Recording, rehearsing, and performing with acoustic drum kits, no matter how enjoyable, come with certain logistical difficulties. As far as recording goes, mic'ing up drums can be tedious and complicated that setting up such, especially with home recording, takes up a lot of time and creates a lot of clutter. Given that even if you're not recording, you just can't rock out on your precious drum kit in a neighborhood that's keen on measuring decibels around your locality. Unless you go underground and soundproof your basement, the likelihood that you will be assaulted by your neighbors for making so much noise will be high. It is for these reasons that music equipment manufacturers have been making electronic drum kits. Making its debut at summer NAMM 2009 is the Alesis DM10 Pro Kit, which is bound to deliver both tactile, proprioceptive, and sonic realism.

The DM10 Pro Kit is the new flagship drum kit that Alesis hopes would make waves at this summer's NAMM trade show. Based around the DM10 sound module, this kit features Alesis RealHead drum pads which duplicate the bounce and feel of acoustic drums, SURGE Cymbals which have been manufactured from real cymbal alloy, and an ErgoRack mounting system. It has 12 TRS inputs to allow drummers to create custom configurations of up to 24 different triggers. The top panel mixer allows drummers to create custom mixes.

The sound module of the DM10 contains drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds built from multisamples of classic studio drum kits and cymbals. Having been sampled using various articulations and dynamics, the sounds of the DM10 replicate with stunning realism the dynamic as well as timbral changes that drummers could do with an acoustic kit. This replication is attributed by what Alesis claims to be a proprietary multisampling method called Dynamic Articulation. Drummers can play with or without reverb and enjoy various articulations such as rimshots, rim clicks, and different stick placements on cymbals.

Loading sound sets can be done via USB connection to a computer. In the same manner, drummers can make use of the DM10 as a trigger-to-MIDI interface for controlling software drum modules such as those from BFD, Toontrack, and Reason. Drummers can also play along backing tracks via the DM10's sequencer and can also hook up an iPod or other MP3 player if they prefer those devices to play backing tracks.

The Alesis DM10 Pro Kit will be available in musical instrument and professional audio retailers by the third quarter of 2009.