F9 Audio's FREE Beat Machine

We covered F9 Audio's new F9 Kits Vol 1 a couple of weeks back - amongst that news was the brand new (and completely free) F9 Audio Beat Machine. Here we have an overview of the software from James Wiltshire (The Freemasons and F9), which covers all kinds of features including pad configurations, ratchets, polyrhythms, and audio export. Much more to learn in the video and plenty of details below. 

Try it for yourself here: https://apps.f9-audio.com/beat-machine/

F9 Beat Machine is a free online drum machine that runs entirely in your browser: 16 pads, SP-1200 and LinnDrum-style lo-fi emulation, per-pad convolution reverb, ratchets, polyrhythms and one-click stem export. This complete walkthrough covers every feature of the F9 Beat Machine, from loading free kits to rendering stems straight into your DAW. Each pad has its own sound design chain. You get a preamp with tube, tape, transistor and diode drive, 8-bit EPROM playback inspired by the LinnDrum and DMX, and 12-bit SP-1200 emulation with raw, dynamic and static filter modes. There is also a 3-band EQ, filters, a compressor, a maximizing limiter and a convolution reverb. That reverb lets you edit impulse responses like the EMT 250 into tight gated reverbs. On the sequencing side, this browser drum machine gives you:
 

• 8 patterns and a song chain editor
• Fine swing with decimal control
• Per-step lanes for velocity, pitch, position and pan _ Random and noise humanization _ Ratchets with velocity curves _ Probability, mute groups and round robin samples
• VCA-style fader grouping
• Compound time and per-pad polyrhythms When your beat is done, you can export:
• A stereo mix 16 BPM-tagged Stereo stems - A full multitrack iof your beat
• MPC-ready WAV metadata MIDI patterns for Logic, Cubase or Studio One
• Groove templates as MIDI and Ableton .agr files

 

KEY TOPICS COVERED

• Loading free kits and the F9 Beat Machine interface
• Per-pad preamp, lo-fi, envelope, EQ and dynamics
• Convolution reverb and impulse response editing
• Patterns, song mode and MIDI controller input
• Swing, groove templates and exporting to Ableton
• Rendering stereo mixes and 16 stems
• Humanization with random and noise lanes
• Ratchets, probability and mute groups for hi-hats
• Loop chopping, BPM detection and time stretching
• Fast drum sample editor shortcuts
• Polyrhythms and compound time
• Round robins, VCA faders and pad render resampling
• Importing your own samples and renaming pads
• Privacy: everything stays local in your browser

Already own compatible F9 packs? Sign in with your F9 account to unlock the corresponding content, or build your own kits from individual sounds and samples. Your imported audio stays locally in your browser. It isn't uploaded to us or used for AI training. Start with the free kits and see where the groove takes you. Optional paid kits help support the running and continued development of F9 Beat Machine. What would you make with it first? Let us know in the comments.

0:00 Intro & Loading Free Kits 0:24 Interface Overview 1:37 Per-Pad Amp & Lo-Fi Controls 3:05 Filters, EQ & Dynamics 4:19 Per-Pad Convolution Reverb 5:53 Patterns & Song Mode 7:13 Recording & MIDI Input 8:07 Swing & Groove Export 9:31 Rendering Mixes & Stems 10:29 Step Parameter Lanes 11:53 Random & Noise Humanization 13:57 Ratchets & Probability 15:21 Loop Playback & Chopping 16:24 Mute Groups & Sound Types 17:36 Loop Tempo Detection 19:00 Sample Editor Shortcuts 21:08 Compound Time & Polyrhythms 22:08 Preferences Walkthrough 24:04 Round Robin Editing 24:46 VCA Fader Groups 25:40 Pad Render Bouncing 27:05 Kit Browser & Buying Packs 28:49 Building a Kit From Drums 32:47 Importing Your Own Sounds 33:49 Renaming, Copying & MIDI Export 35:41 Wrap-Up & Privacy

More from F9 Audio

• Acapella Insights vs Final Mix 22-Jul-26
• FREE Spectral Match Tool from F9 Audio 27-Mar-26
• The Ultimate HiHat Collection 29-Jul-25
• Drop In To F9 Studios 28-Dec-24
• F9 Audio iFunk II ft Robin Boult 02-Nov-24