Pulse16 Drums VST: A faithful recreation of the iconic Alesis SR-16

A sample-based VST plugin that brings the legendary sound of the Alesis SR-16 directly to your DAW — no hardware needed!

Buy License $39 USD Try Demo

Studio-Grade Samples

Capture the Vintage Sound of the 90s

Pulse16 Drums VST delivers the legendary 233 samples from the Alesis SR-16, recorded directly from a real unit with professional-grade equipment at 16-bit/44kHz.
Every kick, snare, and hi-hat is captured with stunning accuracy to preserve the unmistakable sound that defined an era.

Customizable Presets

Your Drum Sound, Your Way

Forget the limits of hardware! Pulse16 Drums VST includes all 50 original factory drumset presets and gives you the power to tweak, save, and recall your own custom drum sets with ease.
Fine-tune each drum pad's semitone settings (-4 to +3) effortlessly—no more digging through menus like on the original machine.

Intuitive Workflow

Designed for Musicians, Built for Speed

Pulse16 Drums VST seamlessly integrates into your production workflow, offering intuitive controls that mirror the classic drum machine experience—without the hassle.
Compatible with any 64-bit VST host, it lets you load, play, and start creating beats in seconds. Adjust parameters in real time and stay in the groove!

Pulse16 Drums VST Demo

Try Pulse16 Drums VST for free — available for macOS and Windows. No registration needed.

macOS

Requires macOS 10.13 or higher
Universal Binary (.pkg) – Intel & Apple Silicon
Includes VST3 plugin and standalone app

Download Demo

Windows

Requires Windows 10 or higher
64-bit installer (.exe)
Includes VST3 plugin and standalone app

Download Demo

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Pulse16 Drums VST is a software tribute to the legendary Alesis SR-16, faithfully capturing its iconic sound while adapting it for modern workflows. Built with respect for the original hardware, it offers a streamlined interface to easily tweak, save, and explore new drum sets. Semitone tuning and pad editing are just a click away. The classic sounds you love, and all of its 50 factory original drumsets — now in your DAW.

Pulse16 Drums VST is compatible with both Windows and macOS systems. Below are the requirements for each platform:

For Windows:

OS: Windows 10 or higher (64-bit)
DAW with VST3 support
Disk space required: ~200 MB
Minimum RAM: 1 GB
High-performance audio driver (ASIO recommended)

For macOS:

OS: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or higher
DAW with VST3 support
Disk space required: ~200 MB
Minimum RAM: 1 GB
CoreAudio-compatible audio interface
The installer is a universal binary (.pkg) that supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs via Rosetta or native execution

Pulse16 Drums VST is available as a VST3 plugin and standalone app. AU format is not currently supported.

Pulse16 Drums VST includes a standalone application and a VST3 plugin for both Windows and macOS. It's compatible with any DAW that supports the VST3 format — such as Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Reason, and more.

Currently, Pulse16 Drums VST outputs all sounds in mono. However, we’re actively developing a stereo-capable version and look forward to delivering a more immersive audio experience in a future update.

Pulse16 Drums VST demo (which you can download here) offers a fully functional 2-day trial period. Once the trial expires, the plugin will stop outputting audio until you register it with a valid license.

This can happen because our software is independently distributed and may not yet be recognized by Windows SmartScreen. Rest assured, the installer is 100% safe and free from any malware, spyware, or viruses. To proceed, click 'More info' on the warning dialog, and then select 'Run anyway' to continue with the installation. If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@force56audio.com.

After purchasing your Pulse16 Drums VST license, you’ll receive an email containing detailed installation instructions, including your license serial key. Simply follow the installation steps provided to register your copy and remove any demo limits.

No. We do not like physical dongles for software activation. You will only need to activate your copy using your serial key information.

Yes – you can use one serial key to activate up to 3 personal computers, regardless of operating system. You’re free to mix Windows and macOS as needed.

Yes! Pulse16 Drums VST will check for updates automatically when launching, and will prompt you regarding upgrades found. Keep in mind you'll need to be in standalone mode (not in VST mode) to complete the update installation properly. Your purchased license includes lifetime access to all updates we release.

Yes. Our company policy is: if you're not 100% satisfied with your purchase, we'll always issue a refund for you, no hassles.