Drum synthesis plugins - where are we at in 2026?

[Download SOphist]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

[Igro]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

I was tempted too. But I didn't find if the GUI is resizable.

[linglinofficial]

CatSynth!

[psycho45039]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

I was tempted too. But I didn't find if the GUI is resizable.

It runs in UVI Workstation or Falcon so if those are resizable you are good.

[Geomystery]

Battalion is great. You can make organic sounding beats pretty fast. Other than that I use Axon3, good for random algorithmic stuff, but soundwise is not on par with Battalion.

[CrystalWizard]

The state of drum sysnthesis in 2026 is about the state o drum synthesis early 2010s.
microtonic
tremor
any old synth (Reaktor, Alchemy v1, Pigments v6, Chromophone, Zebra, ... every synth i have)
axon (or Pigmants) with midi out

since the OP is drum synthesis i won't mention
battery
stylus rmx
omnisphere

[bermudagold]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

great price...well executed concept...problem is I think it doesn't allow user samples which was its achilles heel...don't know if that changed but I doubt it since these instruments are meant to push you towards falcon for that...and that's the rub cause the kits sound dead to me...the nu disco presets sounded the best to me and they were still mid...don't get me wrong by todays AI music standards they're serviceable especially for edm and urban....but nothing to write home about

[yhvh]

Battalion is great. You can make organic sounding beats pretty fast. Other than that I use Axon3, good for random algorithmic stuff, but soundwise is not on par with Battalion.

came here to mention both of these. i haven’t had batallion long but i really like it, lots of synthesis options. the only minor issue i have is id like to be able to do more with a few of the engines but its still good for a ton of sounds, and the sequencing is deeper than i expected.

axon 3 takes a little more time to really nail down getting the sounds you want out of it but it’s more capable than it seems on the surface.. the only downside is it has a lot of crossover with microtonic as far as sounds go. the sequencer is interesting but kind of a gimmick

microtonic is always great and easy/quick to use

drum computer is close to being great but there’s a few issues with it that keep me from using it a ton

phase plant or bitwig are my defaults when i don’t wanna think about what to use and need a sound in a hurry, or if i need to create a more realistic sound since there’s no limitations really

[vertibration]

Geist 2 would be at the top still, but the FXpansion site is totally broken, and the downloaders dont contain any data anymore.....I hate ROLI

[Dexter US]

what I would like to see if a plugin that loads a single shot plugin and then changes the number of hits and increases the clock speed. maybe it could load in the drum kit plugins also. My attempts so far are intresting but seeminly random in vcv. I know that can all be done with various sequencers but it does seem like it would be a popular app. I really love what can be done with vcv rack for sure..

[onerob]

Mac users shouldn't forget Drum Spillage.

https://www.audiospillage.com/drumspillage.html

[wagtunes]

Just picked up 7deadlysnares today. May be the ultimate snare creation plugin. Using it on my current track.

[VariKusBrainZ]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

I too, was tempted.
Watched a video and decided I dont need another basic drum machine and I prefer synthesis.

It has a decentish sequencer but its basic with a few cool features and comes with a gazillion samples.

[Download SOphist]

what about UVI´s drum designer? it´s $39 now at audio deluxe. curious, but no demo...

sorry to insist, but does anyone have any input on this? I´m tempted by the sale.

I too, was tempted.
Watched a video and decided I dont need another basic drum machine and I prefer synthesis.

It has a decentish sequencer but its basic with a few cool features and comes with a gazillion samples.

yeah, I think I´m gonna pass too. really don't need more samples. it does have synthesis too, doesn't it?

[yhvh]

what I would like to see if a plugin that loads a single shot plugin and then changes the number of hits and increases the clock speed. maybe it could load in the drum kit plugins also. My attempts so far are intresting but seeminly random in vcv. I know that can all be done with various sequencers but it does seem like it would be a popular app. I really love what can be done with vcv rack for sure..

i’m running on very little sleep and i’ve had a couple beers so my brain isn’t at its best right now, but that feels like exactly the sort of thing bitwig is perfect for.