HYDRACTRL is built on top of Hydra, a live code-able video synth created by Olivia Jack, and offers additional features geared towards live performances where you don't necessarily want to be coding.
Store and recall up to 64 scenes (4 banks of 16 slots) with thumbnail previews for quick access during performances.
Control visuals with Korg nanoPAD2, including XY pad for dynamic modulation.
Powered by CodeMirror 6 with Hydra syntax highlighting, code completion, 5 themes and basic error reporting.
The setup code tab allows you to have some code that runs before each sketch. This way you can make sure that your audio settings and globals are always available.
Utilize the Korg nanoPAD2's XY pad with a built-in basic physics engine for expressive control. Also work with your mouse!
Make your visuals dance to the music. Hydra's `a` object provides FFT data out of the box for audio-reactive patches.
HYDRACTRL comes with Hydra's documentation built-in, so you can always refer to it while coding.
Save and share your entire scene banks (all 64 slots) with thumbnail previews for easy organization and collaboration.
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
Ctrl/⌘ + ` |
Toggle UI visibility |
Ctrl/⌘ + Enter |
Run the current code |
Ctrl/⌘ + S |
Save code to the active slot |
Ctrl/⌘ + y |
Toggle auto-run |
Alt/⌥ + 1-9 |
Select slots 1-9 in the current bank |
Alt/ ⌥ + ← / Alt/⌥ + → |
Cycle between banks |
Alt/⌥ + X |
Export scene bank |
Alt/⌥ + I |
Import scene bank |
The foundation of HYDRACTRL is Hydra, a powerful JavaScript library for live coding visuals created by Olivia Jack. Hydra uses WebGL to create stunning visual patterns and is inspired by analog modular synthesizers.
Built with modern JavaScript and leveraging Bun for improved performance, HYDRACTRL offers a responsive experience even with complex visuals.
The code editor is powered by CodeMirror 6, providing syntax highlighting, error reporting, and an optimized editing experience for live performances.
MIDI integration is implemented using the Web MIDI API, allowing connectivity with hardware controllers for tactile control during performances.
If you're new to Hydra, these resources will help you get started:
