PERX

Name: PERX
Price: 129.5 USD
Author: Thenatan

by Thenatan · Drum Instrument · Percussion pattern instrument

Not rated yet

PERX is a percussion generator with 900+ samples from around the world and eight sequencers, each with its own envelope, pitch, EQ, pan and swing.

It has a multi-effects engine, randomizing and 200+ presets; it was $32.37 at the time of writing (normally $129.50).

Best for: Drums, Sound Design. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Electronic & EDM, Lo-Fi, Ambient & Cinematic.

Keywords: randomize, sequencer, lo-fi, post-production, preset-driven, film & game audio, flat UI, metallic, resizable UI, sample-based, sound design, thin.

What it does

PERX is a percussion generator from Thenatan: eight sequencer lanes that play patterns from its own library of world, foley and synthetic percussion, aimed at filling out a beat quickly.

Samples: 900+ percussion one-shots, including djembes, Indian tablas, foley, metallic and synthesized hits. You can drag in your own samples and swap sounds on the fly.
Eight sequencers: each channel has ADSR, pitch, EQ, gain, pan, stereo width and swing, plus step count, speed, mute and solo.
Playback options: Oneshot, Repeat and As is modes, tempo from half to double the DAW speed, reverse direction, and triplet or dotted timing.
Modulation: filter envelope and LFO, pitch envelope and LFO.
Effects: chorus, flanger, frequency shifter, filters, EQs, a glue compressor, 8-bit lo-fi, distortion, and send reverb and delays.
Randomizer: one-touch randomizing, either globally or per channel.
Presets and UI: 200+ presets for trap, hip-hop, EDM, lo-fi and film, in a resizable vector UI that shows the sequencers in real time.

It was on an introductory price at the time of writing. The store page mentions no demo.

Source: Thenatan product page

When to use it

PERX is the better pick for quick percussion layers rather than a main drum kit: you load it next to your drums and let its eight lanes generate shaker, hand-drum and foley grooves. Compared with XO, it has a far smaller scope (no kit browser or full drum sequencing) but more world percussion and a randomizer aimed at pattern ideas. Battery 4 is a much deeper sampler for building whole kits, while PERX trades that depth for speed and a low price. Unlike Superior Drummer 3 or EZdrummer 3, it makes no attempt at acoustic drum realism.

Best for: percussion top loops and fills layered over an existing beat, and fast groove ideas via the randomizer.
Genres: trap, hip-hop, EDM, lo-fi and film.
Look elsewhere if: you need full drum kits (XO or Battery 4) or realistic acoustic drums (EZdrummer 3), or you work in Pro Tools.
Tip: each sequencer can be switched on from the piano roll or played live, so you can trigger lanes as an arrangement tool rather than letting them all run.

What producers say

Feedback is thin so far, but the one KVR review is positive about its value.

KVR user (December 2024, version 1.0.1) rated it 4 out of 5, calling it a "fantastic drum sequencer" with excellent effects, good kits and handy randomizing.
Criticisms: the same reviewer found no obvious way to keep all tracks playing continuously without triggering them by hand.

KVR user review

Where to buy

Thenatan: $129.50
Plugin Boutique: $129.50

Tutorials and reviews

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