# Soft Drummer – Brush Sessions — user reviews > 606 indexed App Store user reviews of Soft Drummer by Lumbeat, rated 4.70/5 from 509 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soft-drummer-brush-sessions/id1120957633/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soft-drummer-brush-sessions/id1120957633.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 412 · 4★ 66 · 3★ 18 · 2★ 8 · 1★ 5 ## What do users think of Soft Drummer? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎨 Excellent sound quality - 🎢 Realistic and natural-sounding rhythms - 🎛️ Flexible and customizable features - 🎶 Great for practicing, jamming, and composing - 🎧 Authentic brush and mallet sounds **Cons** - 🤔 Unintuitive user interface - 🐛 Crashes and stability issues - 💰 Expensive for an iOS app - 📚 Lack of documentation and tutorials **Commonly reported bugs** - Song mode issues, including crashes and missing features - Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions and devices **Most requested features** - Add support for time signatures beyond 4/4 - Improve MIDI integration and control - Implement audio/MIDI export options - Provide preset management and organization ## Newest reviews (19 of 606) ### 3/5 — Mixed feelings *2026-08-20, version 4.02* Amazing for what it does, and honestly quite surprised there’s nothing else out there similar, but overall still feels janky, and sounds can get repetitive quick, without paying another 20$ for a pack. Been using for days and still can’t find how to do something as simple as delete a pad, or link a kit with a pad. When using sequencer, unable to preview the 3 types of sounds before laying down. Smallish things but head scratching for something 10 years old with outdated ui, still over 20$ and without a dedicated manual (there is only 1 manual shared between apps so it’s a guessing game what applies to each app). I want to hate it but for what it does there’s still no alternative, and it does it reasonably well. Good app, but with some small tweaks could be amazing. ### 2/5 — Problems unlocking drummers *2026-07-10, version 4.02* As with the Pop Drummer plug-in, this one seems to be working fine on iPad and works fine in standalone mode, but it doesn’t recognize the IAP purchase for the extra drummers in the plug-in. Please fix this! ### 4/5 — Years of Good Use, some things broken in new update *2026-06-25* I've been using SD daily for years and will for years to come. Ive also acquired most of the others, this last update though, not entirely sure. when changing grooves there is now a progress bar that take ages to change to the groove youve just chosen and doesnt always land on the new groove and can end up with just a snare, so no, that one is not progress. maybe a bitton to switch it off. Also been asking for years a way to save to a new groove with zero swing. Everytime I bring up a new version of a groove it is stamped with some king of swing. Not a dealbreaker but frustrating. **Developer response:** The groove-loading issue you're describing is the first report of this kind. Please write to support@lumbeat.com with your device, iOS version, app version, and a screenshot showing the groove in the moment so we can investigate. Zero-swing save request noted and on record. Thanks for your support ### 4/5 — Seit AUV3 richtig gut nutzbar *2026-06-06* Ich muss meine alte Bewertung revidieren (s.u.). Gute App, jetzt mit AUV3 auch endlich in Cubasis oder AUM vernünftig nutzbar. Alte Bewertung: Zum Fenster herausgeworfenes Geld und mehrere Tage nerviges Herumprobieren um an Ende herauszufinden, das die App einfach nicht das kann, was ich brauche! Anwendung bei mir wären Livegigs mit akustischer Gitarre und viel Publikumsinteraktion und Bluetooth Fußschalter zum Umschalten auf die Songteile (Refrain, Strophe, Bridge…). Der Song Mode kann nur die vorgegebenen Teile nacheinander abspielen, es ist kein flexibles Ansteuern von einzelnen Pattern per Fußschalter möglich, also für mich ungeeignet. Auch die Live Pads lassen sich nicht per Midi ansteuern, fallen also auch aus. Hinzu kommt, dass die Steuerung über eine Bluetooth Fußschalter extrem kompliziert einzurichten ist. Aus welchen Gründen auch immer lässt Softdrummer keine Werte für den Programm Change zu, es ist nur generell PC möglich ohne Nummer. D.h. Alle 4 Tasten meines Bluetoothschalters haben bei Softdrummer die selbe Funktionalität, es lässt sich nur eine einzige Sache schalten (z.B. Play). Um das zu umgehen habe ich mir eine MIDI-Mapper App (Streambyte) installiert und dort wirklich Stunden gebraucht, bis ich ein funktionierendes Skript zum Mapping der PC Nummern auf CC Nummern hatte. Alles nur weil Softdrummer keine PC Nummern kann. Das sollte man bei dem hohen Preis eigentlich erwarten können. Auch das Geschäftsmodell, also die praktisch gleiche App unter unterschiedlichen