Curious about modular synthesis, electronic music, and sound design, but unsure how to get started? I have something for you! Join my free "intro to synthesis" mini course here: www.soundandsynthesis.com/firstpatch2022 PS: You don't need any special gear to do this-just a computer with VCV Rack (which is free to download).
*Thank you for making this video Sarah!* It's not only informative but I'm very glad you well-demonstrated the sonic possibilities of the engine's complexity in making the ambient, fx & soundscapey sounds! It's just not another mini VA synth that only supplies ordinary sounds to play. The mindset when we developed it was exactly wanting it to have small footprint but still allow users to do sound design and literally explore on it. Inspiration of sounds and music can happen anywhere, we hope the portability of it allows people to re-explore the world. Obviously users of other models can have the patches transferred and brought outside, as well as creating outdoors and bringing them back in. Transferring Polytouch into mid-size keys are indeed challenging but rewarding. We did not compromise quality when downsizing the keys. Besides retaining the fine response of Polytouch, we also made the keys semi-weighted, so that mid-size keys should no longer be think of as cheap keybeds by many. :D Cheers, Dominic Au
Your expedition was such a lovely fulfilment of concept, each location and patch feeling entwined with you summoning their primal elements. Wonderful, thank you
Within the first five minutes of the video, Sarah, it sounded as if you did exactly what you set out to, writing patches to reflect on the activities of your surroundings. You got the Hydrasynth Explorer to answer nature. All of that was before you came around to the comparison with the other 3 Hydrasynth models which is fantastic. It’s April 2024, and (after years of resisting getting it) I am becoming convinced Explorer will be my first synthesizer purchase in 4 years. I was gearing up to get a Sequential Take 5, but this bugger is suddenly raising its “voice” to me. (I was also thinking of later getting an Ensoniq SQ-80, but this model has updated versions of what made the SQ-80 appealing.)
Great video. I hadn't really considered the Hydrasynth before, but now having watched this I'm quite intrigued by the more experimental nature of it. I'm quite partial to the odd outdoor session too, so the portability is definitely appealing to me.
Great fun Sarah! It sounded like there was a small army of stoned aliens hiding inside the machine, tapping on the key triggers and smiling like mad men, all the while hoping you didn't realize they were in there! 🥰
Now THAT's how you make a synth video !!! THANK YOU Sarah !!! :D Why are there not more people out there making video's like this one??? Honestly, I love my Hydra, it has the easiest interface ever made, and yet it still has one of the deepest synth engines ever made. It's my Xpander (yes yes, ASM certainly took the right synth to look at interface wise :D), but more reliable, and with way more options and features, and lovely FX. And the playability of this synth is absolutely amazing and extremely inspiring. Coming from a classical background, I always hated synth action keys, but I never have this feeling playing my Hydra. Extremely responsive keys !! And the polyphonic AT is just so inspiring. Ugh, I wish all my synths were more like the Hydra :D Thank you Sarah and ASM !!
Great video. I have the ASM Hydrasynth keyboard version - very excited to know that Hydrasynth has gone bigger and smaller with the Deluxe and Explorer models, respectively. I really like the idea that the Explorer can be powered by batteries! :)
@@sarahbellereid your welcome. I think you are lucky to have the opportunity to get to know this synth. If it were me, several years later all my friends would be like "where's kevin, I haven't seen him in a few years ". 🤣 🤘
Great vidéo that well explains the key differences between the three versions. In addition I like the lovely Sarah’s hands on the tiny keyboard with an original music performance…
Thanks for showing some of the more out there sounds. I honestly was starting to think this synth was a bit boring/ tame but you did a great job at showing the possibilities
Excellent video. I had a Replace CP that also ran on batteries and really liked the flexibility that provided. I have the Hydrasynth keyboard version and could see a time when I will downsize my studio and replace the 49 keyboard with an Explorer.
Super excited about this actually. The HydraSynth already sounds very good and interesting, this format factor is pretty cool for someone like me that has way too much gear for their own good, hahaha.
Very engaging and substantial review! I particularly liked the range of sounds that you created and demonstrated. Finally, having objective comparisons of the Explorer vs. the larger keyboard helps me a lot in my decision making process.
Very cool. BTW - Midisynth/Sigabort says he's coming out with an iOS version of his Hydrasynth editor soon so that could be cool with the Explorer on the go - assuming the editor works just fine with all versions.
