SAPO Codebits Qtractor. An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer. Rui Nuno Capela rncbc.org.

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SAPO Codebits 2008

Qtractor

An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer Rui Nuno Capela

Rui Nuno Capela

rncbc.org rncbc.org http://qtractor.sourceforge.net http://qtractor.sourceforge.net November 2008 November 2008

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What is Qtractor ? (1)

Yet another Audio / MIDI sequencer ?

Yet another Audio / MIDI sequencer ?

Yes ;-)

 Multi-track recorder paradigmMulti-track recorder paradigm  GNU / LinuxGNU / Linux

 JACKJACK

 ALSA SequencerALSA Sequencer  C++C++

 Qt 4Qt 4  GPLGPL

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2008-11-14

Qtractor - SAPO Codebits 2008 - rncbc.org 3

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 . . .

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Who is behind ?

Hobby work of one developer

Hobby work of one developer

● me, rncbc a.k.a. Rui Nuno Capelame, rncbc a.k.a. Rui Nuno Capela

LAD Portfolio LAD Portfolio ● QjackCtlQjackCtl ● QsynthQsynth ● QsamplerQsampler A

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2008-11-14

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 !

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Where can get it ?

qtractor.sourceforge.net

qtractor.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)

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2008-11-14

What do I need ? (1)

Requirements

Requirements

 MandatoryMandatory

 Qt 4 (core, gui, xml)Qt 4 (core, gui, xml)

 JACKJACK

 ALSAALSA

 libsndfilelibsndfile

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What do I need ? (2)

Requirements

Requirements

 OptionalOptional

 libvorbis (enc, file)libvorbis (enc, file)  libmadlibmad

 libsampleratelibsamplerate  librubberbandlibrubberband  DSSI (SDK)DSSI (SDK)

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2008-11-14

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).

● Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer

for MIDI, as multimedia infrastructures.

● Traditional multi-track tape recorder control Traditional multi-track tape recorder control

paradigm.

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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).

● 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.

● Unlimited number of overlapping clips per Unlimited number of overlapping clips per

track.

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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.

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

bus.

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

chunk/configurations support.

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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).

● Audio clip pitch-shifting (librubberband).Audio clip pitch-shifting (librubberband).

● Audio clip seamless sample-rate conversion Audio clip seamless sample-rate conversion

(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.

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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.

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Screenshot!

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2008-11-14

Monolith (1)

OS kernel Audio Audio driver driver MIDI MIDI driver driver Ax

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Monolith (2)

OS OS kernel kernel Audio Audio driver driver MIDI MIDI driver driver Ax Ax P1 P1 P3P3 P2 P2 P4P4 Pn Pn

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2008-11-14

Pipe Mania (1)

Linux Linux kernel kernel ALSA ALSA driver driver JACK JACK A1 A1 A3A3 A2 A2 A4A4 An An ALSA ALSA sequencer sequencer

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Pipe Mania (2)

Linux Linux kernel kernel ALSA ALSA driver driver JACK JACK A1 A1 A3A3 A2 A2 A4A4 An An P1 P1 P3P3 P2 P2 Pn Pn P1 P1 P3P3 P2 P2 Pn Pn ALSA ALSA sequencer sequencer

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2008-11-14

Studio Setup (1)

DAW DAW Analog Audio Analog Audio Digital Audio Digital Audio MIDI / MMC MIDI / MMC MIDI MIDI USB USB

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Studio Setup (2)

DAW DAW Synth / Sampler Synth / Sampler Analog Audio Analog Audio Digital Audio Digital Audio MIDI / MMC MIDI / MMC MIDI MIDI USB

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2008-11-14

Studio Setup (3)

DAW DAW Synth/Sampler Synth/Sampler Recorder/Sequencer Recorder/Sequencer Analog Audio Analog Audio Digital Audio Digital Audio MIDI / MMC MIDI / MMC MIDI MIDI USB USB

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Evil Flow Diagram

...

in

in InputInput outout

Bus

Bus monitormonitor OutputBusOutputBus

...

Input

Bus

Bus monitormonitor OutputBusOutputBus in in outout = Volume / Pan = Volume / Pan Plug-insPlug-ins R R M M S S = Record = Record = Mute = Mute = Solo = Solo Track Track R R MM SS monitor monitor Clips Clips Track Track R R MM SS monitor monitor Clips Clips Track Track R R MM SS monitor monitor Clips Clips Track Track R R MM SS monitor monitor Clips Clips

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2008-11-14

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

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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

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2008-11-14

Q & A

Qtractor

An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

An Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer

http://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.

Thank you all.