Steinberg have just launched Groove Agent 6, kitting the software out with the ability to layer and replace kicks, snares and toms, as well as introducing a brand-new Punch Kit, additional acoustic kits, a new Pattern Editor and much more. It has been released alongside a major update to Absolute 7, which now includes the latest version of Groove Agent along with a selection of other new instruments.
Groove Agent 6
The latest version introduces some powerful layering and replacement features for kicks, snares and toms in Acoustic Agent. There are 47 new acoustic kit pieces — 24 snares, 15 kicks and eight toms in various sizes and materials — making it easier than ever for users to give a kick drum more punch, help snares to cut through the mix by adding a second layer, or swapping out toms to create a unique signature sound.
A new Punch Kit delivers the natural, high-impact sound of a deeply sampled Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit, and includes 24 new presets that have been recorded by a professional session drummer, and come complete with intros, outros and multiple groove variations. Color Punch then delivers a selection of kicks, snares, hi-hats and percussion designed for modern pop production.
Beat makers benefit from the new Pattern Editor, which has been designed to offer straightforward yet flexible programming of intricate beats. Each pad is assigned to its own dedicated lane, while onboard random and Euclidean step generators are included to inspire new ideas. The Mixer panel, meanwhile, has been redesigned to integrate into the lower section of the interface, and can also now be undocked or opened in its own window.
Kits and mixer settings can be edited side by side, while a unified mixer and effects editor is provided across all Agent types for quick fine-tuning. Searching for sounds is easier, too, thanks to an updated context-sensitive MediaBay, and Groove Agent 6 now sports a redesigned user interface that’s scalable from -50% to +100%.
What’s New?
- Shaper Mode with brush, pen and eraser tools to intuitively draw and refine envelope curves.
- Five new effects: Auto Gain Compressor, Fuzz Distortion, Bit Crusher, Clipper and Studio EQ 24.
- The pitch of drum samples can be checked with a single click, then tuned to match the key of the song.
- A new spectral algorithm in Warp Mode allows drum or melodic samples to be played in sync with the project tempo or beats.
- Every kit preset now includes a preview, automatically adjusted to the track’s tempo.
- Hardware mapping for e-drum kits, with presets for a range of manufacturers.
“With Groove Agent 6, we focused on simplicity, amazing sounds and flexibility. Users can now customise their acoustic kicks, snares or toms, which gives them so much more options for sound design. And for those looking for more, we’ve updated our Absolute instrument collection, which not only includes Groove Agent 6 but many more exciting instruments and libraries.” - Florian Haack, Senior Marketing Manager, Steinberg
Absolute 7
Groove Agent 6 is also included in Steinberg’s Absolute 7 instrument collection alongside the Etude grand piano, the new Axe Machina guitar, The Orchestra: Colors, and Colors Lofi Tapes. Groove Agent also offers a diverse collection of expansion sets that complement the included libraries, including titles like Rock Essentials, Funk Essentials, Jazz Essentials, Songwriter Essentials and the premium Simon Phillips Studio Drums.
Compatibility
Groove Agent 6 and Absolute 7 are supported on PCs running Windows 10 and above, and Macs running macOS 14 and higher. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
Groove Agent 6 and Absolute 7 are available now, with pricing as follows:
- Groove Agent 6: $159.99€159
- Absolute 7: $499.99€499
Updates are available exclusively through the Steinberg Online Shop. Those who have activated Groove Agent 5 or Absolute 6 from 22 January 2026 are eligible for a free, downloadable grace-period update to the latest version.
