Polyend announces Drums, a $2,699 analog + digital drum machine

Polyend announced Drums at Superbooth 2026, an 8-track hybrid desktop drum machine combining analog synthesis, digital engines, and sampling in a single aluminum chassis. Priced at $2,699, it is the Polish company’s most technically developed percussion instrument to date.

Sound Architecture

The machine’s 8 tracks split into two distinct tiers. Four tracks run analog circuitry built on SSI chips, each with two VCOs, a noise source, a multimode filter, an envelope-controlled amplifier, and an additional digital oscillator available for layering or FM synthesis. The remaining four tracks are digital, drawing from a library of over 40 instruments with sub-mode mutations, extending the practical range of sounds into the hundreds. Samples can be loaded and layered alongside either engine type.

Effects run across three chains: send, insert, and master. The insert effects are sequenceable per step, making them part of the rhythmic pattern rather than a fixed treatment applied at mixdown.

The XOY Fader

The most distinctive hardware element is a physical fader called the XOY, which morphs in real time between two saved kit states. In a live context, it lets a performer execute dramatic transitions or gradual timbral shifts with a single hand movement, without a patch change or scene recall.

The sequencer is Polyend’s most developed yet, offering probability, micro-timing, parameter locks, fills, generative tools, and multiple play modes per track. Up to 64 patterns, 64 kits, and 48 song arrangements can be stored onboard.

Connectivity

Each of the 8 tracks has a dedicated 1/4″ output for individual routing into a mixer or DAW. A stereo audio input allows external gear to be processed through the onboard effects. Internal processing runs at 32-bit/96kHz with a 24-bit DAC/ADC. MIDI uses standard 1/8″ TRS connectors.

The machine ships in black or silver aluminum. It is separate from Polyend Step, the company’s four-track drum machine in pedal format that arrived earlier this year and is aimed primarily at guitar-based signal chains.

For a full roundup of what Polyend and others showed in Berlin this year, see the Superbooth 2026 gear roundup. For context on where Drums sits among dedicated hardware alternatives, see the best drum machines for music production guide.

Pricing and Availability

Polyend Drums is priced at $2,699 / €2,699. Pre-orders are open on the Polyend website with a refundable $500 deposit. Shipping is expected approximately three to four months after the Superbooth 2026 announcement.