Namen nur mit anderen Sounds und Rhythmen zu verkaufen finde ich sehr besch…eiden. Die Sounds an sich sind gut, und sicher sind die KI-Drummer eine nette Sache, deswegen zumindest 2 „Gnadensterne“. Bei mir fliegt die App wieder runter vom iPad, schade um die viele vergeudete Zeit die ich hineingesteckt habe. **Developer response:** Thanks for your feedback, we are sorry to hear you are having so many difficulties. Soft Drummer is actually designed to be the opposite, very straightforward and easy to use and configure. In the MIDI Setup screen you can configure each control individually, as MIDI Note, CC, or Program Change, so every footswitch can trigger a different action (Play, Fill, Stop, move around Live Pads, etc.). Live Pads can also be fully controlled via MIDI. You do not need any external MIDI mapper for this, setting it directly in the app is much simpler and will work reliably once each switch sends a numbered MIDI Note, CC or PC message. Once set up, Soft Drummer works great for live gigs, letting you trigger parts and fills freely. Although they might look similar, some of the most important parts of the code are different, including the jam algorithms, sounds, grooves, and other specific behaviors, which is why we release them as separate apps. If you need help setting it up, contact us at support@lumbeat.com ### 2/5 — It doesn’t work properly in Logic Pro *2026-06-01, version 4.01* Good app but unfortunately it’s useless to me as it doesn’t work properly in Logic Pro on the M4 iPad Pro , it doesn’t recognise any controller dater, plus when I bounce the finished track there is a lot of noise interference. I’ve also tried to export just soft drummer on its own from Logic Pro and it is definitely soft drummer that’s the problem ### 4/5 — great *2026-05-31, version 4.01* app ### 5/5 — AUv3 transforms this one *2026-05-31, version 4.01* Sounds wonderful, and the AUv3 upgrade makes it far more practical for live use. ### 5/5 — Years of Good Use *2026-05-30, version 4.01* I've been using SD daily for years and will for years to come. Ive also acquired most of the others, I think ive got Reggae and Future Drummer left. One thing that would make my daily use a little better is if I could save a default swing setting so that when it loads it remembers. I usually have it a 0 swing for straight time critical practise. Aside from that, all the improvements are welcome including the new AU lite version ### 5/5 — aum update is legit *2026-05-30, version 4.01* thank you. please add to jazz drummer. bless ### 5/5 — Free sound set *2026-05-28, version 4.00* It’s good, but I’m here for a free soundset ### 5/5 — So good! *2026-05-25, version 4.00* Loving this drummer and all the lumbeat drummers! Just has that human feel to it and is so easy to use with other apps like loopy pro. A great update to an already awesome app. ### 4/5 — Soft drummer *2026-05-25, version 4.00* Great update! Thanks! ### 5/5 — Incredible update! *2026-05-25, version 4.00* Please keep adding AUv3 support. Your apps are gonna be amazing when they support it! They already are btw — but you get me ;) ### 3/5 — About time. *2026-05-23, version 4.00* Finally!... Can you do Jazz Drummer and Future Drummer now as well please? Restoring midi in would help the products A LOT, too. ### 5/5 — AUV 3 *2026-05-23, version 4.00* AUV 3 thank you so much ### 5/5 — AUV3 *2026-05-23, version 4.00* Been waiting for this for a while, now Soft Drummer runs in AUM, Koala cna Cubasis without the fuss of IAA, happy user! ### 5/5 — Incredibly Versatile *2026-05-21* Soft Drummer has always been a favourite of mine.. it has the ability to blend easily within many different styles.. whatever you’re grooving on, you’ll find something to match.. Now as an AUv3, I’ll be using it even more.. Thanks so much Luis for this amazing update.. 🙏 **Developer response:** Hi Funkity Funk!, Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled Soft Drummer has been a long-time favorite and that the AUv3 update makes it even more useful in your workflow. 🙏 Thank you for your review. ### 5/5 — Quite good *2026-05-21* It’s not bad at all ### 5/5 — Balais jazz et... funk *2026-05-21* Très bonne app, je pensais que ce serait uniquement swing, mais les grooves funk sonnent aussi très bien avec les balais, les sons et glissés/frottés donnent un caractère dynamique. Edit : et avec l’update AUv3, l’app prend une nouvelle dimension, au niveau de Pop Drummer ! **Developer response:** Hi Doudoucat, Thank you so much for your review! We're delighted the brushes work so well across both swing and funk grooves, and that the AUv3 update brings it up to the level of Pop Drummer for you. Thank you for your review. