By Tug·July 7, 2026·6 min read

How to Record a Drum Machine into Your iPhone

Recording a drum machine into an iPhone follows the same rule as any hardware: it depends on whether the machine has its own USB audio or only line outputs. Many modern drum machines and grooveboxes stream class-compliant USB audio and plug in with one cable. Others use line outs into an interface. Here is both, plus how to keep those punchy transients from clipping.

One cable, or an interface

If your drum machine does class-compliant USB audio, connect it to the phone with a single cable. If it only has analog outputs, run those into a class-compliant interface, then the interface into the phone.

A lot of current grooveboxes and drum machines do USB audio, which makes them the easy case. Older and purely analog boxes use their outputs.

Drum machines with USB audio

Many modern boxes, from Roland's SP-404 to Elektron's drum machines and plenty of grooveboxes, stream class-compliant USB audio. Connect one to the phone with a USB cable, or a camera adapter on a Lightning iPhone, set whatever USB audio mode it needs, and record. There are dedicated guides for several of these.

This is the neatest route, since the drum machine is its own interface and there is nothing else in the chain.

Drum machines with only line outputs

If yours has just analog outputs, run the main output, mono or stereo, into the line inputs of a class-compliant interface, then connect the interface to the phone. Set the interface to line level, and record both left and right if the machine has a stereo output.

Some drum machines also have separate outputs for individual sounds. With a multi-input interface you can capture a few of those on their own, though over a single USB connection you get the stereo mix, the same as most grooveboxes.

Keep the transients clean

Drum machines hit hard, and a kick or snare has a big, fast transient that can clip a poorly set input. Recording in 32-bit float gives you the headroom so those peaks stay clean even if a hit is louder than expected, and you can bring the level down afterwards with no penalty.

Set the interface to line, keep an eye on the meters, and let the float headroom handle the surprises.

Where Reel fits

Reel records your beat in clean 32-bit float from either route, and because it is a four-track you can lay the drums down and build the rest of the track on top, overdubbing bass, chords and melody around the groove.

See how Reel works

Here is Reel in action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you record a drum machine into an iPhone?

Yes. If it does class-compliant USB audio, connect it with one cable. If it only has line outputs, run those into a class-compliant interface set to line level, then into the phone, and record in an app like Reel.

Do drum machines have USB audio?

Many modern drum machines and grooveboxes do class-compliant USB audio and act as their own interface, like the Roland SP-404 and Elektron's boxes. Older and purely analog machines usually have only analog outputs and need an interface.

Can I record individual drum sounds separately?

Sometimes. If the drum machine has separate outputs per sound and you use a multi-input interface, you can capture some individually. Over a single USB connection you generally get the stereo mix, like most grooveboxes.

How do I stop my drum machine clipping when I record it?

Record in 32-bit float, which gives enough headroom that hard transients like kicks and snares stay clean, and set the interface to line level. You can then lower the level afterwards with no loss of quality.