Baby Audio - Tekno

Tekno is Baby Audio's drum synth plugin, for synthesising kicks, snares, hats and percussion from scratch rather than loading samples. It's a modern take on the classic drum machines of the 80s and 90s, aimed squarely at techno, house and electronic beats.

How it works

There are 18 drum engines, each its own synthesiser: two kicks, two snares, three hats, toms, clap, rimshot, congas, ride, cowbell, block, crash and a tonal voice. They combine analogue circuit modelling (built with circuit-modelling engineer Jatin Chowdhury), FM and digital synthesis. Because each hit is generated through a non-linear modelled circuit, no two hits are quite identical, which is a big part of why old analogue drum machines feel alive. Humanise controls push that further, varying timbre, velocity and timing.

The sequencer supports variable step lengths and lane speeds for polyrhythms, chance per step, smart randomisation and auto-fill. Patterns and individual sounds drag straight into the DAW. Each voice can go through modelled tape saturation, excitation and compression, and the whole kit through a limiter and clipper.

The sound

Hard, deep and punchy. The kicks have real weight, and the clipper at the end gives the kit that pushed, finished sound. Busy patterns need the clip dialled back, single hits love it.

Verdict

If you've ever wished your 909 went a bit further, this is it. Bang for buck at the price.

Features

• 18 drum synth engines
• Analogue circuit modelling, FM and digital synthesis
• Humanise for timbre, velocity and timing
• Sequencer with variable step lengths, lane speeds and chance
• Smart randomisation and auto-fill
• Drag-and-drop sounds and MIDI patterns
• Per-voice tape, exciter and compressor; master limiter and clipper
• Deep calibration and circuit-bending options
• 72 kit presets and 1,296 voice presets

System requirements

• Version: 1.1.1
• Mac: macOS 10.11 or later, native on Apple Silicon. VST2, VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
• Windows: Windows 10 or newer. VST2, VST3, AAX (64-bit)
• Plugin and standalone application

SOUND7 is an authorised Baby Audio reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.

Demo