An enduring mainstay of electronic music production, the drum machine is well represented in the plugin space. The criteria for inclusion in our list are very specific: to qualify as a ‘drum machine’ in the truest sense, a virtual percussion instrument has to employ synthesis for sound generation rather than be entirely sample-based, and feature built-in sequencing (although every one of our entrants can also be triggered using MIDI from the host daw, naturally). We’ll look at sample-based, non-sequencing alternatives in a future round-up.

Roland TR-606, TR-808 and TR-909 Software Rhythm Composers

Where better to start any exploration of virtual drum machines than with the official recreations of the three boxes that really got the ball rolling? Roland’s triumvirate of classics – available via the Roland Cloud subscription service – delivers arguably the most authentic sounding TR-606, 808 and 909 emulations around, thanks to the company’s Analog Circuit Behaviour technology and… well, the fact that they designed the things in the first place! They’ve also expanded on the original ‘single-lane’ sequencing interface with a very helpful drop-down multi-lane alternative, featuring per-channel shuffle and sequence length parameters, Flam and Substep (multiple hits in a single step) functions, and eight variations per pattern. The definitive TR collection, clearly.

Sonic Charge Microtonic 3

Updated to version 3 way back in 2011 (seven years after launch), Magnus Lidström’s 100% synthesised offering is quite simply one of the finest virtual beatboxes money can buy. Eight channels each house an independent instance of the same synthesis engine, based on a single analogue-style oscillator and a noise generator, and tweaked using a straightforward but sufficiently versatile collection of parameters that includes pitch and amplitude modulation, filtering, distortion and EQ. The step sequencer is standard fare, with lanes for Accent and Fill (rapidly repeated notes, from 2-8x), and a length setting for each channel (polyrhythms ahoy!), and can be popped out into a more intuitive eight-lane interface. There’s also a Morph slider, for seamlessly transitioning between two separate parameter states; and drag-and-drop MIDI export makes transferring patterns to the host DAW a snap.

Microtonic’s punchy, characterful and adaptable sound continues to amaze almost two decades after we first heard it – it’s an instrument that every electronic producer should have in their toolbox.

Sugar Bytes DrumComputer

The synthesis engine shared by all eight channels of Sugar Bytes’ colourful groovebox composites three discrete task-specific modules – Resonator, Wavetable/Analogue and Resynth – to generate quirky layered percussive tones. Each engine has its own modulation scheme, a handful of effects are on hand, and the sequencer is awesome, sporting multidirectional playback, randomisation, swing and humanise, and the variation-spawning MIDI-controlled Remix and Auto Fill features.

In typical Sugar Bytes style, DrumComputer’s approach and interface take a bit of getting used to, but once understood, this splendidly idiosyncratic plugin proves itself capable of belting out an extraordinary range of drum, cymbal, percussion and other sounds, and positively encourages hands-on performance control.

D16 Group Nepheton, Drumazon and Nithonat

Before Roland finally got their act together and began releasing their own TR series plugins in 2018, D16’s three sibling emulations filled that particular music technology gap nicely – and, indeed, these hardy perennials still stand as thoroughly viable competition for their official rivals. Resurrecting the TR-606, TR-808 and TR-909 respectively, Nithonat, Nepheton and Drumazon take in all the features of the original hardware and add to them with plenty of extra sound-shaping parameters and other good stuff, including extended envelope and tone controls, and targeted randomisation. It’s a shame there are no alternative multi-lane sequencing interfaces, as offered by Roland’s versions, but the greatly enhanced sonic range of all three instruments more than makes up for that, qualifying them as supercharged choices for those looking to take their TR-sourced beats beyond the norm.

XILS-Lab StiX

Each of the ten channels in XILS’ drum machine hosts its own full-on synthesis engine, consisting of two well-equipped virtual analogue oscillators and a sampler/noise generator, a multimode filter, three envelopes and two LFOs. The step sequencer governing their playback is similarly comprehensive, with lanes for note offset, gate time and assignable modulation, plus variable steps per beat and beats per bar, swing control and more. The Polystep XY controller modulates up to four parameters at once, through the manual or sequenced movement of eight points, while distortion, compression, delay, reverb and phaser effects provide onboard processing.

A veritable powerhouse of complex electronic drum design, StiX is a plugin to lose yourself in; but it also succeeds in catering to the less experienced beatmaker/synthesist with its alternative Easy editing mode, and a vast library of preset sounds and sequences.

Rob Papen Punch 2

Another hybrid instrument, Punch 2 gives you endless options for combining samples and synthesis in pursuit of bespoke drum kits for electronic production, and features a preset library big enough to supply a lifetime of inspiration. 24 pads are preassigned to specific instrument types (two bass drums, two snares, two closed hats, two open hats, etc), each one offering a selection of synthesised models and sampled sources, and bristling with controls for adjusting tuning, filtering, modulation, etc. Four configurable FX busses draw on a shedload of superb signal processing modules, and while the step sequencer only allows for eight definable patterns of four pads each, it’s enough to get the job done for basic groove composition.

Far and away the most sonically expansive plugin in our round-up, Punch 2 is a drum machine that places no restriction on your sound design exploits, even if it does fall a little short in the sequencing department.

AudioRealism ADM

Our third TR-series emulation has a nifty trick up its sleeve in the ability to combine analogue modelled 606, 808 and 909 emulations within a single instance. There are a few limits to the system, in that you still have to choose between, for example, the 808’s Rimshot or Claves, with no possibility of loading both together, but overall, it works really well. Also notable is the Pattern Controlled Filter module, which enables sequenced filtering and distortion to be applied to individual sounds and the main output.

The step sequencer is resolutely single-lane, and ADM can’t touch D16’s TRs for tweakability, but the brilliant mix-and-match concept and fabulous sound keep this one very much in contention.

What’s your go-to drum machine? Let us know in the comments.