DRUMX
Hitmaking Legend Jimmy Jam Brings Iconic Groove Programming to EastWest’s New DrumX™ Groove Machine
DrumX represents a unique collaboration between one of the most successful hitmakers in music history and one of the industry’s leading developers of music production software.
By combining Jimmy Jam’s legendary groove sensibility with EastWest’s award-winning sound design, DrumX delivers a new approach to beat creation — one that focuses on the element that makes records unforgettable: the groove.
“Groove is the foundation of every great record,” said Jimmy Jam. “With DrumX, producers can start with grooves that already feel great, and then build their own ideas from there.”
DrumX brings together 10 iconic drum machines — the TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, LinnDrum, LM-1, DR-55, DR-110, DMX, DrumTraks, and SP-12 — faithfully captured and ready to shape, layer, and push into new sonic territory, joined by a curated set of exclusive custom samples Jimmy Jam created for DrumX. With a powerful step sequencer, deep sound design tools, a professional effects chain, and hundreds of exclusive grooves, DrumX gives you everything you need to build beats that move people.
Walkthrough Video
Listen to the Demos
Deep Controls for Every Detail
DrumX's user interface features a 16-pad (4x4) layout with per-pad controls and a powerful step sequencer, giving you full control over both the sounds and the grooves. From the Tape Saturation knob that dials in the perfect amount of harmonic distortion, to the Pad Inspector's array of sound-shaping parameter controls (including machine-specific parameters unique to each unit), to a master effects chain built from professional-grade processors — every element of the DrumX interface is designed for intuitive, expressive beat-making.
Global Effects Chain
Polish and shape the master output with a suite of professional-grade processors, driven from four macros on the main interface — Transient, Drive, Crush, and Comp. Drive pushes Tape Saturation and Distortion together for everything from warm harmonic color to aggressive bite; Comp ties an SSL Bus Compressor, Limiting Amplifier, and Tape Sat compression into one-knob mix glue; Crush handles a Bitcrusher for lo-fi grit; and Transient drives an SSL Transient Shaper for punch and attack. A separate SSL Channel Strip provides EQ and dynamics, while per-pad sends feed a Convolution Reverb with hundreds of impulse responses and the EP-1 Delay — an emulation of the prized Echoplex magnetic tape delay. The full chain is available on the Mix page for deeper editing.
Drum Pad Inspector
Shape the sound of each individual pad with a full suite of controls. Sculpt the envelope with 2 modes — with Note-On enabled the sound sustains until you release the note; when disabled, the sound plays all the way through on its own. Adjust Volume, Pan, Tune, and Transpose for fundamental mix placement. Dial in the Room knob to add the sound of each drum re-amped into a world-class recording studio for natural room depth and space. Apply High Pass and Low Pass filters to carve frequency content. Tweak machine-specific parameters like Tone, Decay, Pitch, Snap, and Attack — original-hardware parameters, sampled at every position. Send each pad to the on-board Reverb and Delay or further transform the send effects using hundreds of included mix presets.
Drum Pads
The heart of DrumX is a 4x4 pad layout giving you 16 drum sounds at your fingertips. Trigger pads with your mouse, MIDI controller, or keyboard. Each pad lights up during playback so you can follow the pattern in real time. Select any pad to access its individual controls in the Pad Inspector.
Tape Saturation knob
Give each drum sound its own character by selecting from up to 6 signal paths — DI (clean and unprocessed), four levels of Studer A820 analog tape drive (Push 1–4), and a Studer J37 tube tape stage (or a Distressor compressor/limiter on LinnDrum). Assign a different tape character to each pad to blend clean kicks with saturated snares, or push every hit through warm tape drive for anything from subtle saturation to extreme harmonic distortion.
Machine-Specific Parameters
The original hardware controls are here. Adjust the TR-808's Tone and Decay to sculpt that iconic bass kick. Tweak the TR-909's Pitch, Snap, and Decay for snappy, driving snares. Control the LinnDrum's Pitch parameter across 7 snare variants. Every parameter is a true multi-sample — not a synthesized approximation. The Room knob blends close and far ReAmp signals for real studio ambience captured at EastWest Studios.
Grid Sequencer
Program beats step by step with DrumX's 16-track sequencer. Set the length from 1 to 4 pages (16 steps each, up to 64 steps) with selectable step resolution (8th, 16th, or 32nd notes), toggle steps on and off per track, add per-step accent for dynamic variation, and dial in global swing to add rhythmic feel and groove. Record patterns in real time from your MIDI controller, randomize and quantize, or select from hundreds of exclusive grooves programmed by Jimmy Jam for instant inspiration.
Groove Browser
Browse and load groove presets from an overlay packed with 214 exclusive rhythms programmed by groovemaster Jimmy Jam across 5 genre folders: Ballad, Dance Industrial, Hip Hop, Pop, and R&B Funk. Preview any groove before loading, mix and match any groove with any kit. A separate User tab keeps your own saved patterns right alongside - every user preset preserves your swing, step resolution, pattern length, accents, and note data for instant recall.
