Developer DAWJunkie has released Drumbo Jr, a free drum machine for macOS and Windows.
Drumbo is something of a departure from the norm, as we typically see synth tributes (like the DT-600 Mini) and quirky FX plugins (like Knobs) from DAWJunkie.
This time, we’ve got Drumbo Jr, the developer’s first drum machine, and it’s free for a limited time.
Although Drumbo Jr is a first for DAWJunkie, most elements of the product and process are very familiar.
Drumbo Jr is available in AU, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS and Windows, and it’s free for a limited, but undefined, time.
A quick look at the interface tells you it takes the same user-friendly approach as previous DAWJunkie releases: providing easily accessible controls and ready-to-use sounds.
Drumbo Jr has eight pads and ten factory kits. If you don’t get what you need from the factory kits, you can drag and drop samples directly onto the pads.
The factory kits are a pretty decent start, and there are plenty of things to tweak to create the sound, space, and character you’re after.
Drumbo Jr offers twelve adjustable parameters per pad: when you select a pad, the visible controls apply to that pad.
The available controls include Attack, Hold, Decay, a resonant filter, Crunch (saturation), Volume, Pan, a three-band EQ, Compressor, and Reverb.
These controls let you define the impact of each hit, carve out some of the highs, add a little grit, position sounds in the stereo field, and give them a little space.
That’s the per-pad controls, then you have a Master FX section with Delay, Reverb, Saturation, and Phaser.
The general sound of Drumbo Jr is in the same ballpark as DAWJunkie synths; it’s great for various sorts of electronic music with a definite retro 80s vibe.
Of course, you can add custom samples and just take advantage of the user-friendly workflow.
The premium version of Drumbo is coming soon, and I imagine there will be an opportunity to upgrade for a bargain-bin price.
Speaking of bargains, check out DAWJunkie’s Dollar Bin for some cheap deals.
Download: Drumbo Jr. (FREE)
More:
- Hyperfocus DSP releases Niner, a FREE open-source 909-style kick drum synth
- Chaos Tones releases Deviant Drums FREE II, a FREE acoustic drum kit for Kontakt Player
Last Updated on June 26, 2026 by Tomislav Zlatic.
