HITMAKING LEGEND JIMMY JAM BRINGS ICONIC GROOVE PROGRAMMING TO EASTWEST’S NEW DRUMX™ GROOVE MACHINE

DrumX represents a unique collaboration between one of the most successful hitmakers in music history and one of the industry’s leading developers of music production software.

By combining Jimmy Jam’s legendary groove sensibility with EastWest’s award-winning sound design, DrumX delivers a new approach to beat creation — one that focuses on the element that makes records unforgettable: the groove.

“Groove is the foundation of every great record,” said Jimmy Jam. “With DrumX, producers can start with grooves that already feel great, and then build their own ideas from there.”

DrumX brings together 10 iconic drum machines — the TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, LinnDrum, LM-1, DR-55, DR-110, DMX, DrumTraks, and SP-12 — faithfully captured and ready to shape, layer, and push into new sonic territory, joined by a curated set of exclusive custom samples Jimmy Jam created for DrumX. With a powerful step sequencer, deep sound design tools, a professional effects chain, and hundreds of exclusive grooves, DrumX gives you everything you need to build beats that move people.

DrumX transcends eras. From the neon pulse of 80s Pop to the intensity of modern EDM, it includes onboard tools to shape any groove in any style — the only limit is your imagination.

DEEP CONTROLS FOR EVERY DETAIL

DrumX's user interface features a 16-pad (4x4) layout with per-pad controls and a powerful step sequencer, giving you full control over both the sounds and the grooves. From the Tape Saturation knob that dials in the perfect amount of harmonic distortion, to the Pad Inspector's array of sound-shaping parameter controls (including machine-specific parameters unique to each unit), to a master effects chain built from professional-grade processors — every element of the DrumX interface is designed for intuitive, expressive beat-making.

THE GROOVES BEHIND 42 BILLBOARD #1 HITS

DrumX Volume 1 includes hundreds of grooves created by Jimmy Jam, bringing unmatched authority to the curation and programming of this groove machine. His deep understanding of how these machines truly behave — how a TR-808 kick breathes at different decay settings, how a LinnDrum snare sits perfectly in a mix — shaped the way every sound in DrumX was created, tuned, and organized. It’s the difference between simply using a machine and truly knowing one.

Jimmy Jam is best known as one half of the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose work reshaped the sound of popular music across four decades. Jam and Lewis have earned more than 100 gold, platinum, and diamond certifications for their work with artists including Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, The Human League, and many more — accumulating 42 Billboard #1 hits — more than any other songwriting and production team in chart history. In addition to co-producing these chart-toppers and writing most of the songs, Jimmy Jam created the innovative drum programming that defined their sound.

This is a one-of-a-kind collaboration. Jimmy Jam is not creating any competing software instruments — making DrumX the only place to access his signature rhythms in software. Now you can use these grooves in your music!

KEY FEATURES OF DRUMX GROOVE MACHINE

DrumX features 10 iconic drum machines, each meticulously sampled with multiple tape saturation options and room mic captures — most with machine-specific parameter controls as well. They include the following:

The TR-808: The King of Drum Machines

One of the most influential drum machines ever made, the 808 was released in 1980 and went on to define the sound of hip-hop, electro, R&B, and countless other genres. Its deep, resonant kick drum, snappy snare, and characteristic hi-hats have appeared on hundreds of the biggest records in music history — and continue to dominate today's productions. DrumX captures all 808 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations and deep parameter control, including Tone and Decay on the kick, Tone and Snap on the snare, and Pitch controls on toms and congas.

The TR-909: The Foundation of Dance Music

Released in 1983, the 909 is the cornerstone of house, techno, and electronic dance music. Its punchy kick drum, snappy snare with adjustable pitch and snap, and crisp hi-hats — combined with its step sequencer — made it the machine of choice for the architects of club music. DrumX captures 11 909 sounds with extensive parameter sampling, including Tone, Decay, and Attack on the kick, and Pitch, Snap, and Decay on the snare.

The TR-606: Raw Lo-Fi Energy

Originally designed as a companion to the 303 bass synthesizer, the 606 delivers punchy, lo-fi drum sounds with a distinctly raw character. Its simplicity is its strength — what it lacks in programmability, it makes up for in attitude. DrumX captures all 7 606 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations.

The LM-1: The Pioneer of Sampled Drums

The LM-1, released in 1980, was the first drum machine to use high-quality digital samples of real drums, and it changed music forever. Used by artists like Prince and Gary Numan, the LM-1's sound was so distinctive it became a genre-defining instrument in its own right. DrumX captures all 11 LM-1 sounds with Pitch parameters across the board, plus Decay control on the closed hat, preserving the machine's characteristic warmth and snap. If you can find an original LM-1 in good condition, it will cost you approx. $40,000!

The LinnDrum: The Sound of 1980s Pop

The LinnDrum defined the sound of 1980s pop and new wave, appearing on iconic records by Prince, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, and hundreds more. As a more affordable sequel to the LM-1, it brought a new level of realism to electronic drum production. DrumX captures 23 LinnDrum sounds including 7 snare variants with adjustable Pitch, plus Decay control on the closed hat, preserving the machine's distinctive, snappy character.

