PATTERN-MACHINE

PatternMachine is a rhythm-focused software groovebox built around classic drum machines, generated patterns and song arranging. Runs in the browser, as a desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, and as a plug-in inside Logic Pro.

Website: patternmachine.tongatron.org · Desktop app · Logic plug-in · Guide · The machines

Contents

• Overview
• Current releases
• Features
• Desktop app
• Logic Pro plug-in
• MIDI and DAW integration
• Screenshots
• Repository layout
• Credits

Overview

PATTERN-MACHINE is a step drum machine styled after the front panel of the E-mu SP-1200. Pick a machine, generate a beat in the style you want, edit it step by step, chain patterns into a song and take it to your DAW as MIDI, WAV, MP3 or a ready-made project folder.

It comes in three forms that share the same interface:

	Runs on	Adds
🌐 Website	any modern browser	nothing to install
🖥️ Desktop app	macOS, Windows, Linux	virtual MIDI port, sync to the DAW's MIDI Clock, drag-and-drop into the DAW timeline, projects as files, offline use, custom sample kits
🎛️ Logic plug-in	Logic Pro (AU) and other hosts (VST3)	plays inside an instrument track, sample-accurate with the host transport, state saved with the Logic project

Current releases

The current published versions are desktop app 0.2.10 and Logic plug-in 0.1.4.

Package	Version	Platforms / formats	Download
Desktop app	0.2.10	macOS Apple Silicon, Windows x64, Linux x64 AppImage	Download page
Logic plug-in	0.1.4	macOS Apple Silicon, AU + VST3	Plug-in page
Logic starter project	—	Logic Pro template, no recordings	Download the template

The starter project is based on a working Logic session and contains a PATTERN MACHINE software-instrument track, the plug-in output routed to Bus 1, Aux 1 receiving that bus, and an empty Audio Print track ready to record. The template is also included in the macOS plug-in release package.

Features

Classic machines

E-mu SP-1200 (16-bit and the original 12-bit samples), Yamaha RX-5, Roland TR-808, TR-909, TR-707, TR-727, TR-606, CR-78, CR-8000, Linn LinnDrum, Oberheim DMX, E-mu Drumulator, Sequential DrumTraks and Simmons SDS-V. Switching machine maps every row to the closest sound. Each machine shows its maker, year and specs, and the machines page covers the history of each one with photos and Wikipedia links.

Pattern generator

• 67 styles in 10 families: punk, post-punk, classic drum machines, alternative, hip hop / dance / latin, reggae / dub, breakbeat / DnB, soul / disco / afro, heavy rock / metal, electronic / club.
• One-click variations, automatic fills and a library that suggests 8 patterns whenever you change style.
• Import patterns from text (PatternTXT format) or MIDI.

Step grid

• 8, 16 or 32 steps, 40–240 BPM, swing, humanize, per-track nudge, polyrhythms, choke groups.
• Every hit can be normal, accent or ghost note.
• Per-step probability, ratchets, flam, pitch, decay and filter.
• Live recording from the pads or the keyboard (1 2 3 4 · Q W E R · A S D F · Z X C V), 80 levels of undo.
• Metronome that also runs with the transport stopped, so you can play along to a click without a beat.

Song mode

Chain patterns into blocks (verse, chorus, fill…), each with its own repeats. Drag blocks to reorder them, start playback from any point on the timeline or solo a single block.

Export

Format	What you get
MIDI (pattern or song)	General MIDI (36 kick, 38 snare, 42/46 hi-hats) or the Logic SP-1200 kit mapping; tempo, swing and ratchets included
WAV and stems	full mix and separate tracks, aligned to bar 1
MP3	for listening and sharing, works in every browser
DAW package	a folder ready for Logic Pro, Ableton Live, REAPER and other DAWs
Project / link	project JSON and a shareable link

Experimental

A Synthesizer and a Sampler are still in testing. They are off by default (switch them on from the account menu, under Synth & Sampler) and may change, so nothing else in this project depends on them.

Desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux)

Download it from the app page (requires a site account).

