Rhyzor16 Drums VST: Alesis HR-16 & HR-16B Sounds for Modern DAWs

Force56 Audio Software has released Rhyzor16 Drums VST, a sample-based virtual drum machine that recreates the complete sound sets of the classic Alesis HR-16 and HR-16B. The plugin targets producers and retro enthusiasts who want the character of late-80s digital drum machines without hunting down vintage hardware or managing external sample libraries.

96 Sounds from Two Classic Machines

Rhyzor16 combines both ROM sound sets in a single instrument. You get 96 drum samples in total — 49 from the original HR-16 and 47 from the darker-sounding HR-16B. Switching between the two palettes takes seconds, since both collections live inside the same plugin.

Moreover, each of the 16 pads offers independent volume, pan and tuning controls. The tuning follows the original hardware with a 32-step range, which made the HR-16 famous for radical pitch abuse. As a result, building custom kits or extreme pitched effects is quick and immediate.

No-Frills Workflow

The plugin is deliberately straightforward. Load a preset, trigger it via MIDI, tweak the pads and record. Sequencing is handled by your DAW, while Rhyzor16 focuses purely on sound generation. In addition, DAW state recall brings your kit back automatically with the project.

Ten full drum kit presets are included as starting points. You can modify, randomize or build your own kits, and saving presets is intentionally simple. MIDI mapping and DAW automation are supported as well.

Features

  • 96 drum samples from the original Alesis HR-16 and HR-16B ROMs
  • 16 playable drum pads
  • Independent volume, pan and 32-step tuning per pad
  • 10 full drum kit presets plus user preset saving
  • MIDI and DAW automation support
  • VST3, Audio Unit and standalone versions
  • Windows 10+ and macOS 10.13+ (Universal Binary, Intel & Apple Silicon)
  • Works fully offline, no dongle required

Pricing and Availability

Rhyzor16 Drums VST is available now for Windows and macOS. A fully functional 2-day demo can be downloaded without registration. The license covers three computer activations and includes lifetime free updates.

Price
$39.00 USD (one-time payment, lifetime license)

Pros

  • Complete 96-sound collection from both HR-16 and HR-16B ROMs
  • Independent per-pad volume, pan and 32-step tuning like the original hardware
  • Affordable one-time price with lifetime updates and 3 activations

Cons

  • No built-in sequencer or MIDI output — sequencing relies entirely on the DAW
  • Sample-based recreation without additional synthesis or effects features