Hydrasynth tips

[The Elf]

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral.

Please no!

One machine, one job. Multi-timbral synths should go the way of the wax cylinder.

[Folderol]

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral.

Please no!

One machine, one job. Multi-timbral synths should go the way of the wax cylinder.

Why?

[The Elf]

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral.

Please no!

One machine, one job. Multi-timbral synths should go the way of the wax cylinder.

Why?

Complications, compromises and general faffyness. I don't want an entire phalanx of sounds all arriving on one stereo pair. No no no! All my multi-timbral synths are either set in single mode, or effectively live that way.

[tea for two]

My HS 49 key has been absolutely reliable and I've had it since the start of the pandemic. ASM has had a small number of PSU failures and the odd unit with display issues but as a proportion of devices shipped I suspect it is very low, because just about anybody who experiences a problem is likely to post either here or in ASM's Facebook group for the HS.

You only have to play with one of these for a few minutes to appreciate that the build quality is very good. All the knobs and buttons are solid and the button legends are printed under the transparent button surface and clearly will never therefore wear off. The keyboard and ribbon are very good quality.

I think I will still get HSExplorer at some point.
Just it's portability 8 AA batteries.
Novation Bassstation2 could be properly powered from standard USB battery pack (5V 2A),
something I will test on HSExplorer should I get to dv247 in Romford.

[N i g e l]

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral.

Please no!

One machine, one job. Multi-timbral synths should go the way of the wax cylinder.

Sir ,

Synths 4 all !

Guitar synthesists may require to play 6 monosynth sounds at once [or 4,5..12 whatever.

Drummers may require to play, I dunno 10 or more ?

If we pick "16 channels" as a nice round number, thats enough to keep even the KB players happy with their layers, splits and arppegiators.

Maybe I think we should agree to differ on this !

[Folderol]

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral.

Please no!

One machine, one job. Multi-timbral synths should go the way of the wax cylinder.

Why?

Complications, compromises and general faffyness. I don't want an entire phalanx of sounds all arriving on one stereo pair. No no no! All my multi-timbral synths are either set in single mode, or effectively live that way.

Well, each to his own I suppose, but I'd find that quite limiting.

[Luke W]

Well I've had a look through this today and then sat there watching Hydrasynth videos.

Dangerous place to be, this.

[t-sun]

..... ASM has had a small number of PSU failures and the odd unit with display issues but as a proportion of devices shipped I suspect it is very low, because just about anybody who experiences a problem is likely to post either here or in ASM's Facebook group for the HS.

Given ASMs ranking in synth sales, my PSU problem is insignificant, a random failure.
I still store mine upright & worship it as the sun comes up, not because it can emulate somthings from the past but because of what it enables for the future.

Im still curious as to why its not multitimbral. Going back 10 or 20 years to the blofeld or micron - multitimbral digital synths, the HS needs the "extra voice board" to become bitimbral, thats like somthing from the analogue world.

The signal path after the oscillator is analog, so if it were multi-timbral it would require the ability to separate the signal paths. So, much more complicated, much more expensive. Or it could all just run through the same VCF/VCA just like the old old days.

Blofeld and Micron were both VA so that wasn't an issue to do in the box. It's also why it doesn't output USB audio.

[The Elf]

Well I've had a look through this today and then sat there watching Hydrasynth videos.

Dangerous place to be, this.

Resistance is futile!

[tea for two]

I'm still holding out for a portable 37key sampling workstation synth with touchscreen battery operated from ASM.

A kind of mini Akai MPC Key 61
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ak ... key-61?amp

I could be holding out forever

[Folderol]

I've had a casual look at some vids. Interesting beeps and burps, but not a single piece of real music being played - does the synth no favours.

[IAA]

but not a single piece of real music being played - does the synth no favours.

Check out Resistorman’s submission in the OSC last time I think. A great demo of its capabilities IIRC. I thought it was a prophet at first! (And I’ve got a prophet )

[Hugh Robjohns]

I've had a casual look at some vids. Interesting beeps and burps, but not a single piece of real music being played - does the synth no favours.

I agree... why no Mozart or Beethoven sonatas?

[MOF]

I watched “Sisters with transistors” last night, a Sky Arts documentary about women in electronic music.
It was, mostly, a melody free zone, except for the Doctor Who theme and Switched on Bach, both written by men. It did no favours to women composers in the electronic music field.

[resistorman]

but not a single piece of real music being played - does the synth no favours.

Check out Resistorman’s submission in the OSC last time I think. A great demo of its capabilities IIRC. I thought it was a prophet at first! (And I’ve got a prophet )

Thanks! It was for the last OSC. I programmed most of the sounds from scratch and heavily modified a couple of presets. I used no external EQ or effects, printing the patches "as is" and just level balanced/ panned the results. Played by LinnStrument with drums from Drum Computer iPad app, though I could have used the Hydra for them in retrospect. I feel I am just scratching the surface...

https://soundcloud.com/dan-simpson-4976 ... ntain-pass

[Folderol]

Didn't remember this one must be getting ol^H^H middle-aged.
Much better than everything else I've heard on it so far

[MarkOne]

I watched “Sisters with transistors” last night, a Sky Arts documentary about women in electronic music.
It was, mostly, a melody free zone, except for the Doctor Who theme and Switched on Bach, both written by men. It did no favours to women composers in the electronic music field.

