CRB Labs has announced the launch of a drum pattern generation and sequencing plugin for macOS that addresses two persistent challenges in modern beat production: the blank-grid problem and the robotic MIDI sound.
Drummer-1 generates complete drum patterns algorithmically while offering hands-on editing, humanization controls, and the flexibility to export either MIDI for full DAW integration or audio for immediate use.
“I wasn’t good at programming drums,” said Carl Brunson, founder of CRB Labs. “I could write melodies, lay down chords, shape a mix – but drums always slowed me down. When I started noticing that a lot of drum programming follows patterns, I kept thinking: this could be generative. The first version was a concept I built during grad school. After I graduated, I sat down and built it for real.”
Drummer-1 features
- One-click pattern generation: Creates drum arrangements based on musical rules encoded in four included style packs. Each generation produces a unique pattern.
- 7-track step sequencer (up to 64 Steps): Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, Clap, Percussion and more. Edit velocity, groove timing, or individual hit placement.
- Humanize & groove controls: Applies subtle timing shifts and velocity variations to combat the “perfect MIDI” problem. Per-track swing, shuffle, and tightness controls.
- Euclidean rhythms: Per-track Euclidean rhythm generation for polyrhythmic or mathematically distributed patterns.
- Dual export – MIDI + Audio: Export as MIDI for full DAW editing or audio WAV (24-bit) for immediate use.
- Includes 4 genre packs: Bodega Vol 1 (Lo-Fi Hip Hop), Bando Bands Vol 1 (Trap), UK Rave Vol 1 (Breakbeat), Electro Vol 1 (House/Techno). No subscription required.
“Bedroom producers face a specific workflow bottleneck: opening a DAW to make a beat, staring at an empty drum grid, and either spending significant time programming drums from scratch or browsing endless loop libraries hoping to find the right fit,” Brunson added. “Drummer-1 addresses this by generating musically appropriate drum patterns on demand, with enough variation and editing control that no two producers end up with the same result.”
Drummer-1 is available for $49.95 USD as a one-time purchase with no recurring fees. The purchase includes the base plugin (VST3/AU for macOS), 4 genre packs, unlimited pattern generation, MIDI + audio export, and free updates.
More information: Drummer-1
