Great presentation Scott. My HS Deluxe is blowing my mind regularly. I appreciate your comments stating that this synth is so versatile compared to many others. If I focus on your comments that might work to attenuate my G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome). All the best!
I've been watching for a while, am a synth enthusiast and a keyboard player. After discovering your channel, I've kinda stopped watching most other synth related RU-vid content. You're very relatable ! keep up the good work mate, much love!
I didn't say everyone, it's just a couple.. time is finite after all, this is me saying something nice about you without taking away from other RU-vidrs :)@@ScottsSynthStuff
I'm stoked. I've had the Explorer since April and I REALLY like it. I found a blemished Deluxe, but ZZounds says it's in working order. I am likely going to move that one to the studio and use my Explorer in the house for couch jam sessions.
Great vid! I just got the Hydrasynth Deluxe last week and love it. Some beautiful and complex sounds. For the people wanting to hate on it you obviously don’t understand synthesis. If you want a “real” piano sound lug a piano around or at least get something that plays samples or modeling not synthesis. My Roland RD700NX does that beautifully but I would never compare the two. Synths have a unique sound which is why it invented new genres! Take for instance the Yamaha DX 7. A unique electric piano sound that sounded nothing like it’s forerunners but became so ubiquitous that my Hydrasynth and Roland JDxi have a patch that emulates it closely. 😃
- That was SuperTramp, right ? The Logical Song I believe. - Yes, the Hydrasynth sounds amazing. I loved it since I first saw Claudio showcase it. - Your studio is indeed very well equiped.
@@angelog.spicolaiii8021 I think I'd take Claudio's studio over mine! I have a couple things he doesn't have, but he's got some AMAZING gear! You can see my studio in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fIY7g_wWquc.html
Hah, I got mine because of Claudio's video on it too... and related to this video, it's the only synth I own. I was looking for something that was versatile and I could grow into and as a guitar player the polyphonic aftertouch was a must.
The hydra scent can do everything for sure and if you don’t think so then you just don’t know what you’re doing yet. It can sound warm and can sound harsh. The modulation capabilities are insane.
Great video, Scott! I have had an Yamaha MODX-6 for 5 years, but earlier this year I bought the Hydrasynth Explorer to dive deeper into analog synthesis. It is stellar for that. But I also love the MODX's FM engine, which creates classic sounds that are in a class all by themselves. The Hydrasynth gets close with the mutants, but the MODX wins on all FM sounds. I have the best of both worlds now, analog and FM synthesis! 😊 Keep the vids coming!
@@LaurensLeurs I think they meant _analog style_ synthesis, which is one of several styles Hydra can do. Whether it's truly analog or a digital model, that's mostly just an implementation detail. Digital and analog sound virtually indistinguishable these days.
It is 20to September as I leave my comment in this thread. The last time I bought a synthesizer was in March 2020. I’m actually resisting getting another, even though both Hydrasynth and Take 5 are calling out to me.
GrassStrings on thexoriginal Hydrasynth. Incredible. There was an electric pino sound that was a bit too percussive for me and I changed it and it became gorgeous to my ears. Maybe meant to be a bit of an FM piano sound but very warm and vibrant. Can't recall the patch name.
in the hydrasynth menu now, with original factory presets sorted by name. there are two starting with "grass": Grassland DA (A071) and Grasslands (A047)
I'd stick to your original answer. The Hydrasynth's piano and EP's sound very fake, or rather, synth-like. Not realistic or too acceptable today. Maybe in the 80s when we had to settle for bad pianos in a portable keyboard. Probably some great synth patches however. The long ribbon controller would be a welcome feature to have in many synths. I wish Yamaha, Korg and Roland would include one. Since he mentioned a strong preference for a lot of real-time controls, I'm thinking the Korg WaveState SE with a greater range of keys vs the really limited amount of the original version might be a good choice. The Montage or MODX might be a more versatile keyboard over all, but as for real-time controls for sound design, the Wavestate probably bridges those controls of an analog style synth with decent sample abilities too, need for some acoustic instrument sounds.
