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 is written in C++. Learn C++ 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 |
| Autokit | Drum machine plugin and standalone app |
| Kickpad | Experimental kick drum audio sample generator |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |


Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.