Qtractor
Encyclopedia
Qtractor is a hard disk recorder
and digital audio workstation
application for Linux
. Qtractor is written in C++
and is based around the Qt4 library. Its author is Rui Nuno Capela, who is also responsible for the very widely used Qjackctl
, Qsynth and Qsampler line of Linux audio software. Qtractor's intention is to provide digital audio workstation
software simple enough for the average home user, and yet powerful enough for the professional user.
Qtractor is currently under rapid development, and SVN versions are updated often with new features.
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License
, Qtractor is a free and open source software
application.
Currently Qtractor is simply the hobby project of one developer. Development was started on April 2005, initially as a Qt3 application. Since October 2006, it is officially a Qt4 application.
Qtractor is natively hardwired and exclusive to the JACK Audio Connection Kit
infrastructure, and the ALSA sequencer for MIDI, thus currently being a Linux-only application.
control. Qtractor supports the LADSPA
plugin architecture, as well as DSSI
, native Linux VST and LV2
. Support for Steinberg
's VST
plugin standard with Wine
is available using the DSSI-VST wrapper. Qtractor "remembers" all these connections, and re-establishes them when a session project is reloaded.
Hard disk recorder
A hard disk recorder is a type of direct to disk recording system that uses a high-capacity hard disk to record digital audio or digital video. Hard disk recording systems represent an alternative to more traditional reel-to-reel tape or cassette multitrack systems, and provide editing...
and digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
application for Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. Qtractor is written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and is based around the Qt4 library. Its author is Rui Nuno Capela, who is also responsible for the very widely used Qjackctl
Qjackctl
QjackCtl is a Qt-based tool for controlling the JACK Audio Connection Kit.Basic Functions: It automatically tries to detect audio hardware and lets the user choose subdevices for input and output from a drop-down list as well as common options for the sound server...
, Qsynth and Qsampler line of Linux audio software. Qtractor's intention is to provide digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
software simple enough for the average home user, and yet powerful enough for the professional user.
Qtractor is currently under rapid development, and SVN versions are updated often with new features.
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, Qtractor is a free and open source software
Free and open source software
Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...
application.
Overview
Qtractor is a non-destructive digital audio and MIDI multi-track composition sequencer and arranger software application. It does not affect, alter or modify the audio and/or MIDI files that are displayed as Clip Objects. Exceptions are files resulting from capture and recording operations or from explicit changes made through specialized Clip editing (e.g., MIDI Editor).Currently Qtractor is simply the hobby project of one developer. Development was started on April 2005, initially as a Qt3 application. Since October 2006, it is officially a Qt4 application.
Qtractor is natively hardwired and exclusive to the JACK Audio Connection Kit
JACK Audio Connection Kit
JACK is a professional sound server daemon that provides real-time, low latency connections for both audio and MIDI data between applications that implement its API...
infrastructure, and the ALSA sequencer for MIDI, thus currently being a Linux-only application.
Features
- Supports all sample rates only restricted by hardware.
- Supports multiple audio file formats, both compressed and uncompressed, including older formats such as 8SVX8SVX8SVX is a subformat of the Interchange File Format. The subformat is for 8-bit sampled sounds, supports both mono and stereo streams as well as loops; commonly used as a basic audio sample format on Amiga computers for many years...
and .iff. - Clip editing and automatic or manual Time StretchingTime stretchingTime stretching can refer to:* Audio timescale-pitch modification, in audio* Time stretching, in video* Time dilation, in physics * Time stretch analog-to-digital converter, in electronics...
abilities. - Supports most major audio and MIDI file formats and most Linux plugin technologies.
- Clips may be easily edited by dragging the left or right edges for cropping, or even for timeshifting, by using the shift key modifier.
- Qtractor may be used in a audio masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
environment. Its integration with JACKJACK Audio Connection KitJACK is a professional sound server daemon that provides real-time, low latency connections for both audio and MIDI data between applications that implement its API...
makes it possible to use mastering tools such as JAMinJamin-America:A term used to describe someone of great stature . The term originated with the great Ben LePere back in the early 2000's...
to process the audio data. - Qtractor has both an audio and MIDI metronome with user selectable audio samples.
- Easily move and copy plugins (with params) among tracks.
- Keyboard commands (hotkeys) are entirely customizable.
- Audition audio files within the Files dialog.
- Built-in QjackctlQjackctlQjackCtl is a Qt-based tool for controlling the JACK Audio Connection Kit.Basic Functions: It automatically tries to detect audio hardware and lets the user choose subdevices for input and output from a drop-down list as well as common options for the sound server...
Connections dialog. - Supports LADSPALADSPALADSPA is an acronym for Linux Audio Developers Simple Plugin API. It is a standard for handling filters and effects, licensed under the GNU LGPL. It was originally designed for Linux through consensus on the Linux Audio Developers Mailing List, but works on a variety of other platforms...
, DSSIDSSIDSSI is a virtual instrument plugin architecture for use by music sequencer applications. It was designed for applications running under Linux, although there is nothing specific to Linux in the interface itself...
(this includes DSSI-VST wrapper), native Linux VSTVirtual Studio TechnologySteinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
and LV2LV2LV2 is an open standard for plugins and matching host applications, mainly targeted at audio processing and generation.LV2 is a simple but extensible successor of LADSPA, intended to address the limitations of LADSPA which many applications have outgrown.Currently there is support for LV2 in...
plugins.
Compatibility
Qtractor relies on plugins to enable many features from audio effects processing to dynamicDynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
control. Qtractor supports the LADSPA
LADSPA
LADSPA is an acronym for Linux Audio Developers Simple Plugin API. It is a standard for handling filters and effects, licensed under the GNU LGPL. It was originally designed for Linux through consensus on the Linux Audio Developers Mailing List, but works on a variety of other platforms...
plugin architecture, as well as DSSI
DSSI
DSSI is a virtual instrument plugin architecture for use by music sequencer applications. It was designed for applications running under Linux, although there is nothing specific to Linux in the interface itself...
, native Linux VST and LV2
LV2
LV2 is an open standard for plugins and matching host applications, mainly targeted at audio processing and generation.LV2 is a simple but extensible successor of LADSPA, intended to address the limitations of LADSPA which many applications have outgrown.Currently there is support for LV2 in...
. Support for Steinberg
Steinberg
Steinberg GmbH is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg. It mainly produces music recording, arranging and editing software as used in digital audio workstations and VSTi software synthesizers.- History :...
's VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
plugin standard with Wine
Wine (software)
Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
is available using the DSSI-VST wrapper. Qtractor "remembers" all these connections, and re-establishes them when a session project is reloaded.
See also
- Ardour (audio processor)Ardour (audio processor)Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD. Its primary author is Paul Davis, who is also responsible for the JACK Audio Connection Kit...
- List of free audio software
- Linux audio software
- LinuxSound.org
- Jucetice: Native Linux VST plugins
External links
- Project home page
- http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/software-ecology-rui-nuno-capela - Article in Linux JournalLinux JournalLinux Journal is a monthly technology magazine published by Belltown Media, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The magazine focuses specifically on Linux, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open source enthusiasts.-History:...
- http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000086 - Article in Linux JournalLinux JournalLinux Journal is a monthly technology magazine published by Belltown Media, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The magazine focuses specifically on Linux, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open source enthusiasts.-History:...