In this blog post, I will share some excellent kick drum plugins & drum machine VST's for electronic music production. However, if you plan to use any of these tools for producing high-end EDM drums, I advise you to pay attention to the following tips.
As an EDM music producer, there are a few essential elements to consider when creating a kick drum for techno, electronic music, and house music. Firstly, sub-frequencies are crucial in producing a powerful kick that drives the beat and provides a solid foundation for your track. Experiment with different frequencies to find the best sweet spot for your project.
Secondly, focus on the transient, which is the initial impact or attack of the sound. A sharp transient will give your kick a punchy, driving feel. Utilize transient shaping tools to create an intense, defined attack for your kick. The punchy part of the kick transients is usually between 1000hz and 3000hz.
Thirdly, pay attention to the tail of the kick, which is the sustain or decay of the sound. A long, sustained tail will give your kick a round, full-bodied feel. Experiment with different tail lengths to find the perfect balance between punch and sustain for your project.
Layering different sounds is another critical aspect of creating complex and exciting kicks. Experiment with layering samples, synthesis, field recordings, reverb, or delay to produce unique and dynamic kicks.
EQ is also essential in shaping the frequency content of your kick, and a bit of compression/limiting can control the dynamic range, making your kick sound more powerful.
Distortion and Saturation effects can add character and edge to your kick. Experiment with different distortion types and settings to create a unique and gritty sound for your kick. This technique is often used in producing techno kicks.
Alongside these technical tips, it's crucial to experiment with different kick samples and try other things to develop your sound. If you are a beginner in music production, a 909 kick is typical in techno productions, and 808 kick sounds can be found in almost every trap production, giving you a starting point.
Various software instruments are available to imitate the functionalities and sounds of hardware devices, or to provide a contemporary approach to generating and modulating sound more uniquely.
For example, a drum machine plug-in provides diverse percussion, drum, and kick sounds. Additionally, it includes a sequencer for creating beats and patterns.
Similarly, the sound generator plug-in or synthesizer plug-in can produce electronic sounds with various synthesis techniques.
A sampler plug-in is another type of software instrument that allows you to load and play audio samples, and manipulate them in various ways. This includes changing the pitch, time-stretching, and filtering.
A standalone sequencer plugin enables the recording, editing, and arrangement of audio and MIDI data in a digital audio workstation. This includes groove editing tools and features such as shuffle, LFOs, and accents. The plugin streamlines the workflow and enhances the user experience.
By the way, if you are searching for a drum machine plugin that allows you to load your own samples, many of the following drum plugins offer this option.
The 909 drum machine has made a name for itself as the go-to kick for electronic music, with its presence in numerous house and techno hits over the past decades. For music producers who want to take their tracks to the next level, the 909 Kick sample pack is a must-have. These samples are fully processed and optimized to cut through the mix, with each kick sample fine-tuned using top-notch sound design techniques to ensure the highest quality sound possible.
One of the key benefits of this sample pack is the quality-over-quantity approach. Instead of sifting through an overwhelming number of subpar samples, you'll find ten expertly crafted samples in four different versions that promise to deliver the punch you need.
Not only is this 909 Kick Sample Pack high in quality, but it's also effortless to use. Each sample has been meticulously designed to fit seamlessly into any track, without requiring additional processing. This makes it ideal for producers of all skill levels who are looking for heavy, punchy 909 Kick samples.
While this sample pack is particularly suited to techno and electronic music tracks, the samples can be used in a variety of genres, from hip-hop and house to pop.
Creating powerful EDM kick drums has never been easier or more fun with Chop Suey, one of the best kick plug-ins around. Its unique sequencing method eliminates the phasing problems associated with kick layering, resulting in a crisp transient, punchy body and distinct tail. Precise editing capabilities, such as the use of curves and a specially designed filter, make it easy to shape the sound while preserving the critical frequencies that contribute to the kick's punch.
