What is a Drum Machine?

A drum machine is a tool for creating rhythmic patterns by programming beats on a grid. This online drum machine uses a 16-step sequencer — each row represents a different drum instrument, and each column represents a beat position in the pattern.

The sequencer loops continuously, playing back your programmed pattern. You can create everything from simple rock beats to complex electronic rhythms.

Sound Kits

808 — Classic electronic drum sounds inspired by the iconic TR-808 drum machine, featuring deep kicks and snappy snares

Acoustic — Natural-sounding drum synthesis with realistic kick attacks and snare wire resonance

No Downloads Required

All drum sounds are generated using Web Audio API synthesis directly in your browser. There are no audio files to load, so the app starts instantly and works offline.

Available Instruments

Each kit includes 8 professionally synthesized instruments to build your perfect rhythm:

Kick

The bass drum, providing the foundation of the beat

Snare

The backbeat, typically on beats 2 and 4

Hi-Hat

A short, crisp cymbal for keeping time

Open Hat

A longer, sustained hi-hat sound

Clap

A handclap sound, often layered with the snare

Tom

A melodic drum for fills and accents

Rim

A sharp rimshot for rhythmic variation

Cymbal

A crash cymbal for emphasis

How to Use the Drum Machine

Create professional drum patterns in minutes with this intuitive step-by-step workflow:

Choose a Starting Point

Select a preset pattern from the dropdown to load a ready-made beat, or start with the default Basic Rock pattern. You can also select "Empty" to start from scratch.

Program Your Beat

Click on the step buttons in the sequencer grid to toggle them on or off:

Each row is a different instrument (Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, etc.)
Each column is one of 16 beat positions (steps)
Clicking a step while stopped lets you preview the instrument sound

Play and Adjust

Click the Play button or press Space to start playback. While playing, adjust:

BPM — Drag the slider or type a value (60-200) to change the tempo
Swing — Add shuffle feel by increasing the swing percentage
Kit — Switch between 808 and Acoustic sounds

Mix Your Sounds

Fine-tune the balance of your beat:

Use the volume slider on each instrument row to adjust individual levels
Click the mute button on any row to temporarily silence that instrument
Use the master volume to control the overall output level

Export

When you're happy with your beat, click the Export button to download it as a WAV audio file. The file contains one full loop of your pattern.

Quick Tip: Press Space to toggle playback without reaching for the mouse.

Features

16-Step Sequencer

The core of the drum machine is a 16-step grid with 8 instrument rows. Steps are grouped in sets of 4 with alternating backgrounds for easy visual orientation. A moving playhead highlights the current step during playback.

Two Sound Kits

808 — Deep, punchy electronic sounds ideal for hip hop, house, and electronic music

Acoustic — Natural drum synthesis with realistic transients and resonance

Tempo and Swing Control

Adjust the BPM from 60 to 200 using either the slider or direct number input. Add swing to shift odd-numbered steps later in time, creating a shuffle or groove feel.

Mixing Controls

Per-instrument volume — Adjust the level of each drum sound independently
Per-instrument mute — Quickly silence individual instruments
Master volume — Control the overall output level with mute toggle

WAV Export

Export your pattern as a high-quality WAV file (44.1kHz, 16-bit stereo). The exported file contains one complete loop of your pattern, ready to use in any audio application.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Press Space to toggle playback without reaching for the mouse.

Preset Patterns

7 built-in patterns to get started quickly and explore different musical styles:

Pattern	Style	Description	Typical BPM
Basic Rock	Rock	Standard 4/4 rock beat	100-130
Hip Hop	Hip Hop	Syncopated pattern with swing	80-100
Funk	Funk	Groovy pattern with ghost notes	90-110
Reggaeton	Latin	Dembow rhythm pattern	90-100
House	Electronic	Four-on-the-floor electronic beat	120-130
Bossa Nova	Brazilian	Brazilian rhythm with rim pattern	120-140
Drum & Bass	Electronic	Fast breakbeat pattern	160-180

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I hear any sound?

Browsers require a user interaction (click or keypress) before playing audio. Click the Play button or press Space to start. Also check that the master volume is not muted and your device volume is turned up.

Browser Security: This is a standard web audio security feature to prevent unwanted autoplay. Simply interact with the page first.

What is the difference between 808 and Acoustic kits?

808 Kit

Electronic

Classic electronic drum sounds
Inspired by Roland TR-808
Deep bass kicks
Tight, punchy snares
Perfect for hip hop, house, electronic

Acoustic Kit

Natural

Natural drum synthesis
Realistic attack transients
Snare wire resonance
Organic drum tones
Ideal for rock, pop, jazz

What does Swing do?

Swing shifts the timing of odd-numbered steps slightly later, creating a shuffle or groove feel instead of a perfectly rigid rhythm. Higher swing values produce a more pronounced shuffle effect.

Many genres like jazz, hip hop, and funk use swing to add a human feel to programmed beats.

No Swing (0%) Rigid timing

Medium Swing (50%) Subtle groove

Full Swing (100%) Heavy shuffle

What is BPM?

BPM stands for Beats Per Minute and controls the tempo (speed) of the pattern. A higher BPM means a faster tempo.

Common BPM Ranges by Genre:

Genre	BPM Range	Feel
Hip Hop	80-100	Slow, laid-back
Rock	100-130	Medium energy
House	120-130	Danceable
Drum & Bass	160-180	Fast, intense

How does the WAV export work?

The export renders your complete pattern offline at 44.1kHz stereo quality and downloads it as a WAV file. The file contains exactly one loop of your 16-step pattern plus a short tail for the last sounds to decay naturally.

High Quality

44.1kHz, 16-bit stereo

Loop Ready

One complete pattern cycle

Smart Export

Muted instruments excluded

Can I use the exported WAV file commercially?

Yes, absolutely! The sounds are generated by Web Audio API synthesis in your browser. There are no samples or copyrighted audio involved, so the patterns you create are entirely yours to use.

You have full rights to use your exported drum patterns in:

Commercial music productions
Film and video soundtracks
Podcasts and broadcasts
Games and applications
Any other creative projects

Why are the sounds synthesized instead of using real recordings?

Synthesized sounds offer several key advantages over recorded samples:

Instant Loading

No audio files to download — the app starts immediately

Works Offline

No internet connection required after initial page load

Lightweight

Minimal bandwidth usage and storage requirements

The Web Audio API provides high-quality oscillators, noise generators, and filters that closely approximate real drum sounds with professional results.