The Alesis Strike MultiPad and the Roland SPD-SX PRO are two flagship percussion sampling pads that often compete for the attention of drummers and electronic musicians. The Strike MultiPad was released in late 2018 as Alesis’s high-end multipad, packed with features that challenged Roland’s longtime favorite SPD-SX.

In response, Roland launched the SPD-SX PRO in 2022 as a long-awaited upgrade to the SPD-SX, incorporating many enhancements (larger screen, pad LEDs, more I/O) clearly influenced by Alesis’s design​. Both devices offer nine velocity-sensitive pads and the ability to trigger samples or loops, but they differ in sound libraries, expandability, and user experience. Below we compare these two units across all major aspects based on professional reviews and extensive user feedback.

Sound Quality

Both the Alesis Strike MultiPad and Roland SPD-SX PRO offer high-quality sound, but their factory content and approach differ.

The Strike MultiPad includes 8,000+ samples of drums, percussion, loops, and melodic instruments. Most reviewers, including us, praise its extensive and high-quality sound library, often rating it superior to Roland’s offerings. Early users note that the factory sounds are well-varied and impressive.

It also supports 32GB of storage and allows on-the-fly sampling/looping from external sources. Overall, its sound is considered crisp and versatile, with only occasional criticisms of quality.

The SPD-SX PRO significantly improves on the original SPD-SX, offering 1,550 factory sounds. Its presets span electronic loops, acoustic drum kits, world percussion, and classic Roland TR-808/909 sounds.

Reviewers highlight its realistic layering, allowing two samples per pad that switch by velocity, creating more lifelike transitions. It also features 48 kHz audio playback, ensuring high fidelity, and handles layered sounds and effects without issue.

Ultimately, the Strike MultiPad excels in quantity, providing an extensive built-in library for those who want a ready-to-play experience. The SPD-SX PRO focuses on quality and advanced playback features, assuming pro users will load their own custom samples.

Both units deliver excellent sound, but the best choice depends on whether you prefer a massive stock library (Alesis) or a refined selection with dynamic layering (Roland).

Build Quality and Durability

Roland has a long-standing reputation for road-worthy gear, and the SPD-SX PRO continues that tradition. However, the Alesis Strike MultiPad has impressed many with its solid build.

The Strike MultiPad features a sturdy chassis with a premium rubber/silicone playing surface. Initially, some users were skeptical due to Alesis’s budget gear history, but hands-on experience changed their minds.

The pads are sensitive and comfortable, though the three small top pads require a firmer hit. Its thick rubber edging helps absorb impact, and there are no widespread reports of physical failures. Some drummers still question its long-term durability, but the build quality itself is strong.

The SPD-SX PRO is built for heavy touring, using high-impact plastic and metal. It retains a similar size and weight to the original SPD-SX but is slightly heavier. Roland improved pad sensitivity, particularly on the top pads, making them easier to trigger.

Buttons and knobs feel solid, and even the power switch was redesigned for better reliability. Roland’s track record of longevity is a key advantage—many original SPD-SX units have been gigged for a decade without issue.

Both units are well-built, but Roland has a proven history of reliability, making the SPD-SX PRO the safer choice for extended road use. The Strike MultiPad’s build quality is nearly on par with Roland, a major step up for Alesis. One small advantage for the SPD-SX PRO is its broader compatibility with external triggers and hi-hat pedals, making it better suited for complex hybrid setups.

Ease of Use

Both pads offer intuitive controls, but their workflows differ. The Alesis Strike MultiPad features a bright 4.3-inch color screen, an intuitive layout, and a large jog wheel for navigation. Users find it easy to browse kits and assign sounds, and its customizable RGB pad lights provide helpful visual feedback.

However, mastering advanced features like effects routing and sample layering can take time, and some users note a learning curve. The lack of a software editor means all sample imports and kit edits must be done manually on the unit, which can be tedious for heavy users.

The Roland SPD-SX PRO also has a 4.3-inch color screen, along with additional function buttons and quick-edit knobs for faster navigation. The new menu system, while feature-rich, is well-organized, making it straightforward once learned.

Its biggest advantage is the companion PC/Mac editor, allowing drag-and-drop sample management and kit editing, making the workflow significantly smoother. This software eliminates the frustration of loading and organizing WAV files directly on the unit.

Features and Functionality

Both units have nine velocity-sensitive rubber pads with customizable RGB lighting. Alesis’s LEDs provide more detailed visual feedback, such as loop progress, while Roland’s lights improve visibility but are more limited in function. Both pads allow alternate and velocity-switched sample playback, a feature Roland has improved significantly compared to the older SPD-SX.