Chop Suey has been developed in collaboration with top dance music producers and artists, making it an ideal tool for professional use. In addition, the Punch Protect feature ensures that important frequencies are not weakened during the sound shaping process. The plug-in is perfect for electronic kick drum enthusiasts who enjoy chopping or snipping samples. It simplifies the process to get punchy results quickly and includes a huge library of presets and samples that produce genre-typical sounds, making it a top choice for techno and house music wizards.
If you're into producing electronic music, particularly techno and house, you might want to check out BigKick. It's a kick drum VST synthesizer that combines synthesis and sample-based techniques to create and tweak kick drum sounds.
What makes BigKick stand out are its numerous features, including the ability to adjust attack, hold, and decay for optimal punch, and a pitch module that helps you tune the kick drum to blend well with the bass. It also has an overdrive function, three unique waveforms, and a hard clipper for more creative processing.
BigKick comes with a variety of kick drum samples, including those from popular electronic music drum computers. You can customize these samples by using built-in parameters such as envelope, pitch, and filter controls. Despite its advanced features and high-quality sound, BigKick is reasonably priced, making it an excellent value. It's perfect for dance music producers who need that thumping kick drum to drive their tracks.
Looking for an exceptional Techno kick VST plugin? Your search ends with Punchbox by D16 Group.
With endless options for creating custom electronic music kick sounds, Punchbox is a potent plugin that ensures top-tier, dancefloor-shaking tracks. By collaborating expressive synthesis with verified sampling, this multifaceted plugin facilitates exclusive entrance to 1100 samples and 800 presets, curated by the industry's topmost sound designers.
Plus, users can finetune their kicks with the built-in FX rack that includes four high-quality effects, prior to passing them through the output limiter.
Producers seeking a kick drum plugin for EDM can rely on Punchbox as an outstanding option. It offers an ideal mix of immediate accessibility and sound shaping, with complete MIDI control of almost all parameters for a more expressive instrument than other plugins.
Furthermore, external samples can be used, and the Key Tracking feature allows it to transform into a monophonic synthesizer. The only disadvantage is the small interface. Punchbox is an outstanding investment for individuals who possess a vast one-shot sample library and wish to explore it in novel and stimulating ways.
Looking for a virtual drum machine plugin that can emulate the classic Roland TR-909 drum machine? Look no further than Drumazon! This fantastic plugin offers all the legendary sounds of the original machine, from bass drum to snare, low toms to hi toms, rim shots to claps, open and closed hi-hats, and even crash and ride sounds.
Drumazon also features an internal sequencer that makes it easy to program your drums, and its authentic sound and familiar interface are complemented by additional parameter extensions that make it more versatile than ever. With multi-output routing that is flexible and storable, Drumazon is the perfect choice for producers who want to mix and process their tracks in the DAW. If you're looking to add the classic 909 sound to your productions, Drumazon is a must-have!
Introducing DrumComputer by Sugar Bytes, an innovative take on EDM drum machines.
Featuring 8 sound engines, DrumComputer enables both classic and modern synthesis techniques, whilst also allowing for the integration of personal samples into the resynthesis process. For effortless navigation and discovery of your ideal track sound, the interface is streamlined and user-friendly.
The simplified Kit view enables you to allocate sounds to each sound engine, providing pitch, decay, modification, and a corresponding icon to simplify the process of assigning each instrument type in the sequencer.
Moreover, the KIT view offers access to the Master Effects section, in which you will discover a transient shaper, compressor, maximizer, and saturator that can manipulate the attack and release.
The DrumComputer sounds are innovative, electronic, and frequently techno-inspired. This drum machine VST can effectively cut through your mix when combined with a bassline.
DrumComputer's three synthesis sources enable users to create a versatile and impressive tool for sound design.
To sum up, Sugar Bytes of Berlin, Germany, has created DrumComputer, a stand-alone drum machine that's perfect for electronic music lovers. With over 450 engine presets that can be combined in various ways to create new patterns quickly, DrumComputer is an essential tool for every electronic music producer who aims to add fresh and captivating drums VST to their tracks.
