Sampleson Brushify — Free Download

Purpose

Brushify is designed for finger-drummers who want to play realistic brushed drums without a physical kit. It uses advanced scripting and a hybrid sampling-plus-modeling approach to capture the nuances of brush strokes, swishes, and ghost notes. The instrument is built around a dedicated keyboard layout that maps brush techniques to keys, allowing you to perform live on any MIDI keyboard or pad controller.

The core goal is to let you play expressive, dynamic brushed drum patterns with your fingers, replicating the feel of a professional drummer. Whether you are practicing, performing, or recording, Brushify aims to provide an intuitive and responsive playing experience that goes beyond static samples.

Key Capabilities

Brushify is based on a 12-microphone position sample library of a Pearl Masters Custom kit, combined with a modeling engine that adds sympathetic resonance and subtle articulations. The interface is HD and scalable, featuring a built-in mixer with controls for pan, width, and sympathetic resonance. This allows you to shape the sound to fit your mix and playing style.

The instrument is a standalone virtual drum machine, requiring no extra sample players like Kontakt or UVI. It is ready to load directly into major DAWs, including Cubase, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cakewalk, Reaper, BitWig, Nuendo, and FL Studio. It comes as a VST or AU plugin for both Windows and Mac, and it also runs in standalone mode. No online activation is needed; you just download and install.

Workflow

Brushify is played live, not triggered by programming. You can use a keyboard or a pad controller to perform brush swells, rim shots, and snare articulations in real time. The key mapping is designed to feel natural, with special attention to snare multi-hits, so you can create rolls and buzzes that respond to your velocity and timing. After recording, you can apply quantization if needed, as demonstrated in audio demos played on a Yamaha electric piano keyboard and an Akai MPK Mini.

For studio work, the mixer allows you to blend the mic positions, adjust the stereo width, and add sympathetic resonance to make the kit sound more alive. Because the plugin is lightweight and has no complex activation, you can install it on any machine and start playing immediately. The standalone version lets you practice without a DAW, making it a handy tool for developing your finger-drumming technique.

Practical Applications

Use Brushify for live performance, where its responsive key mapping lets you improvise brush patterns on stage. In the studio, record expressive parts for jazz, blues, or acoustic pop, and tweak the mixer to match the track’s vibe. It is also ideal for practice, as the standalone mode allows you to jam along with other instruments or backing tracks.

The instrument suits finger-drummers who want to expand their palette beyond standard drum kits. Because it requires no additional players, it is a low-friction solution for producers who need brushed drums quickly. The modeling component adds a layer of realism that makes it stand out from simple sample libraries, giving you a dynamic, playable instrument that responds to your touch.

Key features

• Brushed drums module for finger-drumming
• 12-microphone sampling of Pearl Masters Custom kit
• Hybrid sampling and modeling technique
• HD scalable interface with mixer and resonance controls
• No third-party player needed; standalone and plugin versions
• VST/AU for Windows and Mac, with standalone mode

Best for

Finger-drummers and music producers seeking a realistic, playable brushed drum kit without hardware. Ideal for jazz, acoustic, and live performances where expressive dynamics matter. Works as a standalone practice tool or as a plugin in major DAWs, offering intuitive control over nuanced brush techniques.