Yeah, I have also a Deluxe Version.. For me one of the best synth ever. Its hard to find other stuff cool, even it is. But the Hydra can really almost everything. The soundpalette is so big, I had my life a lot of synths also old stuff. But no other synth doesnt matter wich one it was, was like the Hydrasynth so capable of... Amazing tool, and for the prize it costs a cheap one.. If you look na to Super Gemini or the Arturia Polybrute 12 wich I favorite yet.. Its hard really. I dont think they can much more than the Hydra can produce.. Thats Reality, Theres a King out there and thats for me the Hydrasynth Deluxe with 16 Voices..
The Novation Summit is my all in one Synth, I've got beautiful oberheim and prophet sounds from it and of course everything else in between. The hydrasynth is a super Synth for sure, no doubt about it.
I love the Hydrasynth, but those patches were some of the weakest in its repertoire. Acoustic instrument sounds are the one thing I wouldn't recommend it for.
Waldorf iridium keys version. 3rd Wave. Super Gemini. Arturia Polybrute. OB6. The only thing im short of is the £15.000:). ..then I'm done. Oh...Hologram Microcosm too!! Oh and the Soma Cosmos. And a Full build Behringer 2500 sydtem. Why didn't i just take up playing the Triangle lol.
Well, it's a subtractive VA/wavetable synth, it was never intended to be able to play piano - but the fact that you can get piano-ish sounds out of it is due to the flexibility of its synth engine.
The new Montage is getting a 2nd screen with macro knobs, just like your Hydrasynth has its LED scribble strips. Then it has the sliders, too, and a large touchscreen, and multisamples for acoustic sounds. One of them will cost you a few Hydrasynths, is the rub...
Great video, Scott. I saw your other video about the woes of Modal. Looks like we're both in the same city; strange our paths haven't crossed yet! Loving the content. Subscribed. I"m also a Hydrasynth fan. I love my 49 and want an Explorer at some point.
Hi Scott, what about the Jupiter X? I own the Xm and it can do all the required stuff: Real Pianos, real strings etc. and all the synths with knobs like the guy wanted... I'm really enjoying your videos...keep going!
I've vascillated on the Virus - it sounds amazing, I'm less enthralled with its user interface, and REALLY not impressed at how it has been utterly abandoned by its manufacturer. Plus the fact that they are still charging $2600 for a synth that has been essentially unchanged for over 14 years.
I've got a Virus B and love how it sounds. Fortunately still have an old PC to run the long-abandoned Sounddiver editor that makes programming it sooo much easier. Apple bought their parent company and shut it down. Iirc, Waldorf actually went thru bankruptcy/sold.
Great vid Scott. I'm not super impressed with Hydra's preset 'real' instruments, but it should be said that there likely already exists far better patches online, perhaps free or for purchase, and if not, there will be. Side note: I found some VERY impressive E-piano patches in my Virus Ti2. Thanks again Scott. CHeers!
Agreed, some of the third-party sound designers have made some amazing sounds. I actually have a better piano sound in my Hydrasynth, but I figured I would show the factory one that everyone with a Hydrasynth already has.
So I think I’d still want 2 synths on tour on a column stand . One workstation and one VAS or AS . I am considering getting the new montage and retiring my motif Es 8 after 20+ years
I'd want two simply because some songs are easier to manage on two machines than one (e.g., Depeche Mode). But it seems one could be the Hydrasynth .... hmm ...
Agree with you about the Hydrasynth, it is unique (got-it-all) kinda synth, but I thought you would prefer the Fantom over the Montage! What makes you bias toward Montage?
I've used Yamaha for maaaany years, and I know the Montage inside out. I can do things on the Montage easily that are an exercise in frustration (or impossible) on the Fantom. The user interface in the Fantom is...substandard and frustrating.
Dependent on personal taste you can use just about any brand out there, Roland, Korg, Yamaha. They all around 50% based on sampling plus different kind of synth engines. I would propably go between a Montage and a kronos/Nautilus but really any stage type of keyboard also fine, even Nords even the red color gives me a rash 😆
It does have wavetable so it should be able to make an fairly decent Piano compared with 80-90's stuff. The old Roland SA Piano synthese wasn't sounding particulary good compared to later sampled Pianos, but it made a huge inpact on the sales how expressive it was .. and the little detail that a little Piano player and singer from England made the RD-1000 world-wide fameous 🙃
Meh ... I'm hearing a lot of "get away with it" and "sort of sounds like". Personal opinion is I'm sticking with my MODX7 and Wavestate for on-stage work. MODX piano is awesome and organs are really good - perhaps not as good as the Arturia suite but I don't want to lug a laptop and the new Arturia Astrolab is not quite making a convincing argument for me.
