instruments that adapt to you

we created drumbeam, an electronic percussion instrument that offers musicians unparalleled creative freedom. no compromises or fixed layouts. it’s all about you and your individual setup.
afk-audio

why we do, what we do.

instruments for electronic drumming.
designed in dresden. played worldwide.

instruments should adapt to the musician.

not the other way around.

fixed pad layouts force you to change how you play.
complex setups take hours before you can even get started.
bulky gear ties you to your studio (or your car).

for musicians who want to push boundaries, these aren’t just inconveniences. they’re creative limitations.

that's why we built drumbeam.

a position- and velocity-sensitive MIDI instrument that detects exactly where and how you play. turning its surface into whatever you need it to be.

create up to 12 fully customizable zones.
save and switch between layouts instantly and
move from drums to melodic setups in seconds.

one instrument. infinite configurations.
the limits are yours to define.

from idea to instrument

how a build of square tubing, cables and foam became drumbeam.
discover drumbeam

2023

Design and usability were refined through early prototypes. We ran first functional tests and built the electronics from the ground up. Multiple iterations shaped the foundation of the instrument.

2024

We ran the first beta rounds, refined mechanical parts, sensing system and electronics for consistency and performance. afk-audio was officially founded and we moved into our new place in the creative heart of Dresden.

2025

We went through tooling, prepared for serial production, finalised the firmware and completed the first three runs. Manufacturing processes were established and we carefully built more than 1300 drumbeams.

who we are

we're a small team combining engineering expertise, product design and passion for electronic music. based in dresden, we work on building the next generation of percussion instruments.

Kyrill

Engineering &
Products

Flori

Development,
AR & Marketing

Lorenz

Management &
Administration

we're a small team and that means we build things ourselves. drumbeam is still made by hand in our workshop in dresden.

connect with us

join the afk-discord community and chat with the team and other drumbeam users.

 join us on discord

News
Firmware 1.13 - available now

Firmware 1.13 - available now

We're releasing firmware version 1.13 with a set of improvements and new features that refine your workflow and give you more control over key parameters.