Hive preview (April 1 update)

[Caine123]

i read a lot that you should keep it simple, yes ok i think if you want it simple you have the option if you want it more complex you should get the option too cause if i want a simple VA synth i can get many of the freebies out there which sound not bad at all.... cause a saw is a saw, a sine is a sine (overall, of course some differences are there otherwise there wouldnt be a difference in sylenth1 and hive etc.).

[xamido]

i read a lot that you should keep it simple, yes ok i think if you want it simple you have the option if you want it more complex you should get the option too cause if i want a simple VA synth i can get many of the freebies out there which sound not bad at all.... cause a saw is a saw, a sine is a sine (overall, of course some differences are there otherwise there wouldnt be a difference in sylenth1 and hive etc.).

Well there you go, you just admit there's a difference.

[Breeze]

• More "via" options including some curves, inverse, variable multiplier (no idea if this is possible or even makes sense - haven't thought about it very much).

Makes lots of sense! I was going to suggest the same thing this morning! Either as Source or Via, a way to define the modulation curve is something that would be very useful. Ideally it would be something we can draw or at least interact with at a low level. Whether this applies to Hive and fits into its MO is another story...

[bmrzycki]

till when is HIVE discounted again? im still struggling getting this or SPIRE.

Traditionally u-he products never go on sale once version 1.0 is released. If you want the introductory discount it's likely now or never.

[Breeze]

Regarding the BYO concept vs. drop downs for esoteric parameters I think I found two concepts that could be a middle ground:

1. Customize dialog

The engines stay as they are, a choice of 3. A small button next to the selector opens a nicely laid out window with 3 options:...

2. Combo Engine

Instead of adding a full blown set of expert choices to a "Build Your Own" engine, we just have a simple Matrix in a very little window where each of the 3 aspects of the engines (detune law, filter topology, envelopes) can be chosen from the three engines themselves, like this...

I feel Option 2 is too simplistic, but I also think Option 1 could be made more simple and complex at the same time, possibly by blending the two. You could have the simple selections of Option 2 with a fourth step that would have extensive customization capabilities. In the case of envelopes a set of fully customizable parameters and even a draw-your-own envelope with graph, in the case of detuning, parameters and visual representation. Perhaps filters are best left to multiple simple type choices Too far?

[Tricky-Loops]

Option 1 is more elegant...

In the end it depends on how many different sounds Hive is capable of. I won't buy it just because of 3 engines or 16 voices unisono. There are more than enough other synths with the usual waveforms saw, sine, square, triangle and noise - I need something a bit different, I never eat bread with butter alone...

[Caine123]

No disrespect uhe at all but i always prefer if people have options like simple the standard design and then click on advancef aand plop an advanced view or 2nd window is there.
Otherwise. Will sound Designers have much fun and use after some months ?

[Lee702]

2. Combo Engine

[bmrzycki]

2. Combo Engine

+1 IMO it still fits the design idea of simple and fast.

[dwozzle]

Just to say it, I really love that this thread exists and how it's going, with Urs responding thoughtfully to real, substantive feedback and ideas from sophisticated users. All software should be developed this way.

Props to all, especially Urs for making it happen.

[Aiynzahev]

No, no, no! When it comes to macros and dance music, more is more! EDM people want to be able to pull up a preset and warp a sound around using 8 macros connected to hardware controllers.

Nobody I know uses them. If you do have macros, 3 is plenty.

[sugo]

Just to say it, I really love that this thread exists and how it's going, with Urs responding thoughtfully to real, substantive feedback and ideas from sophisticated users. All software should be developed this way.

Props to all, especially Urs for making it happen.

[Tricky-Loops]

Just to say it, I really love that this thread exists and how it's going, with Urs responding thoughtfully to real, substantive feedback and ideas from sophisticated users. All software should be developed this way.

Props to all, especially Urs for making it happen.

When people are treated respectfully, they behave like that (in most cases). Other developers could learn something from Urs...

[Photontic]

I'm also thinking that a ModMatrix should be able to modulate another, from bottom to top, i.e. ModMatrix 1 can modulate ModMatrix 2 but not vice versa.

Oh that last bit is a no no for me. That means I have to plan in advance which mod-slots do what, incase I want to modulate them. Ease of use and flexibility dictates all mod-slots are equal and can do the same things. That way I can just merrily program away without thought about which slot is doing what.

Fair enough… but what if we do top to bottom as well, that's like opening a can of worms…

Otoh, just checked some other synths. Many don't do this. Most just don't. Hmmm, this makes me think that maybe we don't need Matrix by Matrix modulations?

This actually reminded me of something I would like to request: Give the option to switch a ModMatrix slot with another, basically to be able to re-arrange them.

The reason I ask for this is that it would be nice to "group" things. Say I have 2 slots that both use the modwheel, but the second slot was added later and there's something inbetween them now. Being able to then "move" things into the right order, so it's better organized, would be nice. Reason I didn't really bring it up before is that it's rather insignificant in the grand scale of things, but if you're going to do the what you're suggesting it makes perfect sense to have.

Basically click the arrow in a mod slot, choose "Switch slot" which then shows a list of the MM slots (possibly with the source shown in the list as well, for better overview), in a child menu. I assume this isn't the most complicated thing to do.

[uselessmind]

2. Combo Engine

+1 IMO it still fits the design idea of simple and fast.

Exactly what i think.