Interface Guide
Learn every control, button, and feature in the UI.
Header Bar
The top section of Drummer-1 contains global controls and navigation.
Genre Pack Selector
Dropdown menu to switch between installed Genre Packs. Each pack loads its own sample library and pattern logic.
Preset Browser
Browse and load saved patterns. Use the arrows to cycle through presets or click to open the full browser.
Settings Menu
Access preferences, license info, and about screen. Configure audio settings and MIDI output options.
Transport Controls
Play / Stop
Start or stop pattern playback. When synced to DAW, follows the DAW transport.
BPM / Tempo
Set the pattern tempo. Click to edit manually or drag to adjust. Syncs to DAW when in sync mode.
Sync Toggle
Enable/disable DAW sync. When enabled, Drummer-1 follows your DAW's tempo and transport.
Pattern Length
Set pattern length in bars (1, 2, 4, or 8). Longer patterns allow for more variation.
MIDI-Only Mode
Toggle MIDI-only mode from the transport bar. When active, internal audio is bypassed while MIDI output continues — use Drummer-1 as a pure MIDI pattern generator.
7-Track Sequencer
The main sequencer grid displays all drum tracks and their patterns. Supports 8, 16, 32, or 64 steps per pattern.
Track Rows
Each row represents a drum voice with its own color:
- • Kick (Red) - Bass drum
- • Snare (Teal) - Snare drum
- • Hi-Hat Closed (Yellow) - Closed hi-hat
- • Hi-Hat Open (Orange) - Open hi-hat
- • Clap (Mint) - Hand clap / rimshot
- • Tom (Plum) - Tom-tom
- • Perc (Sky Blue) - Percussion (shaker, tambourine)
Click a step to toggle it on/off. Right-click a step to set its probability (100/75/50/25%) and ratchet subdivisions (1x–4x). Shift+Click a step to lock it — locked steps (shown with a purple border) are preserved during generation and randomization.
Track Controls
Each track has individual controls:
- • Mute (M): Silence the track
- • Solo (S): Listen to only this track
- • Lock: Preserve track when regenerating
Track Editor
Click any track name to open the inline Track Editor with four tabs:
- • Sample: Load samples, adjust Gain, Pitch, Low-cut, High-cut, Saturation
- • Dynamics: Velocity editor, Humanize, velocity range controls
- • Groove: Shuffle types (Swing, Triplet, UKG 2-Step), amount, nudge
- • Euclidean: Generate Euclidean rhythms with hits, rotation controls
Generate Controls
Generate Button
Creates a new pattern based on the selected Genre Pack and current settings. Locked tracks and locked steps are preserved.
- • Left-click: Generate All (samples + groove + pattern)
- • Right-click (or Ctrl+click): Generate Patterns Only or Generate Samples Only
Per-Track Dice
The dice button on each track row generates genre-aware patterns — kick patterns respect four-on-the-floor vs syncopated styles, snare keeps the backbeat, and hi-hat density matches the genre.
Density Slider
Controls how busy the generated pattern is. Low values create sparse, minimal patterns. High values create dense, complex rhythms.
Variation Slider
Controls how much each bar varies from the others. Low values create steady, repetitive patterns. High values introduce fills and variations.
Groove Controls
Access groove controls from the Track Editor's Groove tab.
Shuffle Types
Apply timing templates to your pattern:
- • Swing (Light, Medium, Hard): Classic shuffle feel at varying intensities
- • Triplet: Triplet-based groove
- • UK Garage 2-Step: Signature UKG skippy, syncopated feel
Groove Amount
Fine-tune the shuffle intensity from 0% (straight) to 100% (heavy shuffle).
Nudge
Microtiming offset to shift all notes forward or backward in time. Positive = laid back, negative = pushing.
Output Controls
Master Volume
Overall output level for the plugin. Use to match levels with other tracks in your session.
MIDI Output
Route MIDI to other tracks or external gear. Enable in the settings menu to send pattern data out via MIDI.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Space
⌘Z
⌘⇧Z
Escape
Shift+Click
Right-click
Next: Advanced Features
Master groove, dynamics, micro-timing, and pattern building.
Continue to Advanced Features