Gearmulator MD/MM is a free, open-source plugin that runs the real Elektron Machinedrum and Monomachine firmware inside your DAW as VST3, AU and standalone.
Plugin comparison
Gearmulator MD/MM vs Surge XT
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.7Great
Surge XT is a free open-source hybrid synthesizer with deep modulation, 12 oscillator algorithms, MPE, microtuning, and 2800+ factory patches.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Gearmulator MD/MM | Surge XT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Dubspot Score | — | 8.7 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, Standalone | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Type | Firmware-accurate emulation of the Elektron Machinedrum and Monomachine | Open-source hybrid synthesizer |
| Formats | VST3, AU, standalone (macOS); VST3, standalone (Windows 64-bit) | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Operating systems | macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Windows 64-bit | — |
| License | Free and open-source (GPL-3.0) | — |
| Sound source | Runs the original Elektron firmware, user supplied | — |
| Automatable parameters | 416 (Machinedrum), 348 (Monomachine) | — |
| Sequencing | Elektron sequencer with parameter locks | — |
| Data transfer | SysEx send and receive; multi-output routing | — |
| Version at launch | 0.1.0 alpha 12 (17 September 2026) | — |
| Version | — | 1.3.4 (stable) |
| Oscillators | — | 3 per scene; 12 algorithms (Classic, Modern, Wavetable, FM2/FM3, String, Twist, and more) |
| Factory content | — | 2800+ patches; 700+ wavetables |
| Scenes | — | Two full synthesis scenes for layer/split patches |
| Platforms | — | Windows, macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), Linux |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.