XO

Paid#14 of 30 in Drum Machine Software

XO: A focused sample-organizing drum instrument with pattern sequencing and broad export options. Ranked #14 of 30 in Drum Machine Software by our editors (7.8/10); pricing: 10-day trial; best for organizing and shaping one-shot drum samples.

7.8/10★★★★☆Editor score

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XO7.8 Visit XLN Audio

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.8 / 10
• Pricing
  10-day trial
• Best for
  Organizing and shaping one-shot drum samples
• Free plan
  No
• Sequencing mode
  Pattern
• Founded
  2005 · Stockholm, Sweden
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Groups one-shot samples by sonic similarity for faster sound discovery
  • Supports WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, FLAC, and WMA imports
  • Exports samples, beats, stems, and MIDI from standalone or plugin formats

• Where it doesn't

  • Eight sample slots limit broader drum-machine arrangements
  • The base XO plan includes no expansions
  • No free plan; the free trial lasts 10 days

Our verdict on XO

XO is a drum production instrument from XLN Audio for beat makers, music producers, and songwriters who want to organize and shape one-shot drum samples. It runs as a standalone application or plugin on Windows and macOS, with VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats for compatible DAWs. Its pattern-based workflow combines a sample browser, beat presets, groove controls, sample swapping, and audio or MIDI export in one focused tool.

The standout feature is its sample organization. XO groups one-shot samples by sonic similarity, while search and filtering help narrow large libraries. Users can import sample folders and work with WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, FLAC, and WMA files. The included library has 8,700+ one-shot samples and 240+ beat presets. Eight sample slots provide volume, mute, solo, and sample-lock controls, while Groove Templates, Nudge, and Accentuator offer ways to shape rhythmic feel. This makes XO a strong fit for finding complementary drum sounds and turning them into patterns without manually browsing every file.

XO is more focused than a general drum machine. Its eight sample slots suit compact beat construction, but producers needing larger multi-track drum arrangements may prefer a broader sequencing instrument. The paid plans include XO, XO + 4 expansions, and XO Complete; the base XO plan includes no expansions, while the higher tiers add selected or all 33 expansions. A 10-day free trial provides a way to evaluate the workflow before purchase. Choose XO for sonic-similarity browsing, sample-library organization, groove controls, and flexible export; choose an alternative if extensive track counts or a wider drum-machine feature set matters more.

Your product? Our editors can test XO in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

XO pricing

All 3 XO plans and prices →

XO fact sheet

Alternatives to XO

• HHydrogenA free, cross-platform drum machine for pattern-driven production and live control.9.4
• 00x808A broad desktop drum machine for free synthesis, sequencing, sampling, and MIDI work.9.2
• Atlas 2A broad drum-production toolkit with hybrid sequencing and cross-platform plugin support.9.0

See all XO alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

XO is listed in our Drum Machine Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update