Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which drums to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
Session Loops DrumNet 2: AI drum machine that generates drum sounds and genre patterns on every pad. $79 at Plugin Boutique until 4 January 2027, $19 upgrade.
Sampler / XLN Audio
XO by XLN Audio is a drum sampler and beat-making plugin that visually organizes one-shot samples and lets you build and audition drum patterns.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Session Loops DrumNet 2 | XO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 ($19 upgrade from DrumNet) | — |
| Dubspot Score | — | 8.6 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX, macOS, Windows | VST, VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone |
| Type | AI drum machine: sample and pattern generation | — |
| Sound generation | Unlimited samples across 13 instrument categories; Deep Resampling of imported samples | — |
| Pattern generation | By genre across every pad, lane locking, per-track density from sparse to busy | — |
| Sequencer | 32 steps, velocity, note repeat, swing; 1/8 or 1/16 step rate; 16 or 32 steps | — |
| Presets | 200 factory presets with individual layers | — |
| Formats | Windows: VST3, AAX (64-bit); macOS: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit), Universal | — |
| Licensing | Licence or Session Loops subscription from $5.99 a month; 14-day trial | — |
| Included sounds | — | 8700+ one-shot samples |
| Beat presets | — | 240+ fully editable beat presets |
| Plugin formats | — | 64-bit VST, VST3, AU, AAX, plus standalone application |
| macOS requirement | — | macOS 10.13 or later (64-bit) |
| Windows requirement | — | Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) |
| Installation | — | Internet connection required during installation |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.