Rhythms are hard to remember and harder to read
You hear a conga pattern in a workshop, and a week later you can't recall how the parts fit together. Standard music notation doesn't help much with hand drums. PercussionStudio is built for this. You write rhythms in a simple notation system and the program plays them back, so you can check what you wrote by ear.
Quick facts
- Platforms: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10
- Hardware: a sound card
- Price: free; the author invites a tip if you like it
- Included sounds: sampled percussion instruments and a set of standard rhythms
Key features
Write rhythms in a simple notation you can read back later
The rhythm notation system lets you transcribe patterns without learning staff notation. There are also functions for automatic handset notation, and handset notation accepts any letter.
Play several instrument voices at once and mute single tracks
The program plays multiple instrument voices at the same time. Each track can be muted, so you can silence one part and play along to learn it.
Edit while the rhythm is playing
You can play and edit at the same time, and note changes are heard immediately. That makes it easy to try a variation and hear it right away.
Start with ready-made instruments and rhythms, then add your own
It ships with standard rhythms such as Rumba Columbia, ChaCha, Funk, Guaguanco, Merengue, Samba and Calypso. Included instruments are Conga, Tumba, Quinto, Bongos, Clave, Guiro, Maracas, Shekere and Triangle, among others. About 170 percussion instruments are available to download, and you can add your own. You can also use it as a rhythm sampler with WAV files.
Shape the feel and take the result with you
The version history lists a pan slider for each track, WAV export, a tempo range of 30-400 bpm, undo, a selectable audio device and reverb. It also lists triplets with the shift key, variation measures, repeat points, and a way to stretch measure timing so rhythms swing. Later versions add up to 32 sounds per instrument, a split view, user-definable symbols and VSTi module support.
Who it's for
It suits hand-percussion students and teachers who want to write down patterns and practise one part against the others. It also suits anyone building rhythm loops from WAV samples. The vendor's own keywords point to Afro-Cuban and Latin styles such as salsa, merengue and chacha, and to djembe and conga rhythms.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Simple notation that is quick to learn
- Per-track muting for learning individual parts
- Edits are heard immediately during playback
- Documentation in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Italian
Cons
- Windows only
- The notation system is its own, so it differs from standard sheet music
- The vendor's page looks dated
FAQs
Does PercussionStudio cost anything?
The vendor's page says it is free. If you like it, you can tip the author.
Which Windows versions does it run on?
The listed requirements are Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10, plus a sound card.
Can I add more instruments?
Yes. You can add your own instruments, and about 170 percussion instruments are available to download. You can also use WAV files as a sampler.
Can I export what I make?
The version history lists export as WAV file, and later versions add VSTi module support.
System requirements
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10
- Sound card