I guess it's synth month because U-HE is finishing the new Hive synth

[tedlogan]

Hive's isn't too bad (as bad), here's some advice, it needs a white skin (option, obviously). No other significant changes, just a white background, black knobs. Something like an Oberheim SEM, with perhaps a paper white scope display.

I do like black & white designs, and that Oberheim looks good, although not so sure how it would translate to software. A paper white scope paired with that would like great though!

Oberheim meets the aesthetics of a stormtrooper's helmet could look pleasing to me.

Regardless, I only ultimately care about the sound of Hive, which I'm sure would be of the highest quality, judging by u-he's past synths.

[rod_zero]

For the intended market and concept the GUI is good. I could use it without problems.

The only thing I dont like are the envelope faders, I would prefer "graphical envelopes" as in FF stuff, circle and other synths where you grap and drag points to adjust.

One question: What waveforms will be avaible? any kind of digital/wavetable stuff? would be nice.

[ghettosynth]

Hive's isn't too bad (as bad), here's some advice, it needs a white skin (option, obviously). No other significant changes, just a white background, black knobs. Something like an Oberheim SEM, with perhaps a paper white scope display.

I do like black & white designs, and that Oberheim looks good, although not so sure how it would translate to software. A paper white scope paired with that would like great though!

Oberheim meets the aesthetics of a stormtrooper's helmet could look pleasing to me.

Regardless, I only ultimately care about the sound of Hive, which I'm sure would be of the highest quality, judging by u-he's past synths.

BAM! Exactly, still awe-inspiring to the eye of your average 14 year old trying to make that first dubstep hit, but tolerable for civilized human beings.

[mutantdog]

For the intended market and concept the GUI is good. I could use it without problems.

The only thing I dont like are the envelope faders, I would prefer "graphical envelopes" as in FF stuff, circle and other synths where you grap and drag points to adjust.

One question: What waveforms will be avaible? any kind of digital/wavetable stuff? would be nice.

Was wondering that myself, looks like the standard four. I would have loved to see a simple waveform editor Oatmeal-style. Thinking about it, the one in Bazille would fit nicely here.

Also think the envelopes should be AHDSR, the standard ADSR seems strangely retro considering the futuristic look of the GUI.

[OutCider]

Nah. Keyboard will have important features.

Just because I don't use the virtual keyboards on my plugins (can't play chords or accurate fast notes with a mouse), doesn't mean others won't want to. It will certainly help those without controller keyboards and daws minus piano rolls.

You're the boss.

[Infinite5ths]

Not my taste but I may be in the minority.

The funny thing is that I'm not interested in the synth. But I may be in the minority.

Yup...you're both in the minority.

[mutantdog]

Not my taste but I may be in the minority.

The funny thing is that I'm not interested in the synth. But I may be in the minority.

Yup...you're both in the minority.

I'm equally torn between genuinely hyped (new u-he synth, yay) and completely uninterested (another supersaw, yawn). Really, i just want to know whether to save my voucher for this or put it toward MFM2, i don't need either but i kinda want both.

[ClubHo]

I expect some people are hearing Serum as frosty/cold/digital/whatever due to a few things. One is that it seems to maintain a pretty high level of sonic purity when transposing waveforms and scanning through wavetables without noticeably bandlimiting the high end, and a really present and extended top end can sometimes be perceived as "cold." I gather most wavetable synths don't do this because of the CPU cost (which, with Serum, seems to be pretty heavy). And of course, a lot of wavetables on other synths have regions that sound buzzy/harsh. Go through the wavetables on a Microwave or Blofeld and you'll find quite a few buzzy/brittle/ugly areas too. You have to be mindful of which regions of which wavetables you're traversing and filter accordingly if you want to keep things on the smoother side.

I bet HIVE is going to sound great also!

[2ZrgE]

Comparing Hive to Sylenth to Serum to whatever else just doesn't make any sense. Use it for what it is.

And what it is, is a bloody excellent sounding synth that is very tweakable and simple!

I haven't bought Serum (yet) because of CPU issues - for that I already have Diva, Ace and Bazille...

So I have a strong urge for a low CPU but nevertheless monster synth right now...

[fluffy_little_something]

That sounds promising, there are too few synths with two complete filter sections out there (one reason I am still stuck with my old Superwave stuff ). Do the two filters have independent envelopes as well?

Is it a parallel architecture with two complete synth lines like on the CS80?

Pretty much so. You can also route the first filter into the second. However, there aren't two filters for each section. Unlike the CS-80 those filters are stereo though.

We're still working on a lot of details, but this picture might illustrate the rough concept:



Now we just have to make it sound right

Wow, that looks fancy and ominous Yet, at the same time it is quite conventional (in a positive way) by U-he standards, more in line with other good synths out there, so even if the GUI were not easy to read (can't tell because I don't know how big it will be), one would soon know the location of the controls by heart because the concept as such is familiar and logical.

Good luck with the finishing touches, and don't rush things just because of xmas You can sell it at xmas, but you don't have to deliver it at xmas After all, people know U-he and now that they know the GUI, they can already decide whether they will buy it or not.

Regarding what you said, I don't quite know what you mean by "section". But I guess your screenshot answers my question affirmatively
What might deter some people (not me, though) is that there seem to be only two LFO's. But maybe there are more hidden somewhere...

I like that you have limited the options to what really makes sense and is essential...

[Urs]

One question: What waveforms will be avaible? any kind of digital/wavetable stuff? would be nice.

Let's put it that way: At the moment it's very basic. The waveforms are the usual suspects including a variable width pulse wave. As you might know, we've experimented with Bell-type sounds, modal synthesis and what not. These things however must not be rushed and their "fitness" for Hive also depend a lot on the surrounding stuff such as filters and effects. So we decided to keep it plain for now and evaluate other possibilities later. The waveforms in Hive are almost like plug-ins to the oscillator core. It's extensible.

- Urs

[Urs]

Sound demo sounds good, but how about a supersaw sound demo for a synth which was supposedly developed as one? I know that some people will wrinkle their nose about it, but IMO, it's always very interesting what the unison sounds like. Preferrable also with a "pluck" setting of filters and envelope.

There'll be loads of that. I didn't have a keyboard attached to my laptop, so I just went with the sequencer.

I think it'll do supersaw and plucks just fine

[kbaccki]

Good luck with the finishing touches, and don't rush things just because of xmas You can sell it at xmas, but you don't have to deliver it at xmas After all, people know U-he and now that they know the GUI, they can already decide whether they will buy it or not.

What would Jesus want? I'm not a very religious man, but I think Jesus would want Hive to be out in time for the celebration of his birth. Come on, Urs. Do it for Jesus!

[fluffy_little_something]

What might make sense with such a parallel architecture is adding a lock and/or copy feature for those cases when you want exactly the same settings for, say, both amp envelopes.

I take it the Width control in the osc section is not for pw? Is direct pw control missing like with Sylenth?

[Vectorman]

It does vaguely put me in mind of Toxic Biohazard

Is it just me, or, does that look like some sort of alien penis?

I just asked my other half what the Toxic GUI looked like. He said, "Uhm...an airplane? And also a d**k and balls." I never saw it until now, and you'd think I, of all people, would have. Too funny.

Btw, that sample sounded great, Urs. Indeed, it doesn't really sound like Sylenth to me, it has its own character, and lots of it.