BeatCutter - Rhythm slicing & recombining

BeatCutter is a playground for anyone who loves experimenting with sound. It’s an innovative multi-channel tool that slices, reshapes, and recombines audio based on rhythm, letting you build evolving textures, chaotic patterns, and completely unexpected musical structures.

>>> Get this app on App Store
Universal app for iOS and macOS (AUv3)

At the heart of the app is a flexible matrix of sample cells with fluid routing for recording, playback, and control. Whether you’re working with long audio files, live instruments, or sound from other apps, BeatCutter turns any source into raw material for creative exploration.

Craft immersive sound worlds

With BeatCutter, you can sculpt everything from cyberpunk atmospheres and industrial drones to alien jungles and meditative soundscapes. The type of source audio doesn’t matter - the magic comes from how you transform it. Your settings and your imagination define the final result, which can range from futuristic IDM to abstract ambient textures.

Designed for experimentation

BeatCutter doesn’t rely on fixed presets. Instead, it gives you a powerful set of parameters that encourage hands‑on discovery. To help you get started, the app includes a template editor where each number represents a group of settings. Tweak the numbers, listen, randomize, refine, and save your favorite states as presets.

Explore evolving sonic feedback

One of BeatCutter’s most unique features is its experimental feedback mode. This isn’t traditional analog feedback - it behaves more like a living fractal, constantly reshaping itself. The result is a self-evolving sound structure capable of generating rich, abstract audio without any external input. It’s a perfect tool for deep experimentation and unexpected inspiration.

BeatCutter is for artists, sound designers, and curious creators who want to push beyond the ordinary and discover new sonic territories.

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How it works:

At the core of the app is a matrix of 64 (8x8) cells in each of which a sample can be recorded. The sample matrix is controlled by 5 types of buses - Inputs, Triggers, Controls, Sequencer and Outputs.

The audio signal for recording takes from 8 input buses, each of which can playback a file or be assigned to one of 4 channels of an external sound card or audio unit.

Cell recording start and stop is controlled by 8 trigger buses. Each trigger can be assigned to a signal from any input bus or external channel. The trigger is activated when the signal exceeds the threshold. Each trigger has a band pass filter which selects frequency range in which the trigger will activating. The length of the record in the cell is defined either by a fixed value in beats or by activating and deactivating the trigger.

The sequencer controls the playback of the cells. The sequencer can sync with the main BPM clock or change the step when activating its own trigger. The played sample is fed to one of the 8 output buses on which the cell is located.

The output bus also process the signal with one of the audio effects, filter and echo modules. Next, for each of the 8 output signals, can set the output level, stereo panning, EQ and level to send to the main reverb. The output buses and main reverb are mixed for the external stereo output.

Each cell has a set of parameters that define the playback speed of the sample, a bit mask of playback addressing that implements a kind of glitch effects and other parameters. For each group of 8 cells, these parameters are set by one of the 8 control buses.

Another interesting feature is that for all 5 types of buses, 8 different modes of combining cells in the sample matrix can be set. This allows to create completely unusual configurations for recording, playing and controlling sample cells. Changes mode of buses and value of parameters are performed smoothly and it is possible to set the duration of this change. This options makes the transition sound even more amazing.

>>> Complete description of BeatCutter 1.9 (pdf)


Demos and reviews:

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 1: Getting Started, Core Concepts (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 2: Play FileDirect to the output (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 3: Setting up BeatCutter inside AUM (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 4: Quick Preset Management (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 5: Process one Input Bus (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 6: Process Multiple Input Busses (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 7: Process Multiple Input Channels in AUM (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 8: Triggers, inputs, filter, length, attack, release (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 9: Input Options and Automation (SoundForMore Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Tutorial Part 10: Feedback (SoundForMore Tutorials)

The Matrix Decoded: BeatCutter for non Rocket-scientists (MarkH / Almost Aviation)

BeatCutter - App Deep Walkthrough Review (Gavinski’s Tutorials)

BeatCutter - Possibly The Most Experimental App Ever (The Sound Test Room)

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BeatCutter is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). BeatCutter works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, BeatCutter can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option) and audio unit parameters. BeatCutter has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site.

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