Alesis Strata Core Review: Best Electronic Drum Set Under $2,000?

[@B9Robot]

Ordered mine and waiting for it's arrival. Thanks for sharing.

[@Sinister_Drums]

This kit is so cool! A lot of features in a small form factor drum kit!

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Yeah it’s really fun to play on too!

[@Jack_Attack_2580]

Nice intro and playing, Nick! I returned my Simmons Titan 50 a few weeks ago and opted for the Alesis Nitro Pro instead; for just a little bit more, it’s so much better and way more fun to play! I’m definitely gonna have to get myself a Strata Core, once I’ve put a ton of miles on my Nitro Pro, and I’m more of an intermediate/advanced player. Great review as always!

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@flodask8ing21]

Awesome video production Nick! I like that blue/red light accent. Great job

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Thanks Jake! 🔥

[@sergiolandz6056]

Damn Alesis really stepped up their game..

[@iamjarrettdean9358]

The sounds on this are incredible. Wow😊

[@DynamiteProd]

Getting mine today

[@NickCesarzDrums]

right on!

[@chrissenner1575]

Can't wait to get this after watching this video!

[@Acoustic2Electronic]

@ 2:02 missed trigger and then another when you do the snare single stroke roll a few seconds later. Hope this isn't indicative of the playing experience.

[@L3AF]

from my understanding this is like the strata prime then u can just adjust triggers and such and it wont "miss"

[@danielmcknightanimations7848]

Even after adjusting those triggers all day long you'll still find the snare will miss on occasion. Really sucks having to deal with that for what the strata prime expanded cost.

[@Acoustic2Electronic]

@@danielmcknightanimations7848 Exactly. And I think it's disappointing that Alesis have a released a product that is not up to scratch. Would have thought that would have learned from the Strike Pro and Strike Pro SE, both of which had triggering problems.

[@ch33ze0g]

It is indicative unfortunately. I’ve had mine for a few days, adjusted so many settings and the kick and snare miss way too often. I’m sending mine back

[@Acoustic2Electronic]

@@ch33ze0g Very disappointing but not surprising. Alas, Alesis have a habit of releasing products that aren't finished. Case in point - the Strike, Strike Pro SE, and now the Strata line.

[@Iamadrummer]

I get they made the Strata Prime e-kit 30% smaller and called it the Strata Core e-kit. I get that it has a smaller foitprint and fits in more confined spaces. As a drummer, I prefer more accustic realistic sizes like the Strata Prime e-kit. The small pad sizes of the Strata Core e-kit make playing the e-kit harder, but it will help develop accuracy. I think overall, the Strata Core e-kit is a great option for those who want to save a little money or just do not have the space for a proper sized e-kit. Although I think the Strata Core is a nice option, I would not personally buy one as I said I prefer more realistic size pads as it just makes playing an e-kit feel more like an accustic drum set rather than a toy of one. Also, playing a bigger pad e-kit makes the transition from e-kit to accustic drum set a bit easier without feeling overwhelmed.

[@Bonzdrummer]

everything you said here makes sense for probably most people. im upgrading from a td20sx to this kit tomorrow. for the exact opposite of all the things you just mentioned lol....as a giggng drummer.having to drag around all the weight of the larger toms and rack not to mention a super heavy kick pad. i am going this route for portability and sound library.....The Roland td71 was a thought but the least expensive kit for that is over 6k. i think the sounds out of the strata models have been just stellar and far above anything else at this price point. While i do enjoy having 12 in snare and lower toms and ten inch upper toms. the reduction in weight and ease of transport fires on all pistons for me. i dont think playing on smaller pads make it feel like a toy. but to each their own :) Happy Drumming!

[@jholmer4427]

I was gonna get the Strata Prime, but this just saved me $$$, great review, what headphones do you use?

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Thanks! I think I was using my Sony’s in the video. They’re just the MDR7506s

[@ingakimberlybrown8637]

My drum teacher is also an amazing audio engineer and he’s found amazing headphones for 40.00 that he plays E drums with. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name right now or I will tell you. 😂 he swears they are amazing for any price not just under 50.

[@jholmer4427]

OneOdio?

[@Tine608]

I'd love to have this kit

[@laptoples]

One thing I wish the edrum company's would address is the rim shot on the snare. There should be 3 zones that all get equal settings. The head the rim and the rim shot where you hit the rim and head at the same time. It'd be nice to be able to add the exact sound you want to the rim shot and add delay or extra reverb, curve, mic positioning, room sound, head type......Etc etc etc Basically, reggae music suffers on ekits because of the lack of rim shot attention. I'd go to the extreme and say that it'd be nice to be able to put a 808 sound on the head, a cow bell on the rim and a 909 sound as the rim shot and be able to program the rim shot just as much as the head and rim. I have the Roland TD-27, and I'm still trying to get exactly what I want, but it's just not there...yet...lol This does look like a very good mid level kit though. Great review and playing dude !!! Have a great day !!! 😁👍

[@Acoustic2Electronic]

There are modules that do that. The Pearl Mimic Pro and Roland flagships do this.

[@vananon51]

Then stick with Roland because their newest kits have every feature you just mentioned.

