Audiomodern shared this video overview of Playbeat 4, the latest version of their beatmaking software for iOS, Mac & Windows.
Playbeat 4 features new algorithms and genre-based pattern generation, allowing for endless new patterns, sounds, and grooves. The genre-based randomization feature lets you select your preferred music styles and generate patterns tailored to those choices. You have full control over the complexity of the beat and can specify whether you need complete drum tracks, individual sounds, or patterns only.
Playbeat comes with a built-in factory library of patterns, sounds and 1500 kits, fueling its powerful AI algorithms to generate dynamic drum tracks.
Features:
- VST3, AAX, AU, AUv3 & Standalone
- A.I. Powered Genre Based Pattern Randomization
- A.I. Powered Genre Based Sound Randomization
- Generate or Remix Infinite Variation of Patterns
- 8 X Individual Sequencers
- Mixer tab
- Sample editor tab with filter section
- Advanced Sample, Preset and Folders Manager
- Tagging system
- Create and share your own Playbeat packs, with your Author name, Artwork and Description
- Multiple loading options
- Signature Infinity Mode
- Signature SMART Mode
- Export MIDI and Audio
- Linear & Choke Groups
- Advanced MIDI Settings to ‘Feed’ any Plugin or Hardware
- MIDI Controllable with MIDI Learn mode
- Multi-functional keyboard to trigger sounds, sequencers or whole patterns
- Multi-Outputs
- Customizable
Pricing and Availability:
Playbeat 4 is available now for desktop, in a bundle with all sound libraries, for the intro price of €79, 35% off the regular price. It’s available for $29.99 for iOS, but the sound libraries are separate in-app purchases.
Ai my arse. It’s bullshit
How so? I imagine it’d be easy to develop simple machine learning algorithms that suggest likely patterns based on genre (which we have an incredible amount of data on, in terms of rhythm). You don’t even need generative AI for its uses. You could get by with a simple node/vector mapping.
Good to see well known synthesist, Jim Royle, enaging with the fora.
As Jim famously said “I’m not fiddling with meself, I paid a quid for these underpants and I’ve got 50 pence worth stuck up me arse.”
A useful parallel in the way AI is used to market software these days…
No more AI garbage please
I was curious to hear if AI would produce some wild, unique and/or challenging grooves, with fun/unusual meters, tuplets, or off-grid things (like accelerating or decelerating, or Dilla groove things). But, no.
Playbeat 4’s “AI-powered” features may be advanced rule-based randomization rather than true AI, as there’s no mention of learning models, datasets, or adaptive algorithms. Without user-driven personalization, feedback loops, or real-time AI inference, its generative functions could rely on predefined logic and probabilistic recombination.
Unless it uses actual machine learning models, the “AI” label appears to be more of a marketing strategy than a technical reality.
More “Artificial Imitation” than Artificial Intelligence.