Very good video. Clear many doubts. The Explorer certainly has great potential. It will be my next purchase thanks to this video. Thanks for sharing your experience. --- Muy buen vídeo. Despeja muchas dudas. Sin duda el Explorer tiene un gran potencial. Será mi próxima compra gracias a este vídeo. Gracias por compartir tu experiencia.
Excellent demo! What model is the gator bag in the beginning? Been looking for a good travel case for the explorer but the options seem somewhat limited.
The first patch reminds me of Jon Hopkins‘ track „Open Eye Signal“ which was my first introduction to techno(-ish) music. Good memories. Awesome video! I will definitely get my hands on a Hydrasynth soon 🎛📡
Thanks for posting this highly informative video, and your take on exploration of the hydrasynth explorer. Struggling between this and the module. Was wondering about bottle necking in those 4 instead of 8 parameter knobs.
I didn't quite realize you can modulate external audio. So rad. As a lover of field recording and sample based synths, this puts me over the sonic moon.
This nature area looks exactly like a place near me in mid-America, bridge, lake and all. Probably a coincidence…but never thought of playing a synth out there!
thanks for going deep into the comparissons of all of the models. on the asm website its pretty confussing and glen darcy keeps saying there all the same when in fact not having an expression input,cv input,audio in is alot too have missing.
Your Hydrasynth videos helped me decide whether or not to go for this machine. Being a rather old dog I had previously decided I have plenty synths to do most things but there is enough versatiity here to make it uniquely justifiable. Have an Explorer on back order ! It will be interesting to discover how my Doepfer R2M gets on with the new kitten ! Thanks for all you do and all your practice. Taught me a lot about focus.
These patches are very engaging, I find most synth demonstrations utterly boring and uninspired but I cannot say the same about your patches and presets. Does this synth have a deep modulation matrix?
Great vid, it's sold me on the Explorer, thanks. Can you pls let me know details / size of that Gator case you're using. Looks like it's padded? Cheers
Hello, Sarah. I would very much like to clarify, because I did not understood everything by ear. Please tell me, in comparison with the large original, how much worse is the material of the buttons, knobs and cases? Have the patches changed in whole or in part? What are its advantages over the larger version of the original, except for the batteries possibilities. I'll be very thankful. Aleksei 🇪🇪Estonia, Tallinn. ☺️🙏
Good video but you may want to point out that the explorer does not have all the controls on the panel, that the desktop and standard keyboard models have. It is not a big deal for 99% of people probably, but it does matter for that 1% that hate to go menu diving for some options
glad i found this video I just bought this with a four track. my question what size of chords are plugged into this and were you recording. at the time? thanks
I'm pretty sure my Cme XKEY air 37 has poly aftertouch? - but frankly I've never truly explored that. The key action is a bit (as we say in britland... Marmite... I don't mind it)
The only video that told me about Hydrasynth Explorer was what I needed to know. Thank you! I had prepared a few questions for the seller, which I regularly bring into trauma, because I expect something different from the tool than what it was made for :-) Your video was the best answer for me! Everyone is racing to sound modern, while you've shown something truly personal. You have to go for the music somehow, and here you have drawn a part of your journey. I only had one new question: You didn't say anything about connecting to the microphone, you even, I think, excluded the external input - how does it work, please?
This version of it doesn’t have those audio input that are on the bigger versions. Unfortunately, can I do with microphones on the question is April 2024 as I leave this comment, and that was one of the reasons I have resisted getting this model for the last three years. However, as I think of getting one after all, but I’m going to think about for the future is getting a vocoder module.
It is a Zoom field recorder, like this one: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/S0BERUlFSUBFSEZMREZATEpITA?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fzoom-h4n-pro.html
You are very lucky to have small hands which these tiny keys are ideal for. For me, - anything less than full size, semi-weighed keys is a real torture to actually play. The only instrument I have with such tiny keys is AKAI MPK Mini MK III Black Edition, but I mainly use it to enter notes and as accompanying chords in live play, in which I rely on my Novation SL MK III or a 37 full size semi weighed keys version of Stageright by Monoprice (that is one sweet MIDI controller for live performance).
Not had the opportunity to try out any Hydrasynths yet, although this one has piqued my interest. Some great sounds but I’m not sure how much are usable in a musical context; rather, I see this as a sound design tool. Did like the patch over the intro - very much in the same vein as Jeremy from Red Means Recording (and I know how much he loves his Hydrasynth too!)