Groove Sequencer
The area along the bottom of DrumX is where beats come to life — a unified step sequencer, groove manager, and transport all in one. Program patterns step by step for the currently focused pad, add per-step accents for dynamic variation, and shape the groove with global Swing, Quantize, and Randomize. Set pattern length up to 4 pages at 8th, 16th, or 32nd-note resolutions, save your best patterns as User presets, drag them into your DAW as MIDI, and drive playback with integrated Play, Stop, Record, tempo, and DAW Sync controls.
The Grooves Behind 42 Billboard #1 Hits
DrumX Volume 1 includes hundreds of grooves created by Jimmy Jam, bringing unmatched authority to the curation and programming of this groove machine. His deep understanding of how these machines truly behave — how a TR-808 kick breathes at different decay settings, how a LinnDrum snare sits perfectly in a mix — shaped the way every sound in DrumX was created, tuned, and organized. It’s the difference between simply using a machine and truly knowing one.
Jimmy Jam is best known as one half of the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose work reshaped the sound of popular music across four decades. Jam and Lewis have earned more than 100 gold, platinum, and diamond certifications for their work with artists including Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, The Human League, and many more — accumulating 42 Billboard #1 hits — more than any other songwriting and production team in chart history. In addition to co-producing these chart-toppers and writing most of the songs, Jimmy Jam created the innovative drum programming that defined their sound.
This is a one-of-a-kind collaboration. Jimmy Jam is not creating any competing software instruments — making DrumX the only place to access his signature rhythms in software. Now you can use these grooves in your music!
About the Production Team
Doug Rogers (Producer):
Doug Rogers is the visionary behind EastWest, one of the most influential companies in the world of virtual instruments and sound libraries, and winner of three NAMM TEC Awards in the past six years for “Best Musical Instrument Software”. His dedication to quality and innovation has provided musicians with tools that have changed the way music is created and produced.
Eden Nagar (Producer):
Eden Nagar is a rising star engineer/producer who has worked with top artists including MF Doom, Young Thug, Burna Boy, Kaytranada, and producer/engineer Mike Dean. Nagar was tasked with taking these legendary drum machines and transforming them for the next generation of producers.
Blake Rogers (Producer):
A part of the EastWest production team since Hollywood Choirs, Blake Rogers has contributed to the development of numerous products including Hollywood Orchestra and Hollywood Fantasy Orchestra and co-produced ICONIC and LO-FI. For DrumX, he brought his extensive knowledge of music production history to help curate hundreds of kits and presets, shaping the instrument into a modern production powerhouse.
Key Features of DrumX Groove Machine
DrumX features 10 iconic drum machines, each meticulously sampled with multiple tape saturation options and room mic captures — most with machine-specific parameter controls as well. They include the following:
The TR-808: The King of Drum Machines
One of the most influential drum machines ever made, the 808 was released in 1980 and went on to define the sound of hip-hop, electro, R&B, and countless other genres. Its deep, resonant kick drum, snappy snare, and characteristic hi-hats have appeared on hundreds of the biggest records in music history — and continue to dominate today's productions. DrumX captures all 808 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations and deep parameter control, including Tone and Decay on the kick, Tone and Snap on the snare, and Pitch controls on toms and congas.
The TR-909: The Foundation of Dance Music
Released in 1983, the 909 is the cornerstone of house, techno, and electronic dance music. Its punchy kick drum, snappy snare with adjustable pitch and snap, and crisp hi-hats — combined with its step sequencer — made it the machine of choice for the architects of club music. DrumX captures 11 909 sounds with extensive parameter sampling, including Tone, Decay, and Attack on the kick, and Pitch, Snap, and Decay on the snare.
The TR-606: Raw Lo-Fi Energy
Originally designed as a companion to the 303 bass synthesizer, the 606 delivers punchy, lo-fi drum sounds with a distinctly raw character. Its simplicity is its strength — what it lacks in programmability, it makes up for in attitude. DrumX captures all 7 606 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations.
The LM-1: The Pioneer of Sampled Drums
The LM-1, released in 1980, was the first drum machine to use high-quality digital samples of real drums, and it changed music forever. Used by artists like Prince and Gary Numan, the LM-1's sound was so distinctive it became a genre-defining instrument in its own right. DrumX captures all 11 LM-1 sounds with Pitch parameters across the board, plus Decay control on the closed hat, preserving the machine's characteristic warmth and snap. If you can find an original LM-1 in good condition, it will cost you approx. $40,000!
The LinnDrum: The Sound of 1980s Pop
The LinnDrum defined the sound of 1980s pop and new wave, appearing on iconic records by Prince, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, and hundreds more. As a more affordable sequel to the LM-1, it brought a new level of realism to electronic drum production. DrumX captures 23 LinnDrum sounds including 7 snare variants with adjustable Pitch, plus Decay control on the closed hat, preserving the machine's distinctive, snappy character.
The DR-55: Affordable Attitude
The DR-55 "Doctor Rhythm" was one of the first affordable programmable drum machines, putting rhythm programming within reach of musicians who couldn't afford larger systems. Its gritty, lo-fi four-sound palette remains charming and useful in modern productions. DrumX captures all 4 DR-55 sounds with Tone parameter controls.
