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June 3, 2026
All-Star Beat-Making Gear
Sample, Loop, and Build Beats With These Picks
Samplers, drum machines, and grooveboxes have been behind hundreds of dance, hip-hop, and electronic hit records dating back to the '70s. Today, these devices are just as popular as ever, whether they're recreations of classic drum machines, or an entire production suite built into a piece of hardware.
This All-Star Gear list is stacked with our customers' favorite beat-making gear. Check it out to find something to help kick off your beat-making journey, or to take your creations to the next level!
See more All-Star Gear Guides »
This All-Star Gear list is stacked with our customers' favorite beat-making gear. Check it out to find something to help kick off your beat-making journey, or to take your creations to the next level!
Native Instruments Maschine MK3 Groove Production Studio
Our Customers Say...
"This production instrument right here is hands down one of the best tools to make music with, period, point blank! Tons of sounds and so many functions and features that you can't go wrong."
- Ricky in Statesboro, GA
"Very well thought-out as far as the design and ease of use. It makes it very pleasant to interact with it and spend hours and hours building and rebuilding arrangements. Also, I love all the NI sounds!"
- Fyodor in Chicago, IL
"I've always liked Maschine because of the ease of making an idea come together fast."
- Damie in Memphis, TN
Own it for $499.00 or 8 payments of $62.38!
"This production instrument right here is hands down one of the best tools to make music with, period, point blank! Tons of sounds and so many functions and features that you can't go wrong."
- Ricky in Statesboro, GA
"Very well thought-out as far as the design and ease of use. It makes it very pleasant to interact with it and spend hours and hours building and rebuilding arrangements. Also, I love all the NI sounds!"
- Fyodor in Chicago, IL
"I've always liked Maschine because of the ease of making an idea come together fast."
- Damie in Memphis, TN
Own it for $499.00 or 8 payments of $62.38!
Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine
Our Customers Say...
"I was seriously surprised at: A. How easy this machine is to use and, B. The quality of the drum sounds. You can tell that these are REAL drum sounds and not computerized beats."
- Shawn in Palm Bay, FL
"Beginner or pro, this is a machine to reckon with. I was never able to express exactly what it was I was trying to [get] across, until I picked this up."
- A Happy Owner
"There is something magical about just hooking this up anywhere, padding out quick beats and fills, and launching into ideas anywhere, anytime when minus a drummer."
- Dave in Boston, MA
Own it for $159.00 or 6 payments of $26.50!
"I was seriously surprised at: A. How easy this machine is to use and, B. The quality of the drum sounds. You can tell that these are REAL drum sounds and not computerized beats."
- Shawn in Palm Bay, FL
"Beginner or pro, this is a machine to reckon with. I was never able to express exactly what it was I was trying to [get] across, until I picked this up."
- A Happy Owner
"There is something magical about just hooking this up anywhere, padding out quick beats and fills, and launching into ideas anywhere, anytime when minus a drummer."
- Dave in Boston, MA
Own it for $159.00 or 6 payments of $26.50!
Teenage Engineering EP-133 KO II Sampler Composer
Our Customers Say...
"I would recommend this to anyone that likes to make music, and is looking for a low cost entry into a standalone sequencer sampler. You can get a lot done with this unit, and you'll have fun doing it!"
- GODSOWN DJ
"To totally sum up my sentiments about this little machine, I am HIGHLY IMPRESSED and satisfied with the purchase. I can't believe the features this little machine offers for such a low price!!"
- A Happy Owner
"Amazing little beat box calculator! Was creating beats and songs in a short amount of time. Sounds great, simple to use, but deep enough to get some unique sounds."
- A Happy Owner
Own it for $329.00 or 8 payments of $41.13!
"I would recommend this to anyone that likes to make music, and is looking for a low cost entry into a standalone sequencer sampler. You can get a lot done with this unit, and you'll have fun doing it!"
- GODSOWN DJ
"To totally sum up my sentiments about this little machine, I am HIGHLY IMPRESSED and satisfied with the purchase. I can't believe the features this little machine offers for such a low price!!"
- A Happy Owner
"Amazing little beat box calculator! Was creating beats and songs in a short amount of time. Sounds great, simple to use, but deep enough to get some unique sounds."
- A Happy Owner
Own it for $329.00 or 8 payments of $41.13!
Arturia DrumBrute Impact Drum Machine
Our Customers Say...
"The DrumBrute Impact for the price alone and features is worth getting. More punch on the kick and snares, the fm drum and distortion are amazing and the color feature is a game changer."