In the browser	In the app
Export a zip, unzip it, import it into the DAW	Drag ⠿ MIDI or ⠿ WAV straight onto the DAW timeline
No live MIDI output	Virtual MIDI port "PatternMachine": patterns play Drum Kit Designer, Drum Machine Designer or any instrument, and pad hits can be recorded in the DAW
Play and tempo set by hand	Follows the DAW's MIDI Clock: play, stop, continue, cycles and tempo
Projects synced with your account (on the server, the same in every browser)	Projects as files in ~/Music/PatternMachine/Projects, synced with the same account after signing in; exports in ~/Music/PatternMachine/Export
Needs a network connection	Works fully offline, with all the sounds

You can also import your own drum machines from a folder or zip of samples (WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, FLAC, M4A).

Platform	Build	Status
macOS	Apple Silicon, macOS 12+	tested
Windows	x64 installer	untested
Linux	x64 AppImage	untested

The builds are not signed with a commercial certificate, so the first launch needs the usual confirmation (right-click › Open on macOS, "More info › Run anyway" on Windows, chmod +x on Linux).

Logic Pro plug-in (AU / VST3)

PATTERN-MACHINE on a Logic instrument track: press Play in Logic and the patterns play in time from the right bar, with no MIDI clock to set up.

• Sample-accurate sync with Logic's transport, tempo changes, cycles and jumps.
• Audio goes through the Logic channel strip, so effects, mixer and automation work, as do real-time and offline bounces.
• The project is saved inside the Logic project and plays even with the plug-in window closed.
• → Logic: renders the open pattern (×1 to ×16 repeats) as a WAV in ~/Music/PatternMachine/Export and shows it in the Finder, ready to drag onto a Logic track. Logic's Record is just Play for the plug-in, so there is nothing to sync; the plug-in outputs audio only, no MIDI.
• Incoming MIDI notes on the track trigger the rows (C1 = row 1, as on MPK pads).
• Several instances, one row each: duplicate the track and pick a single row (BD, SD, HH…) per instance to get each drum on its own mixer channel.

Download it from the plug-in page. To add it in Logic: new Software Instrument track › Instrument slot › AU Instruments › Tongatron › PatternMachine.

The plug-in download also includes the Logic starter project, which opens with the standard PATTERN MACHINE routing already prepared and no recorded audio.

MIDI and DAW integration

The desktop app's PatternMachine virtual port works with Logic Pro, Ableton Live, REAPER, FL Studio, Cubase, Bitwig, Studio One and any DAW that sees system MIDI ports.

To…	Use
play the DAW's drum instruments	app › MIDI output (channel 10, or one channel per row)
follow the DAW's tempo and transport	DAW › send MIDI Clock (+ Start/Stop, Song Position) to PatternMachine, app › Follow DAW clock
play inside a track, sample-accurate	the AU / VST3 plug-in
work offline	export General MIDI, WAV or stems

Quick settings for the most common DAWs:

DAW	Setting
Logic Pro	Project Settings › Synchronization › MIDI: send MIDI Clock to PatternMachine
Ableton Live	Preferences › Link/Tempo/MIDI: enable Sync on the PatternMachine output
REAPER	enable PatternMachine as a MIDI device and select it as the MIDI Clock output
Cubase	Project Synchronization Setup › MIDI Clock destinations: enable PatternMachine
FL Studio	MIDI settings: enable the PatternMachine output and send master sync
Bitwig / Studio One	enable PatternMachine as a MIDI Clock and Start/Stop destination

Step-by-step instructions are in the guide.

Screenshots

Repository layout

Path	Contents
site/	the website: drum machine, pattern engine, guide, machines page, samples
desktop/	desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux (notes)
plugin/	Logic Pro plug-in, AU / VST3 (notes)
SP 1200/	original SP-1200 samples and pad mappings
legacy/	early standalone pages: the first toolkit and the single-file SP-1200
tests/	engine and site checks

To try the site locally, serve the site folder with any static server:

python3 -m http.server 8765 --directory site