Three paid drum synths going free: why this is genuinely big news
Synsonic Instruments has just made three of its previously paid drum plugins completely free: Apollon, BD-808 Pro and BDE-01. Previously selling for around $20 each, they now join the developer’s free range, already known for its kick plugins BD‑808 Free and BD‑909 Free. For producers and beatmakers who prefer to synthesise their drums rather than trawl through sample packs, this is a bit of a game changer.
Where many free plugins are limited to static presets or partial emulations, the Synsonic trio offers real drum-focused synth engines, with enough control to go from a convincing TR‑808 clone to a modern, over-compressed techno kick, via complete electronic kits that you can programme directly in the plugin.
All three instruments are available in 64‑bit for macOS and Windows, in plugin formats (VST/AU/AAX depending on platform), and they slot in nicely as a coherent starter kit for drum sound design in both home and pro studios.
Who will actually get the most out of these drum synths?
Before diving into each plugin, it’s worth being clear about what they are: this is not a “ready-made” sample library, but a set of sound design tools. They’re mainly aimed at:
- Electronic/techno/house producers who want surgically precise kicks without having to reach for a general-purpose synth like Serum or Phase Plant.
- Hip-hop / drill / trap beatmakers looking for custom 808s (glide, drive, built-in compression) instead of recycling the same distorted 808s that show up in every pack.
- Sound designers and experimental musicians who need original percussive sources, far removed from standard libraries.
- Studios and education providers looking for teaching tools to explain drum synthesis (envelopes, pitch, noise, transient) without overloading the interface.
If you just want a “plug-and-play drum pack”, these plugins are not the quickest route. But if you want to understand and control what actually makes a kick or snare work, the Apollon + BD‑808 Pro + BDE‑01 combo already covers a big chunk of what you’ll need.
Building a full electronic kit with Apollon
Apollon is a drum machine inspired by old-school analogue rhythm boxes, but entirely synthesis-based. On the menu: eight internal instruments:
- bass drum
- snare
- low tom
- high tom
- closed hi-hat
- open hi-hat
- clap
- rimshot
Each sound comes with simple but well-chosen controls (tuning, decay, etc.), letting you sculpt a full kit quickly without getting lost in pages of parameters. Workflow-wise, it’s closer to a TR‑606/TR‑808 than to a big modular synth.
A built-in sequencer to sketch grooves quickly
Apollon’s big advantage over a simple sound module is its built-in 16‑step sequencer. It lets you:
- program patterns directly in the plugin;
- use velocity-sensitive steps to give your dynamics a more human feel;
- apply per-track shuffle so your snare, hi-hat etc. each have their own groove.
You can use it as a mini standalone drum machine inside your DAW: handy for sketching rhythmic ideas without opening the piano roll. For a more advanced workflow, each instrument is of course triggerable via MIDI, so you can sequence it from your DAW, a pad controller or an external sequencer.
Built-in effects: reverb, delay and per-instrument sends
Apollon also offers onboard reverb and delay with per-instrument send levels. In practice, that means you can, for instance:
- keep the kick dry and tight;
- send the snare and clap to the reverb;
- add a touch of delay to the toms or rimshot to create depth.
It’s not a full-blown effects rack, but it’s enough to get a “mix-ready” kit straight from the plugin, much like modern drum machines that ship with their own built-in FX.
Dial in bespoke 808s with BD-808 Pro
BD‑808 Pro is the beefed-up version of Synsonic’s well-known free BD‑808 plugin. The goal is still clear: recreate the Roland TR‑808 kick, while offering much deeper sound design options.
A classic 808, on steroids
At its core, the plugin uses a fully adjustable oscillator and an AHD envelope (Attack, Hold, Decay), which lets you fine-tune:
- the kick length (from ultra-short “thump” to the long, subby 808 that rumbles underneath the track);
- the pitch drop curve;
- the transient presence via the click and drive sections.
Those last two controls are essential for modern production: in a busy mix (hip-hop, drill, trap, EDM), an 808 shouldn’t just go low, it also has to cut through the mids. The click section lets you add that percussive attack, while the drive adds grit and harmonics, like a low-end-focused saturator.
Compression, overdrive and glide: from kick to sub-bass
BD‑808 Pro also packs built-in compression and overdrive, bringing it close to paid “808 designer” style tools you find in pricier bundles. So, without reaching for an external FX chain, you can:
- tighten the kick’s dynamics;
- add punch;
- shape a more aggressive character for club-focused productions.
There’s also a glide mode, turning the plugin into a little monophonic bass synth. That’s exactly the behaviour you want for sliding 808 bass lines typical of modern trap and UK drill, where the same sound source works as both kick and melodic bass.
You can save your own presets and play them via MIDI with detailed velocity control. All in all, BD‑808 Pro covers similar ground to some commercial 808-specialist plugins, but in a free package.
