Tech riderRev. 20 Sept 2026
Hydrogen
- 1Runs onAPI, Linux, Mac, Windows
- 2CostsNot stated by the maker
- 3Platformdesktop
- 4Sequencing modepattern
- 5MIDI supportYes
- 6Sample importYes
- 7Live performance toolsYes
6 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: hydrogen-music.org
Overview
Hydrogen is ranked #9 of 26 in drum machine software on Specifiction. It runs on API, Linux, macOS, Windows.
Compared on drum machine software
- Free plan
- Yeshydrogen-music.org
- Platform
- desktophydrogen-music.org
- Sequencing mode
- patternhydrogen-music.org
- MIDI support
- Yeshydrogen-music.org
- Sample import
- Yeshydrogen-music.org
- Live performance tools
- Yeshydrogen-music.org
Facts
- Product
- Hydrogen is a drum sequencer for pattern-based programming and a drum synthesizer.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- MIDI
- Hydrogen provides MIDI support and can be automated using MIDI or its OSC API.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Customization
- The project describes Hydrogen as highly customizable, with control over instrument, sample, and note properties.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Audio features
- Hydrogen supports time-stretching and pitch shifting.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Drumkits
- Hydrogen offers drumkits that users can download and install through its sound library manager.hydrogen-music.org · 29 Sept 2026
- Windows
- The project lists a 64-bit Windows download for Windows Vista and later.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- macOS
- The project lists a macOS download for version 10.14 and later.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Linux
- The project lists Linux as a supported platform and directs users to distribution repositories or its Linux download.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Use cases
- The project describes Hydrogen for home practice, studio use, and live performance.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- License
- Hydrogen is distributed under GPLv2+.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its manual, FAQ, wiki, GitHub, and mailing list for information and help.hydrogen-music.org · 29 Sept 2026
- Notable limitation
- The FAQ says Hydrogen has no current plans for an LV2 plugin version.hydrogen-music.org · 29 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Hydrogen is a software synthesizer that can run as a pattern-based drum machine or work with an external MIDI keyboard or sequencer.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Sequencing
- Its pattern-based sequencer supports unlimited patterns that can be chained into songs.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Sound engine
- Hydrogen uses a sample-based stereo audio engine and supports importing WAV, AU, AIFF, and FLAC samples.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Editing
- The pattern editor can adjust per-note properties including velocity and pan.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Humanization
- Features include human velocity, timing, pitch, and swing functions.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Audio integration
- Hydrogen supports JACK, ALSA, PortAudio, and OSS audio drivers; its manual describes JACK connections with other audio software.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Exports
- Songs can be exported to WAV, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, MIDI, and LilyPond formats.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Downloads
- The downloads page lists stable installers for Linux, Windows, and macOS, plus source code and demo audio files.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
- Platform limitation
- The downloads page lists the current macOS release as supporting OS X 10.14 and above.hydrogen-music.org · 30 Sept 2026
Best Hydrogen alternatives
See all 20 All accessCh 01 Zenbeats Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.6 All accessCh 02 mpump Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.2 All accessCh 03 Atlas 2 Free trialLinuxMac 7.1 All accessCh 04 Beatmaker 3 Free trialiOSMac 7.1 All accessCh 05 Playbeat 4 Free trialiOSMac 7.1 All accessCh 06 DrumComputer Free trialiOSMac 7.0
Where it ranks on Specifiction
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Sources
- github.com/hydrogen-music/hydrogen· checked 29 Sept 2026
- hydrogen-music.org/documentation/manual/manual_en.html· checked 29 Sept 2026
- hydrogen-music.org/faq/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- hydrogen-music.org/features/· checked 30 Sept 2026
- hydrogen-music.org/documentation/manual/manual_en_chunked/· checked 30 Sept 2026
- hydrogen-music.org/downloads/· checked 30 Sept 2026