Hive 2.0

[clangorous]

Haven't had much time to try out the update, but the shape sequencer is super dope!

One thing I haven't figured out yet is the function tab. Read the manual to see if I could make out what it does but couldn't figure it out. Not saying the manual is poorly written, but I'm 100% sure it's because my synth skills are poorly developed If someone can explain this with something simple to understand, such as how it can be applied to cutoff, I would appreciate it! Tried using the cross hairs on the rise/still/env but failed miserably and it's gonna bother me all day at work.

I didn't want to switch from Hive 1.x due to me missing the old layout and UI, but the 30min I just spent with it made me forget all about 1.x Did I mention the shape sequencer is super dope?!

[Cross-posted from the Instruments thread.]

Here's where I'm at with Function Generators (FGs). Hope you have Hive in front of you. If so, try following these steps to see if they help you make sense of the FG's.

Load up an Init patch (right click the preset name and select INIT). Let's ignore the Slope for a second. Keep Function 1 in "Envelope" mode, keep input to "None." Attach F1 "Env" to the Scope so you can see what's happening. What we have is a simple Attack/Decay envelope. Now each time you press a note, an envelope will trigger. With Attack and Decay at 0, these look like trigger signals: quick spikes. If the attack is 0 and decay is around 3 o'clock. It will look like a saw shape. If both are at 3 o'clock, it looks like a triangle shape (ramp up and ramp down). If Attack is slow and decay is at zero, it'll look like a reverse saw. So now you've got two extra, simple, A/D envelopes between F1 and F2 that you can use to modulate things as needed. Think of Roland synths that use A/D envelopes to modulate pitch as one example.

Now, change the Mode of F1 to Cylcle On/Off. Change Attack to 3 o'clock and Decay to 3 o'clock, and Slope to noon. Check out the Scope. You'll see that you've turned it from an envelope to a Triangle LFO. Now you've got a 2 extra LFO's in case you need them. Change the Attack/Decay/Slope to change the shape of your LFO. Notice how it's not a triangle any longer, and kind of ramps up and down with a curve. Fun, new modulation shape. Fun, new LFO's you can use to modulate whatever you want with by dragging F1 Env to a modulation target.

For now, let's go back to our triangle LFO shape (Attack and Decay at 3 o'clock, Slope at noon, Input at None, and Mode to Cycle On/Off). On the left of F1, there are options for Rise and Still. Click and drag each into the Scope to see what each does. Rise will send an On type signal whenever the triangle LFO increases, and send an Off signal whenever the triangle LFO is headed back downwards. This means your LFO or Envelope can also act as a Gate-type signal at the exact same time. So that one function generator can act as an Envelope/LFO and Gate signal at the same time.

Alright, but what about Still mode? Go back to your triangle LFO. Nothing is happening in the scope. What's that do? Still is kind of an anti-gate. If nothing in FG1 is moving, Still sends an On signal and as soon as something starts moving it sends an Off signal. So right now, our triangle LFO means something is constantly moving so Still is constantly sending an Off signal. So to see how Still works in action, let's go back to our Triangle LFO and add an Input signal. Use Gate as your Input on FG1. Now, when you're not pressing a note, our triangle LFO is off. As a result, you'll see Still sends a constant On signal. Press a note, and FG1 Env turns into our Triangle LFO shape (i.e. it's moving again), which causes Still to send an off signal. So as long as nothing else is happening in FG1, still is sending a full blast signal. As soon as modulation occurs, Still stops. It's just another way you can modulate other signals.

Note: at this point, you may want to go back to LFO mode. But hey, where is Input = None from before? "None" is not an option in the Input dropdown. Use Input = "Constant" instead.

I think that's the most basic way to wrap your head around the Function generators. Just keep the scope open and play with them until you get what's happening. Don't even worry too much about modulating anything with them until you get a grasp of what's going on. Once you get that figured out, you can then start combining modulations and/or using the modifiers in the matrix for crazy modulations based on the basic FG's.

Hope that helps!

This is awesomeness. Thank you Funkybot's Evil Twin!

[aaron aardvark]

Updated from 1.2 to 2 after a particular new 2.0 preset pushed me over the edge.

[Touch The Universe]

Virus ti has grainular wavetables for formants, is that because it also utilizes some kind of behind the scenes, codebased method of dealing with wavetables like hive 2? In short, because hive utilizes this method, is it possible to take that shit to the next level and do some really cool and funky things with wavetables that virus has been doing for a decade - grainularize the algorithmic wavetable as if it were an actual .wav wt file!?

[Urs]

Virus ti has grainular wavetables for formants, is that because it also utilizes some kind of behind the scenes, codebased method of dealing with wavetables like hive 2? In short, because hive utilizes this method, is it possible to take that shit to the next level and do some really cool and funky things with wavetables that virus has been doing for a decade - grainularize the algorithmic wavetable as if it were an actual .wav wt file!?

In all honesty and quite bluntly: I haven't ever heard anything that I found inspiring enough to say "hey, we must do this".

[Howard]

(n/a)

[ViktorNova]

Wow the 2.0 update is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited that you put more love into this amazing synth. It's just so good.

Biggest thing I miss from 1.x is the dark blue theme! This theme is much harder for my brain. I miss the sci-fi feel of the old one, the high-contrast dark theme was much more pleasing to use in my opinion, especially in the dark.

Feature Request - any plans to bring back the dark blue theme to 2.x?

[Nutrinoland]

Wow the 2.0 update is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited that you put more love into this amazing synth. It's just so good.