BDE-01: a proper kick synth for demanding sound designers
If BD‑808 Pro is all about an “enhanced” 808, BDE‑01 is conceived as a more general-purpose and ambitious drum bass synth. It’s aimed at users who want to move beyond strict TR-style emulations and craft more original — sometimes downright experimental — drums.
The plugin is structured into three main sections:
- Sound Section: generates the main body of the kick drum (pitch, envelopes, waveform, etc.).
- Noise Section: adds click, noise or sample-like content to reinforce the attack.
- Master Section: handles overall and final shaping controls.
According to Synsonic, BDE‑01 can both recreate hardware-inspired analogue sounds and “find completely new sounds”. In practical terms, that means you can use it to:
- build a “hardware-like” kick in the spirit of a TR‑909, Jomox or MFB;
- design heavily modulated bass drums for industrial techno, drum & bass or IDM;
- create hybrid percussions where noise and attack take up more space than the kick body itself.
Conceptually, this kind of plugin sits in the same territory as paid kick synths aimed at techno or hardstyle producers, but with a more stripped-back approach and, in this case, completely free access.
How to integrate these three plugins into a modern setup
Individually, each of these drum synths is already appealing. But together they form a properly coherent toolkit for contemporary production:
- Apollon to generate your basic electronic kit (simple kick, snare, toms, hi-hats, clap, rimshot), with its internal sequencer to quickly sketch beats.
- BD‑808 Pro for big 808 kicks, gliding sub-bass lines and kick variations suited to hip-hop, drill, trap, UK pop, afrobeats and other bass-heavy styles.
- BDE‑01 for any kind of character kick: techno, drum & bass, bass music, experimental genres, or simply to create a signature kick you won’t find in any pack.
In practice, you might, for example:
- use Apollon as an idea box, then drag or record the MIDI patterns into your DAW;
- swap out Apollon’s kick for a BD‑808 Pro or BDE‑01 instance on another track to get more weight down low;
- layer a short, snappy Apollon kick with a long, sub-heavy BD‑808 Pro to combine impact and low-end.
All of this comes with no licence cost, which frees up budget for other parts of your rig (audio interface, monitors, outboard or mix/mastering plugins).
Limitations and when these plugins aren’t the best fit
Despite their strengths, these plugins won’t suit everyone:
- If you need realistic acoustic drums (rock, jazz, organic pop), you’re better off with a dedicated multi-sampled instrument (Superior Drummer, Addictive Drums, etc.).
- If your workflow is very preset‑driven and you hate tweaking parameters, you’ll probably underuse what they can do.
- On ultra high-end projects where every plugin has to slot into a strict ecosystem (fixed formats, total recall, post-production standards), you’ll need to double-check compatibility with your specific DAW and OS.
For composition, beat production, electronic music, education and sound design, though, they sit comfortably among the best current freeware options, and even rival some entry-level paid plugins.
Availability and formats
Apollon, BD‑808 Pro and BDE‑01 are available now in 64‑bit for macOS and Windows. They round out Synsonic’s free range, which already included the well-known BD‑808 Free and BD‑909 Free. Installation is straightforward: simply download the installers from the developer’s website, install the formats that match your DAW, then run a plugin scan in your audio workstation.
FAQ: getting the best out of Synsonic’s free drum synths
Can these plugins completely replace my drum sample packs?
No, they don’t totally replace sample packs, but they can drastically reduce your dependence on samples for electronic sounds. For kicks, snares and synthetic percussion, you can largely lean on Apollon, BD‑808 Pro and BDE‑01. That said, for realistic acoustic kits or very specific textures (foley, unusual world percussion), samples still earn their keep.
Which plugin should I choose for modern trap/UK drill 808s and sliding basses?
For that specific job, start with BD‑808 Pro. It’s clearly designed for modern 808 work, with built-in glide, drive, compression and advanced velocity handling. BDE‑01 can then be used to create more aggressive or experimental kick variations, but the backbone of an 808‑centric trap or drill track can easily be handled by BD‑808 Pro alone.
Is Apollon enough to produce a full beat?
Yes, for a simple electronic beat, Apollon is enough. It has 8 instruments, a 16‑step sequencer with velocity and shuffle, plus basic reverb and delay. You can programme a pattern, loop it and build a track around it. For more ambitious productions, it’s often more efficient to export or route MIDI into your DAW and, if needed, add a BD‑808 Pro or BDE‑01 kick to reinforce the low end.
Are these plugins suitable for professional use (serious mixes, commercial releases)?
Yes, as long as you follow standard mixing best practices. These are proper drum synths, not toys. If your production chain (gain staging, processing, monitoring) is under control, there’s no reason not to use Apollon, BD‑808 Pro or BDE‑01 on commercial releases. The only caveat is long-term compatibility (OS, plugin formats), which you should check just as you would with any other software, free or paid.