When it comes to onboard sounds and sampling, the Strike MultiPad has a significant advantage in sheer volume, offering over 8,000 samples across a wide range of instruments and loops. The SPD-SX PRO provides 1,550 carefully selected sounds, including full acoustic drum kit presets.

Both units allow real-time sampling, but Alesis takes it further with a built-in looper, which is missing from the SPD-SX PRO. This makes the Strike MultiPad better suited for live looping and spontaneous composition, whereas Roland is more focused on pre-recorded backing tracks and sample playback.

Both pads feature 32GB of internal storage, providing ample space for user samples and loops. Roland allocates some of this space for factory sounds, while Alesis offers more flexibility for user content. Neither requires external storage swapping, making them equally convenient for live use.

In terms of connectivity, the SPD-SX PRO has a clear edge. It features six audio outputs, allowing for more complex routing, while the Strike MultiPad provides four outputs. A small but notable difference is that Alesis provides both 1/4″ and 1/8″ headphone jacks on the front panel, while Roland only includes a rear-mounted 1/4″ jack, which may require an adapter for some users.

For external triggers and pedal support, the SPD-SX PRO is the more expandable option. It allows for up to eight external triggers and a fully functional hi-hat controller, making it viable as a compact electronic drum kit brain. Alesis, by comparison, supports three trigger inputs and a switch-type hi-hat pedal, making it less versatile in hybrid setups.

Both units offer powerful effects processing, but Roland’s 53 built-in effects and assignable sidechain compression provide more flexibility, especially for live production. Roland also includes an expression pedal input, allowing for real-time control over effects like filter sweeps and delay feedback, a feature Alesis lacks.

The Strike MultiPad stands out with its built-in audio interface for direct USB recording into a DAW, while the SPD-SX PRO introduces setlist functionality, allowing drummers to organize kits for performances efficiently. Roland also includes real-time pad monitoring on the screen, making it easier to troubleshoot sensitivity or crosstalk issues.

A standout feature on the SPD-SX PRO is STEMS playback support, allowing multi-channel audio files to be loaded and routed to different outputs, making it a strong choice for professional musicians running backing tracks.

Reliability

The Strike MultiPad is mechanically solid, but users have reported software bugs, including freezes on startup, glitches with sample loading, and pad trigger anomalies. Some discovered that the internal SD card could become corrupted, causing unpredictable issues.

While firmware updates addressed some early problems and improved features like hi-hat pedal handling, many users feel that Alesis stopped supporting the product too soon. Complaints about customer service and lack of ongoing updates have been common, with some users expressing frustration over unresolved issues.

However, not everyone has faced problems—many have used the Strike MultiPad successfully for gigs without any crashes. That said, reports of freezes and unexpected failures have made some musicians hesitant to rely on it for critical live performances.

In contrast, the SPD-SX PRO has had very few reliability complaints. Its operating system builds upon the original SPD-SX, which was used by professional drummers for years without major issues. Some users of the older SPD-SX did report occasional problems, such as audio dropout on long playback, but no such flaws have been widely reported for the PRO model.

Firmware updates for the SPD-SX PRO have mostly been minor improvements rather than emergency fixes, suggesting a stable and well-tested platform.

User sentiment strongly favors Roland for reliability. The general consensus across forums and reviews is that Alesis offers power but remains somewhat unproven, while Roland has consistently delivered dependable, road-tested gear.

Many musicians justify the SPD-SX PRO’s higher price by its reliability, knowing it will perform flawlessly night after night. While the Strike MultiPad can be reliable for many users, it carries a slightly higher risk of software instability, making Roland the safer bet for professional use.

Customer Support and Brand Reputation

A company’s reputation and customer support can heavily influence equipment choices, and in this regard, Roland holds a clear advantage over Alesis.

Roland has long been a leader in electronic percussion, with a history of pioneering products like the Octapad and the widely used SPD-SX. Their reputation for quality, reliability, and customer service is well-established. The SPD-SX PRO benefits from this legacy, with an active user community, abundant third-party accessories, and a proven support network.

Roland is known for long-term firmware support, and they launched the SPD-SX PRO with a dedicated editing app, reinforcing their investment in the product. Customers generally report positive experiences with Roland’s service, with parts and repairs available years down the line. While Roland gear is often priced at a premium, many drummers justify the cost because they trust the brand to deliver durability and ongoing support.