Furthermore, by connecting classic and modern forms of synthesis, using flexible modulation and sequencing and intelligent randomizers, as well as the option to import personalized samples, DrumComputer has become an indispensable tool.
Features:
8 Sound Engines, each one layering a Resonator, Wavetable/Analogue Oscillator and Resynth/Sampler
Filter, Compressor, Overdrive, and 2 types of Send Reverbs (Room and Hall)
2 Envelope/LFOs, plus Synth-Engine-Modulators, Sequencer-Modulators, and ModMatrix
Intelligent Randomizers for endless drum sound possibilities
Ujam's EDEN 2 is a superb EDM drum plugin that's ideal for techno and house music production. The user-friendly interface is packed with powerful features that allow for personalized drum sound creation. The Drum Kit and Mix sections enable you to choose your preferred drum kit and regulate the intensity of each instrument.
Moreover, EDEN 2 boasts a Pattern feature that permits the creation of different song sections, which can be easily dragged and dropped into your DAW for effortless drum track construction. With dynamic side-chain compression, excellent presets, and a dozen drum kits, EDEN 2 is a richly-featured drum plugin for dance music.
You'll enjoy individual control over volume, decay, pitch, and a low-pass filter for each drum sample. Furthermore, you can swap sounds between kits to create your custom drum kit template. You can choose between Single Out or Multi-Out, which assigns a separate mixer channel for each sample. On the other side of the GUI, you can adjust four parameters in the effects preset that you're currently using.
EDEN 2 offers several improvements over the original EDEN, making it a more capable replacement for other electronic drum plugins. With its customizable and tweakable nature, EDEN 2 is an excellent choice for EDM producers.
Features:
Dynamic Side-chain Compression
Awesome Presets
12 Drum Kits
If you're seeking a tool that can help you create intricate rhythms and grooves in no time, Playbeat is the perfect solution for you.
Playbeat 3 boasts a powerful sequencer with eight independent sequencers that offer a great deal of flexibility to craft unique patterns and grooves. The sequencers allow you to control the pitch shift, volume, pan, and more, which allows you to have complete control over the sound of your drums and percussion.
Another key feature of Playbeat 3 is its ability to remix and edit. Moreover, the interface is sleek and user-friendly, making it a delight to work with.
Playbeat 3 also provides sample management features and comes with numerous presets. Additionally, you can create your own packs, which gives you even more flexibility to produce impressive sounds and grooves.
All in all, electronic music producers can benefit tremendously from Playbeat 3. It offers a plethora of features, a powerful sequencer, a stunning interface, and a random function that helps create unique and diverse grooves. With its reasonable price, Playbeat 3 is an excellent budget-friendly option and a valuable addition to any producer's toolkit.
Features:
Random Pattern Generator
8 Sequencers
Remix Algorithms
The RAW-Kick is a cutting-edge product developed by prominent DJs DJ Free-K and DJ Promo, using the powerful RAW synthesizer as its foundation. This product allows music producers to create high-quality kick drum sounds by utilizing three distinct layers that can be used simultaneously. These layers have two modes each: either a kick drum synthesizer model or a sample-based layer.
With the kick model type, users can take advantage of unique features such as RAW amount and harmonic control. On the other hand, the sample type provides multi-mode analogue-modelled filters and various FX algorithms. The Master section includes a dual EQ and MONO/STEREO FX that give users control over all three layers at once. RAW-Kick comes with presets from well-respected hardcore, hardstyle, and DnB producers and is regarded as a formidable rival to other kick plug-ins like Native Instruments TRK-01 and D-16 Group Punchbox. It is highly regarded for its ability to create innovative and modulated percussion and monophonic synth sounds.
Are you a music producer looking for inspiration? Audiomodern's Loopmix is an excellent creative sampler that's perfect for lovers of electronic beats. It's incredibly useful for quickly and effectively mixing patterns using multiple audio loops, making it a must-have tool for remixers or any producer looking for a fresh dynamic in their DAW arrangement.
