EastWest DrumX

Description

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.

Deep Controls for Every Detail

DrumX’s user interface features a 16-pad (4×4) 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.

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.

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.

About the Production Team