In the world of electronic drumkits, Alesis is a name that reigns supreme.
From the StrataPrime and StrataCore kits that we’ve had some very kind words to say about, Alesis also offer the Crimson III, an expansive nine-piece kit with mesh heads. The Crimson III includes Alesis’ advanced Crimson Drum Module with an expansive amount of kits, sounds and samples available, coming to you from the world-class BFD drum library.
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While the Crimson III can support up to a nine-piece configuration, it can also be used in a smaller format if you prefer instead. Choose to opt for a more traditional four or five piece kit with 8” kick pad, a 12” dual-zone snare, two 8” dual-zone rack toms (with different sounds and virtual “sizes” available) and a 10” dual zone floor tom. The dual zone technology allows you to trigger different sounds from the head or the rim, allowing for more realistic playback and feel that is closer to that of an acoustic kit. This dual zone technology expands into triple-zone technology on the 14” triple-zone ride, allowing the ride to be used to crash on or ping away at that bell.
The entire kit is supported on a steel rack and a separate snare stand to keep it sturdy. Alesis’ mesh heads providing realistic feel and bounce, much like an acoustic drum skin, allowing you to keep that muscle memory sharp if you’re used to an acoustic kit. The inner workings of the Alesis Crimson III though, are where things get really interesting.
The update to the Crimson III’s Drum Module includes 80 kits (40 factory/40 user) from the world-renowned BFD collection of kits and sounds. You can also connect your kit to your computer to access an expanded library of sounds and kits. Connect via USB Type B for either USB connection or via MIDI for recording, writing and more.
Connection to your computer enables integration with the included BFD Player plugin, a standalone app or plugin for your favourite DAW for a world of drum sounds. Get started with professional and mixed presets or tweak, adjust and effect your sounds to your heart’s content, allowing you to get professional sounding drums in minutes. The Alesis Crimson III kit integrates seamlessly, allowing you to write and record drums via MIDI, for (mostly) silent drumming when inspiration strikes!
Crimson III
In use, the Crimson III kit is a breeze. As a standalone electronic kit, setup is easy and you’ll be up and playing in minutes. Robustness is the name of the game on an instrument designed to be battered away at, the steel frame and well-built pads and cymbals being ready for a beating. The recoil from the drum pads feels very like a real drum skin, allowing for a little push-pull and dynamic playing, the sounds and samples responding to your hits as well as the location on the pad that you hit.
Best of all, and what really elevates the Crimson above is all is how malleable and adjustable the pads and cymbals are along the frame, allowing you to position the whole kit perfectly around you for comfort. The addition of a double-braced snare stand allows for a more realistic feel overall, unlike other kits that have the snare pad awkwardly hanging from the frame.
The sounds are really the make or break for an e-kit, as bad sounds can be the undoing of any and all great technology, as no matter how realistic the kit feels, it’s all in vain if there’s not responsive sounds to match it.
The sounds of the Crimson III are a world away from its price point. More premium, top of the line products are expected to sound the best, yet here is the Crimson III, sat towards the middle of the Alesis range, yet retains world-class and high quality sounds and samples. These great sounds help things like the hi-hat to feel real, an area that many e-kit fall apart in. Hitting different areas of the hi-hat, both open and closed producing different sounds, allowing you to push and pull the feel and dynamic of your playing.
This goes for the ride cymbal as well, as we’ve mentioned earlier it is a three-zone ride, another uncommon addition to something in this price point; yet here we are. The cymbals are all chokeable, allowing you to grab the cymbal to silence the sample from playing.
All of your choice of sounds and samples comes from one place: the Alesis Crimson Drum Module. With two banks of six faders available to quickly mix the volume of your kit, you can have a customised mix of your sounds happening instantly and very intuitively.
The Alesis Crimson III elevates Alesis’ overall range above and beyond, pulling together advancing technology and tying it up neatly in a surprisingly affordable and accessible package. The Alesis pulls from both Alesis’ past and present, offering the best of their huge range of technology and sonics into one great sounding and, and more importantly, feeling kit.
With a customisable layout, extensive cymbal and pad layout options, as well a handy mixer and module for loading, using and adjusting your sounds for recording, mixing, jamming or songwriting!
Great sounds from masters of the craft, BFD, as well as innovative designs from the Alesis, the Crimon III Nine-Piece Electronic Drum Kit is one of the best options on the market for drummers on any level.
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