Hydrasynth no sound

[Arpangel]

OK, just asking on behalf of my friend, he’s just bought a new Hydrasynth, and it's not making any sound, through his mixer, mixer is fine.
If anyone can tell me is there anything you need to check? after loading a preset?

[N i g e l]

The Hydrasynth is complex [yet simple] so it could be 1 of many things.
What connections are present & what firmware version ?
Have you done a factory init ?

Does the patch randomizer make sounds ?
Does the preset uses aftertouch or pedal routed to volume ?

[Arpangel]

The Hydrasynth is complex [yet simple] so it could be 1 of many things.
What connections are present & what firmware version ?
Have you done a factory init ?

Does the patch randomizer make sounds ?
Does the preset uses aftertouch or pedal routed to volume ?

Thanks Nigel, I'm not there, I've asked my friend to send me some pictures of how he's set it up, is there a normal type stereo output?
Damn, got to look at the manual now.
I notice there are two sets of outputs main/upper, and lower L/R?

[N i g e l]

"Init patch" should set up a simple saw sound.

I notice there are two sets of outputs main/upper, and lower L/R?

That will be the Hydrasynth deluxe then, which is bi-timbral.

[Arpangel]

"Init patch" should set up a simple saw sound.

I notice there are two sets of outputs main/upper, and lower L/R?

That will be the Hydrasynth deluxe then, which is bi-timbral.

It's so frustrating when you aren’t there! I’ve told him to initialise it.

[Hugh Robjohns]

The Hydrasynth outputs are balanced, so can be connected to a mixer's balanced line input using TRS-TRS cables. But standard instrument (TS-TS) cables work too.

The main(upper) left/right outputs are the ones to use for basic operation.

Recalling a standard factory preset should generate an output... but make sure the MASTER VOLUME control is turned up beyond half way (top left).

[The Elf]

Check that Local Control is switched on - System Setup, Page 4.

[ajay_m]

Ironically, Glen was adamant in the initial releases of the firmware that local control would not persist across restarts because it was the #1 cause of returns when he worked at Arturia.
However the user backlash was sufficient that eventually he capitulated and it now does persist across restarts, but it'd be wonderfully ironic if this was the problem here. Can't think of anything else that'd produce no sound, assuming you're not plugging into the headphone socket and forgot to turn up the little volume wheel next to it.

[The Elf]

Ironically, Glen was adamant in the initial releases of the firmware that local control would not persist across restarts because it was the #1 cause of returns when he worked at Arturia.
However the user backlash was sufficient that eventually he capitulated and it now does persist across restarts,

I was one of those backlashing voices. Local setting not holding between power cycles was a PITA! I had the same fight with Novation until they fixed the Summit, and I'm beginning the same fight with Expressive over the Osmose.

Local Control should ALWAYS remain as set by the user. Give me a huge flashing warning when I power up, if you have to, but for heaven's sake don't reset it!!!

[Hugh Robjohns]

Give me a huge flashing warning when I power up, if you have to, but for heaven's sake don't reset it!!!

THIS! Quite agree. A warning is sensible, but once set it should remain set.

[Arpangel]

Thanks all, OK, he’s just told me it's only got one set of outputs so it's not Delux.
I'll try and call him tomorrow, I have a beer calling, this is when I switch off.
I’ll keep you posted.
He’s too far away to pop round.

[BJG145]

The first rule of tech support is always...simplify! It's going through a mixer? Well, plug headphones into it. You just bought it? Factory reset. I'm surprised if there are iguanas in Peru who haven't picked this up yet.

[resistorman]

This will be interesting

[Hugh Robjohns]

Plugged into the sustain and expression pedal sockets?

[Arpangel]

This will be interesting

I assure you, you wont be disappointed!

Plugged into the sustain and expression pedal sockets?

Hopefully!

[BigRedX]

Has it ever made a sound since your friend bought it?

Is it brand new?

It might actually be non-functioning.

[Arpangel]

Has it ever made a sound since your friend bought it?

Is it brand new?

It might actually be non-functioning.

It’s never made a sound since my friend got it, and it is new.
I'm going to speak to him later, to get an update.

[BigRedX]

In that case unless there is some very obvious user error with the output connections, it may well be faulty.

If this was my synth I'd start by testing it with just headphones and nothing else plugged in and if that produces a sound work from there.

[The Elf]

A few methodical ideas...

Check that the main screen doesn't say 'LOCAL OFF!' on the lower right.

Find out whether he sees an animated waveform on the display when he plays keys. If not then the keyboard is not talking to the synth engine.

Can he scroll through patches and see the patch names changing?

Make sure the Hydra is not in MPE mode (System Setup Page 6 - MPE=OFF) and see if another MIDI keyboard can produce sound from the Hydra's synth engine.

Try plugging the Hydra's USB and/or MIDI output into a computer to see if the keyboard is generating any transmittable activity at all.

Try both headphone jacks, and make sure he knows where the headphone volume control resides - right by the side of the headphone jacks. The headphone level and main output level are separate and completely independent of each other.

Try a Self Test Run - System Setup Page 12.

Try a Factory Reset - System Setup Page 12.

If he can connect to a computer, get him to run Hydrasynth Manager and see if he can converse with the Hydra through that. It might be worth re-installing the factory patches with this.

[Arpangel]

Elf, thanks a lot for all that, I'm trying to get through to him, sent him a mail but there’s no answer, he’s been unwell, so this probably isn’t easy for him to sort out right now, I can see me getting the car out.

[The Elf]

Elf, thanks a lot for all that, I'm trying to get through to him, sent him a mail but there’s no answer, he’s been unwell, so this probably isn’t easy for him to sort out right now, I can see me getting the car out.

Is he anywhere near one of us northern guys?

[Arpangel]

Elf, thanks a lot for all that, I'm trying to get through to him, sent him a mail but there’s no answer, he’s been unwell, so this probably isn’t easy for him to sort out right now, I can see me getting the car out.

Is he anywhere near one of us northern guys?

No, he’s in Bogner Regis.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Close enough to our Southern region synth guru, then....

[Eddy Deegan]

... he’s in Bogner Regis.

Close enough to our Southern region synth guru, then....

Let me know how it goes when you get in touch with him Tony

[BJG145]

This is a heck of a lot of fuss for someone who hasn't turned up the master fader.