Best Free and Open Source Drum Machines

Hydrogen – software synthesizer

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

Hydrogen is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.


Related Software

Drum Machines
HydrogenHigh quality and sophisticated drum machine
GeonkickSynthesizer that can synthesize elements of percussion
DrumGizmoMultichannel, multilayered drum plugin and standalone application
orDrumboxReal-time drum machine and audio sequencer
avldrums.lv2Drum sample player plugin dedicated to Glen MacArthur’s AVLdrums
Drum MachineCreate and play drum beats
AutokitDrum machine plugin and standalone app
KickpadExperimental kick drum audio sample generator

Read our verdict in the software roundup.


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