Beatmaker 3 vs Playbeat 4
Beatmaker 3
ujam.comPlaybeat 4
audiomodern.comSide by side
| Figure | Beatmaker 3 | Playbeat 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Drum Machine Software | 8.4 (#5) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Headquarters | Bremen, Germany | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Plugin formats | Beatmaker supports 64-bit VST 2, VST 3, AU 2, and AAX formats; AU 2 requires Logic Pro X or newer, and AAX has no Apple Silicon native support. | Desktop formats are VST3, AU, AAX and standalone; iPadOS formats are AUv3 and standalone. |
| Support | UJAM provides a Beatmaker 3 FAQ and user guide, and its support center lets users submit a request. | Audiomodern provides help and support, a community forum, email contact, tutorials and product registration links. |
Plans
Beatmaker 3
- Individual Beatmaker title$49, paid once
- Beatmaker 3 Bundle$99.50, paid once
Playbeat 4
- Playbeat 4 upgrade€29, paid once
- Playbeat 4€89, paid once
- Playbeat 4 + All Expansions€99, paid once
In their own words
Beatmaker 3
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.
Playbeat 4
Playbeat 4 is a drum designer for creating patterns, sounds, grooves, and remixes. Its genre-based randomization generates patterns for selected music styles, with control over beat complexity. Eight pattern tracks support sequencing, and the factory library includes patterns, sounds, and 1500 kits. MIDI output can control other plugins or external hardware, and supported DAWs include Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper, and Reason.
Desktop versions come as VST3, AU, AAX, or standalone for macOS 10.14 and newer or Windows 10 and newer, including native Apple Silicon M1/M2 compatibility. On iPad, formats are AUv3 and standalone; that app requires a separate purchase from desktop. The unlimited-time trial includes the factory library and algorithms, but disables MIDI output, importing personal sounds, and saving presets. Playbeat 4 costs €89, paid once, the version with all expansions costs €99, paid once, and previous-version owners can upgrade for €29 as a one-time purchase.