These are the best drum synth VST plugins for music production and sound design.
I’ve curated a selection of my favorite drum synths that cater to a wide range of genres and needs.
Before continuing, explain why you would want to use a drum synthesizer.
Instead of relying on drum samples, a drum synthesizer lets you create your drum sounds from scratch.
So, even if you don’t have a huge drum sample library, you can use one of the plugins listed below to synthesize a perfect kick or your ideal snare.
The main advantage of using a drum synth instead of a drum sampler is versatility. Drum machines like the LinnDrum or 606 are less versatile and don’t provide many options for sound customization.
Of course, you can use workarounds such as a custom Drum Rack in Ableton, but a dedicated drum plugin is often a more elegant solution.
For more instrument options, check out our list of the best piano plugins and synth VSTs.
Let’s dive in!
The Best Drum Synthesizer Plugins
Here’s my list of the best drum synths in 2024:
- Microtonic by Sonic Charge
- Tattoo by Audio Damage
- DrumSpillage 2 by AudioSpillage
- Drum Synth 500 by Air
- Punch 2 by Rob Papen
- Drumcomputer by Sugarbytes
- Drumaxx by Image-Line – A Modern Drum Plugin
- BigKick by Plugin Boutique – Kick Drum Synthesizer
- Nepheton by D16 Group Audio Software
Microtonic by Sonic Charge – Unique Drum Synthesis
- Eight-channel drum and percussion synthesizer
- Sample-less synthetic sound
- Ultra-low CPU
Among the myriad of VST plugins, Microtonic is a true pioneer, and labeling it a mere drum synth plugin would undermine its capabilities.
Instead, Microtonic is a real-time, pattern-based percussion machine. It uses an oscillator and a noise generator as the source for its percussive sounds but doesn’t aim to replicate any specific vintage drum machines.
Instead, it has a unique signature sound that distinguishes it from other drum synths.
You don’t need any synthesis expertise to use Microtonic. Its user-friendly GUI is well-organized, with huge knobs and controls that are easy to understand.
Each drum has a distinct synthesis module with identical controls, giving you full control over each sound.
Microtonic’s developers made recent updates to expand MIDI capabilities and introduce several innovative features. This includes the Morph slider, which gives you real-time transitions between drum edits, and the Edit All command, which provides you with the potential to modify distortion across the entire ensemble.
The Matrix editor adds another layer of efficiency, giving you the power to edit all eight drums for quick pattern creation simultaneously. I love that you can seamlessly blend patterns and drum sounds to create unique combinations.
For example, you can adapt a hip-hop sequence to a house kit or vice versa, perfect for experimentation.
Tattoo by Audio Damage – Vintage Drum Synth Plugin
- 12-channel drum synthesizer
- Intricate step sequencer
- Randomization options
Tattoo provides a drum kit with 12 synthesized drum modules, including all the essentials. This unique analog-inspired drum plugin can synthesize kicks, snares, toms, hats, cymbals, claps, rimshots, and cowbells.
Each element features in-depth editing parameters, such as tune, envelope, clock level, and saturation. These synthesis parameters offer room for experimentation, aligning with the simpler beat-making ethos of 80s drum machines.
Sequencing is easy thanks to the 32-step programming grid, which offers precise timing and syncing options. However, Tattoo’s step sequencer extends beyond basic beat programming, as demonstrated by the Random Beats and Selected Beats sliders.
Selected Beats allows for selective beat playback, while Random Beats introduces random hits on specific grid divisions.
The Rand button gives you straightforward rhythm randomization, reshuffling the pattern of the selected instrument. It’s like working with a drummer who is all about improvisation. You will definitely get some unique pattern variations out of it.
You can load up to 16 patterns at once, while the Step Size setting offers versatile step values and pattern lengths.
Similar to hardware drum machines, you get multiple outputs and basic mixing controls, including level adjustment, panning, and route assignment, which you can move to six outputs for third-party plugin control.
For added punch, you can employ the Global section’s compressor, which adds that nice bit of glue you’d probably want to add with a third-party compressor plugin anyway.
Overall, it’s a tidy little drum drum synthesis tool with a deceptively powerful set of features.
