Alban Bailly has launched Marmite, a free drum machine designed to generate and transform rhythmic patterns in real time. The instrument is available as a standalone application and in AU and VST3 formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Marmite uses eight synthesised drum voices: Kick, Snare, Clap, Closed Hat, Open Hat, Perc, Crash, and Tom. The instrument does not require a sample library, although each voice can alternatively load user-provided WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, or OGG files.
Rather than operating solely as a conventional programmed sequencer, Marmite continuously creates pattern variations according to its parameter settings. Its three autonomous modulation layers are named Wild, Space, and Evolution.
- Wild changes the overall groove complexity.
- Space varies the density of the complete drum kit.
- Evolution changes individual controls over time.
Marmite includes factory presets intended as starting points, alongside a preset system for saving, recalling, and building user libraries. A Randomize function is also provided for creating further variations.
The plugin can send each generated drum hit through MIDI output on a standard drum channel, allowing its pattern engine to control external drum instruments, software plugins, or hardware modules. It also supports MIDI Learn for hardware controller assignment and host synchronisation for use within DAW sessions.
The release is intended for users who want to create evolving rhythmic material from a synthesised drum kit, while retaining the option to use their own audio files and route generated patterns to other MIDI-capable instruments.
Marmite is available as a free download, with optional donations.
Set a dev alert for Alban Bailly (Alioso).
AI assisted with DSP / audio code
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