KVR Audio

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:26 pm

My only tiny moan about the synth is how it comes crammed with no free presets so you have to start deleting sounds to make room for new ones (obviously all the factory presets are already backed up and downloadable for free anyway).

I wish there was an option to save user banks and patches to an SD card, but there aren't many other things I feel are missing from the synth. OK, at a push I could have used an extra octave or two of keyboard.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:35 pm

WatchTheGuitar wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:26 pm My only tiny moan about the synth is how it comes crammed with no free presets so you have to start deleting sounds to make room for new ones (obviously all the factory presets are already backed up and downloadable for free anyway).

I wish there was an option to save user banks and patches to an SD card, but there aren't many other things I feel are missing from the synth. OK, at a push I could have used an extra octave or two of keyboard.

Maybe they will be able to free up some more banks/slots in a future update (they just did this with the Arturia Microfreak V3 update).

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:41 pm

Hope so. There's a lot of scope with all that DSP for fun future firmware updates too.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:56 pm

One thing I love to do with the Hydra is to randomize different parts of the synth. I've never been much into randomization of sounds, but it's pretty fun to take an effect sound or something atmospheric, and just randomize the oscillators. Instant inspiration!

JS-SOUND · Post by **JS-SOUND** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:17 am

There is a random option on many synthesizers, but on Hydra there are so many modulation possibilities that the result from randomization often does not lead to any success. It's easier to wind an interesting sound with your hands than to look for a small needle in a haystack.

But I agree that the synthesizer is good, I sold my desktop not so long ago, I want to buy a keyboard version.

Tetris
https://youtu.be/OjctDTSql6E

Vangelis Blade Runner
https://youtu.be/XFfIZg6-yS8

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:02 am

JS-SOUND wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:17 am There is a random option on many synthesizers, but on Hydra there are so many modulation possibilities that the result from randomization often does not lead to any success. It's easier to wind an interesting sound with your hands than to look for a small needle in a haystack.

As always it's better to build your own sounds. But I absolutely disagree with you on this. That you can specify exactly which part of the synthesizer you want to randomize, makes the Hydra Synth pretty damn unique. My Virus for example has only two randomization parameters - scope and percentage. With the Hydrasynth you can just apply randomization to a selected part. Try doing that on the oscillator section of a heavy soundscape. Incredibly cool.

/C

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:33 am

Talking of randomisation, have any of you guys with a hydra tried hydramorph?

HYDRAMORPH™ is a generative sound design tool for the Ashun Sound Machines Hydrasynth polyphonic analog synthesizer. The application is designed to algorithmically morph parameters on the instrument in realtime. Keep playing or record the results as up to 674 parameters are manipulated! Use HYDRAMORPH to create anything from chaotic, rapidly-changing textures to slow, evolving drones.

https://audiocookbook.org/hydramorph/

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:02 pm

Turned up today and blew me away- Even better than my expectations (which were high) and rarely happens!

Just played the first patch (Sawpresive) for hours. Obviously the ribbon and poly AT are a big feature, but the AT alone is superb, I can do 'goitre' style side to side vibrato and it works so well. Very expressive, fabulous sound (helped by the great fx), great layout- a joy to program. The ribbon is like having a second keyboard, you can hold a chord then slide a few notes to pick out a melody or change the mood....

My faveroute synth since my first synth, an SY22 many, many years ago! Big Smile on my face

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:57 am

Don't know how I missed this video before now, but this LFO note step stuff combined with the LFO triggered Envelope opens up a whole world of patch design I'd missed previously. Posting it here in case others are in the same boat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYGAL4Dn5pQ

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:28 am

Yeh, 'note entry for steps' blew me a way - its a step sequencer!

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:59 am

SLiC wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:28 am Yeh, 'note entry for steps' blew me a way - its a step sequencer!

Yes, one obvious area from the synth that was missing and they just popped it in as an LFO update.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:43 am

Its a fabulous synth, so expressive, a joy to program and fiddle with and I am amazed how great it sounds. Still learning (these videos really help) but having fun doing it- never feels like a chore!

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:49 pm

Thanks for posting. Also totally missed this.

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:23 am

Nick Batt does some cool shit with FM synthesis
https://youtu.be/EQZSuquaD6w

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:54 pm

This is also pretty interesting to explore...4th Oscillator anyone!?

https://youtu.be/aieTIwdEAgM