Last Updated on March 1, 2026
Kickpad is an experimental kick drum audio sample generator.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Can be used for sound design of kick drum sounds, for trying different waveforms and selecting different parameters.
- Can be used for loading an existing .wav audio sample and then evolve the settings so that they generate a kick drum sound that is as close as possible to the given .wav, using GA (genetic algorithms).
- Can be used for setting up 16 different kick drum sound, which can then be played by clicking the pad buttons.
- Cross-platform support – runs under Linux and macOS.
Website: github.com/xyproto/kickpad
Support:
Developer: Alexander F. Rødseth
License: BSD 3-Clause “New” or “Revised” License
Kickpad is written in Go. Learn Go 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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