the 5 Best drum pattern sequencers (2023 reviews)

Teenage Engineering has been making feature-packed sequencer for years, thanks to a combination of clever design and high-end materials. The performative aspects of the Pocket Operators and implementation of effects are arguably the strong point of these devices, and the Tonic is the best example yet of that. From drum machine, bass and lead synthesizers to noise percussion, the various unique units allow you to start a pocket band. These represent both the 16 steps of the sequencer, as well as the 16 " banks " for sample content.

The pros of the tonic is easy drum modulation, so you can get whatever sound you are looking for on it. The drum sounds are deep and customizable, and the sequencer is great. The quality of the resulting 8-bit audio is a mixed bag. The default way that "Drum" banks handle samples are to listen for transients and "slice" up 16 samples of different sounds to be laid out as buttons 1-. It sounds convoluted, but try it and match it up to a piano or other instrument for reference, and you'll immediately hear the notes of your scale.

Why We Like This:

Big sound, easy interface, and bite sized
High-pass filters and resonance control for each sample
You can do cool break, melodic, or uptempo beats
20 arcade for chromatic chord progressions

Best Runner up: Teenage engineering track sequencer

Buy on Amazon

Best part: teenage engineering track sequencer costs reasonable and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The 128 Mega Man offers the nostalgic 8-bit sound tracks based on the original Mega Man video game series. It features real 8-bit synthesizer engines that produce unique 4-bit triangle and other droid sounds. From drum machine, bass and lead synthesizers to noise percussion, the various unique units allow you to start a pocket band. It comes with 16 patterns, 128 pattern chaining, 3 track sequencing, and step multiplying functions, the possibilities are endless with po.

It comes with studio quality sound, and it's perfect for fans of the game series. The effects can be tweaked in real-time with parameter locks, letting you build on your sound as you like.

Why We Like This:

15 sound patches + micro drum kit
Is perfect for creating live and sequenced melodies and bass lines
Enhance your beats by adding glitches or filters
Can be synced with external devices like computers, volca, or synckontrol

Best device: Novation drum pattern sequencer

Buy on Amazon

The novation drum pattern sequencer's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. Two polyphonic synth engines let you expand your creative capabilities. The interface is fast and intuitive. It can be nice for layering, but the volume knob is the only way to mute it and will affect both synth 1 and synth 2 simultaneously. It is also the fastest to create songs due to the intuitive pad layout. The synth engine is undeniably digital, but you're able to create and load your own presets and sounds on to it.

Why We Like This:

Complex menus or scrolling, just creativity accelerated
Great device with a fun interface
Full-size midi in, out, and thru, plus analogue sync out, complements other gear
Velocity-sensitive pads and tactile control bring you closer to your music

Best for live playing: IK Multimedia drum pattern sequencer

Buy on Amazon

If you want nothing but a sequencer that is satisfactory, this ik multimedia drum pattern sequencer is certainly a worthy investment. It’s a breeze to find an ik inspired kit that catches your ear and tweaks to fit your taste, or create your custom kits from scratch. The UNO Drum, like many affordable pieces of audio hardware, has a high noise floor that sounds like a “hiss” when you turn it up. The analog sounds are deep and rich, and the PCM sounds are infinitely programmable.

This is a portable, battery-powered analog drum machine. It comes with 100 included pattern presets, 8 parameters per step and easy-to-use controls, all you need is a creative mind. The UNO Drum also has a Song Mode supporting up to 64 patterns, so you can easily chain patterns together into entire songs. An intuitive editing section gives you control over key parameters like tuning, snap, and decay, and advanced controls for the digital samples. The sequencer also allows you to automate up to 8 parameters per step.

Why We Like This:

Useable for recording and gigs while still being portable and battery powered
Great little drum machine with classic and unique sounds
Good brand reputation

Best premium: Roland drum pattern sequencer

Buy on Amazon

We are personally inclined towards roland drum pattern sequencer, it is a bit pricy, but it overachieves its purpose and long time functional. The AIRA Compact puts Roland’s legendary creative magic in the palm of your hand. It comes with the T-8 you can create infectious tracks in seconds flat with a miniature rhythm factory powered by pristine tr drums (tr-808, tr-909 and tr-606) plus bass from the inimitable tb.

It is designed to interconnect pro audio gear with unbalanced mini phone jacks.

Why We Like This:

Oxygen-free copper (ofc) conductors for enhanced signal clarity
Ofc spiral shields for effective emi and rfi rejection and flexibility
Nickel-plated plugs for rugged durability and efficient signal transfer