I like that approach. It's the way people have been doing it before the advent of the Korg M1. My JX-8P has quite an interesting and usable -E-Piano sound from plain analog synthesis. And in every Synth of that time there was some Wurlitzer emulation. However I would have liked some actual synth sound of the Hydra as well. You know if one needs that Synth Horns, Brass, Synthstrings, Synth bass, Pads, Sweeps analog synths are typically known for. How do these sound on the digital Hydra. Another thing came to my mind. So you friend wants something tweakable like an analog synth to learn synthesis. But with the Hydra would he really learn to adapt the piano to his taste? By the way I thought about other recommendations and maybe the NordWave2 would be an option as well. But there aren't many which use samples as a base but have direct access.
I went back to Firmware 1.1.0 to the Deluxe version :( .....from 2.0. and 2.1.0 makes some terrible noises when I navigate through the presets from the knobs. Is there something wrong with the newer firmware editions? I have saw that several people complained about this problem, they even returned the devices to the factory. I see that this problem does not appear on firmware 1.1.0.
Oh dear Scott those piano sounds are so awful. Even buried in a mix I could never bring myself to use them. I know you are fond of the Hydrasynth but I think you were blinded by love this time. Thanks for being you and doing synth stuff for us synth fans.
We'll just have to agree to disagree about this @@darryldouglas6004 ! But that's fine, the Hydrasynth is still top-notch synth and has a place on my GAS list,
I'd already committed my future self to the Hydrasynth Deluxe, and your measured + honest take of its *limitations* has further solidified my choice. I want this incredible machine, and even tho it "can do everything" it is crucial to find out things like you pointed out about its ability to play "normal piano" when compared to other offerings. I'm so excited to eventually get the Deluxe.. and several other synths for my future studio setup to complete both sound modeling and live performance. Thanks for this!
Great to see ... and that's what I've also found out ... the "Deluxe Piano" sounds pretty nice (and surely sufficient for my purposes) 😉. Although "Deluxe Piano" is intended to be for the Deluxe (I guess) it also working on the Desktop & the "normal" Hydrasynth. BTW: Regarding "new gear" ... what about a Blofeld ... in a good used condition really worth the money.
Scott, have you tried controlling a Prophet 5/10 with the polyphonic aftertouch on the Hydrasynth? I tried searching the Internet to see if it was possible but the few discussions about it are full of contradictory information and people flaming each other, so I figured I'd ask you.
I have not, but I've played several other synths (and softsynths) that support polyphonic aftertouch from my Hydrasynth, and they work great - I didn't have to change anything, they just worked.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I found out about the show quite late, but they're always great live! I'll keep my eyes peeled for when they play next. That reminds me that I need to re-listen to the CD Rob gave me when I saw them live last. That's a while ago when Don Berns was still alive. Don introduced us and I went with Don and Dave 'Marsbar' Marsden.
Absolutely!! I use it as a poly aftertouch controller for my Montage M7, and I also use it to play my Wavestate, because the keybed on the Wavestate is...well, miserable.
I have the rack version. My goal was to have a wavetable-style synth that would allow me to come up with stuff similar to the Malstrom in Reason. I still haven't dug into it very deeply. I know the Malastrom uses samples and there are some differences between the two but I wonder how close it could get to that sound.
You should look into the Korg modwave, not only a very powerful wavetable synth on par with the hydrasynth, with some added bonuses like able to load your own wavetables, among other things the hydrasynth doesn't have, but also it comes with gigabytes of samples like piano etc and you're able to load your own samples as well, so it can also be a sample player/rompler. Hydrasynth is awesome, but I think the modwave has it beat in able to actually do everything in my opinion.