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Soft drummer review *2026-08-07, version 4.02* It sounds good but it’s useless in Logic Pro on the iPad there is noise interference when bounced down in Logic Pro ### 1/5 — Upgrade auv3 *2025-09-17, version 3.26* They have a new app, but they abandoned the old ones. It's been over 1 years without a single update. I want my old (high-value) purchases to receive the AUV3 update. It's the least they can do for their existing customers. Before launching something new, think about who has already purchased your product. ### 1/5 — Song mode broken in iOS /iPados 18.5 *2025-05-22, version 3.26* When sending drum patterns to iCloud, it crashes. This was the most important thing as far as my usage of this app. I need to be able to send the drum patterns to iCloud and then my song file. Please fix it and I will re-review this app and give it Five stars. ### 1/5 — It is a joke *2024-01-22, version 3.25* Show me one 6/8 or Ballad ### 1/5 — Took our money and broke promises *2024-01-13* The developer responded to another complaint 2 years ago and said he was fixing the failure to load as AU. I bought the group of his apps to all work together (including iBassist) but so far he has not fixed AU since the two years he said he would. This issue makes the app so unpleasant to use in your DAW or AUM. Where is the long awaited fix you promised us?? **Developer response:** Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We appreciate your feedback and understand the importance of continually enhancing our apps. Regarding AUv3, we want to clarify that its integration is a complex process akin to creating a new app, and we have not guaranteed a specific timeline for this feature. Our focus has been on maintaining and updating our existing apps with new features that improve overall functionality and user experience. We value your input and patience as we strive to balance various development priorities. Your support is important to us, and we're committed to delivering high-quality app experiences. ### 1/5 — Bad update *2023-06-25, version 3.25* With last update you cannot use drum module function anymore. And what is very bad is that the developer does not mention it in the update note. Now it is unusable for me because MIDI in does not work. Features shouldn’t be cancelled without any advertising. ### 1/5 — Fun, great for jamming. *2023-05-10, version 3.25* Like it! ### 1/5 — Horrible after you play initial pattern *2021-10-15, version 3.18* I’ve played the first pattern and the count in works fine. The fills are fine. Everything plays fine. Then I stop the pattern and start a new one and the count in is only on the first beat. The fill never changes (it’s a pause then a boom kick drum, always) and it’s not even at the right measure. I’ve deleted and downloaded so many times and always the same. I was so excited about this app that I bought the additional drummers, but it’s a WASTE. My iOS is running the latest version but every time I download this app again, it craps out on me. 👎👎👎 ### 1/5 — Latest Update Failed / Lost All Content / Bluetooth Issues *2021-02-14, version 3.13* Feb 14 - 2021 Still no reply following bug reports. I think Lumbeats needs to focus on fixing existing products instead of working on expanding their product offerings. Soft Drummer is a great idea if only it worked properly. Also, this is the 2nd time their update has introduced new critical problems that did not exist before the update. Big time waster. I hope they get this fixed, it could be a good product and I would promote it if everything worked properly. Feb 2-2021 After fiddling some more I am finding that the midi Program Change for various functions has not been implemented properly. Functions are missing, other functions are ganged together. Come on guys, please do not release an update that isn't fully ready!!!!!!!! Progress Update Feb 1-2021 Latest update wiped out my Program Change settings for Play/Stop, Fill, toggle Hat/ride, Fill and stop. Numb-Beats just randomly decided to change how these Live Pads functions are controlled. It was working great, sort of, before. Now I am unable to program these at all with their new control scheme. Doesn't work, period. So frustrating. Thanks a lot for the no warning and why did you decide to make something that worked, not work now???????? Progress Update: Oct 5, 2020 I had to recreate all my patterns from scratch. There are still many glitches with this app. Buttons disappear, tap tempo stops responding, Bluetooth Program Change commands become unresponsive, etc, etc. All I can say is; if you need something reliable, this is NOT YET the app for you. Documentation for this app is very sketchy, inaccurate or non-existent. See initial posts below for a history of serious issues with this app. Initial post: Loaded the July 22/2020 update and suddenly all the patterns are gone. Both preset and user patterns are missing, no sound output. I see User song names but all patterns are missing. Lost all my personally programmed content. Very disappointed. Tried contacting the app developer, no response. Absolutely NO SUPPORT until I wrote an unfavourable review. Great drummer when it worked. But buyer beware!!!!!!!!! 