Drambo 2.49 is out now and introduces the Code module, which lets you create your own modules, alongside other smaller additions.
Drambo is one of the best iOS grooveboxes. Certainly the most comprehensive, as it’s powered by a modular Synthesizer that offers almost endless possibilities.
The latest update, 2.49, brings another set of excellent features to Drambo. One is a door opener for custom modules.
Drambo 2.49 introduces the Code module, a real-time programmable DSP block. It uses a simple custom expression language + interpreter. Write code live while it plays, in butter or per-sample mode, with a toolbox of filters, envelopes, and common DSP ops.
This allows you to develop your own modules, further expanding the possibilities in Drambo. As if we didn’t already have tons of options in the engine, there are even more now.
It also ships with a new classic subtractive oscillator module (oscillator (PM)) with four waveforms, phase modulation, precise sync, and phase/beat-style detuning. Alongside this, the LFO module now offers a random walk mode.
Nice, Drambo projects are also now up to 4x smaller when saved without samples. There are also some workflow improvements. The sample view now supports a new gesture: drag up to zoom in and drag down to zoom out.
Additionally, the AUv3 plugins in Drambo can be sorted by name or by usage frequency + name (default). Lastly, there are various bug fixes.
Big thanks to Beepstreet for this impressive free update. The new updates are available now as a free download from the Apple App Store for existing users. Drambo is out now for $19,99 and runs on macOS (native Apple Silicon) and iOS.
Update from August 30, 2025
Update 2.45 introduces the MI Plaits macro oscillator, new effects, and more to the modular groovebox app (iOS/macOS).
Drambo is a powerful modular groovebox for iOS/macOS that has been massively expanded in features for free since its release in 2020. Some new modules are available as affordable in-app purchases.
Five years after the release, the update celebrations continue, and existing users can once again look forward to new features. The latest updates, 2.4 and 2.45, are now available, adding numerous new features.
Let’s start with the modules. A highlight is the new macro oscillator module based on the famous Mutable Instruments Plaits Eurorack module. It includes all 24 synth engines, including the latest FM, wave terrain, string machine, chip tune, and more.
It also features a built-in low-pass gate and decaying envelope, allowing it to function as a self-contained voice for plucky and percussive sounds. Unlike the module, the synth engine (input) in Drambo is polyphonic, giving you more voicing options.
Then, it ships with new modules as a grain shifter, a limiter (brickwall, true-peak detection), and a transient detector. Users of the Waves Extension in-app can explore a new spectral freeze module, while Formant extension IAP users get a speech synthesis module.
Also, the sequencer got a welcome boost. It now supports time signatures, polyrhythms, and polymeter functionalities. You can also now mute steps on the fly.
Drambo 2.4 also boosts the MIDI mapping options with a mappable step sequencer and navigator. Further, it adds support for bidirectional communication. With this, controllers receive updates from Drambo to reflect the current parameter and UI state.
Other new features are:
- Added four virtual Shift buttons and mapping conditions.
- Support for MIDI mapping profiles (persistent across sessions).
- Several ready-to-use mappings for popular controllers are included.
All in all, another big free update for the modular groovebox. The new updates are available now as a free download from the Apple App Store for existing users. Drambo is out now for $19,99.
Update from January 18, 2025
Two years have already passed, and during this time, Drambo has received several more minor improvements, as well as two significant new sound design-focused modules: a new spectral filter and a vocoder module.
Fantastic to see how many updates the app got in the past months and years. Thanks a lot.
Update from September 6, 2023
It’s time for another major Drambo update. Beepstreet has released update 2.25, introducing excellent new features.
The highlights are new wavetable capabilities (draw or waveshape wavetable, new type of wavetable modulation…), a new IAP DSP extension featuring two new modules: wavescanner and BBD resonator, and more.
Update from January 20, 2023
I took a little break from reporting on Drambo updates, but now there is another update. The new minor update 2.23 is now available, introducing a new wavetable LFO module.
Another additions are:
- settings: ability to disable computer keyboard mapping to piano keys.
- Flexi sampler: Playback is not blocked when the recording panel is visible. Previous behaviour is available in module options
Update from May 13, 2022
Big news for Beepstret. Drambo 2.0 is now available for download, taking the modular groovebox to the next level. The first thing you notice is something visual in the new update. Beepstreep has redesigned the user interface with significant workflow improvements.
A big highlight of the new update 2.0 is the all-new arranger and clip launcher, which makes Drambo even more of a standalone modular DAW.
Part of this addition is a new piano roll featuring seven detailed step sequence editors, including an SH-101-style auto-advance step recording mode (with rest/tie style). A customizable on-screen keyboard with scales is also included.
It also supports parameter automation recordings. An advanced curve editor/designer with cubic Bezier curves and various drawing tools gives you even more options to create modulation and automations in your track.
There are also tons of new features for the individual modules and core functions of the app. Drambo 2.0 also introduces many new modules to explore.
