HR-16 © 1987 Alesis.
The Alesis HR-16 Digital Drum Machine was one of the first affordable professional drum machines to use 16-bit PCM samples, helping democratize high-quality digital percussion in home and project studios. Developed by Alesis, it featured 49 built-in drum and percussion sounds, velocity-sensitive pads, extensive MIDI implementation, and a built-in pattern-based sequencer. Compact, durable, and surprisingly powerful for its price, the HR-16 quickly became a staple of late-1980s and early-1990s music production.
The HR-16 was released in 1987 and was part of Alesis’ early breakthrough product line that also included effects like the Midiverb and Microverb.
It was one of the first widely available drum machines to offer 16-bit samples at a budget price, which was a major shift compared to earlier 8-bit or analog drum machines.
The machine was known for its simple but efficient workflow, allowing fast programming of patterns and songs via its 16 buttons and LCD interface.
It became especially popular in pop, industrial, hip-hop, and early electronic music scenes.
The HR-16 spawned a variant, the HR-16B, which included a different ROM sound set more oriented toward electronic and processed drum tones.
It offered multiple outputs and MIDI sync, making it easy to integrate into emerging MIDI studio setups.
The HR-16 helped establish Alesis as a major competitor in affordable professional studio gear.
It is often credited as one of the machines that defined the “budget digital studio revolution” of the late 1980s.