DrumSpillage 2 by AudioSpillage
- 12 analog, FM, and physical modeling drum models
- Integrated FX units
- Expanded modulation capabilities
DrumSpillage 2 is a powerhouse for electronic percussion, spanning retro and contemporary styles. With a dozen versatile drum models, it offers a wide sonic range, from analog kicks to metallic FM tones and unique membranes.
The user interface centers around two main modes: the Pad Editor and the Model Editor. The Pad Editor delivers a familiar grid of drum pads, while the Model Editor offers comprehensive sound-shaping controls for each pad.
DrumSpillage 2’s strong points include its synthesis capabilities, where you’ll find filters, LFOs, distortion, and effects modules. The modulation step sequencer allows up to 32 steps with various syncing options for just about any pattern imaginable. As for sound manipulation, each drum element, including the kick, snare, clap, and wood, has tailored parameters for ADSR adjustment and more. Top that off with the glitchy synth tones and spacey gurgle tones, and you have a fun, percussive sci-fi machine.
Even with all the excitement, there are a few minor issues with DrumSpillage2, such as the absence of a built-in pattern sequencer. You also can’t export pads as samples or use the randomization function that was in the first version.
However, even so, it’s a super versatile and affordable percussion tool, perfect for anyone looking to create unique and inspiring electronic grooves.
Drum Synth 500 by Air
- Hybridized vintage and modern drum synthesizer
- Powerful live performance engine
- Custom sample loading
From a collaboration between Akai, Alesis, and AIR Music Technology, we get Drum Synth 500.
This module offers a comprehensive 500-series experience, whether you want to make vintage or modern electronic beats. With eight channels, including sampler options for WAV files, each sound category comes with a specific set of customizable parameters.
The oscillators generate the kicks and snares, which you can adjust with the amp and pitch controls, and the claps and hats use noise sources, which you can manipulate using noise, spread, timbre, and EQ settings. Lastly, we have the toms and percussion elements, which utilize FM synthesis, pitch, and operator parameters.
Air Drum Synth 500 also boasts a variety of effects per channel and a fully featured master channel for buss-style sound shaping. Though it lacks a quick sequencer for beat creation, it comes with 500 MIDI files that you can use as jumping-off points and over 50 quality kits with these sequences.
However, the real charm of Air Drum Synth 500 lies in hands-on synthesis, which provides near-endless experimentation possibilities. From distorted kicks to perfectly tuned toms, you can create a boatload of distinct sounds.
That said, it certainly excels in crafting heavy-hitting electronic sounds, which is why it’s such a hit with EDM producers.
Punch 2 by Rob Papen
- Classic drum machine with a twist
- Live loop player
- Extensive sound customization parameters
If you don’t have an extensive drum library and are looking for some fresh inspiration in the form of triggered sounds or loops, Rob Papen Punch 2 is a solid choice.
This comprehensive drum VST is centered on the classic drum machines of yesteryear.
The drums fall into sampled and synthesized categories, ranging from acoustic drums to electronically synthesized one-shots. Punch 2 makes sample playback, drum creation, and re-synthesis easy, allowing you to adapt and craft new sounds from presets, either from kits or individual drums.
Though you’ll find classics like the Roland 808 and 909, Punch 2 offers much more than nostalgia.
You’ll find 24 virtual, MIDI-triggered drum pads and an array of impactful preset drum banks you can audition using loops. Punch 2 even transforms into a live loop player to inspire you when you need it most.
Sound customization parameters lie behind each pad when in Advanced mode, which delivers an intuitive display for parameter adjustments, whether ADSR customization, distortion, or bit-crushing.
With a user-friendly drum pattern grid, plenty of FX, and patch management, Punch 2 is a seriously powerful drum production tool.
DrumComputer by Sugarbytes
- 8 sound engine drum machine
- 16-step sequencer
- Tons of onboard effects
DrumComputer is a cutting-edge synthetic drum VST that blends classic and modern synthesis with versatile sequencing and modulation. It offers intelligent randomization, streamlined pattern editing, and sample import.
With 8 sound engines, such as Wavetable, Resonator, Resynth, and Sampler mode, you have a diverse array of timbres at your fingertips.
