hobby now and I’ll turn 38 in feb. I’ve had a chance to view some of the videos recommended. Now i just have to find the time to practice.
Haha, thanks Edd!
Yes, finding time to practice on a consistent basis is probably the biggest challenge when starting to drum – or when taking up any new pursuit at all. Since good role models can motivate a lot I think: have you checked out my review of what I find to be the best drum lessons available on the web?
Best,
Yannick.
hi
i had my nitro kit purchased last may 2017, while using it suddenly power shut off, checked all wires and found out that the power supply was busted, tried the power supply of alesis dm8 but lcd light was on but no display and led power indicator the red light was like fluctuating, is it possible to use some replacement power supply like 9 v with 1A? i dont know if my kit was damaged or what since it was not working properly with the other power supply, anyone who had an experience like what happened to my unit?? pls help thanks
Hey Rico,
I’m sorry that happened. Hard to say what the reason was, especially since you’re the first one who reports this here.
Anyway, I found this replacement power supply for the Nitro which should get you up and running again.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick.
Is the nitro a good set for adults?
I heard it may be a little short. Better for kids
Hey Brian,
Hm, the Nitro is built with adults in mind and I can’t imagine why it should be too short.
Obviously you can heighten / lower the drum throne and the same is true for the snare and lower tom pads of the Nitro. They can be moved up or down the pole as you like it.
Hope that answers your question!
One question. I want to bring one from Europe to Latam. The original packaging seems to be oversized. In your experience, if I get rid of the packaging, is it possible to ship the Alessi Nitro inside a sport bag to fly with the drum? Thanks for your help and comments
Hey Luis,
Thanks for your question!
The contents of the box look like this and the longest part is about 119cm / 47 inches long, so you’d need a large bag. Also, you’d have to be willing to carry about 45 pounds all in all.
If that sounds possible to you, it surely is. I haven’t tried it though, sorry!
Best,
Yannick
Hi Yannick!
I’ve been looking at various beginner kits and the Alesis Nitro seems to really stand out. My main concern is the rubber pads. To what degree can they simulate an acoustic kit? Like will the intensity and quality of the sound I produce really depend on where and with how much force I hit the pads? If I use the same technique on an acoustic kit will it sound as good, if not the same? Can I do stuff like ghost notes?
I cannot buy an acoustic kit because of financial and spacial restraints and the more obvious reason – loudness. But I would prefer being able to develop my skill more or less the same way I would do on an acoustic kit. Do you think that’s possible with the Alesis Nitro? If not, are there any modifications I can make which along with the kit, will amount to about $550 or less?
Thanks in advance.
Hey Aparajita,
Nowadays all electronic kit’s pads can detect the force of your strokes and will modify the sound accordingly – meaning you have access to the full spectrum of strokes, from ghost notes to accents. The Alesis is no exception here and rubber pads can do this too.
Of course, mesh heads will be more nuanced in differentiating between strokes, but I suggest you start with the Nitro as it is. You can always add a mesh snare later.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick
That really does help; I’ll go with the Nitro. How much rough treatment can it endure though?
Awesome. I believe that’s a very good choice. And I haven’t seen a person beat it hard enough to break any of it… 🙂
Does the nitro set/module have the ability to add a double bass pedal? And if so does it require another pad or Would you simply get another kick drum pedal and use the same pad that comes with the original set? One last quick question, does the rim of the snare detect and play a different sound than the snare (such as the classic rim crack or cowbell sound) or is it a single pad used for one tone only?
Hey,
You can add a double bass pedal and don’t need a second pad for it. If you look at these double bass pedals, you’ll see that both bass drum beaters are close to each other and will fit the one kick pad that the Alesis Nitro comes with.
And the snare pad can play “normal” snare sounds as well as rim shots no problem!
Best,
Yannick
Hi Yannick,
How does the nitro module gives you the score while you practice on it ?
Thanks,
Aman
Hey Aman,
Honestly, I have no idea what formula Alesis uses to determine the score. The manual only says “you will be scored based on your accuracy”.
Best,
Yannick
I’d add another point:
If you are over tall this kit needs some sort of raiser to make it playable. I’m 6ft 4 and at its highest point the snare pad sits below my knees…..
Other than that, great kit for the money.
Thanks, Matt, that’s very useful for all the tall drummers out there. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Yannick!
First of all, thanks for the reviews… they are very helpful for the ones like myself that are about to buy their first kit ever.
I am from Mexico and I’m just waiting for the Amazon Prime Day to see if the price goes a little lower to buy it, but I just noticed that the pad for the drum pedal needs to be screwed… Am I right? does it needs to be screwed? or is there a way to use it without screwing it to any surface?
I live in an apartment and sooner or later I will need to move the kit from one place to another, so the screwing part could be pretty annoying.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Hey Omar,
Thanks for your question and your praise! Highly appreciated!
As for the Alesis Nitro, you do NOT have to screw it to the floor in any way. The screw is used to attach the pedal to the base of the kick pad and to hold it there.
So your floor will go unharmed and you will be able to move the kit at will 🙂
Best
Yannick
Hey Yannick… Thanks for review… I just want to know if you can review the new alesis nitro mesh kit, since it is an improved version of nitro… I really would like to know what the quality of the cheap mesh heads is… Thanks
Hey Sean,
Many thanks for your question! I was moving houses and saw both your comments, but weren’t able to reply yet. Sorry about that!
As for your question: I’ve already tested the Nitro mesh kit, and am very satisfied with its mesh pads. So I’ll be highly recommending it here soon – I just have to write up the review.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick
Hi! How can a use Nitro Kit Module with Reaper or Garage Band softwares to change the pads’ sounds? Thanks!
Hey Anderson,
Just connect the USB out at the back of the Nitro module with the USB in at your computer / laptop. Then you should be able to select the Nitro as a MIDI trigger inside Reaper or Garage Band.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Yannick
Hey Yannick,
Have you had a chance to play the Alesis Surge yet? If so, do you recommend it at that price point?
Hey Kyle,
I have tested the Surge, yes – but I’ve still not finished writing up the review. Apologies for the delay here!
Still, I do recommend the Surge fully and wholeheartedly. I’ve found no flaw with the mesh heads and the module is as convincing as that of the Nitro – which you can read all about above.
Best,
Yannick
Hi, Just a question.
What could be the approximate life span of Alesis Nitro compared to there electronic kits ? How long can we use it? Can it give the same performance for a good amount of time ?
Hey Chris,
Thanks for getting in touch!
There is nothing in the Nitro that would make its life span inherently shorter or longer than that of any other electronic drum kit in this article (becauce I only recommend quality kits).
That’s not to say that nothing will every break, but the Nitro certainly doesn’t have any disadvantage in terms of build quality compared to other electronic drum kits.
I, for example, have never been able to break an electronic drum kit although I’ve played some for 8+ years (after which I’ve sold them on to another owner where they still continued to work).
So in terms of build quality, I can fully recommend the Nitro – although I think you should now consider the Alesis Nitro Mesh.
Hope this helps!
Hi Yannick,
One question: I have seen that the Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit (a, I assume, lower quality kit) does not have bass drum pad but only bass pedal, which makes it quieter to have it in an apartment.
Can I connect the bass pedal from the Turbo Mesh Kit to the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit or manage in some way to have a bass pedal and not a pad for the bass drum in the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit? The rest of the kit is greatly silent, but the vibrations coming from the bass drum pad to the lower floors of the building is the main cocern for me.
Thank you!