The Hydrasynth is a beast! I was debating between the System 8 and the Hydra but at the end the plugouts won my heart. Thanks Scott your synth videos are a jewel
Having had both for the past year or more, I can say there is no real contest -- you can do much more with the HS than the S8: poly AT alone makes the HS respond unlike the S8. However, that may be more than you wish to manage, at least in a concert setting. This is why I have the HS at home for fun and exploration, and the S8 as part of my current stage rig. But Scott's video here may change my mind about that :)
I love love loved the programmability of the synth. Almost anything you can think of you can program. I just was not thrilled with the sound character. It was sterile and didnt sound like much, lacked character. Thats my opinion but when I compare it to my other synths like my Moog and even my sledge it just lacked something. I created some very fun and cool patches and it was great but I had to get rid of me because the sound was not inspiring. YMMV of course and this is just my opinion, Its still an awesome synth and can find its way into many production songs because it can do anything you need.
Do everything? Why can't 49 and 37 key version split and layer sounds aka multi-timbural? I was close to buying the gorgeous Hydrasynth, but when l found out it can't split or layer sounds l kept my Nord Lead A1.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I was referring to the 49 key and 37 key explorer. I thought that at least the 49 key version would have this feature!...edited accordingly.
I was thinking... "but my Hydrasynth doesn't have the piano patch, maybe is a deluxe only patch", and I realized that the piano patch comes with the Patch Manager 2.0.
All that synth is missing now is a good distortion. It's the only reason I'm still considering getting a trigon 6 from sequential. The 3 distortion options on the current hydra simply won't do the same thing
The band that I currently play with most Saturdays doesn’t usually perform live. When I go there, I play the house Keyboard, a Roland VR-09B, along with a synthesizer I tote with me, a .Korg ARPOdyssey. I thought about instead bringing a polyphonic model with me with presets. I was leaning toward the sequential take five, but the 49-key Hydrasynth is also speaking to me. Most times, the first song we play is a cover of “Lucky Man”. This might be a silly question, but is it possible to create a Hydrasynth patch just to emulate the sounds on that particular song? I also find myself doing a lot of single-oscillator monophonic patches.
The Hydrasynth is of course FAR more complex a synth engine than the System-8, so there's no way you could do knob-per-function at the level of the System-8. However, they spent a LOT of time designing the user interface on the Hydrasynth, which makes it a joy to program. It's very easy to get to any parameter, and most of the parameters you need are a single button push away.
Hi Scott, I was just watching a Gutfeld segment, and he had a guest on named Mike Baker, a former CIA operative, who looks like he could be your twin brother.
It seems most people stop buying synths when they can no longer fit them in their room :D I now have a montage, a modx+ and a P515 piano with stand and pedals. I doubt I can fit anything else with a full sized keyboard in here, and really I can't think what it could be anyway since the montage is a real beast. But I would probably consider buying something like a groove box, that's something I've not really experimented with. I have no experience with hydrasynth and while what you say is true, someone who would like to play piano would probably not get satisfied with this.
No, if you are looking to play piano, this is not going to suit you. But if you need a synth to play out, and occasionally might need a piano sound, the Hydrasynth could pass for it. And yes...my limitation right now is space for synths! I'd need another stand to add any more.
In my Hydrasynth, see a ton of complex waveforms to choose from, and they all sound rather quirky when unfiltered. I'm guessing it's the proper combination of them, in proper order, with appropriate filters, that will then sound like an electric piano, or a marimba, or a dolphin's call, etc. Just... how the heck do I learn what waveforms to use for what? There must be a reason the Ashun engineers picked those particular waveforms.
@@ScottsSynthStuff oh I see....thanks for enlightening....appreciate sir!......but Google seems to explain multi timbral just as the ability to play more than 1 sound at the same time..... which was not my question. I was referring to maintaining a preset sound on say the left hand while holding down the keys.......then selecting a different preset for the right hand...and not cutting off the previous preset abruptly... Kong op6 and wavestate and Nord4 and Nord Piano / Montage does this.... was surprised the hydrasynth does not...thks
@@ScottsSynthStuff thanks sir... but I found a way after receiving the Summit... I just went on multi mode and one of the layers will continue to ring it's preset while the other layer can flip to other presets without cutting out the first preset.....and then whilst playing we can switch it over now the right hand layer can hold the ringing while the left hand layer changes presets..... another way is to split the keyboard.. thks for yr great videos!! Also jus recieved my Hydrasynth Deluxe and the same way works on it as well.....