As for the toolset, you’ll find a compressor, multimode filter, distortion module, and two send reverbs. The ENV/LFO hybrids and the flexible modulation matrix make for experimental sound shaping, while the Kit Page provides crucial sound engine functions, such as mute and choke, perfect for more dynamic control.
One of my favorite modules in Drumcomputer is the Finalizer module, which combines compression, transient shaping, saturation, and maximization, perfect for bringing out the punch in your drums.
For generating fresh drum sounds, you can use the Randomizers and the MakeKit features. However, what’s truly neat is the Remix control, which adds groovy fills to make your drum patterns more lifelike.
Beyond studio-style music production, Drumcomputer is just as usable in live performance situations, thanks to its pattern, mute, and mapping sections, which have pattern sequencing and assignable keys. Lastly, the 16-step sequencer gives you the ability to generate intricate patterns, while the modulation sequencers and MIDI drag and drop beautifully round everything out.
Drumaxx by Image-Line – A Modern Drum Plugin
- Modeled drum machine
- Multi-output for third-party effects
- Integrated step sequencer
With FL Studio’s immense popularity, Image-Line’s assortment of plugins doesn’t often get the attention it deserves. One example is the Drumaxx physical percussion modeling instrument.
Its synthesis mechanism revolves around what Image-Line calls “sophisticated physics models.” Essentially, the plugin creates intricate mathematical representations of the physical attributes found in different percussion instruments.
Many physical modeling plugins prioritize the exact replication of real-world instrument characteristics, which is great if you want a precise drum, piano, or string sound that you can’t really experiment with. On the other hand, some get too experimental, rationalizing the approach based on the fact that they adhere to physical principles, even if they don’t sound great.
Drumaxx strikes a nice balance here. While you can certainly use it to produce eccentric, unconventional sounds, the core essence of its classic drum machine personality is never lost. It can craft realistic drum sounds in a pinch, rivaling any plugin on our roster, though works equally well when making hyperreal textures or synth tones.
BigKick by Plugin Boutique – Kick Drum Synthesizer
- Kick drum designer
- Drag-and-drop sample import
- Massive 300+ factory library
BigKick is somewhat of a specialist plugin that focuses on kick drums. It employs a blend of samples and synthesis, giving it a distinctive character and tons of body, great for those hard-hitting EDM kicks.
You’ll find a collection of over 300 attack samples, as well as the ability to import your custom sounds. Moreover, you can toggle between the Original and Tough modes on the “body synth” section to give you different tonal possibilities.
You can get everything from ultra-tight, electronic kicks to more relaxed, organic kicks.
While the functionality might be limited, and the interface could use an update, it excels profoundly at what it does.
Nepheton by D16 Group Audio Software – 808 Emulation
- 808 drum machine emulation
- Hybrid sequencing
- Creative randomizer
Few pieces of vintage analog equipment have garnered dedicated followings, like Roland’s TR-808 drum machine. The legendary hardware unit has been heard on many timeless classics, from Africa Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” to Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown.”
Though D16’s Nepheton isn’t a perfect mirror of the original analog drum machines, it is undeniably one of the best drum VSTs to emulate classic Roland drums.
You get an enormous synthetic punch and snap, faithfully replicating all the functions and sounds of the original drum machine, with a few extra features thrown in for good measure.
The interface is pretty streamlined, including the original 16 sounds and the new “Laser Gun” addition, perfect for electro genres. Each sound comes with extended controls, such as the kick drum “Sweep” feature that modulates the range of its pitch envelope and the snare drum “Decay” knob that dials in its tightness or splashiness.
Beyond the authentic 808 drum sounds, Nepheton comes with an integrated step sequencer for old-school beat-making.
Best Drum Synth Plugins – Final Thoughts
You can use any of these drum synth VSTs to create various electronic drum sounds. You should test these drum plugins and select one with a synth engine that matches your sound design workflow.
From classic analog sounds of the Roland TR-808 to modern cinematic hybrid drums, I’m sure you can find an amazing drum plugin on this list to help inspire some new grooves!
2 Comments
An yet in still none of these have ruled for 2 decades or more! Propellerheads ,Redrum has!
Redrum is fantastic, I agree.