[@petermorgan5405]

Have Alesis sorted their reliability issues ? My DM10 MKII pro breaks continually. Piezo wires snap as do the thin plastic base they are attached to. It feels like a really simple fix for Alesis to greatly improve their reliability issues. I am on the cusp of buying a Strat Prime. Does anyone know if the Strata is any more reliable? Thanks

[@bernhardhaider2324]

Yo Nick! First of all thnx for another decent Review and of course for Reading this..😉🥁 I have heard about ANOTHER Alesis Drumkit been Released these days, quietly... Seems to be some New Version of their CRIMSON Drumkit, called Crimson 3... Have you heard something about that too? I'll really appreciate if you can have a look on it and tell us what it's all about... Thnx Man and keep 🥁🥁 With regards from 🇦🇹,

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Oh nice! I hadn’t heard of that yet, but I will look into it! Cheers!

[@porkrynd6]

Looking at the module it appears there should be an expansion pack available. Wonder if the strata prime expansion kit works? Although one of the exp kit cymbals wouldn't be used.

[@ch33ze0g]

For anyone wanting to buy this, be ready to have tons of issues with kick and snare triggering. Mines going back tomorrow

[@daveduffey6238]

How quiet is it acousticly ?

[@drumstudio1]

Hello Nick, is the volume of the Strata Core-Hihat individually (separately) adjustable for 1.) bow- 2.) edge- and 3.) chick-sound? Thanks for answering.

[@johnnyspierson9521]

It really sounds good I like it

[@ScootsCoolStuff]

Just curious if you could route the Kick and Snare only out of the individual outs on the back, and everything else out of the headphone outs, thus giving you 4 outs for multitrack recording?

[@Isaac_Johnson614]

I'm a 14 yr old drummer that can only wish!

[@RebootPlanet]

Where are you you getting your Quote of "Under $2000.00" from.?.Please refer me to a seller that has it listed under $2,699.00. This is also without thw Cost of A decent Hi hat stand and a dwcent pedal (double or single).

[@dannyheath8876]

Is there any noticeable latency while playing?

[@NickCesarzDrums]

Zero latency

[@NickCesarzDrums]

If you use it with a computer with vst software, you might experience latency if you set the buffer size too high

[@dannyheath8876]

@ excellent thanks man!

[@Lemordison92]

Just like that with one move alesis rules the mid rage category suberb job the best buck for your money right now now we need the other companies to focus in that price range category. Mid range category electronic 🥁 kit with everything you need to play live to practice to record 🎉 alesis 👍 job.

[@NickCesarzDrums]

couldn’t have said it better!

[@360.Tapestry]

i don't know what kind of insane wizardry roland includes in their top-of-the-line kits in terms of response and durability, but they just don't sound as good as these intermediate kits lol

[@NickCesarzDrums]

yeah it's wild, the new Alesis stuff sounds amazing

[@DerekFrampton]

Let's see if this aleshits still breaks like all the others do due to faulty design. So much plastic in that trigger assembly to crack under playing pressure, and anytime foam pads are connected to plastic/thin platforms like they did with the Strike series, and all the Crimson pads etc. and they're doing now with the 3 cones glued to a thin plastic piece then one piezo it's bound to snap, crack etc. We'll see I'm not holding my breath. GREAT review however!

[@iamjarrettdean9358]

Did Alesis fix the double triggering issue of the Crimson and the Strike Pro?

[@Acoustic2Electronic]

Evidently not - there are missed triggers during Nick's performance here. And it ain't Nick's technique - he's a pro.

[@johnburkhalter3880]

It's not his playings, it's the settings. You can achieve very accurate triggering with this module and the Strike pro.

[@RhythmPlanetMusic]

I just Paid almost 5k for the Alesis Strata Prime Kit.. It arrived New out of the Box with a Defective Module.. I immediately put in a Support Ticket.. 5 days later.. they respond.. (Friday evening) we troubleshoot.. They agree it is a defective Module.. Say they will Get and RMA going for Monday(today) and get a new module out to me asap... Great (even though they are blowing me off over the weekend cause they don't want to mess with it til Monday morning..) I am Missing gigs all the while.. Then Monday Morning.. Email.. Please Package and Pay to Ship Your Brand New Module to us) and it can take from 2 to 4 weeks (from the time they receive it) or More.. To get it or a Refurbished Unit Back to You... .. ... I don't have the boxes to return all of this.. ( i have until Nov 16th..) but i have Never heard of repairing or replacing a Brand New Product with used equipment before..This is Nuts. Doing a KZbin Video Will post and update with link asap. Buyer Beware.

[@trucksguns6898]

What a load of horse sh**. Id be super pissed if send the whole thing back as defective and buy an efnote

[@HardRockinJohnny]

Why five grande? Aren't they 3500 new?

[@DerekFrampton]

replace the entire cable snake if a plug's damaged? naww just learn basic/simple soldering/wiring and replace it for a few bucks and some work with solder.

[@DerekFrampton]

TOONTRACK is STILL KING.

[@Hossheq4w5]

Trust me, and mark my words, they will release a drum set called Alesis Strata Pro. With thicker drum shells. Dont ask me how i know. 😊

[@ISpinsir]

How do you know?

[@360.Tapestry]

who knows... but i know that is what's holding back a lot of potential buyers right now

[@johnburkhalter3880]

I totally agree. They are going to sell the crap out of the prime and core kits, then release a real acoustic sized kit. Hopefully they will make the shells out of a cheaper wood, rather than the other companies who feel it's necessary to make an e kit, fitted with triggered and mesh heads with maple or birch.

[@ElliotWallace]

Still sounds cheap to me.

[@squidskunk]

a DM-10 kit with a Strike pro module is a better value than this strata core crap.

[@bnmobildirecto3949]

Thjs better bro keep crying your probably broke