| Product | Qtractor |
| Developer | rncbc |
| Price (MSRP) | N / A |
| Type / Tags |
| Can Host Instruments | |
| Can Host Effects | |
| Utility | Stand-alone utility / application |
| Operating System |
Latest Version |
Download | Released |
| 0.5.8 | Downloads |  |
| Copy Protection | None |
Qtractor is an audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ with the Qt4 framework. Target platform is Linux, where the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) for audio and the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) for MIDI are the main infrastructures to evolve as a fairly-featured Linux desktop audio workstation GUI, specially dedicated to the personal home-studio.
Website: http://qtractor.sourceforge.net
Project page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/qtractor
Weblog: http://www.rncbc.org
Qtractor is free, open-source software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.
Features:
- Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and recording.
- Developed on pure Qt4 C++ application framework (no Qt3 nor KDE dependencies).
- Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer for MIDI as multimedia infrastructures.
- Traditional multi-track tape recorder control paradigm.
- Audio file formats support: OGG (via libvorbis), MP3 (via libmad, playback only), WAV, FLAC, AIFF and many, many more (via libsndfile).
- Standard MIDI files support (format 0 and 1).
- Non-destructive, non-linear editing.
- Unlimited number of tracks per session/project.
- Unlimited number of overlapping clips per track.
- XML encoded session/project description files (SDI).
- Point-and-click, multi-select, drag-and-drop interaction (drag, move, drop, cut, copy, paste, paste-repeat, delete, split, merge).
- Unlimited undo/redo.
- Built-in mixer and monitor controls.
- Built-in connection patchbay control and persistence (a-la QjackCtl).
- LADSPA, DSSI, native VST and LV2 plug-ins support.
- Unlimited number of plug-ins per track or bus.
- Plug-in presets, programs and chunk/configurations support.
- Unlimited audio effect send/return inserts per track or bus.
- Loop-recording/takes.
- Audio/MIDI clip fade-in/out (linear, quadratic, cubic).
- Audio/MIDI clip gain/volume, normalize, export.
- Audio/MIDI track and plugin parameter automation (dynamic curves, sample&hold, linear and spline modes).
- Audio clip time-stretching (WSOLA-like or via librubberband), pitch-shifting (via librubberband) and seamless sample-rate conversion (via libsamplerate).
- Audio/MIDI track export (mix-down, merge).
- Audio/MIDI metronome bar/beat clicks.
- Unlimited tempo/time-signature map.
- MIDI clip editor (matrix/piano roll).
- MIDI instrument definitions (a-la Cakewalk(tm));
SoundFont (*.sf2) and MIDI Names XML (*.midnam) files also supported. - MIDI controller mapping/learn/assignment (mixer and plug-in parameters).
- MIDI system exclusive (SysEx) setups.
- JACK transport sync master/slave.
- JACK session support.
- MMC control surface enabled.
- MIDI Song Position cueing support.
- Configurable keyboard shortcuts.
Discussion
danboid You're very welcome Rui!
Hope you've had a good holiday - if you're back now that is?
I was pleasantly surprised to see qtractor coming in at #1 in the Ranks and Ratings charts for free hosts in the last 7 days when I just looked now which is also how I just spotted your comment!
rncbc even more thankful to you Dan
your review rating 10 might have something to do with it, i suppose :)
cheers
glokraw Realizing that a 10 rating is a friendly, but fictional and honorary perfection, qtractor is a fine achievement, and getting lots of improvements (the author has also released new instruments as well!). Linux as a DAW is very enjoyable, and easily acquired.
Studio 1337, AVLinux, KX studio add-ons, Remix-OS, Ubuntu Studio, Fedora CCRMA,
and quite a few others, have taken the configuration learning curve to new minimums,
and windows plugins are very usable, qtractor output can be easily summed with reaper,
festige, or dssi-vst output.
Those not subdued by piles of cash, might well get excellent performance using last-years computer,
in a fast RT linux, and discover some fine new software along the way. Yoshimi, rakarrack, and hydrogen,
and linux sampler, are getting updates, and make a solid core for composing using keys and guitars.
Burn a linux .iso to cd/DVD, or use unetbootin to easily install one on a usbstick. Reboot using early-boot menu
to avoid starting up your hard-disk windows gear.
Low floor, high ceiling!
rncbc @glokraw thanks
most comments one reads in the interwebs about linux audio & music have been superficially negative, more over when comparing to the big non-free, closed-source, proprietary systems.
in that regard, yours is positively awesome and brave ;)
thanks again
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