The DR-110: The Compact Workhorse
The DR-110, successor to the DR-55, expanded the palette with additional sounds including a distinctive electronic clap and accent channel. Popular with new wave and synth-pop producers of the early 1980s. DrumX captures all 7 DR-110 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations.
The DMX: Hip-Hop's Secret Weapon
The DMX was a staple of early hip-hop and electro, heard prominently in records by Run-D.M.C., Afrika Bambaataa, and many others. Its crisp, digital snare and punchy kick gave hip-hop producers a harder-edged alternative to the TR-808's analog warmth. DrumX captures 16 DMX sounds with Pitch parameters on all sounds and Attack control on the kick and snare.
The DrumTraks: The Programmer's Machine
The DrumTraks was one of the first programmable drum machines with individual outputs, giving producers unprecedented control over the mix. Its clean, punchy sounds with real-time Pitch control made it a favorite among studio professionals. DrumX captures all 13 DrumTraks sounds, with Pitch parameters featuring 16 discrete sampled steps and 4 round-robin variations.
The SP-12: The Beat Machine of Hip-Hop
The SP-12 was a groundbreaking sampling drum machine that allowed producers to sample their own sounds for the first time, and its factory sounds became staples of hip hop, funk, and electronic music. With the largest sound set of any machine in DrumX — 26 individual sounds including multiple kick and snare variants — the SP-12 offers extraordinary versatility. DrumX captures the full SP-12 library with Pitch parameters across the kicks, snares, toms, and tonal cymbals, and Decay control on the hi-hats and select cymbals, with up to 4 round-robin variations per sound.
Sounds, Kits & Grooves
At the heart of DrumX is an expansive collection of Jimmy Jam Kits — hundreds of ready-to-play instruments, each combining a curated selection of sounds from the ten classic machines, custom samples Jimmy Jam created for DrumX, and exclusive grooves he programmed across Dance Industrial, R&B Funk, Pop, Hip Hop, and Ballad genres. Every kit is a complete creative starting point with rhythms that reflect four decades of hit-making feel, swing, and pocket — use them as instant inspiration, or generate entirely new rhythms with the built-in Groove Engine.
The DX All Kits include every option from every drum machine so you can create a custom kit. Beyond the kits, three additional instrument types let you go deeper: DX Pitched remaps a single drum chromatically across all 16 pads for melodic tuning, DX Stacks layer every kick, snare, or hi-hat from across all ten machines to build hybrid sounds with real weight, and DX Layers let you swap between machine variations on the fly to add texture without rebuilding from scratch.
What Will You Create?
DrumX brings the rhythmic foundations of music history right to your fingertips — 10 legendary drum machines, expertly sampled and supercharged with tape saturation, professional effects, and a full-featured step sequencer. With drum programming by Jimmy Jam — one of the greatest drum machine programmers in music history — DrumX celebrates the machines that defined genres and shaped the soundtracks of our lives. Enjoy these classic sounds in their purest form, or transform them into the backbone of your next hit. Experience the machines that built modern music, and let DrumX inspire your next rhythmic breakthrough.
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VIDEOS
MANUAL
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
Below are the minimum and recommended hardware and software specifications for using Opus 1.6.3 (required for DrumX) on Windows and MacOS systems.
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MINIMUM SYSTEM
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RECOMMENDED SYSTEM
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The chart below outlines the MacOS and Windows 64-bit operating systems and sequencers that are officially supported and fully tested with the latest version of Opus. Please note that while most Sequencers / DAWs are VST 2, VST 3, AU and AAX plug-in format compatible, only those listed in the chart below are officially supported.
| Product | Version | MacOS (10.15+) | Windows 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EW Opus Stand-Alone | 1.5.0+ | YES | YES |
| Ableton Live | 10.1.2+ | YES | YES |
| Apple Logic Pro | 10.7.9+ | YES | - |
| Apple Garageband | 10.4.9+ | YES | - |
| Avid Pro Tools | 2019.12+ | YES | YES |
| Bitwig Studio | 3.1.3+ | YES | YES |
| Cockos Reaper | 6.0+ | YES | YES |
| Image-Line FL Studio | 20.6+ | YES | YES |
| Motu Digital Performer | 10.11+ | YES | YES |
| Steinberg Cubase(1) | 10.0.5+ | YES | YES |
| Steinberg Nuendo(1) | 10.2+ | YES | YES |
| Presonus Studio One | 4.5.4+ | YES | YES |
| VSL Vienna Ensemble Pro | 7.0+ | YES | YES |
| Notation Software(2) | Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Avid Sibelius | 2019.9+ | YES | YES |
| MakeMusic Finale | 26.1+ | YES | YES |
| Steinberg Dorico | 3.0.10+ | YES | YES |
- (1) VST3 usage is recommended
- (2) Sibelius / Finale / Dorico notation programs work with Opus, but do not support the full feature set of some Opus/Play Libraries, such as those that use WordBuilder. Please contact support for details.
DrumX
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