Review: The Levine’s Machines – Drum Machine (LM-DM) by Iconic Instruments

Over the last few year’s we’ve seen the term Lo-Fi come and go. Of all the new age genres to come and go in the last decade Lo-Fi seems to have stuck on in some form or the other. I think this really speaks to the nostalgia factor of genres like this really working. The nostalgia seems to communicate itself even to the Gen-Z that doesn’t necessarily carry the cultural influences from their childhood. My point being, some of the sounds of the 80’s are eternal and apart from the distinctive reverbs, nothing summarises the 80’s sound like the drum machines of the era. 

The Levine’s Machines – Drum Machine (LM-DM) by Iconic Instruments, made in collaboration with Steve Levine, best known for his work on Culture Club and the Beach Boys, aims to bring that iconic sound to a computer near you. Sure, they could’ve just created a sample pack with all the sounds, but they’ve gone above and beyond to try to bring the experience of working with these wonderful machines. Let’s see if it is any good!

The first in the Levine’s Machines series, the Levine’s Machines – Drum Machine, is a perfect emulation of Steve’s original drum machine unit that appeared on all of his most famous recordings.  The Levine’s Machines – Drum Machine, being one of just roughly 500 units, is a rarity that not only has the provenance of being a central part of Steve’s career, but the same model appeared on so many hits from the 1980’s, including recordings by Michael Jackson, Prince, Human League, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, and many, many more.  

Modern function wrapped in Retro Magic 

The UI captures the vibe instantly. The quality of the graphics is really great and there is just enough grit and dirt on the design to make it seem really tactile and nostalgic. Even for someone who has never seen one of these in my life, it does almost feel familiar. The buttons, switches and LEDs truly sell the illusion. 

So the plugin essentially features 2 main tabs – Drum/Mixer Panel and the Sequencer Panel.  

The Drum/Mixer Panel is the main character here. Each of the sounds are represented by a trigger pad which you can use to audition the sounds or trigger them manually. You can tune each of the sounds with a tiny knob next to the pad. Each of the sounds have their own little channel strip as well with Drive, Compressor/limiter, Transient shaper and a 4 band EQ – just enough control. There is a whole separate section if you’d like to apply these for the whole kit itself as well. The delay and reverb section is tucked away in the same space, readily available and just as flexible.

These controls have a very classic Neve style (from Steve’s personal collection) look to them and ties well into the other UI. There is a central mixer that allows you to adjust pan, change volume, and change send levels for the built-in effects. You can even route them to different outputs in your DAW (up to 14!). 

The Sequencer is where nostalgia hits hardest. It’s classic 16-step and super customisable. You can draw your own patterns, have random patterns and have it run in sync with your DAW.

One button Time Machine

To the right person, all you have to do is open the plugin and hit play. The sounds take you back instantly. As you cycle through the presets, you cycle through the history of some of the biggest hits that have shaped the global music scene. 

The quality of the sounds is really high and satisfying. However, the thing that really makes this plugin is all the thought that has gone into making it relevant and usable to the modern producer. When I say producer, I mean every kind – the ones that want a quick beat for inspiration, the ones that want to just play around with a bunch of sounds and have fun, to the ones that want to get in depth and mess with things. 

The ability to tune and shape the sounds so easily makes this plugin extremely pliable. The add-ons sound fantastic as well. The EQ itself is a great EQ, I almost wish I could have this as a standalone plugin to throw on other sources as well. The Drive pushes things just enough without completely obliterating them, and the reverbs and delays blend with the sources seamlessly. 

The fact that you have the routing options to make this machine integrate into your DAW so effortlessly is the cherry on top. 

Personal Thoughts

This is a great plugin for the right person. Is it an absolute necessity? Probably not. But it is almost like a little thing you can treat yourself to. It’s a joy to use and brings the character of old drum machines to life in a way that’s both enjoyable and practical. Whether you’re producing synthwave, 80s pop, modern funk, lo-fi, or even contemporary indie tracks, this plugin offers a treasure trove of sounds with unmistakable pedigree.

Find out more about LM-DM from Iconic Instruments.