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DM10'S 'Dynamic Articulation' should mean sounds don't just get louder as you hit harder, they change character

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Back in the '90s, Alesis dominated the affordable studio effects market with products like the Quadraverb and MIDIverb. But it was the ubiquitous little SR-16 drum machine that was of more interest to beatmakers - a great-sounding little box that, remarkably, you can still buy new today.

The intervening years haven't always been easy for the brand and its electronic drum offering, what with bankruptcy in 2001 (after which Alesis was rescued with a buyout by Numark) and a subsequent reliance on the somewhat outdated DM5 drum module.

But as far as Alesis is concerned, things have changed. Its new DM10 module is touted as having "a breathtaking collection of sounds on board", while still priced not to break the bank, so maybe it's time for another percussive purple patch to begin…

Build

While the DM10 brain is largely what all the fuss is (understandably) about, the DM10 Pro kit's rack system is clearly key to its success or failure in use. To give the metalwork its proper name, the ErgoRack is a simple design, with a single curved front bar linked to two straight legs and three 'wings' (two on the left for the module and hi-hat, one on the right for pad number three).

After a couple of months dominated by top-end launches from Roland and Yamaha, the straightforwardness of the Alesis rack marks something of a change from the typically curvy bespoke rack units sported by the DTX and V-Drum range-toppers. But there's a modest honesty about the ErgoRack that's quite appealing - the fanciest thing about it is its name, in fact.

Familiar clamps hold together decently-finished chromed tubes and, although there is rather a proliferation of drum-key operated fastenings, once everything's in place it's all rigid and perfectly serviceable. You might spend a little longer fettling a rig like this to get everything to sit where you want it, but once you're there, it's a nice place to sit.

There's certainly plenty of space thanks to the generous width of the front bar and, although we wouldn't want to overload the basic rack, there's certainly room for additional pads and cymbal holders should the need arise.

The DM10 is triggered by means of a quintet of Alesis RealHead pads and three Surge cymbals. The RealHeads (a pair of 8" for the 'high' toms and 10-inchers for the snare and 'floor' tom) are nicely built and the shiny black playing surface looks cool and seems to wear well too. In terms of feel they're forgiving, if perhaps lacking a little of the squidgy tactility of rubber or the softness of mesh, but there's no cause for concern in terms of jarring or 'table-top' response that pads of yore displayed.