The DR-55: Affordable Attitude

The DR-55 "Doctor Rhythm" was one of the first affordable programmable drum machines, putting rhythm programming within reach of musicians who couldn't afford larger systems. Its gritty, lo-fi four-sound palette remains charming and useful in modern productions. DrumX captures all 4 DR-55 sounds with Tone parameter controls.

The DR-110: The Compact Workhorse

The DR-110, successor to the DR-55, expanded the palette with additional sounds including a distinctive electronic clap and accent channel. Popular with new wave and synth-pop producers of the early 1980s. DrumX captures all 7 DR-110 sounds with up to 4 round-robin variations.

The DMX: Hip-Hop's Secret Weapon

The DMX was a staple of early hip-hop and electro, heard prominently in records by Run-D.M.C., Afrika Bambaataa, and many others. Its crisp, digital snare and punchy kick gave hip-hop producers a harder-edged alternative to the TR-808's analog warmth. DrumX captures 16 DMX sounds with Pitch parameters on all sounds and Attack control on the kick and snare.

The DrumTraks: The Programmer's Machine

The DrumTraks was one of the first programmable drum machines with individual outputs, giving producers unprecedented control over the mix. Its clean, punchy sounds with real-time Pitch control made it a favorite among studio professionals. DrumX captures all 13 DrumTraks sounds, with Pitch parameters featuring 16 discrete sampled steps and 4 round-robin variations.

The SP-12: The Beat Machine of Hip-Hop

The SP-12 was a groundbreaking sampling drum machine that allowed producers to sample their own sounds for the first time, and its factory sounds became staples of hip hop, funk, and electronic music. With the largest sound set of any machine in DrumX — 26 individual sounds including multiple kick and snare variants — the SP-12 offers extraordinary versatility. DrumX captures the full SP-12 library with Pitch parameters across the kicks, snares, toms, and tonal cymbals, and Decay control on the hi-hats and select cymbals, with up to 4 round-robin variations per sound.

THE ULTIMATE POP MACHINE
Unveil the magic behind the world's most beloved songs with our brand new synth collection – ICONIC. Programmed by the synth mastermind behind Michael Jackson's Thriller, ICONIC celebrates the synths and keys that shaped the soundtracks of our lives. Sampling rare synthesizers like the ARP 2600, Minimoog Model D, Oberheim OB-X, Sequential Prophet 5, Yamaha CS-80 and the Synclavier II, we have skillfully recreated some of the most iconic sounds in music history and turned them into playable instruments, supercharged with incredible new features that will allow you to transform these historic sounds into modern masterpieces.

Classic Synth Design Modernized For A New Era

ICONIC’s user interface centers around an XY Pad with 4 selectable Macro Effects that modulate multiple parameters simultaneously. Blending a vintage knob-per-function design, with sleek modern styling, all of ICONIC’s controls are easily accessible in a single page. Shape these ICONIC synth sounds from the dual filters that can be modulated, an advanced 16-step arpeggiator, multi-mode portamento (glide), and a bevy of effects to widen, pulse, distort, delay, and spatialize the final sound.

Classic Sounds Reimagined For The Future

While ICONIC features synths and sounds used in classic songs that have sold hundreds of millions of copies, it's not stuck in any time period. After recording these rare synthesizers in EastWest Studio 1, the producers also sent the sounds to analog tape machines (include a tube Studer J37) and pushed them to levels to create tape saturation and harmonic distortion for an alternative modern sound. The instruments were also re-amped into EastWest Studio 2, using multiple mic positions so the studio sound could be added to the direct sounds, a technique that was often used by Thriller recording and mixing engineer Bruce Swedien.

ICONIC’s Synth Lineup
Includes 138 GB of rare and vintage synths and keys, many stacked to recreate sounds used in the greatest hits of all time, as well as hundreds of presets. These include the following:

The Arp 2600
A Synthesizer Icon

One of the most iconic and influential synthesizers in the history of electronic music, the ARP 2600 was introduced by ARP Instruments, Inc. in 1971, and has been used by countless musicians and sound designers to create some of the most memorable sounds in music history.

The Synclavier II
A Groundbreaking Digital Synthesizer

One of the most iconic and revolutionary instruments in the history of digital music synthesis, the Synclavier II was developed by New England Digital Corporation and released in 1979. It set new standards in sound quality, versatility, and technological innovation, making it a favorite among top-tier musicians, producers, and composers.

Roland Jupiter-8
A Synthesizer Legend

Released in 1981, the Roland Jupiter-8 is one of the most iconic and revered synthesizers in the history of electronic music. Known for its lush, warm sound and powerful performance capabilities, the Jupiter-8 has been used by countless artists and producers to create some of the most memorable music of the 1980s and beyond.

Sequential Prophet-5
A Synthesizer Revolution

Introduced in 1978 by Sequential Circuits, the Sequential Prophet-5 is one of the most influential and iconic synthesizers ever created. It was the first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer, allowing musicians to store and recall patches at the touch of a button. This innovation, combined with its rich analog sound, made the Prophet-5 a favorite among musicians and producers.

