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Our Verdict

The Alesis Strike Pro SE is a high-end, superior option to the Command Mesh SE, offering expansive features, superior sound quality, and a tactile response to its larger, more realistic drum and cymbal pads. That being said, the Command Mesh SE is still a solid offering with great value for its range.

Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition vs Command Mesh Special Edition Head to Head

When comparing the Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition to the Command Mesh Special Edition, the former emerges as a high-end, feature-rich e-drum set designed for advanced players and professionals while the Command Mesh SE serves as an excellent mid-range option, tailored for intermediate players seeking quality and versatility.

Key Differences

The Strike Pro SE is renowned for its extensive sound library and customization capabilities, including 1800 sounds. The Command Mesh SE, however, has a more modest sound library of 671 sounds.

The Strike Pro features a full-sized 20-inch kick drum, offering a more realistic playing feel, compared to the 10-inch kick pad of the Command Mesh.

The 14-inch dual-zone mesh snare on the Strike Pro provides a superior expressive range compared to the 10-inch snare of the Command Mesh.

The Strike Pro boasts larger and more tom and cymbal pads, including a 14-inch hi-hat and a triple-trigger 16-inch ride cymbal, enhancing the overall playability and expression.

The Strike Pro allows for onboard sampling and loading samples via SD card, offering greater flexibility for sound customization, whereas the Command Mesh relies on a USB drive for sample loading.

The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition is equipped with the Strike Performance Module, while the Command Mesh SE uses the Command Advanced Drum Module.

Kick Type
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Tower
Kick Pad Size
20-inch
10-inch
Snare Pad Size
14-inch
10-inch
Number of Sounds
1800
671
Drum Module Name
Strike Performance Module
Command Advanced Drum Module
Custom sampling
onboard-samplingsd-card
usb-drive

Key Features in Common

Both kits feature MIDI connectivity via both USB and 5-pin MIDI out, facilitating integration with DAWs and MIDI hardware.

Both have dual-zone mesh toms, allowing for nuanced playing and different sounds between the head and the rim.

Each kit has onboard recording, a metronome, and the ability to load custom samples, aiding in practice and performance preparation.

Both offer an array of inputs and outputs, including main and aux inputs, although the Strike Pro offers additional direct outputs for more complex audio routing.

MIDI Connectivity
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin

Check out the Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition in action.

And here's a video of the Command Mesh SE.

Price Comparison Between The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition and Command Mesh SE

Use the below to get up-to-date prices for both the Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition and Command Mesh SE

We have included a head-to-head comparison of the features and specs on both the Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition and Command Mesh SE.

Hi-Hat

Hi-Hat Size (Inches)
14-inch
10-inch
Hi-Hat Type
Acoustic-style hi-hat stand
Electronic hi-hat pedal

Cymbal Pads

Ride Cymbal Pad Size (Inches)
16-inch
10-inch
Ride Cymbal Zones
Triple-Trigger
Single-Trigger
Number of Crash Cymbal Pads
3
1
Crash Cymbal Sizes
14", 14", 14"
10"
Crash cymbal choke
Yes
Yes

Toms

Tom pad sizes
8", 10", 12", 14"
8", 8", 8"
Number of Tom Pads
4
3
Tom Pad Material
Mesh
Mesh
Tom Zones
Dual-Zone
Dual-Zone

Drum Module

Number of Sounds
1800
671
Drum Module Name
Strike Performance Module
Command Advanced Drum Module
Notes (Cons)
The triggering is fairly low latency but not quite as good as Roland's modules. It doesn't have USB over audio but it has lots of audio outputs.
-
Notes (Pros)
This is one of the best modules out there. The samples sound great on this module, Alesis have released updates with lots of extra sounds also.
-
Additional Features
Strike Software Editor
You can use USB flash drive to record songs, load samples, save kits, and load kits from it
Display
4.3" Color Display
-
Metronome
Yes
Yes
On-Board Recording (of internal sounds)
Yes
Yes
Additional Pad/Cymbal Inputs
0
2
Audio Outputs
2 Main Outputs (Left and Right), 8 Direct Outputs
2 Main Outputs(Left and Right)
Audio Input (Auxiliary Input)
1/8" inch
1/8" inch
Effects and Sound Editing Capabilities
High
Average
MIDI Connectivity
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
Custom sampling
onboard-samplingsd-card
usb-drive
Number of Kits
135
74

Snare

Snare Mount Type
Snare Stand
Mounted to Rack
Snare Pad Size
14-inch
10-inch
Snare Pad Material
Mesh
Mesh
Snare Zones
Dual-Zone
Dual-Zone

Kick

Kick Type
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Tower
Kick Pad Material
Mesh
Mesh
Kick Pad Size
20-inch
10-inch

Verdict

In summary, your choice between these two depends on your skill level, what aspects of drumming you prioritize (such as sound variety, pad size, and realism), and how you plan to use the kit (for practice, recording, or live performance). Both are solid choices within their respective tiers.

Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor

I'm Matt Taylor, a guitarist with a genuine love for music. I've had the pleasure of playing in a few bands and collaborating with some amazing artists along the way. As a music journalist, my goal is to share my passion and learnings with you while keeping my finger on the pulse of emerging trends and talents.