How do I play the drum pads and acoustic drum set using my computer keyboard?

Press keys 1, 2, 3, 4 (or Q, W, E, R) for the top row (Crash, High Tom, Low Tom, Open Hat) and keys A, S, D, F for the bottom row (Clap, Closed Hat, Snare, Kick). Standard NumPad keys 0–9 are also mapped for responsive finger drumming.

How do I import drum beat files (.drum, .json, .txt) to replay them?

Click the Import button in the toolbar to pick a file, or simply drag and drop any .drum, .json, or .txt drum tab file anywhere over the sequencer. The application automatically parses the tracks, adds it to your Custom presets, and readies it for instant playback.

Can I record drum hits live into the sequencer while playing?

Yes! Click the Rec button in the transport bar. While the loop plays, any drum hit played via keyboard hotkeys, MPC pads, or the acoustic drum kit will be quantized and recorded directly into the 16-step grid in real time.

Does the drum machine support jazz swing rhythms?

Yes! Use the Swing slider to adjust rhythmic swing from 0% up to 100%. Presets like "Jazz Swing (4/4)" (60% swing) and "Bebop Fast Swing" (55% swing) provide classic jazz triplet ride cymbal phrasing, feathered bass drums, and syncopated snare comping.

Can I play the drums and the virtual piano at the same time in sync?

Yes! Both instruments share the global Tone.js Transport clock and BPM tempo, allowing you to jam on the piano while the 16-step drum sequencer loops in perfect synchronization.

Percussion Workstation

Virtual Drum Machine & Beat Sequencer

Create punchy beats with an 8-voice drum kit, 16-step grid sequencer, and MPC-style live pads with low latency, limiter protection, and tempo synchronization.

8-Voice Percussion 16-Step Grid Sequencer Limiter & Compressor Piano Transport Sync

Preset:

124BPM

0%Swing

PAISTE

DRATINI

THRONE

BASS DRUM[SPACE / F]

EVANSLEVEL 360

HIGH TOM[W]

EVANSLEVEL 360

MID TOM[A]

EVANS

POWER CENTER

SNARE DRUM[D]

EVANS

FLOOR TOM[E]

VIC FIRTH 5A

PAiSTe

HI-HAT

PAiSTe

CRASH CYMBAL[Q]

PAiSTeFORMULA 602

RIDE CYMBAL[Y]

PAiSTe2002 CRASH

CRASH CYMBAL[Q]

Top-down drummer's view: tap any drum piece, cymbal or pedal to play

Space / F: KickD: SnareS: Closed HatR: Open HatW: High TomA: Mid TomE: Floor TomQ: Crash

16-Step Beat Grid

Four 4-beat measure subdivisions with active step playhead visualization. Toggle steps on any voice to build custom rhythms or tweak genre presets.

Live MPC Pads & Hotkeys

Ultra low-latency pads with touch & keyboard shortcuts (1-4, Q-R, A-F, NumPad). Distinct voice color themes and illuminated strike animations.

Dynamics & Piano Jamming

Master compressor and brickwall limiter eliminate distortion. Shared Tone.js Transport clock enables simultaneous playback alongside the Virtual Piano.

Acoustic Kit & Paiste Cymbals

Realistic top-down drum set with coated Remo/Evans heads, bass drum pedal, drum throne, Persian rug stage, and individual cymbal physics animations.

Jazz Swing & Micro-Timing

Authentic jazz swing percentage slider (0–100%) with classic Bebop, Bossa Nova, and Jazz Ballad presets featuring feathered bass and syncopated comping.

Export, Import & Live Rec

Download beats as structured .drum text files with ASCII tabs, drag-and-drop to replay, and live-record drum hits into the 16-step grid in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about playing, programming, and exporting beats with the Virtual Drum Machine.

How do computer keyboard hotkeys work?

Press keys 1-4 (or Q-R) for top cymbals and toms, and A-F for clap, hats, snare, and kick. Standard NumPad 0–9 keys are also mapped for natural finger drumming.

How do I export and save the drum beats I create?

Click the Export button to download a .drum text file containing track steps, BPM, swing, and an ASCII drum tab grid. You can also copy the pattern text directly to your clipboard.

How do I import drum beat files to replay them?

Click Import or drag and drop any .drum, .json, or .txt drum tab file onto the sequencer. The beat loads immediately into the audio engine and custom presets list.

Can I record drum hits live into the sequencer?

Yes. Click the Rec button in the transport bar. While the loop plays, any drum hit played via hotkeys, pads, or the acoustic drum kit will be recorded directly into the 16-step grid.