Top 7 Free Drum Machine VST Plugins / Electronic Drums and VST Plugins
There is nothing like being able to smash and crash your favorite live drum rack when working on your new sonic creation to rule the nation. However, these days many people are trading out live instruments for midi.
Digital instruments and synthesizers were hard to work with in the age of synth, the 70s and 80s. Now drum rack VST plugins that you can control with a midi pad pack the same crispy punch as their live counterparts, and usually with the benefit of better customization.
Midi is easy to manipulate in any reputable DAW system, and the sound options are limitless. Even if you have a 45-piece acoustic drum rack, you will not come near the customizability options that are available with a digital interface.
In fact, you can record any sound and put it on your digital wrack, no matter how obnoxious or quiet.
If you are interested in the capabilities and features of the best 7 digital drum racks on the market, look no further. Below, we will discuss our top picks of digital drum rack options that are available right now.
Our Line-Up of the Best Free VST Drum Machine Plugins
Finding the right equipment to enhance your creativity and find your rhythmic flow can be difficult. Leave it to us to pair you with the right digital drum rack for you.
- Drum PRO
This extensive drum machine has all the bases covered.
The Drum PRO comes with 20 different predetermined drum rack sets so that you can find the best sounds for your rhythm section.
There are 12 pads that are midi accessible, and global effects that will help you put your personal flavor on any drum track.
Are you into disco? How about classic rock? Drum PRO will have you covered, no matter the genre.
This digital drum pad has everything you need to get ready to lay down a killer backbone beat.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- T.REX 606
Are you looking for a classic sound with a simple design? Look no further than the T.REX 606. This drum rack comes with both a volume and reverb dial, and 7 simple sounds.
So many digital drum racks and percussive sound stations get cluttered with sounds, effects, and functions.
Keep things simple and limit your options. Many times, you will be most creative with fewer possibilities for error.
This model may be small, but packs a punch. In fact, it was modeled after the classic Roland TR-606 drum machine.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- Djinndrum
What if we told you that you could get your hands on a drum rack that has been used by icons such as Gary Numan, Michael Jackson, and even Prince?
What if I told you that you could have it for free? This VST drum rack plugin was designed to replicate the Linn LM-1.
The classic drum rack that the Djinndrum provides miraculously resembles the retro sound found in the Linn LM-1, so you are just a few short clicks away from sounding like the masters.
The price of the Linn LM-1 synthesizer these days have skyrocketed, so it may be best just to go with the free option and advance to the synthesizer when you are ready to get really funky.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- Sean Pandy Drums
If you are a heavy metal fan, you may have heard of the name Sean Pandy.
This drum set was modeled after samples from one of Sean Pandy’s personal racks, so you can be sure it has a professional design and sound. You will get the most bang for your buck with this electronic drum rack.
Don’t believe me? Crank up the “Sub-Blower” and let me know when your ears start to shake off your head.
If you are looking for a heavy sounding kit, look no further than the Sean Pandys.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- MT Power Drum Kit 2
If you are dying to get a professional quality drum track without having to create your groove from scratch, then we have good news for you.
The MT Power Drum Kit 2 not only comes with authentic samples, but it also has a built in groove library to get you going from the start.
Use some of the sample drum tracks for your demo and record your own twist when you are ready. It also is composer friendly and will help you branch off into areas you might not have known before.
This powerful free drum kit will keep you coming back for more.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- Dub Turbo DrumTROOP
This comprehensive, free drum machine plugin offers way more than just a couple of sample pads.
The Dub Turbo DrumTROOP has customizability at its core, and its design offers unique explorable sounds.
This is a massive program, and you may be able to get years of use out of it while exploring new sounds each and every time.
There are 16 digital drum pads, 2 keyboard functions, and 5 dials that include volume, pan, pitch, and glide.
Download this free VST plugin here.
- Single Cycle Vintage Drum Elements
There is one more retro digital drum machine that we just could not leave out of this list, and that is the Single Cycle Vintage Drum Elements.
This free VST plugin has 12 pads stocked with crisp, professional-quality samples. The sound can be customized easily with knobs that control the reverb, decay, gain, depth, and volume.
There are many sample kits preloaded on this digital beat maker, so try a couple out until you find the one that speaks to you.
Download this free VST plugin here.
Lay Down the Beat
Now that you have seen some of the best free options for free digital drum machines, you can finally get into your groove.
Find the beat that will provide a sturdy backbone for your song, and never settle for sub-par results. Find your rhythmic flow and lay down that funky beat with your new digital equipment.
The digital world has made making music accessible to your average Joe like you and me, so take advantage of the free tools on the internet that will help you master your sound and find your sonic fingerprint.
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