1st follow-up: StillI having trouble loading previously programmed patterns from cloud backup. Songs and patterns programmed in working previous version will not load and play in new Soft Drummer version. Tried everything. Developer has responded but no fix yet. 2nd follow-up: Free Mallets kit offered but it won't load even though I wrote a review and rated the app. After 3 tries Mallets loaded. ### 1/5 — It crashes in ipad. Or muted. *2020-10-13* I purchased one year ago. Two months ago it stopped playing on my ipad. Now it only crashes. I sent email to support and never got a answer. AVOID IT!!! I ALREADY DELETED IT AND REINSTALLED. Nothing changed. **Developer response:** Just delete an re-install. Send report to info@lumbeat.com ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Killer drums *2026-09-02* Hands down this developer makes the best drum apps I have them all and they have changed the way I make music. Excellent to jam along with if your a bass player ### 5/5 — Excellent for solo and duo performances *2026-08-09, version 4.02* Just what I needed to accompany my duo ### 5/5 — Good *2026-07-30* good choice for funk ### 5/5 — Great *2026-07-27, version 4.02* Amazing ### 5/5 — Love it *2026-07-22, version 4.02* Excellent app , will definitely check out the other ones after hearing this one. Thank you ### 5/5 — May Favorite of all the Lumbeat Drummers *2026-07-19* Why do I love this app? Well it seems to be the only Lumbeat drummer I can control without using either MIDI or a mouse! Keyboard control via the space bar to toggle on and off, as well as the carriage return to toggle with fills and the arrow keys for setting tempo up and down. This makes it so much easier to start and end along with my playing, which is kind of necessary to sound reasonable whether live or recording bands that do not end at the sea time are immediately dismissed as not good enough. The opposite of tightness. This app really rocks and I just discovered that it also works a plugin which is awesome and one more thing - the brushes and hands are much less in your face than sticks so for jazz and ambient this is perfect. It also has some jazz, some latin and some funk - this is a huge range of rhythms, sounds, and styles. And I recently tired it with a MIDI keyboard controlling various parameters as well. This is a thoughtful, deep and great sounding non repeating non looping rhythmic scaffolding! **Developer response:** Hi Neubop, Thank you so much for this fantastic and detailed review! We're thrilled Soft Drummer's keyboard control, plugin support, and wide range of styles (jazz, latin, funk) are fitting so well into your workflow, and that the brush/hand sounds are working great for your jazz and ambient tracks. Great feedback on tightness and feel too, that's exactly what we aim for with our non-looping, dynamic rhythmic engine. Thank you for your review. ### 5/5 — Upgrade auv3 *2026-07-16* I'm revising my review and giving it the highest rating for finally updating to AUv3. **Developer response:** Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, João. We completely understand your frustration and want to assure you that we truly value the users who trusted our apps from the very beginning. We have not abandoned our previous apps. Maintaining and evolving audio products on iOS sometimes requires deep rebuilding to adapt to major system changes (such as AUV3). Rather than simple updates, some of these improvements require creating new technical foundations to ensure long-term stability, compatibility, and performance. That said, we hear your message clearly: our existing users matter a lot to us. We are working on fair and reasonable paths for those who made high-value purchases, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and feedback, as it helps us make better decisions. Thank you again for your support and for letting us know how you feel. We’re still here, listening and improving. ### 5/5 — New but lovin it *2026-07-16* Still getting my hands to understand how to use this but I love the drum sounds **Developer response:** Hi Molardoc, Thank you for your review! We're glad you're loving the drum sounds. If you need any tips getting started, feel free to reach out to our support team anytime. Thank you for your review. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2026-06-22* as good as it gets for iOS drummers. ### 5/5 — 不错 *2026-06-01* 不错好 **Developer response:** Hi Big Fargo, Thank you so much for your positive review and support! We're glad you're enjoying the app. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*