DrumX is a groove-focused drum instrument from EastWest, created with Jimmy Jam. It combines ten iconic drum machines, custom samples, and hundreds of exclusive grooves in a 16-pad step sequencer for expressive beat-making.
Purpose and Conception
DrumX is a virtual drum instrument designed around the concept of groove, developed by EastWest in collaboration with hitmaker Jimmy Jam. It focuses on providing ready-made rhythmic feels that producers can build upon, rather than starting from scratch. The instrument aims to capture the essence of classic drum machines, making their sounds and behaviors accessible for modern music production.
The library is built on a foundation of ten iconic drum machines, from the TR-808 to the SP-12, all meticulously sampled. Jimmy Jam’s involvement shapes the curation and programming, with his deep understanding of these machines influencing the sound design. This collaboration brings an authentic, authoritative feel to the groove selection, distinguishing it from generic drum libraries.
Core Sound Library and Instruments
DrumX includes ten classic drum machines: TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, LinnDrum, LM-1, DR-55, DR-110, DMX, DrumTraks, and SP-12. Each machine is captured with multiple tape saturation options and room mic captures, and most have machine-specific parameter controls like tone, decay, pitch, and snap. Round-robin variations add realism, with up to four variations per sound.
Beyond the machine sounds, there are exclusive custom samples curated by Jimmy Jam. The library includes ‘Jimmy Jam Kits’—ready-to-play instruments pairing machine sounds with programmed grooves. Additional instrument types—DX Pitched, DX Stacks, and DX Layers—offer melodic remapping, hybrid sound layering, and on-the-fly variation swapping for deeper sound design.
Interface and Workflow
The DrumX interface features a 16-pad (4×4) layout with per-pad controls, allowing individual sound shaping. A powerful step sequencer provides full control over groove programming, complementing the pre-made grooves. The Pad Inspector offers a range of sound-shaping parameters, including machine-specific controls unique to each unit.
A master effects chain, built from professional-grade processors, includes a Tape Saturation knob for harmonic distortion. This design supports intuitive beat-making, letting users dial in sounds quickly. The workflow centers on starting with Jimmy Jam’s grooves, then layering, editing, and shaping to create unique rhythms, leveraging the built-in tools for expressive control.
Grooves and Creative Applications
The hallmark of DrumX is its collection of hundreds of grooves programmed by Jimmy Jam, spanning genres like Dance Industrial, R&B Funk, Pop, Hip Hop, and Ballad. These grooves reflect decades of hit-making feel, swing, and pocket, providing instant inspiration. The built-in Groove Engine allows users to generate entirely new rhythms from this foundation.
This makes DrumX suitable for producers seeking authentic, ready-to-use rhythmic patterns across genres like hip-hop, R&B, pop, and electronic dance music. It is particularly valuable for those wanting to incorporate classic drum machine sounds with professional programming. The variety of grooves and sound design tools support both quick idea generation and deep customization in a single instrument.
Key features
- Ten iconic drum machines with detailed sampling
- Multiple tape saturation options and room mic captures
- Machine-specific parameter controls for most units
- Up to four round-robin variations per sound
- Hundreds of exclusive Jimmy Jam grooves and kits
- 16-pad layout with step sequencer and Pad Inspector
- Master effects chain with professional processors
Best for
Producers and beat-makers seeking authentic vintage drum machine sounds with a strong groove focus. Ideal for hip-hop, R&B, pop, and electronic music creators who want ready-made, professionally programmed rhythms and the ability to customize them with deep sound design tools in an intuitive interface.