I think it’s best to try not to compare the HS FM to previous FM models.
First off it’s not sine based, it can use any of its 219 waveforms, though it does also have self generated Sine and Triangle in the four Mutants if you want to use that for the FM modulators.
Here are your options for FM modulators in each of the Mutants:
- Osc 1, Mutant 1, Mutant 2
- Osc 2, Mutant 3, Mutant 4
- Osc 3
- Noise, Ring Mod
- Mod In 1, Mod In 2
- Sine, Triangle (self generating)
Second it’s got options galore for signal routing. Glen Darcey did a diagram to summarize some of the routing.
(From 3:15 of video below.)
This allows stuff like routing all four Mutants to be a part of one larger operation, or using other inputs to be involved like the CV inputs, or the Ring Mod — which itself involves multiple inputs like the CVs again, and all the Mutants, etc.
Plus you can modify via the ModMatrix all the stuff in the signal routing. (Remember that external MIDI can be involved in the ModMatrix modifications too.)
There’s a good video that Nick Batt did as a Friday Fun with Glen Darcey, specifically on FM and the Hydrasynth. It’s almost 23 minutes long, but Glen is only in the first few minutes to introduces things and then Nick shows off the ideas by generating a few patches in the rest of the video. (Those patches are available for download.)
All this is very Hydrasynth in spirit — meaning it’s all there with a million and one options. Not all the options will be fruitful for you, but if you’re inspired to try something else it’s there to try. (Some people experience the Octatrack this way too.)
It is an option though to keep it simple if you want — One FM Mutant, with a Sine modulator.