Hydrogen is a software synthesizer which is able to be used either by itself, emulating a drum machine based on patterns, or via an external MIDI keyboard/sequencer software.
It’s main goal is to bring professional yet simple and intuitive pattern-based drum programming.
The Main UI comes in 2 flavors : the (classic) Single Pane mode (ideal for large- and medium size screens), and the Tabbed mode (optimized for netbook screen sizes).
Key Features
General
- User-friendly, modular, fast and intuitive graphical interface based on QT 3.
- Sample-based stereo audio engine, with import of sound samples in .wav, .au and .aiff formats.
- Support of samples in compressed FLAC file.
Sequencer and mixer
- Pattern-based sequencer, with unlimited number of patterns and ability to chain patterns into a song.
- Up to 64 ticks per pattern with individual level per event and variable pattern length.
- 32 instrument tracks with volume, mute, solo, pan capabilities.
- Multi layer support for instruments (up to 16 samples for each instrument).
- Ability to import/export song files.
- Unique human velocity, human time, pitch and swing functions.
- Multiple patterns playing at once.
Other
- JACK, ALSA, PortAudio and OSS audio drivers.
- ALSA MIDI and PortMidi input with assignable midi-in channel (1..16, ALL).
- Import/export of drumkits.
- LASH audio session support.
- Export song to wav file.
- Export song to midi file.
Website: hydrogen-music.org
Support: Manual, GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Alessandro Cominu and contributors
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Hydrogen is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Drum Machines | |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen | High quality and sophisticated drum machine |
| Geonkick | Synthesizer that can synthesize elements of percussion |
| DrumGizmo | Multichannel, multilayered drum plugin and standalone application |
| orDrumbox | Real-time drum machine and audio sequencer |
| avldrums.lv2 | Drum sample player plugin dedicated to Glen MacArthur’s AVLdrums |
| Drum Machine | Create and play drum beats |
| Kickpad | Experimental kick drum audio sample generator |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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