While the plugin may not be groundbreaking, it offers a welcome change to any well-organized DAW arrangement. You can import your own loops to stay true to your sound, and you don't have to rely on pre-loaded content.
Loopmix sampler is a fun and easy way to remix and rearrange audio loops into new sounds. With features that include the ability to load up to six loops, create infinite variations, use randomization algorithms, and an intelligent multifunctional keyboard, it's a versatile tool for any electronic music producer. Additionally, Loopmix has a dynamic preset feature that generates up to 24 various remixes at a time, making it easy to create and share your own personalized packs.
Audiomodern has delivered another excellent plugin with Loopmix. It's a heavyweight multi-loop remixer that's perfect for both studio and live performances. With endless inspiration and musical variety, it's a must-have tool for any electronic music producer.
Features:
Generate Endless Different Remixes
1.6 GB of Built-In Sounds
180 Built-In Presets
6x Intelligent Sequencer tracks
Metrum Kick Synthesizer by Vengeance Sound is a valuable tool for EDM producers to craft their ideal kick drum. It offers comprehensive control over the top, middle, and bottom parts of the kick, as well as final compression and other features. The synth boasts a vast array of features, such as 330 kick drum presets, over 1800 attack samples, and more than 150 sine oscillator presets. It also allows the integration of WAV samples, has real-time and smooth graphic envelopes, flexible pitch and velocity routings, a vast mod matrix, and 6 high-quality built-in effects.
Metrum's sound generation uses a sine oscillator for the belly part and up to three sample layers for a crisp transient. All four sound components have numerous customizable parameters. Two filters per layer are available for sound shaping. Metrum's effects section features distortion, bitcrusher, stereo matrix, stereo delay, room reverb, and gated reverb. A two-band parametric equalizer is also included. A powerful modulation matrix, an output limiter, and a random generator round out the extensive features.
In summary, Metrum is an exceptional kick synthesizer with a vast array of features, an intuitive interface, and a great preset library, making it suitable for both novice and expert producers.
Looking for a tool that can help create the fattest-sounding bass drums for your electronic music? Look no further than Rob Papen Punch BD. This synthesizer and sample player allows you to stack up to 6 bass drums, which you can split across the keyboard or use in the tuned mode for even more creative possibilities.
With Punch-BD, you can rely on synthesized drums that deliver the highest quality audio, or you can load your own samples for even more flexibility. Each pad comes with its own distortion module for hard-hitting drum productions, featuring multiple types of distortion and a 3-band graphic EQ. Plus, each pad has its own preset section along with the overall BD kit.
But that's not all. Punch-BD also features four FX units, each complete with 31 types of high-quality FX, filters, envelopes, modulation routings, and more for complete customization. Whether you're producing electronic dance music or hip-hop, Punch-BD delivers a solid, speaker-smashing sound that will elevate your productions to the next level.
The Rob Papen sound engine is renowned for its sound quality and ability to cut through a mix with ease. And with plenty of drum models to choose from, along with a wide range of preset-based content, Punch-BD offers great value and is the heavyweight champion of EDM drum-based productions.
Battery 4 is one of the best drum plugins and is well-recognized and widely used in electronic music production, particularly among techno and house music producers. It is renowned for its extensive assortment of drum kits, samples, and other sound elements that can be utilized to construct customized kits.
This plugin provides various customization options, such as volume, pitch, velocity, compression, and more. It also includes built-in EQ, saturation, and the capability to produce customized drum samples or kits. Battery 4 is a multifaceted and top-quality plugin ideal for creating electronic beats.
It is a versatile plugin suitable for live performance and beat production. However, it falls short in one aspect as it lacks an internal sequencer. Nevertheless, Battery 4 is an exceptional product with an outstanding workflow and is highly recommended for anyone interested in sample instruments.
Features:
A Huge Drum Collection
Very Customizable
Many Control options
Very High-Quality Sound
I am Marcus, a music enthusiast who runs a mixing and mastering business. Additionally, I compose insightful articles for my blog and produce music as a member of the techno duo Agravik.
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