Yamaha CS-80
The Synthesizer Titan

One of the most legendary and sought-after synthesizers in the history of electronic music, the CS-80 was released by Yamaha in 1977. It is known for its expressive capabilities, rich analog sound, and complex architecture, making it a favorite among musicians and composers, especially in film scoring.

Minimoog Model D
The Synthesizer Pioneer

One of the most iconic and influential synthesizers in the history of music, the Minimoog Model D, released by Moog Music in 1970, was Designed by Bob Moog and his team. It was the first synthesizer to offer the power of modular synthesis in a compact, portable form, making it accessible to a wide range of musicians.

Oberheim OB-X
A Polyphonic Synthesizer Icon

A polyphonic analog synthesizer known for its rich sound, powerful capabilities, and significant influence on the music of the late 20th century, the Oberheim OB-X was developed by Tom Oberheim and released in 1979. It is the first of Oberheim's OB series and has become a revered instrument among musicians and producers.

Fender Rhodes
The Iconic Electric Piano

Commonly referred to simply as the Rhodes, the Fender Rhodes is one of the most iconic electric pianos in the history of music. Developed by Harold Rhodes and later produced by Fender, the Rhodes has been a staple in various music genres including jazz, rock, funk, and pop, thanks to its distinctive sound and expressive capabilities.

Over 500 Presets Made For Pop, Hip Hop and Edm
The base ICONIC release includes all of these synth instruments plus hundreds of presets inspired by some of the biggest hits in music history. If you buy ICONIC in the first month of release, you will also get the BEYOND ICONIC expansion pack, which includes hundreds of presets geared towards contemporary pop, hip hop and EDM. Both ICONIC and the BEYOND ICONIC expansion pack are available for purchase and immediately available for all ComposerCloud+ subscribers.

Producers Note
ICONIC is not associated with any artist, band or production team. No samples from existing works are featured in this product, rather it features recreations of sounds using the same or similar synths and programming as the original inspirations.

WHAT WILL YOU CREATE?
ICONIC brings the magic of the world’s most beloved songs right to your fingertips. Created by synth mastermind Anthony Marinelli, the programming wizard behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller, ICONIC allows you to enjoy these classic sounds in their purest form, or twist and turn them into modern masterpieces with unparalleled new controls. Add in the BEYOND ICONIC expansion pack and you'll be able to take on any genre from any decade.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

• An all-in-one resource for every keyboard and synth sound imaginable, featuring 524 instruments made for pop, hip hop, EDM, and more.
• Legendary lineup of the most beloved and revolutionary keyboards and synthesizers of all time, sampled meticulously, and totalling a massive 138 GB of samples.
• Features original recreations of the most iconic keyboard and synthesizer sounds in the history of music, created by Michael Jackson’s Thriller synth programmer Anthony Marinelli, with additional programming from Ryan Thomas and Marco Iodice, perfectly recreated by the production team.
• Modern tape saturation drips from these instruments by pushing analog tape machines (including the tube Studer J37) to their limits to produce rich harmonic distortion.
• Reamping techniques add stereo space to the keyboards and synths using multiple mic positions recorded in EastWest Studio 2. This technique was often used by Thriller recording and mixing engineer Bruce Swedien.
• Cutting-edge effects in Iconic transform these legendary synths into contemporary masterpieces. Filter, drive, modulate, and use the MacroFX Pad to manipulate multiple parameters simultaneously for ultimate creative control.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Producer Doug Rogers:
Sound titan Doug Rogers is the highly esteemed producer and visionary behind EastWest Sounds. He is the recipient of three NAMM TEC Awards for Best Musical Instrument Software in the past five years. His dedication to quality and innovation has provided millions of musicians with tools that have changed the way music is created and produced.

Producer Eden Nagar:
Eden Nagar is a rising star engineer/producer, having worked with many artists in the hip hop, R&B, Afro Beats, and pop genres including IDK, MF Doom, Young Thug, Gunna Musiq Souldchild, Burna Boy, Kaytranasa, Mike Dean and many more. He designed the extensive FX tools onboard and worked with Rogers and Marinelli to faithfully capture these iconic instruments.

Producer Blake Rogers:
Blake Rogers has been part of the EastWest production team since Hollywood Choirs. As a project coordinator, he contributed to the development of additional products Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition, Hollywood Fantasy Orchestra and Hollywood Strings 2. For ICONIC, he used his extensive knowledge of music history to help curate hundreds of presets.

Synth programmer Anthony Marinelli:
Anthony Marinelli is a celebrated musician, composer, and programmer, best known for his work on Michael Jackson's iconic album Thriller. His contributions to the album's distinctive sound, particularly his expertise in programming state-of-the-art synthesizers, have left an indelible mark on music history. He has also recorded albums with Lionel Richie, Van Halen, Supertramp, James Brown, The Crystal Method, Elvis Costello, Giorgio Moroder and Quincy Jones.