- Keith
"I love the sound of this thing. The distortion is a great touch, it pairs really well with the snares/claps especially with long decays. The individual outs in the back are a huge plus for recording and I was surprised at how full the snare sounded on its own."
- Josh in Kannapolis, NC
Own it for $299.00 or 8 payments of $37.38!
"The DrumBrute Impact for the price alone and features is worth getting. More punch on the kick and snares, the fm drum and distortion are amazing and the color feature is a game changer."
- Keith
"I love the sound of this thing. The distortion is a great touch, it pairs really well with the snares/claps especially with long decays. The individual outs in the back are a huge plus for recording and I was surprised at how full the snare sounded on its own."
- Josh in Kannapolis, NC
Own it for $299.00 or 8 payments of $37.38!
Roland MC-101 Groovebox Music Production Workstation
Our Customers Say...
"Got this to create music on the plane or waiting for lunch. I really love the purchase I made! I like the sounds, lightweight, able to sample from USB, controls and pad velocity. The sounds on this machine are amazing."
- Hunter in Chicago, IL
"Really powerful little 4-track groovebox and synth. The classic Roland sounds, acoustic instruments, decent orchestral instruments, and a real tweakable synth."
- A Happy Owner
"Overall it's a good little unit. Only 4 tracks, but if you can look past, that you'll be good to go until you want to upgrade."
- A Happy Owner
Own it for $571.99 or 8 payments of $71.50!
"Got this to create music on the plane or waiting for lunch. I really love the purchase I made! I like the sounds, lightweight, able to sample from USB, controls and pad velocity. The sounds on this machine are amazing."
- Hunter in Chicago, IL
"Really powerful little 4-track groovebox and synth. The classic Roland sounds, acoustic instruments, decent orchestral instruments, and a real tweakable synth."
- A Happy Owner
"Overall it's a good little unit. Only 4 tracks, but if you can look past, that you'll be good to go until you want to upgrade."
- A Happy Owner
Own it for $571.99 or 8 payments of $71.50!
Elektron Syntakt Drum Computer and Synthesizer
Our Customers Say...
"Like any instrument, it takes time to master but once you do, you'll be crafting complex polyrhythms, lush pads, stabby synths, and thumping drums into songs/patterns that you never thought possible. 10/10"
- Andrew in Macon, GA
"I wanted a machine where I could truly manipulate the rhythms and sounds. Fortunately the wizards and magicians at Elektron wove together a magic machine called the Sytakt. The endless sound and pattern possibilities is exactly what I've been looking for."
- John in Asheville, NC
"Just got this today and I've already gotten some crazy sound out of it I've never gotten with any of my other gear. It's compact and portable if you need to travel with it."
- Elliott in Los Angeles, CA
Own it for $1,149.00 or payments of !
"Like any instrument, it takes time to master but once you do, you'll be crafting complex polyrhythms, lush pads, stabby synths, and thumping drums into songs/patterns that you never thought possible. 10/10"
- Andrew in Macon, GA
"I wanted a machine where I could truly manipulate the rhythms and sounds. Fortunately the wizards and magicians at Elektron wove together a magic machine called the Sytakt. The endless sound and pattern possibilities is exactly what I've been looking for."
- John in Asheville, NC
"Just got this today and I've already gotten some crazy sound out of it I've never gotten with any of my other gear. It's compact and portable if you need to travel with it."
- Elliott in Los Angeles, CA
Own it for $1,149.00 or payments of !
Roland TR-6S Rhythm Performer Drum Machine
Our Customers Say...
"As a house producer, this was one of the best purchases I bought for my DAW-less set up. I love that it's battery powered, portability, features like scatters and the sounds from the classic Roland drum machines and many more."
- Hunter in San Francisco, CA
"You can have up to 8 variations for a pattern, and it's seamless to switch between them. You can record effects changes in real time too. The sliders are great. Also, this machine syncs with my Electro-Harmonix 45000 looper, so I have keyboards and synths looping in sync while I manipulate the beat."
- Michael G in Tariffville, CT
Own it for $453.99 or 8 payments of $56.75!
"As a house producer, this was one of the best purchases I bought for my DAW-less set up. I love that it's battery powered, portability, features like scatters and the sounds from the classic Roland drum machines and many more."
- Hunter in San Francisco, CA
"You can have up to 8 variations for a pattern, and it's seamless to switch between them. You can record effects changes in real time too. The sliders are great. Also, this machine syncs with my Electro-Harmonix 45000 looper, so I have keyboards and synths looping in sync while I manipulate the beat."
- Michael G in Tariffville, CT
Own it for $453.99 or 8 payments of $56.75!
