Alesis HR-16:B "Killer B" advertisement, Keyboard 1990

Alesis HR-16:B "Killer B" advertisement from page 102 in the September 1990 issue of Keyboard Magazine. 

Before software ruled the studio, drum machines like the Alesis HR-16B offered an affordable and surprisingly powerful way to get your industrial tracks bangin'. Released in the early 1990s as an update to the original HR-16, the HR-16B isn't as well-known as the TR-808 or have the power of modern groove boxes, but it carved out its own corner of electronic music history—and for one.... very... good... reason.

From the ad: "47 samples, pre-produced with reverb and processing for a killer rhythm assault right out of the box." 

That's it. Right there. Those sounds. Right when industrial music was seeping into the mainstream. Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Front 242.... goth clubs were also banging. 

The ad tries to promote its high sample rate16-bit samples, but compared to today's standards, that limited gritty aesthetic, along with a fairly intuitive interface, is what makes this drum machine sought after today. Its no surprise that I'm blogging about it so close to the Kawai R-100/R50 drum machines... another industrial fav. 

And don't get me started on the glitching... I'll just leave this video right here. 

The ad itself stands out when you are flipping through the magazine. Arriving on page 102 would usually be a checkmark against it, but it comes just pages after the wonderfully HUGE Public Enemy article... so I won't hold it's placement against it. 

A giant title "Killer B" quickly grabs your attention. And then we get sparse content that is easy to read. And then, of course, is that gothy-black machine sitting atop a giant foam B. 

As good and attention-grabbing as the ad is - and very ON-BRAND for Alesis - I can't help thinking the design doesn't cater to its audience. Those black-clothed, industrial leather jacket wearing Nitzer Ebb loving fans that would want to put down their hard-earned cash. AKA Me! 

I don't know what the answer is... but the designer could surely have put a little bit more time and effort into solving the problem and getting a bit more grit into the design of the ad. 

Novation Drum Station brochure, 1998

Novation Drum Station two page colour brochure from 1998.

Gonna keep it short... it's been a while since I've blogged and I've kind of forgotten how to do it. No really. I'm trying to get my mojo back, but this is really hard. 

A while back in 2021 I posted a four page 1996 Novation Drum Station brochure. Fast forward a year or two, and Novation has taken a shrink ray and bumped that brochure down to a two page reference sheet. One page, two sides to be exact. 

Gone is that lovely front cover image. Instead, Novation has taken the Future Music Platinum Award that used to live on that cover, and plunked it onto the front half of this brochure. But, They have also added a little blurb from the June 1997 issue of Electronic Musician. Go them!

Believe it or not, the rest of the content is almost exactly (if not exactly) the same between the two. The same bullet points. The same sub-titles of the different section. Same order. 

Oh wait... one other big different... NO BLOCK DIAGRAM.  BOOOOOOO!!!!! I do love me a block diagram. 

One other little thing that is bugging me. That marble-y texture Novation chose to have in the background of the front and back of the page. Not a fan. Too distracting. 

Okay - like I said. Keeping it short. Probably for the best because I'm grumpy. If you didn't notice.  :)