Function Loops has introduced a new free drum machine plugin named Tech House Drums for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Known for their extensive catalog of sample packs across various genres like EDM, psytrance, trap, and hyperpop, Function Loops has also offered a free Psytrance Bass ROMpler plugin in the past.
Fans of Function Loops’ previous releases have another reason to celebrate with the arrival of their latest user-friendly drum machine plugin.
Tech House Drums features a minimalist design with 8 pads, each assigned to a different sound, along with preset selection and effects options.
The GUI design is reminiscent of MIDI pad controllers such as the Arturia Beatstep, offering a straightforward approach to electronic drum programming.
With 40 distinct drum kits, users have access to a diverse array of sounds.
Some kits feature sharp hi-hats and a prominent drum presence (Kit 38), while others, like Kit 30, offer a more subdued, filtered sound.
The 8 pads cover the essential drum elements—kick, snare, hi-hats, toms, and additional percussion.
A notable feature of this plugin is the ability to adjust tune, pan, attack, and gain for each sample pad.
This means you can customize your sound by down-tuning the kick, up-tuning the snare, panning the hi-hat, or adjusting the attack to soften a punchy kick.
Multi-output support is also included, allowing each sample to be routed to its own channel for individual processing.
However, an option to customize the MIDI note for each pad would have been a welcome addition, particularly for those who prefer using a MIDI keyboard or different default mappings.
The plugin also provides FX controls for the entire kit, including a low-pass filter, distortion, pitch wobble, and reverb.
In summary, Tech House Drums is a straightforward and easy-to-use plugin. Connect your MIDI controller, choose a kit, and start playing. The simplicity of this plugin is its main strength.
Tech House Drums is available for Windows and MacOS in VST2, VST3, and AU formats. Unfortunately, there is no AAX version, so it is not compatible with Pro Tools.
Download: Tech House Drums (FREE – Email required)
