Yeah there’s tones of different curves for this. I guess Hydra can make great percussion sounds indeed. I’ll try some later this week
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For a snappier snap turn SNAP MODE ON (Voice Page 3, #8) in your patch. It was added with Firmware Version 1.3.1 . The envelope was plenty snappy before, but this improves the performance in the first milliseconds. I’ve experimented and you can hear the difference particularly in the lower frequencies. See earlier post.
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It’s really feature packed! Impressive! Thx guys!
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I had mentioned HydraMorph before. It’s a Mac based software product (Windows 10 now too — ADDED) that through NRPN control allows you to modulate 366 parameters on the Hydrasynth. You can sort of think about it as if you had 366 LFOs and a really big Mod-Matrix.
It’s a new product that’s either close to completion, or very recently completed.
Here’s a really trippy example of what someone has done using HydraMorph.
If you listen closely you can hear the Hydrasynth core of this, but you can also tell there is something else happening here as well. It’s in the breadth and fluidity of the control. I believe this video is done entirely without external effects or use of other synthesis – although there is a Neutron in the background on the shot, and pitch and gate CV outputs are connected from the HSD. Nice use of the delay in this.
Listening to this will also give some clue as to what is possible once a more complete seqencer or external controller is used that integrates with the NRPN controls.
One example of the depth that is part of this approach – you could set up eight macros that control multiple parameters, and then externally to the HS you can, through NRPN, modulate those eight Macros simultaneously. Run the same sequence over the same patch, with just changes made to the eight Macros will give an entirely different performance. But things can go way deeper than that too.
This is part of the reason i mentioned a Hydrasynth-NRPN friendly sequencer up thread. Stay tuned.
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Are there any plans to make the Hydrasynth multitimbral?
Good question.
A multitimbral Hydrasynth – perhaps that’s a next ASM product ? A Hydrasynth Module might be one way to do that.
A firmware change to do that sounds doubtful. Glen has said that there is not much room left for anything apart for some few things. So i don’t think that is likely.
ADDED:
The Hydrasynth Module
Module Select function via the main screen and eight select buttons. $525
ADDED: This is imaginary.
Module Select Functions on the Eight Master Controls -- Detail:
[Button] – (Knob)
- [Oscilators] – (1,2,3)
- [Mutants] – (1,2,3,4)
- [Ring/Noise] – ( )
- [Mixer] – ( )
- [Envelopes] – (1,2,3,4,5)
- [LFOs] – (1,2,3,4,5)
- [Filter] – (1,2)
- [FX] – (Amp, PreFX, Delay, Reverb, PostFX)
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Wait - is this a real thing? Or is it some hope-ware vaporware?
If real, this is interesting, but also could be confounding given that I prefer a more immediate playing surface. However, if it’s not too bad to edit / tweak presets, then this could be an awesome companion for OT.
As i said up thread:
Good idea – If this is just a control surface lower the price another $150. Give it USB MIDI host and TRS MIDI. And then, minus the synth engine, it doesn’t have to be made by ASM.
What i was thinking of was primarily a module under control of some sort of external ASM product. Really was going after the idea of how to do a multi-timbral Hydrasynth, with an external module, vs adding a HSD, or making a complete multi-timbral Hydrasynth product.
Dream-ware is a better term for it – i have no hope really that this thing would ever be done.
Oh gotcha. yeah, my brain isn’t doing anything clearly lately. My bad.
Anyone using a ripcord / battery pack combo with the Hydrasynth? That recess on the back of the desktop unit is a perfect place to stash a battery. On the myvolts web site they list the 12v ripcord as being compatible, however, I have already tried that and it didn’t work with this battery:
Anker Portable Charger PowerCore 20100mAh - Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with 4.8A Output, External Battery Pack for iPhone, iPad & Samsung Galaxy & More (White)
Maybe I need the current doubler?
So how are you finding the Hydra?
Can you midi sync it to a Digitakt or Octatrack?
I am about to buy the desktop version but I am not sure about the midi sync.
I downloaded the manual, there are plenty of informations about syncing the hydra.
But as I’ve read you can sync arp, lfo, envelopes (!), delay to bpm.
And you can use the arp to send sync.
I will study the manual today- i was keen to understand if it has its own sequencer but i am sure it has
I don’t have the DT or OT I have Hydra sync’d to the Akai MPC X I love my desk top Hydra it’s just a joy to use.
Only had it just over a week so I’m still finding things out about it but so far it’s all good.
I highly recommend Hydra whether it be desk top and/or keyboard. I will buy the KB around Christmas to use with the DT.
Build quality is top notch and it looks fantastic too. Go for it mate you won’t be disappointed it’s my favourite hardware synth by a mile.
it does not have a sequencer.
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I see
Iv’e a few hardware synths with no sequencer but this is by far my favourite. There is a phrase sequencer thingy in Arp node in Hydra, good for riffs.
Cool - maybe I can use the sequencer of my Digitone.
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I don’t see why not, be cool 
I am not using my computer anymore- focusing more on dawless set up now
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