Qtractor is an Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ around the Qt framework. The target platform will be Linux, where the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) for audio, and the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) for MIDI,

Features

  • Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and recording.
  • Developed on the Qt C++ application and UI framework.
  • 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(2), VST3, CLAP and LV2 plug-ins support.
  • Unlimited number of plug-ins per track or bus.
  • Plug-in presets, programs and chunk/configurations support, including native VST FXB/FXP file support.
  • Unlimited audio/MIDI effect send/return inserts per track or bus.
  • Loop-recording/takes.
  • Audio/MIDI clip fade-in/out, cross-fade (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, render, merge).
  • Audio/MIDI metronome bar/beat clicks.
  • Unlimited tempo/time-signature map.
  • Unlimited location/bar markers.
  • MIDI clip editor (matrix/piano roll).
  • MIDI instrument definitions (a-la Cakewalk(tm) (*.ins)); 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.
  • NSM (Non Session Management) support.
  • MMC control surface enabled.
  • MIDI Clock, Song Position cueing support.
  • Configurable keyboard and MIDI controller shortcuts.

Project Samples

Project Activity

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License

GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2)

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Qtractor Web Site

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User Ratings

★★★★★
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ease 1 of 5 2 of 5 3 of 5 4 of 5 5 of 5 4 / 5
features 1 of 5 2 of 5 3 of 5 4 of 5 5 of 5 4 / 5
design 1 of 5 2 of 5 3 of 5 4 of 5 5 of 5 4 / 5
support 1 of 5 2 of 5 3 of 5 4 of 5 5 of 5 4 / 5

User Reviews

  • (NB: Sourceforge does NOT remember the line breaks, so this review will be displayed as a loooooong single paragraph!! *facepalm*) ---- tl;dr: Use AVLinux. It is based on MXLinux with the Liquorix kernel: bandshed.net/avlinux) ---- Full Review ---- I have used QTractor to do basic recordings of my drums and guitar, etc. However, Audacity can do these things, now, although it will crash much, much more. Also, unless you have a specifically-compiled and configured kernel (with a 1kHz internal timer) it is terrible at synchronising MIDI and audio, so don't use it for MIDI with audio. ---- As with most 'big ideas' on Linux, it seems that one person's perfect idea causes other people usability problems. ---- The first and most important thing to note (If you're new to Linux) is that the kernel that comes with most distros is, apparently, unsuitable for DAW work. ---- Strange how most Linux distros seem crippled in this way when compared to the Windows kernel, which can select real-time priorities with ALL Windows versions! With so many different, incompatible kernels to develop for, most of us will likely end up having the "wrong" kernel [SMH]. Also, unless you're an experienced coder, recompiling the Linux kernel can take days to work out, get right and test, days which are not being used to record your music, so... :/ ---- Another confusing part is that when you create a new project, set it up and click record to record a track, it just asks you to save the project first before you can record. It requires you to work in a rather eccentric manner. Maybe the author thinks we should all work in the same way as them? Maybe the program drops all recordings into the project folder - which it actually asks if you want to create when creating the project, pmsl. ('Folder xxx doesn't exist. Create it?' Errrr... That would be useful. O_o) ---- IMHO, creating a new project should create the structure, too. ---- It seems that you are expected to set up a rather specific combination of hardware, kernel, kernel build, software and software configuration. ---- I remember when you could just do things on Windows, but, alas, it seems Linux is having a very hard time at brushing off the egotistical devs who want everything their way (you know, because "everybody else is doing Linux wrong!" [SMH]) ---- I HIGHLY recommend AVLinux, (based on MXLinux with the Liquorix kernel : bandshed.net/avlinux/) It has the prerequisite realtime kernel and threaded IRQs with IRQ priorities (to prioritise audio hardware I/O), oodles of functional built-in software that JUST WORKS (including Jack!) ---- Don't just install QTractor - It will be a nightmare. Instead, download MXLinux if you want a dedicated Linux DAW. Otherwise, unless you like to try, test and tinker instead of being productive and getting things recorded, you will have a VERY bad time. ---- QTractor STILL (since ~2011) has sync issues and is almost useless when it comes to MIDI & audio mixed projects. Just don't even try - You need a kernel of a specific build, etc.. The whole mess is a red flag, and the epitome of Linux open source development - NOBODY wants to work together because everybody else is just wrong. ---- IMHO, QTractor is a terrible name and has an awful windows 95 icon. Though it could be worse, it could be a modern' flat 'paper'-style icon. That would complete the style nausea. And the track listing on the left can take up 1/3 of your horizontal screen space, without being able to make the 'Instrument' column narrower (even when empty) and you can't select which columns to display, so everything has scrollbars... Maybe if you had 4k monitor it would look a bit better? But 4k monitors are not a prerequisite for any other DAW software I've used. ---- Also, the zoom functionality is broken. You can zoom in and out horizontally using CTRL+Mouse Wheel, however vertical zoom only zooms out, no matter which way you scroll the mouse wheel. ---- The interface is... Well... Interesting and frustrating. You have a PERMANENTLY floating mixer, which you can't seem to change the WIDTH of the channels, so everything is truncated (including some graphics!) the desktop quickly becomes a mess of windows if you also have MIDI soft synths, etc. ---- It just looks like a child has designed the interface, TBQH. Working with the markers is hap-hazard. I can't move the loop markers without moving the 'selection' markers, or whatever they are... It's just a confusing mess. ---- The transport clock updates the bar/time about as frequently as Teletext did, which is useless for visual syncing. ---- I HIGHLY recommend Ardour on MX Linux - It's the perfect DAW! I got soooo much more done in MX Linux with Ardour (using the built-in Intel audio interface) than trying to get QTractor to work consistently with any other distro. ---- Like many other programs on Linux, somebody had a very different idea about how these applications should function, and it's not usually an expert with experience, it's usually just someone with a blinding passion, usually enough to fool themselves into thinking they can write code for people who don't think like they do. ---- And (again, like too many open source projects) the documentation for QTractor is a decade old, so... :/ ---- Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have tried using QTractor for serious work on my workstation. I would have a separate PC for recording and just install MX Linux on it. ---- I don't usually go out of my way to create an account just to write a software review, but producers and artists NEED to know about MX Linux before they potentially waste a lot of time installing and trying to get QTractor to work properly! ---- As Qtractor's author has said publicly: "[...]Ardour is a genuine DAW (later with [...] sequencer features) while qtractor is [...] more like a genuine sequencer (with some DAW features).[...]" ---- Lastly, how can anyone find a four-word review useful???
  • Qtractor is a good program and the support by the developer with some issues is really fast. This is a Opensource Program with a 5 star tech support like private software. Amazing product and amazing tech support by ticket system.
    1 user found this review helpful.
  • The best daw I've used! Easy to use and very practical
    1 user found this review helpful.
  • Appears to no longer be supported in Ubuntu. When I try opening the app, I get the error message "not supported".
    1 user found this review helpful.
  • Truly amazing, it's been a treat using Qtractor as it's been maturing, really quite the ride! Looking forward to see where we go from here. :-D
    2 users found this review helpful.
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Additional Project Details

Operating Systems

Linux

Languages

English

Intended Audience

End Users/Desktop

User Interface

X Window System (X11), Qt

Programming Language

C++

Related Categories

C++ Sound Audio, C++ Audio Recording Software, C++ MIDI Software

Registered

2005-04-01