samplerXLN Audio
XO
A drum-sample organiser that maps your entire library onto a visual galaxy so similar sounds cluster together, plus a built-in sequencer for building beats. The modern way to wrangle thousands of one-shots.
XO Review
XLN Audio XO reviewed: the drum-sample organiser that maps your whole library by similarity, and whether it's worth it if you're drowning in one-shots.
Written and reviewed by Kasper Nods. Updated July 2026. How PlugPick reviews
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sampler★ 4 / 5
XO solves a problem most producers only notice once it's already out of hand: thousands of drum one-shots scattered across folders with no fast way to find "that one kick" again. Its visual similarity map and built-in sequencer turn sample-library chaos into something you can actually browse and build with, but its value scales directly with how big and messy your library already is.
Every producer who's collected sample packs for more than a year hits the same wall: a drum folder with thousands of one-shots, inconsistent naming, and no way to find a specific sound short of clicking through them one at a time. XO's whole pitch is solving exactly that. Point it at your sample library and it maps every hit onto a visual "galaxy," positioning sonically similar sounds near each other so you can browse by ear and proximity instead of by folder structure.
That map isn't just for browsing, it's a workflow. XO includes a built-in step sequencer, so once you've found the kicks, snares and hats you want, you can build a beat directly inside the plugin and drag the result straight into your DAW, no separate sampler instrument required for quick beat sketches.
Producer Hardt Antoine builds a full beat with XO on camera in his "I don't like process" track-building masterclass, walking through exactly this workflow, finding sounds by similarity, sequencing them, and moving straight into arrangement. That kind of real, unhurried workflow demonstration is a more honest signal than a highlight-reel demo.
The honest catch is that XO is a workflow tool, not a sound-generation engine, its value is entirely proportional to how large and disorganised your existing sample collection already is. A producer with a few curated folders of go-to sounds won't get much from it. The built-in sequencer is also basic next to a dedicated drum sequencer or your DAW's own step sequencer, it's there for quick sketches, not deep programming.
For anyone sitting on years of accumulated sample packs and one-shots with no real system for finding anything in them, XO pays for itself the first time it surfaces exactly the kick you were looking for in seconds instead of minutes.
Pros
- + Visual similarity map turns an unmanageable one-shot library into something browsable
- + Built-in step sequencer lets you sketch beats without leaving the plugin
- + Genuinely time-saving for producers with large, messy sample collections
- + Demonstrated in real, unhurried producer workflows, not just highlight reels
Cons
- − Value depends entirely on how large and disorganised your existing library already is
- − The built-in sequencer is basic compared to a dedicated drum sequencer
- − Doesn't generate new sounds, it's an organisation and browsing tool for sounds you already have
Should you buy XO?
Buy it if you have years of accumulated sample packs and one-shots with no real system for finding anything in them.
Skip it if your sample library is already small and well-organised, or you need a sequencer with deep programming features beyond quick sketches.
Frequently asked questions
What is XO used for?
Organising large drum one-shot libraries. It maps every sample onto a visual map by sonic similarity so you can browse by ear instead of folder names, then build beats with its built-in step sequencer.
Does XO come with samples?
XO is primarily an organiser for samples you already own, pointed at your existing library. Check the current product listing for whether a starter sample pack is bundled.
Is XO worth it if I don't have many samples yet?
Its value scales with how large and messy your sample collection already is. With only a few curated folders, a dedicated browser plugin matters less, XO earns its keep once your library gets unwieldy.