We’re excited to announce the release of the Hydrasynth 2.2 firmware, bringing powerful optimizations and bug fixes to the entire Hydrasynth lineup. Firmware 2.2 enhances stability and performance, ensuring your Hydrasynth operates at its absolute best. Here is the overview:
All Hydrasynth Models New Feature
Full compatibility with the new ASM Manager
Bug Fixes
Fixed issue where changing any System setting, exiting, and saving would change the category of the selected patch
INIT patch no longer resets BPM to 120 when Tempo Lock is enabled with an internal clock
Mod Wheel (MW) now functions correctly in all instances while using Compare mode
Fixed corruption of categories while using Compare mode
NRPN values for ENV Quantize now properly respond to transmitted values
Program Change messages now respond correctly without requiring Bank Select
Entering Arp Edit while Step LFO is latched no longer causes LFOs to go out of sync
Features include: • A redesigned, user-friendly UI • List View for streamlined patch browsing • Patch Sorting by name, category, and color • Search by patch name • Color tagging directly within the browser • Organize Favorites • Integrated Hydrasynth Updater for simplified firmware installation • Export of patch banks as Microsoft Excel® list files for easy referencing
Excel lists is a nice addition.
Organizing Favorites - That’s nice !
Color tags ( for the future Color Display Hydrasynth )
I’ve always wanted user created categories for patch searches. I actually commandeered preset names for my own use. Maybe colors could allow something like this ?
I wonder whether they’re releasing the new manager software because it’s going to work with the leviasynth everybody was talking about a couple months ago. Maybe leviasynth is imminent! Gonna have to sell everything I own lol
Anyone have problems updating to FW 2.2 via the new manager? For me, the HS desktop disappears from USB when I power it up in bootloader mode (holding Arp On + Latch). If I power it up normally, it’s visible as a USB device in the Manager software. Directly connected to my Win10 PC, no USB hubs in between.
I could get the desktop version for ok-price but I’m wondering couple of things:
-is it fun to use? It looks kind of annoying on youtube but everyone raves about the UX. Kind of hard to get a good impression from those videos.
-is managing modulations well implemented?
Yes it’s well implemented in my opinion, you press buttons to create modulation paths. At least the straight forwards ones - if you want to do more complex stuff, like modulating a modulation slot, it gets a bit more involved.
Whether it’s fun depends, I guess. I think you could easily have as much fun setting up a patch in VCV Rack and create spaghetti which will bend to your will much more easily than with the Hydrasynth - if that’s your kind of pasta, that is. If you are getting it because you want to get away from computers but aren’t ready for modular, it does fill that gap. However…
I find it a little bit fickle to be honest. Apart from the updating issues I’ve just encountered above, I find it annoying that it cuts off the sound when you are saving a preset, and it’s slow to change presets too - at least compared to the Novation Peak, which is lightning quick and just feels a lot more solid in a performance situation.
Also the LFO’s, although plentiful, are sluggish and a bit hit and miss when you speed them up.
I never get near using all the mod slots in the matrix but I had one instance where I was pushing it hard and it seemed to start glitching a bit. I couldn’t reproduce it and I kind of stayed away from absolute mayhem after that. Haven’t heard anybody else complain about that particular issue so maybe it was just a one-off.
Bottom line: yes, for me it’s fun but it doesn’t like to play rough.
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