Alesis, under its parent company inMusic, has a more mixed reputation. The company is known for affordable and feature-rich products, but past sample pads and drum kits have suffered from quality control concerns and inconsistent support. The Strike MultiPad was Alesis’s attempt to compete with Roland’s high-end offerings, and while it delivered impressive features, skepticism remained about long-term reliability and after-sales service.

Some early firmware updates fixed bugs and improved functionality, but updates eventually stopped, and there is no dedicated software editor. Customer support experiences with Alesis vary—some users have received help, while others have struggled to get responses.

Reports of users resorting to community fixes for issues like internal SD card failures highlight the brand’s shortcomings in post-purchase support.

While the Strike MultiPad proved that Alesis can compete with Roland on features, Roland still holds the trust of most professionals. Many drummers were initially excited by the MultiPad’s innovations but hesitated due to Alesis’s track record for reliability and support.

Now that the SPD-SX PRO exists with modernized features, Roland retains both the technical edge and the reputation for dependability, making it the safer choice for those prioritizing brand confidence and long-term reliability.

Value for Money

Value is where the Alesis Strike MultiPad stands out the most, as it offers a feature-rich experience at nearly half the cost of the Roland SPD-SX PRO. At launch, the Strike MultiPad retailed between $699–799, while the SPD-SX PRO debuted at $1199 and has remained at nearly double the price of the Alesis in many markets.

Given that the Strike MultiPad delivers 90% or more of the SPD-SX PRO’s functionality at a significantly lower price, it’s often considered the better value. It comes loaded with tons of sounds, a built-in looper, a solid interface, ample memory, and decent build quality, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious musicians.

Many users and reviews highlight that the Strike MultiPad “delivers exactly what you’d expect for the price”, earning strong ratings across major retailers. For those looking to spend under $800, there’s little competition in terms of features.

The SPD-SX PRO, while expensive, justifies its price in terms of reliability, brand reputation, and advanced capabilities. For professional drummers who rely on a sampling pad every night, the extra cost is an investment in stability and seamless integration.

Some justify the price by pointing out that it combines multiple roles—sample pad, drum module, and audio interface for backing tracks—potentially replacing other gear in a touring setup. Roland gear also holds resale value well, so users may recoup more of their investment if they decide to sell it later.

That said, the price gap remains a major factor. Many musicians debate whether Roland’s additional features and support are worth the higher cost. If the goal is home studio use, casual gigging, or budget-conscious performance, the Strike MultiPad is often the smarter buy. In fact, some musicians have joked that for the price of one SPD-SX PRO, you could buy two Alesis Strike MultiPads—one as a backup.

Overall, the Strike MultiPad is widely seen as the best bang-for-buck choice, making high-end sampling pads accessible to semi-pros, independent artists, and budget-conscious professionals. The SPD-SX PRO, on the other hand, is a premium investment for those who demand absolute reliability, extensive connectivity, and long-term support.

In many discussions, the advice boils down to: if you want maximum features for your money, go Alesis; if money is no object and you need a pad that will never fail, go Roland. Both units deliver strong value in their respective segments—Alesis as the feature-packed challenger, and Roland as the gold-standard workhorse.

Which One is Best?

Both the Alesis Strike MultiPad and the Roland SPD-SX PRO are excellent percussion pads, but each excels in different areas.

The Strike MultiPad wins in sound library size and built-in looping, offering over 8,000 factory sounds compared to Roland’s 1,550, giving users a broader selection out of the box. It also features an intuitive interface with RGB pad lights for visual feedback, making it a fun and engaging instrument to play.

The biggest advantage is price—it costs about half as much as the SPD-SX PRO, making it the best value for those who want a feature-packed sampling pad without breaking the bank. However, it comes with concerns about software reliability, occasional freezes, and limited support from Alesis, which may be a deal breaker for professional drummers relying on it for live performances.

The SPD-SX PRO is the more durable, road-tested choice, built on Roland’s legacy of reliability. It features seamless kit switching, deeper sample layering, more external trigger inputs, and extensive connectivity options, making it better suited for professional setups. Roland’s editing software also makes managing samples much easier, reducing menu-diving compared to the Alesis. The biggest drawback is price—it’s a premium product that costs significantly more, and for some, the added features may not justify the extra expense.

For professional drummers and those prioritizing reliability, support, and expandability, the SPD-SX PRO is the clear winner. For those on a budget, home producers, or drummers who prioritize a large sound library and live looping, the Strike MultiPad offers unbeatable value.

In the end, the decision comes down to what matters most to you—cost and creative features (Alesis) or long-term reliability and professional performance (Roland). Both pads are powerful tools that can enhance any drummer’s setup, and choosing the right one depends on your specific needs and budget.