
DM1 – The Drum Machine
DM1 – The Drum Machine is Fingerlab’s beat-making software for building patterns and arranging them into songs.
What DM1 – The Drum Machine is
DM1 – The Drum Machine is Fingerlab’s beat-making software for building patterns and arranging them into songs. Its multitouch step sequencer handles 16- or 32-step patterns, while drum pads let you perform and record beats with automatic quantization. The iPad product page lists 108 vintage and produced drum kits. A mixer provides channel-level volume, pitch, sample-length, mute and solo controls, along with custom drum-kit settings. Effects include overdrive, delay, reverb, phaser, filters, compressor and noise gate. For full compositions, place patterns on a timeline by dragging and dropping them. The iPad app can import samples from the iPod Library, microphone, Dropbox, AudioCopy and iTunes shared folder, and export audio through SoundCloud, Dropbox, Facebook, email, iTunes shared folder or AudioCopy. Listed music connections include full MIDI, Audiobus, Ableton Link and Inter-App Audio. Fingerlab says the Mac app is compatible with the iPad version and can share files with it. The iPhone app costs $4.99, paid once; the iPad and Mac apps each cost $9.99, paid once.
Good
- 16- or 32-step pattern sequencing
- Drum-pad recording with automatic quantization
- Mixer includes per-channel controls
- Multiple listed effects and music integrations
- Users may publish and sell created music
Watch out
- Paid apps, with no free plan
- iPad sample import and export options are platform-specific
- Separate prices apply to iPhone, iPad and Mac
Who it suits
DM1 suits beat makers who want pattern sequencing, drum-pad recording and timeline-based song arrangement. It may also fit users who need MIDI or sample import and export options.
Verdict
DM1 combines beat creation, mixing and pattern arrangement, with a broad set of listed effects and music integrations. Check the separate app prices and the iPad-specific import and export details against your setup.
Plans and prices
From DM1 – The Drum Machine's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| DM1 for iPhone | $4.99, paid once | iPhone app · in-app purchases available |
| DM1 - The Drum Machine (iPad) | $9.99, paid once | iPad app · in-app purchases available |
| DM1 - The Drum Machine (Mac) | $9.99, paid once | Mac app |
The facts
Each one read from DM1 – The Drum Machine's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Created music rights
- Fingerlab's FAQ says users have permission to publish and sell songs or beats created with DM1.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Drum kits
- The iPad product page lists 108 vintage and produced drum kits mastered at Fingerlab Sound Studios.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Effects
- Effects listed include overdrive, delay, reverb, phaser, filters, compressor and noise gate.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- The iPad page lists sample import from the iPod Library, microphone, Dropbox, AudioCopy and iTunes shared folder, plus audio export to SoundCloud, Dropbox, Facebook, email, iTunes shared folder or AudioCopy.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mixer
- The mixer includes per-channel volume, pitch, sample length, mute, solo and custom drum-kit settings.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Music integrations
- The iPad page lists Audiobus, full MIDI implementation, Ableton Link and Inter-App Audio support.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Pads and quantization
- Drum pads let users play and record beats with automatic quantization.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Apple's App Store listing says Fingerlab indicates DM1 does not collect data; Apple says this developer-reported information has not been verified by Apple.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- DM1 is a drum machine for creating beats and songs from patterns.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sequencer
- Its step sequencer uses a multitouch matrix and supports 16- or 32-step patterns.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Song composition
- The song composer lets users arrange created beat patterns on a timeline by dragging and dropping them.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Fingerlab directs users with general, technical or bug questions to [email protected].checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Mac compatibility
- Fingerlab says DM1 for OSX is compatible with DM1 for iPad and can share files with it.checked 8 Oct 2026
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