How does the Hydra compare to the Summit - does the Hydra sound more digital and the Summit mor analogue? I'd love to try both together but sadly my city has no shops that would stock either (Sheffield England - yes home of techno, but with no synth shops anymore......)
while this doesn't directly answer what you asked, it does come close and comparing the two synths makes for a very fascinating study. while I don't own the Summit, i own both the Hydrasynth Deluxe and the Novation Peak. That said, I wondered for months on end what the difference was between the two, and i searched high and low online and on RU-vid to answer this question. I think the best way I can put it, is this: - There is some overlap between the two, but they differ enough to make a strong case for getting both. Ultimately, that's what I decided to do. IF YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE, CONSIDER THIS: - The Peak/Summit perhaps shines brightest in the realms of lush pads, snarling basses, and warm leads, all imbued with a certain classic analog character that feels both timeless and modern. If the majority of your use case revolves around that, I'd probably lean towards the peak and not even read the rest. If not, read on. - The Hydrasynth shines brightest in terms of how all-around it is. That is, IMO it doesn't excel in one type of sound better than the peak, but instead IMO more easily produces a wider range of sounds that are executed more accurately than the peak. The only exception that applies is in terms of analog emulation, and for that I think the Peak/Summit tends to have a very slight edge. - In short, the Hydrasynth leans towards a futuristic, clean, and highly detailed sound, with exceptional strength in digital texture and sonic exploration. It's like a digital sculptor's tool, precise and capable of slightly more intricate designs than Peak/Summit. - The Hydrasynth's other features (more clear signal path, module select, ribbon controller, better arpeggiator, and awesome keybed with polyphonic aftertouch) make it both easier to use and IMO the claims of this synth being a "sound designer's dream" are well-founded. - That said, I owned the Peak for almost two years before deciding to get a Hydrasynth Deluxe, and it is also a sound designers dream, as well. Just, not as user-friendly for that particular use case, IMO. -- Hydrasynth has features that will save you time in the long run, as well, such as the ability to easily combine functions into Macros. To do the same on the Peak/Summit is not even close to as easy. Both are exceptional and unique instruments, with not as much overlap as I thought pre-purchase but enough to initiate the comparison. Hope this helps.
What is the best VST piano? I’ve never tried the Steinberg stuff , the korg module is a joke. My motif es8 is ok at best, so I was blown away by the Steinway sampled piano on Logic Pros exs24 (now just called “sampler” ) As are the two Yamaha grands and the bossendorfer. The logic EP is also head and shoulders above the Eps on my motif. So what is the best plug-in acoustic sampled piano? Anyone who has tried the Logic Pro Steinway able to weigh in?
I have two. The big mixer you see that does all my recording and connects all the synths is a Behringer X32. Next to it is a Yamaha MG12XU which controls the mix for my monitors.
Great video Scott as always! I noticed the Hydrasynth is not in your top synths list (you did some vids a couple of years back featuring Cobalt, System 8 and others). Would the Hydrasynth feature in that list now?
@@ScottsSynthStuff - and probably correctly so. That said, I only know the basics of subtractive synthesis, and my ready-to-practice setup is simply a Yamaha piano and the Hydrasynth
Yup, that one is really on my list - the 2.0 version, but the main problem with it is that it is HUGE! I don't currently have a space in my studio to fit it. I also really dislike the idiotic decision to put all the connections on the side. Why?!?
ha ha, the connections on the left: easy to see what you're connecting. But they're recessed just enough that right-angle plugs can't drop down, only up. Why? No good reason. And that's just one of several "features" of the Sledge which make you wonder. That said: it's an amazing value-for-money synth, the hands-on aspect is very satisfying, and you can do almost anything with it -- if you take a deep breath, spend some time with it, and accept it for what it is. Some insist on the black version for the better keyboard but the yellow version is good enough for Jordan Rudess, so who can argue with that? :)