The wavetable oscillator module now features an upgraded wave effect module with new modes, as well as new wave motion and wave vocoder modules. Then, the new morph module allows you to morph and modulate multiple parameters in the rack – a convenient addition.
Other new modules are: gate declicker, pc generator, MIDI strum generator, buttons, and an FDN module that is an advanced feedback delay network. And there are more new features:
- maximum polyphony increased to 16 voices
- Drag’n’drop samples, clips, and patterns
- Clip lock – lock parameters on a clip
- Library window search
- new file manager
- MIDI learn: you can now assign the same CC to multiple targets
Update from April 7, 2021
The powerful Drambo modular groovebox app keeps growing. The latest update, version 1.40, introduces a highly anticipated feature that many have been waiting for. It now supports multi-channel audio interfaces, providing you with greater audio routing flexibility.
Then, you can explore a new analog filter module with six types of nonlinear filters (4x oversampled, high quality processing).
Also, a neat addition is the new external CV instrument module, allowing you to control external modular synths via DC-coupled audio interfaces. A new MIDI-to-CV module and a new audio output module are included with this. Tap Tempo is now also onboard.
An excellent free update for Drambo. Thanks a lot, Beepstreet.
Updates from January 3 and February 13, 2021
In the past few weeks, Beeptstreet has expanded its modular groovebox app once again with new features.
The new update 1.31 from January 3 adds three new MIDI-related modules: the MIDI mixer module with mute buttons, the MIDI channel filter, and the MIDI pitchbend generator/modifier. Also neat is that it now has support for MIDi program changes.
The recent February update, Beepstreet, introduces a new module browser window that makes it more straightforward to scroll through the available modules.
The update is available for free to existing users.
Update from December 11, 2020
Good news for Drambo users. Beepstreet has released update 1.3.0, adding AUv3 plugin hosting in the standalone app. It supports all AUve unit types and multi-output.
Additionally, it features a new CPU meter, support for sustain pedals, and Bluetooth keyboards. Plus, there is a new hold step + play function to start playback from a selected beat.
The update is available for free to existing users.
Article from April 1, 2020
Grooveboxes are numerous on iOS. Just yesterday, Time Exile released his Endlesss app with which musicians can virtually jam together. Beepstreet goes a completely different way with its new app Drambo.
He shreds a typical groovebox engine (synth, sample-based sounds, effects…) into individual components that allows users to customize every instrument according to their taste. In simple words: Drambo is a powerful modular groovebox without a prefined engine.
The individual modular components are used here to build synthesized and sample-based instruments or flexible audio effect processors using high-quality DSP and audio-rate modulation. All this is tied to a creative sequencer with advanced features.
Modular Engine
Thanks to the modular engine, Drambo can be much more than just a normal groovebox. It allows you to build custom synths or sample-based instruments using various oscillators, samplers, and additional features. BeepStreet has even built its beloved physical modeling synthesis engine from the Impaktor app.
Well, a similar one. With the help of a microphone, you can turn your table into a powerful physical modelling instrument. Over 120 modules (oscillators, samplers, LFOs, envelopes, filters, audio effects, MIDI processors, mixers, math functions…) are currently available that connect automatically without cables and give you the freedom to add/rearrange them at any time.
With a morph groups function, you can also morph many parameters using a single slider, that’s handy.
A dynamic interface creates modulation knobs when you need them. Modules may contain other modules, allowing you to keep your patch well-organized. Of course, automatic connections can be overridden.
In Drambo, you can focus on playing with sound and signal structure without getting lost in wires. Drambo makes modular work easier thanks to cable-less, drag ‘n’ drop, color coding, dynamic interface, automatic connections, rack views, and directional signal flow.
The latter means the signal flows only left to right, which makes routing and patching very simple. Instant feedback routings are not possible, but delayed feedback is available in certain modules.
What makes Drambo so powerful is the fact that it can be a lot at the same time: a mono synth, a polyphonic synth with 8 voices (per modular instrument rack), a drum synth, a sampler, modular effect processor or just a classic groovebox. Plus it offers stereo-processing and audio-rate modulation for the mod section.
Creative Sequencer
Drambo works equally well as a self-contained standalone app or audio unit plugin with audio and MIDI connectivity as an AUV3 instrument, audio effect, and MIDI effect.
No modular experience is necessary to get started playing with preset sounds and effects. It is also available as an AUv3 Synthesizer or effect processor in other DAWs, but without the sequencer. So you have a very powerful modular synth as the AUv3 instrument on top.
Additionally, it offers MPE support, allowing for expressive playing. According to the developer, Drambo is an open-ended app, and so it’s just the beginning. Many modules and updates are planned for the future.
I haven’t tested this app yet, but I read and saw so far is very exciting. It may even be one of the best synthesizer relation apps of 2020. Congrats, Jaroslaw, this is a monster synth app.
BeepStreet Drambo is available now on the Apple AppStore for $19.99 USD.
More information here: BeepStreet
One of my favourite goto apps on my iPad Pro but the real bonus here is that it works beautifully on Mac as well 🙂