I often think that some of these programs come across as producer tells junior researchers to come up with examples of say “women in the field of electronic music” and said researchers do an hours googling and pull together some random links. Meanwhile you have folks like Neon Vines and Rachel K Collier doing a lot of interesting things. (It’s not my cup of tea by any means but it is musical, clever and electronic)

[Martin Walker]

Check out Resistorman’s submission in the OSC last time I think. A great demo of its capabilities IIRC. I thought it was a prophet at first! (And I’ve got a prophet )

Thanks! It was for the last OSC. I programmed most of the sounds from scratch and heavily modified a couple of presets.

https://soundcloud.com/dan-simpson-4976 ... ntain-pass

Bravo Dan!

[resistorman]

Thanks y'all! Wonder if I can make something different enough using the Hydra to fool everyone for this OSC

[Arpangel]

I watched “Sisters with transistors” last night, a Sky Arts documentary about women in electronic music.
It was, mostly, a melody free zone, except for the Doctor Who theme and Switched on Bach, both written by men. It did no favours to women composers in the electronic music field.

Éliane Radigue
Jade Rose
Delia Derbyshire

I’m having trouble, there are loads, but not like these, is this because generally women aren’t interested, or is it because there a less opportunities, I don’t think so, I think, it’s because electronic music, does demand a certain level of practical "technical interest" and the way women and men approach this is different IMO.
Women want to drive the car, get from A to B they don’t want or need to look under the bonnet, men are different, we have this desire to tinker, it’s not just the end result that matters.
This is by no means general, and exceptions abound, in varying degrees, I knew a girl, a few years back, who got into modular synthesis in a big way, every time I met her she would ask me loads of questions, can you show me this, what modules do you think are best for this, or that, how do I put this in a case, loads of stuff, but as soon as she knew what she wanted, she never talked about it again, this is important, this was all a means to an end, not an end in itself.

[Arpangel]

I've had a casual look at some vids. Interesting beeps and burps, but not a single piece of real music being played - does the synth no favours.

I agree... why no Mozart or Beethoven sonatas?

You need a Moog for those.



This continuing Hydrasynth thing, some synths just fascinate, some enough to make me want to try them, some, enough to make me want to buy them,
this fascination isn’t definable sometimes, it can be a mixture of lots of things, not just sound, I look at the HS, and it looks unfriendly, and it ends there, I see trouble, lots of it.
Also, presets "are" important, they can be deal breakers, you should at least see a bit of potential, also, a synth that is marketed as being very versatile, and is good at many things, often isn’t, it’s appeal is that it can do many things sort of "OK"
I’d rather have one keyboard, that is excellent at just one thing, this can lead to a crowded studio, but it’s worth it for me, it’s difficult finding a one box solution, I’ve tried.

[Luke W]

is this because generally women aren’t interested, or is it because there a less opportunities, I don’t think so, I think, it’s because electronic music, does demand a certain level of practical "technical interest" and the way women and men approach this is different IMO.

But, if true, why is that so? I personally think the answer is based more in society than any sort of fundamental difference between people. Some of the most keen and eager technical minds I've worked with whilst working in education have been young women, who had almost always been met with "Why do you want to do that? That's what boys do..." comments and attitudes at some point in their lives, even in today's times.

Slightly off-topic, and I know you said yourself that it wasn't intended as a general statement, but I do think that if we carry on the way we're going then it'll (hopefully) end up as a thing of the past, and the only things that will be of relevance for people entering the technical industries will be how interested and skilled they are.

[Arpangel]

is this because generally women aren’t interested, or is it because there a less opportunities, I don’t think so, I think, it’s because electronic music, does demand a certain level of practical "technical interest" and the way women and men approach this is different IMO.

But, if true, why is that so? I personally think the answer is based more in society than any sort of fundamental difference between people. Some of the most keen and eager technical minds I've worked with whilst working in education have been young women, who had almost always been met with "Why do you want to do that? That's what boys do..." comments and attitudes at some point in their lives, even in today's times.

Slightly off-topic, and I know you said yourself that it wasn't intended as a general statement, but I do think that if we carry on the way we're going then it'll (hopefully) end up as a thing of the past, and the only things that will be of relevance for people entering the technical industries will be how interested and skilled they are.

The reality is that women are still massively under-represented in some areas, engineering in particular, you are right, some people are seen by others in a strange way, if you pursue things that are gender stereotyped, and that can be a deterrent.
But male domination even extends to the holy grail's of femininity, the top names are always male, hair dressing, dress design, make-up, shoes, this is so ironic, it’s beyond belief.

[Folderol]

Thanks y'all! Wonder if I can make something different enough using the Hydra to fool everyone for this OSC

I've actually found some links that show this far better as a performance synth, rather than a step-wise programmed construction - interestingly all done by the same person. However I still find the snatches of music far shorter than I'd like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfbz6KWAgUo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2SxLwP4tk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUnrwTMW08Y

This one is the best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfuC1B2qau8

P.S.
No I won't be buying one