Qtractor - An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

SAPO Codebits 2008SAPO Codebits 2008

QtractorQtractorAn Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencerAn Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

Rui Nuno CapelaRui Nuno Capelarncbc.orgrncbc.org

http://qtractor.sourceforge.nethttp://qtractor.sourceforge.net

November 2008November 2008

2008-11-14Qtractor - SAPO Codebits 2008 - rncbc.org 2

What is Qtractor ? (1)What is Qtractor ? (1)

Yet another Audio / MIDI sequencer ?Yet another Audio / MIDI sequencer ?

Yes ;-)Yes ;-) Multi-track recorder paradigmMulti-track recorder paradigm GNU / LinuxGNU / Linux JACKJACK ALSA SequencerALSA Sequencer C++C++ Qt 4Qt 4 GPLGPL


What is Qtractor ? (2)What is Qtractor ? (2)● Home-studio DAW GUIHome-studio DAW GUI● Intuitive and easy to use (hopefully)Intuitive and easy to use (hopefully)● Music-making playgroundMusic-making playground● Not for the erudite (no score editor)Not for the erudite (no score editor)● Techno-boy bedroom studio, anyone?Techno-boy bedroom studio, anyone?● Not a revolution, will evolve . . .Not a revolution, will evolve . . .

● Why not Ardour, Rosegarden ?Why not Ardour, Rosegarden ?


Who is behind ?Who is behind ?

Hobby work of one developerHobby work of one developer● me, rncbc a.k.a. Rui Nuno Capelame, rncbc a.k.a. Rui Nuno Capela

LAD PortfolioLAD Portfolio● QjackCtlQjackCtl● QsynthQsynth● QsamplerQsampler

A A gift economygift economy player :-) player :-)


But why ?But why ?● Just for funJust for fun● The motive . . .The motive . . .

Long time enthusiasm on electronic musicLong time enthusiasm on electronic music

● The skill . . .The skill . . . A half-life on programming (>20y)A half-life on programming (>20y)

● The moment . . .The moment . . . An extraordinary event alignment occurred in An extraordinary event alignment occurred in

the whole Universe . . .the whole Universe . . .

So that was it !So that was it !


Where can get it ?Where can get it ?

qtractor.sourceforge.netqtractor.sourceforge.net● AlphaAlpha still, but... still, but...● Fully functional (no Fully functional (no not-implemented-yetsnot-implemented-yets))● What You See Is What What You See Is What IsIs Working Working● Bugs'R'UsBugs'R'Us● WIPWIP

Open for Business (no money involved)Open for Business (no money involved)● users, developers, players, nurturers . . . users, developers, players, nurturers . . .


What do I need ? (1)What do I need ? (1)

RequirementsRequirements MandatoryMandatory

Qt 4 (core, gui, xml)Qt 4 (core, gui, xml) JACKJACK ALSAALSA libsndfilelibsndfile LADSPA (SDK)LADSPA (SDK)


What do I need ? (2)What do I need ? (2)

RequirementsRequirements OptionalOptional

libvorbis (enc, file)libvorbis (enc, file) libmadlibmad libsampleratelibsamplerate librubberbandlibrubberband DSSI (SDK)DSSI (SDK) VST (SDK)VST (SDK)


Featuritis (1)Featuritis (1)● Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and

recording.recording.● Developed on pure Qt4 C++ application Developed on pure Qt4 C++ application

framework (no Qt3 / KDE dependencies).framework (no Qt3 / KDE dependencies).● Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer

for MIDI, as multimedia infrastructures.for MIDI, as multimedia infrastructures.● Traditional multi-track tape recorder control Traditional multi-track tape recorder control

paradigm.paradigm.


Featuritis (2)Featuritis (2)● Audio file formats support: OGG (libvorbis), Audio file formats support: OGG (libvorbis),

MP3 (libmad, playback only), WAV, FLAC, MP3 (libmad, playback only), WAV, FLAC, AIFF and many, many more (libsndfile).AIFF and many, many more (libsndfile).

● Standard MIDI files support (format 0 and 1).Standard MIDI files support (format 0 and 1).● Non-destructive, non-linear editing.Non-destructive, non-linear editing.● Unlimited number of tracks per Unlimited number of tracks per

session/project.session/project.● Unlimited number of overlapping clips per Unlimited number of overlapping clips per

track.track.

Featuritis (3)Featuritis (3)● Built-in mixer and monitor controls.Built-in mixer and monitor controls.● Built-in connection patch-bay control and Built-in connection patch-bay control and

persistence (QjackCtl;).persistence (QjackCtl;).● LADSPA, DSSI and native VSTi plug-ins LADSPA, DSSI and native VSTi plug-ins

support.support.● Unlimited number of plug-ins per track or Unlimited number of plug-ins per track or

bus.bus.● Plug-in presets, programs and Plug-in presets, programs and

chunk/configurations support.chunk/configurations support.