Biggest thing I miss from 1.x is the dark blue theme! This theme is much harder for my brain. I miss the sci-fi feel of the old one, the high-contrast dark theme was much more pleasing to use in my opinion, especially in the dark.


Skins will come soon

Feature Request - any plans to bring back the dark blue theme to 2.x?

[DavidCarlyon]

Holy shit! I just tried this thing and it founds F****ing amazing!!!!
I didn't try it when the last update came out - i had just bought Dune 3 (which i also love) and as i already have a few of the 'all in one, contemporary synths' such as ANA2, Synthmaster, Serum, Pigments etc...along with a ton of the beastly synths - falcon, avenger etc etc

So in short, i thought it would be great, but i just thought there is no chance i need it.
I also bought all the rest of the U-He stuff so i have been reluctant to even look at other synths.

narrowly passed on Cypher and Strobe in the sale - very nice, but again, i don't need new synths.

Then i try this one out. The first preset right out of the box just sounds great. Beautiful oscillators and filters...along with a ton of really fun and useful creative mod options.

Going to have to find a way to get this now. Was waiting on the new massive this month, but Hive has blown me away.
There is something really attractive about the compact synths, the really focus your energy and get results quick and keep things moving.

In short - great job Urs!

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Might've found a small bug, or just some strangeness.

So I was trying to get Hive working with MPE in Cubase and I couldn't get CC74 (assigned to Ctrl A) to work at all. It was driving me nuts.

1. I clicked the Gear icon
2. Opened the Preferences...
3. Ctrl A was set to CC74 (Ctrl B was set to 11/expression)

Result: No response from Ctrl A on Hive.

Then, I thought, maybe something is screwed up in my MIDI mapping, so I...

4. Clicked the Gear icon
5. Opened the MIDI table

Result: Holy crap, there's a completely different set of Ctrl A and Ctrl B CC's listed here. How did that happen? Why are they different? No wonder it didn't work.

Expected Result: the Ctrl A/B MIDI settings should be in sync between the MIDI Table and the Preferences.

6. Changed Ctrl A on this screen to CC74
7. Played around in Hive

Result: now it works.

I think it boils down to the fact that I had created a default preset for Hive 1.2 in Cubase and the Ctrl A/B settings on the MIDI table seemed to have gone out of sync as a result after upgrading to Hive 2 and changing the Ctrl A/B settings in the preferences.

[DavidCarlyon]

I gave in and bought it. Fantastic Synth.
Can't wait to see what the new Zebra holds...been holding out for that one for ages! U-He on fire!!

[KBSoundSmith]

I gave in and bought it. Fantastic Synth.
Can't wait to see what the new Zebra holds...been holding out for that one for ages! U-He on fire!!

I was very pleasantly surprised by Hive 2 myself. I thought Hive 1 sounded good, but where I already have Zebra/HZ, FM8, Serum, Diva, and Reaktor 6, it didn't seem like it was adding enough to my setup.

I had been extensively demoing Bazille and a few synths by other developers, but then Hive 2 was imminently being released. With the addition of the unique wavetable implementation/scripting and the new modulation system, Hive 2 really pushed over the edge, so I picked it up. I'm sure I'll find something to complain about at some point ( ) but for the moment, I love everything about it. Speed of programming, ease of reverse-engineering patches, creativity of modulation, variety of sound, lots of usable presets...

I still have an eye on Bazille, but I hate cables I can't stand Reason for it, I won't touch physical modular synths... I hate cables. Hate. Loathe. But Bazille does have a very unique implementation of FM/PD, so I haven't entirely written it off. We'll see.

[Synthient Sound]

I recently bought Hive 2 and Omnisphere and I feel like they have both ruined a lot of other plugins for me. I'm getting much better wavetable sounds in Hive 2 (and in a much easier way also) than some other plugins I bought for that purpose.

The new look is great and very easy to navigate. One request though for me would to make the wave table selection have a readout as you scroll through. Scrolling through drop down menus where you can see the name is a bit maddening. I hope for a better implementation on that.

That said, as I'm learning Hive 2, I'm finding it a pure joy to program on and an excellent companion to my analog synths. It has really killed my GAS for a certain digital hardware synth...to my wallet's relief!

Hive 2 is now my recommended synth for plugin and digital synths. It is so warm (not just an EQ thing) and organic.

[nilhartman]

Hive 2 [...] has really killed my GAS for a certain digital hardware synth...to my wallet's relief!

Hehe, same here.

@KBSoundSmith: to echo your post, I feel like all I need is Bazille and Hive 2. I've spent the last 2/3 years extensively experimenting with Bad' (to the point I'd consider it my fave synth) and now that I've spent some time with Hive 2 it feels 100% on par.

Actually I'm working on a slew of tunes (hopefully releases) and am solely using both (even for drums, H2 is very promising here as well)... and never felt that inspired. It might seems restrictive for many, but I'm basically in sonic heaven now.

It's extremely liberating to me to rely on a couple of synths (I did a whole LP with Diva only a few years ago, I suppose I'm sort of a monomaniac hehe), and they're just perfect for me. Will certainly add Z3 to the set-up once it's eventually released but eh, no rush.

Once again, bravo Urs.

[snigelx]

Ireally appreciate the -way- you evolved the interface. Felt QUITE hesitant to update actually. Workflow has become much more efficient in more than one way (than what it already was). As ever, I highly appreciate the extra effort exerted in updating the user manual for the 10 of us who still read with even more great infos. Thanks guys

[nilhartman]

I like to read manuals while commuting U-he's are stellar.