Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beat Studio?

Beat Studio is a desktop drum trainer application for Windows and macOS. It connects to your electronic drum kit via MIDI and provides real-time visual feedback, beat patterns, and scoring to help you improve your drumming skills. It includes pre-built patterns, a pattern editor, audio playback with effects, and detailed performance statistics.

Where can I download Beat Studio?

Beat Studio is available for both Windows and macOS. macOS users can choose between Intel and Apple Silicon versions. Visit Patreon page to get the latest version for your platform.

Do I need a subscription for Beat Studio?

No! You can get started with Beat Studio completely free. A free version is available with core training features to help you get going. If you want to unlock more, Beat Studio is also available as a one-time purchase or a monthly subscription. All downloads are available through our Patreon page — you'll need a Patreon account to download Beat Studio.

What is the difference between FREE, CORE, and PRO?

Why do I need a Patreon account to download Beat Studio?

Beat Studio is a solo-built app and Patreon is used as the distribution platform. You need a Patreon account to download the app, but you do not need an active subscription to use it. Once you have downloaded a version, it is yours to keep and will work forever — even if you cancel your Patreon subscription.

What happens if I cancel my Patreon subscription?

Every version you have downloaded keeps working indefinitely — cancelling your subscription does not disable the app. You will simply stop receiving new updates and pattern packs. You can re-subscribe at any time to get access to the latest version.

Can I use Beat Studio with my device or drum kit?

Beat Studio works with all MIDI devices — electronic drum kits, drum pads, MIDI keyboards, and more. Popular brands like Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha are all supported. If your device sends MIDI over USB, Beat Studio can use it.

Beat Studio includes a built-in MIDI Mapping Wizard. The wizard walks you through each drum one at a time — just hit the pad when prompted, and the app captures the correct MIDI note automatically. You can hit each pad multiple times to map alternate notes (e.g., rim shot and center hit for snare). Your custom mapping is saved per device, so switching between kits doesn't require remapping.

Beat Studio also supports hi-hat pedal detection via MIDI CC (continuous controller). During the mapping wizard, the app auto-detects your pedal's CC channel and calibrates the open/closed threshold, so open and closed hi-hat sounds respond accurately to your pedal position.

How do I connect my device to Beat Studio?

Connect your electronic drum kit to your computer via a USB-MIDI cable before you start up Beat Studio. Beat Studio automatically detects available MIDI input devices on startup. Simply select your device from the MIDI mapping wizard list and you're ready to play. If Beat Studio does not recognize your device, it will notify you and ask you to reconnect the device and restart Beat Studio.

Is there latency in Beat Studio?

Beat Studio is designed for minimal latency. It uses a native audio engine with platform-optimized backends — WASAPI on Windows and Core Audio on macOS — to deliver professional-grade low-latency audio playback. Every system has some input latency, typically 5–10 ms, but Beat Studio includes automatic latency compensation so your hits are always scored on time.

How do I map MIDI to my device?

Beat Studio includes a built-in MIDI Mapping Wizard. Simply open it from the settings menu, hit each pad on your drum kit, and the app will automatically detect and assign the correct MIDI notes. Your custom mapping is saved per device, so switching between kits is seamless.

How can I change drum sounds/kits in Beat Studio?

Can I create and edit my own patterns in Beat Studio?

How can I play along with songs in Beat Studio?