Featuritis (4)Featuritis (4)● Audio/MIDI clip fade-in/out (linear, quadratic, Audio/MIDI clip fade-in/out (linear, quadratic,

cubic).cubic).● Audio/MIDI clip gain, normalize, export.Audio/MIDI clip gain, normalize, export.● Audio clip time-stretching (WSOLA-like, Audio clip time-stretching (WSOLA-like,

librubberband).librubberband).● Audio clip pitch-shifting (librubberband).Audio clip pitch-shifting (librubberband).● Audio clip seamless sample-rate conversion Audio clip seamless sample-rate conversion

(libsamplerate).(libsamplerate).● Audio/MIDI track export (mix-down, merge).Audio/MIDI track export (mix-down, merge).● Audio/MIDI metronome bar/beat clicks.Audio/MIDI metronome bar/beat clicks.

Featuritis (5)Featuritis (5)● MIDI clip editor (piano-roll / matrix editor).MIDI clip editor (piano-roll / matrix editor).● MIDI instrument definitions (Cakewalk(tm))MIDI instrument definitions (Cakewalk(tm))● JACK transport sync master.JACK transport sync master.● MMC control surface enabled.MMC control surface enabled.● Configurable keyboard shortcuts.Configurable keyboard shortcuts.


Screenshot!Screenshot!


Monolith (1)Monolith (1)

OSkernel

AudioAudiodriverdriver

MIDIMIDIdriverdriver

Ax


Monolith (2)Monolith (2)

OSOSkernelkernel

AudioAudiodriverdriver

MIDIMIDIdriverdriver

AxAx

P1P1 P3P3

P2P2 P4P4

PnPn


Pipe Mania (1)Pipe Mania (1)

LinuxLinuxkernelkernel

ALSAALSAdriverdriver

JACKJACK

A1A1 A3A3

A2A2 A4A4

AnAn

ALSAALSAsequencersequencer


Pipe Mania (2)Pipe Mania (2)

LinuxLinuxkernelkernel

ALSAALSAdriverdriver

JACKJACK

A1A1 A3A3

A2A2 A4A4

AnAn

P1P1 P3P3

P2P2

PnPn

P1P1 P3P3

P2P2

PnPn

ALSAALSAsequencersequencer


Studio Setup (1)Studio Setup (1)

DAWDAW

Analog AudioAnalog Audio

Digital AudioDigital Audio

MIDI / MMCMIDI / MMC

MIDIMIDI

USBUSB



DAWDAW

Synth / SamplerSynth / Sampler




MIDIMIDI

USB



DAWDAW

Synth/SamplerSynth/Sampler

Recorder/SequencerRecorder/Sequencer




MIDIMIDI

USBUSB


Evil Flow DiagramEvil Flow Diagram

......

inin outoutInputInputBusBus

OutputOutputBusBusmonitormonitor

......

InputInputBusBus

OutputOutputBusBusmonitormonitorinin outout

= Volume / Pan= Volume / Pan Plug-insPlug-ins

RR

MM

SS

= Record= Record

= Mute= Mute

= Solo= Solo

TrackTrackRR MM SS

monitormonitor

ClipsClips

TrackTrackRR MM SS

monitormonitor

ClipsClips

TrackTrackRR MM SS

monitormonitor

ClipsClips

TrackTrackRR MM SS

monitormonitor

ClipsClips


What's missing ? (1)What's missing ? (1)● Loop recording (takes)Loop recording (takes)● Dynamic curves / Automation (volume, pan, Dynamic curves / Automation (volume, pan,

plug-in parameters, controllers)plug-in parameters, controllers)● Auto-cross fadingAuto-cross fading● Location markersLocation markers● LV2 Plug-insLV2 Plug-ins● JACK-MIDIJACK-MIDI


What's missing ? (2)What's missing ? (2)● MIDI Time Code / SMPTEMIDI Time Code / SMPTE● MIDI Clock syncMIDI Clock sync● OSC interfaceOSC interface● Integrated scripting (angelscript?)Integrated scripting (angelscript?)● Tempo and time signature mapTempo and time signature map

● Your suggestion(s) here !Your suggestion(s) here !


Q & AQ & A

QtractorQtractorAn Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencerAn Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

http://qtractor.sourceforge.nethttp://qtractor.sourceforge.net

Qtractor is free / open-source software; you can redistribute it and / Qtractor is free / open-source software; you can redistribute it and / or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 or later.version 2 or later.

It is being possible through the knowledgeable, direct and / or It is being possible through the knowledgeable, direct and / or indirect collaborative efforts of the Linux Audio Developers and indirect collaborative efforts of the Linux Audio Developers and Users communities.Users communities.

Thank you all.Thank you all.

Qtractor - An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

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