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Museum object · Tools and Equipment

Alesis HR-16 drum machine used by Prince Paul

1988

United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

An Alesis HR-16 16 bit midi digital drum machine (.1a) with power cord (.1b) and owner's manual (.2) used by the producer Prince Paul. The machine has a grey plastic shell covering and consists of a flat top panel and a slightly tilted main panel. Across the top of the flat panel is light grey text reading [AR-16 HIGH SAMPLE RATE / 16 BIT DRUM MACHINE] and, to the bottom left, a black plaque with silver lettering reading [ALESIS]. The top panel lifts up to reveal a set of printed instructions. Attached to the instructions is a yellow post-it note with handwritten inscriptions in black and blue ink including [II BASS BU 35] and [2 SNARE E140] among other notations. At top center of the tilted main panel is a small rectangular display screen above a set of buttons numbered 1 - 9. Beneath this is a white label with black text reading [PRINCE PAUL].

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2020.38.4.1ab-.2

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