From the Glossy Page Blog

Nowadays, a percussionist can be replaced by a drum machine, an electronic musical instrument which is able to mimic percussion instruments. It covers a wide range of music genres and is handy to have whenever a percussionist is needed. The machines provide a great range of typical percussion sounds that were precisely made to resemble the originals. Also, they can be fine-tuned with the well-designed controls, permitting users to set the machines according to their preferences. These Alesis DM5 machines were initially created in the late 1960s as an accompaniment to organists, and were known as rhythm machines. The pioneer drum machine that enjoyed commercial success was the Rhythm Ace, produced by the company, Ace Tone, which was later known as Roland.