Local mix-to-drum transcription
Open a full mix and use the local HTDemucs separation pipeline to isolate drums before transcription, or skip separation when you already have a drum stem.
Backbeat Forge
Backbeat Forge is a local desktop app for turning a full mix, drum stem, or drum MIDI performance into editable five-line drum notation. It helps drummers and transcribers review, correct, and export charts as PDF or General MIDI.
Audio to editable drum notation
Backbeat Forge is a local drum-transcription workbench that turns a full mix or isolated drum stem into readable, editable five-line drum notation. It is designed for source-first review: the recording, detected hits, score edits, playback, and export stay connected in one desktop workflow.
The product supports a full-mix path that can use local drum separation, a direct isolated-stem path, and MIDI performance import. After transcription, you can correct kit-piece assignments, articulation, timing, velocity, and notation details, then export the reviewed result as a printable PDF drum chart or General MIDI percussion.
Core features
Editable drum notation
Review hits in a five-line drum score instead of a piano roll, with editable note placement, kit-piece mapping, articulation, velocity, timing, and written rhythm.
Direct isolated-stem workflow
Load an existing drum stem directly for onset analysis and notation review without running full-mix separation first.
MIDI performance import
Import drum MIDI performances into the same notation workspace to inspect and edit without audio analysis.
Floating stem mixer
Balance generated drums and accompaniment during playback with master gain, per-track volume, mute, and solo controls.
PDF and MIDI delivery
Export the current edited draft to printable A4 PDF charts or General MIDI percussion for use in other tools.
Practical use cases
Transcribe a song from a full mix
Start with a song that only exists as a full mix, let the local separation pipeline find the drum part, and then clean up the generated notation before printing or exporting.
Work from an isolated drum stem
Skip separation when you already have a clean drum stem and move directly into onset analysis, score review, and notation correction.
Edit a MIDI drum performance
Bring a drum MIDI performance into the same score editor when you need to inspect or refine a written part without analyzing audio first.
Review and correct an automatic draft
Use the score view and playback tools to compare the transcription against the recording, then adjust timing, kit-piece placement, and articulation until the chart matches the performance.
Deliver charts for print or DAW use
Export a reviewed chart as PDF for rehearsal, lessons, or printing, or send the edited part as General MIDI percussion to another application.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works locally on desktop instead of requiring a cloud account workflow.
- Handles both full mixes with local drum separation and isolated drum stems.
- Supports hands-on score review and correction before export.
- Exports the edited draft as PDF drum charts and General MIDI percussion.
- Offers a Community Free path for evaluation before purchase.
Cons
- The public pages do not provide a complete technical specification for all editing, playback, or project-recovery details.
- The coverage shown here does not include a full list of limitations, so buyers may need to test the Community workflow before committing to the paid unlock.
FAQ
What can Backbeat Forge import?
Backbeat Forge imports a local full mix or an isolated drum stem in WAV, MP3, FLAC, OGG, M4A, or AAC, and it also accepts percussion MIDI in .mid or .midi. Full mixes can be separated locally before transcription; isolated stems go straight into onset analysis.
Is Backbeat Forge cloud-based or local?
The published workflow is desktop-based rather than cloud-based. The download page says it is built for focused desktop work, and the product copy describes it as a local drum-transcription workbench.
What does Backbeat Forge export?
It exports the reviewed, edited score as a printable PDF drum chart and as General MIDI percussion on channel 10. The export uses the current edited draft, not the first machine analysis pass.
What is included in the free and paid versions?
The product page shows a Community Free path for evaluating drum detection and five-line score viewing. A one-time paid unlock adds advanced editing, quantization, MIDI export, and PDF export.
Which platforms are supported?
The source pages indicate Windows and Linux desktop builds. Windows uses an installer or Microsoft Store delivery, while Linux is offered as DEB, RPM, or AppImage packages.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Audio to drum notation
- Platform
- Windows and Linux desktop
- Workflow
- Local transcription, review, playback, export
- Inputs
- Full mix, isolated drum stem, drum MIDI
- Outputs
- PDF drum chart, General MIDI
- Pricing
- Community Free plus one-time paid unlock
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