Beatmaker 3 vs DMC60

Beatmaker 3 is a virtual drum machine for building beats from ready-made kits, rhythmic phrases, and built-in effects. It brings the Beatmaker titles a user owns into one plugin with unified controls. Its browser can search by mood, genre, or BPM and preview kits and loops from titles the user does not own. Each title includes 10 genre-specific drum kits and rhythmic phrases that can be triggered in real time. The mixer offers per-track volume, pan, filter, ambience, saturation, and individual output routing. MIDI can be dragged into a DAW for editing or layering with other instruments. Beatmaker 3 supports 64-bit VST 2, VST 3, AU 2, and AAX; AU 2 requires Logic Pro X or newer, and AAX does not have native Apple Silicon support. It is listed for iOS, macOS, and Windows, with Windows 10–11 and macOS Big Sur 11 through macOS Tahoe 26 listed as requirements. Individual titles cost $49 as a one-time purchase, while the 17-instrument bundle costs $99.50, paid once. A free 7-day trial is available; there is no free plan.

DMC60 is a drum machine and sampler for use in a DAW or as a standalone desktop app. Its sequencer holds 99 patterns, with six swing settings from 50% to 71% and independent track lengths. Sampling tools provide eight banks of 16 pads, with transient, even, marker-based, and live chopping. It loads WAV, AIFF, AIF, and FLAC files, or can turn a folder into a kit. Sampling can use 12-bit, 24-bit, or 32-bit float resolution, with playback for vintage character or at the stored resolution. DMC60 also includes a keygroup synth and 21 synthesized drum voices inspired by the 808 and 909. Mixing features include track EQ, master compression, eight send buses, and six insert slots per track, bus, and master; projects can be exported as audio or stems. It supports VST3 on Mac and Windows, AU on Mac, DAW sync, and Ableton Link in standalone mode. Pricing is $9.99 per month or $129.00 one-time.