BABY Audio has released Tekno, a software drum synthesizer plugin for Windows and macOS, available in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP formats. The plugin is currently on sale for $79 (regular price $129) and is also offered on a rent-to-own plan for $14.99/month over six months.
Tekno is one of BABY Audio’s most ambitious projects to date. It’s a modern drum machine built entirely around synthesized sound, with zero samples involved.
The plugin features 18 independent drum engines, including multiple variations of kicks, snares, hats, claps, toms, percussive hits, and even a tonal engine.
But here’s the coolest part. If you’ve been reading BPB for a while, I’m sure you already know (and love) the excellent freeware plugins from ChowDSP, such as BYOD and CHOW Tape Model.
Well, each engine in Tekno is based on custom analog-modeled circuits developed in collaboration with Jatin Chowdhury, a leading engineer in virtual analog synthesis, and yes, the creator of ChowDSP.
The idea behind Tekno is to stop scrolling through endless sample packs and start building your drums from scratch. And while doing so, to get the authentic character of classic drum machines while keeping the convenience and flexibility of software.
BABY Audio nailed this concept in exactly the way I’ve come to expect from them, with the same focus on usability that makes all of their plugins so approachable.
Each drum engine offers immediate tweakability through a simple slider-based interface, and users who want more control can click the gear icon to access calibration menus with detailed control over synthesis, transient shaping, filtering, effects routing, and more.
One of my favorite features is the built-in Humanize system. Because each hit is generated in real-time using non-linear virtual analog circuits, they’re never 100% identical, just like classic analog machines.
However, the trick that you don’t get with classic drum machines is that you can push this even further with adjustable Humanize parameters for pitch/timbre, velocity, and timing, which helps your drums feel less mechanical.
If you’re in the mood for happy accidents, the smart randomization system will scratch your itch for creative chaos. Each voice and section in Tekno includes a dice icon that can randomize parameters. Holding the
Option key dives even deeper, letting you randomize hidden parameters in the calibration menus for more experimental results.
Tekno includes a suite of analog-style effects for each drum voice. You get the usual suspects like tape-style saturation, transient shaping, filters, and compression. There are also global effects like EQ, limiting, and clipping.
And if you prefer using third-party effects for additional processing, you can solo, mute, mix, or reroute individual voices to DAW buses for external processing.
Tekno ships with 73 full kit presets and over 1,300 voice presets from sound designers like Virtual Riot, Richard Devine, Yoad Nevo, and Mr. Bill. You can drag-and-drop one-shot hits directly into your DAW or use Tekno as a live performance instrument with MIDI input.
Tekno is compatible with macOS 10.11+ (including native support for Apple Silicon) and Windows 10 or newer. It supports all major DAWs and is available now from BABY Audio’s website.
Get the deal: BABY Audio Tekno ($79 ntro price)
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Last Updated on September 2, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