Hey Sarah! Thanks for sharing this! I have just gotten a desktop but was considering chaining a second desktop to get a whole lot of polyphony and modulation by chaining them, then the explorer was announced! Can you chain the explorer with the desktop?
Excellent demo and patches! For that second bubbly sounding patch (2:45), how could I go about making something similar? I love how experimental it sounds. Any tips for making those experimental sounds would be appreciated! Also did you do any processing to the sound after recording or is it all coming from the synth?
Thanks! those bubbly sounds in that patch are made with oscillators running at very low frequencies into bandpass filters :) I'm thinking about making another video in the future with some more HS sound design tips, so thanks for this question!
Curious about modular synthesis, electronic music, and sound design, but unsure how to get started? I have something for you! Join my free "intro to synthesis" mini course here: www.soundandsynthesis.com/firstpatch2022
PS: You don't need any special gear to do this-just a computer with VCV Rack (which is free to download).
*Thank you for making this video Sarah!* It's not only informative but I'm very glad you well-demonstrated the sonic possibilities of the engine's complexity in making the ambient, fx & soundscapey sounds! It's just not another mini VA synth that only supplies ordinary sounds to play.
The mindset when we developed it was exactly wanting it to have small footprint but still allow users to do sound design and literally explore on it. Inspiration of sounds and music can happen anywhere, we hope the portability of it allows people to re-explore the world. Obviously users of other models can have the patches transferred and brought outside, as well as creating outdoors and bringing them back in.
Transferring Polytouch into mid-size keys are indeed challenging but rewarding. We did not compromise quality when downsizing the keys. Besides retaining the fine response of Polytouch, we also made the keys semi-weighted, so that mid-size keys should no longer be think of as cheap keybeds by many. :D
Cheers,
Dominic Au
Thank you Dominic!! It’s a great little instrument :)
You guys have done something special with this one!!
Finally! Someone demonstrating the more odd sounds that the Hydrasynth can produce.
After several ordinary reviews, this is the video that made me go for it. So beautiful, tks!
Hands down the best video i've seen about the Explorer, glad you did justice to the really experimental and weird side of the synth.
You do this synthesizer a great deal of justice
Thank you :)
simpisizer
This is the wildest sounds i've heard come out of a synth in a looong time. Super inspiring! Thank you!
You're welcome and thank you!
Such a great video! I like. Subscribing 👊🏼
*Gheeesh*
I absolutely love what you do with this synth... 💖
Outstanding run through and the patches were wonderfully unique.
There is so much room for your style in the YT gear review space.
Great work 🙌
Thank you!!
Not that I'm an expert but this is what modular sounds like in my head. Which makes it awesome!
Nice demo! You got some interesting textures out of the ASM..🙂
Great work and sounds you created.
My Favorite is in the beginning arround minute 3.
Cheers keep up the good work.
Thank you!☺
Wow the sounds you are getting from this is incredible
I really really liked all the quirky patches, very strange and lovely! I want a desktop Hydra so much.
Thank you!
Just ordered the Deluxe thru your link @ Perfect Circuit!! Thank you, Sarah!
Thanks for comparison, useful for me. Awesome patches! Organic, chaotic, moving. Sounds very natural but unusual at the same time.
Your expedition was such a lovely fulfilment of concept, each location and patch feeling entwined with you summoning their primal elements. Wonderful, thank you
Thank you for watching!
Love, love, love the sounds you are getting from it!
Not the usual YT synth review (and perhaps not the usual synth); I really enjoyed it and will subscribe for more. Thanks!
Amazing patching Sarah. Some wonderful sounds !👏🙏
Thank you!
Within the first five minutes of the video, Sarah, it sounded as if you did exactly what you set out to, writing patches to reflect on the activities of your surroundings. You got the Hydrasynth Explorer to answer nature. All of that was before you came around to the comparison with the other 3 Hydrasynth models which is fantastic.
It’s April 2024, and (after years of resisting getting it) I am becoming convinced Explorer will be my first synthesizer purchase in 4 years. I was gearing up to get a Sequential Take 5, but this bugger is suddenly raising its “voice” to me. (I was also thinking of later getting an Ensoniq SQ-80, but this model has updated versions of what made the SQ-80 appealing.)
Patches are dope by they way!!!!
Great video Sarah!
BRILLIANT mini synth! Mini-keys with Poly AT! Count me in.
Great video. I hadn't really considered the Hydrasynth before, but now having watched this I'm quite intrigued by the more experimental nature of it. I'm quite partial to the odd outdoor session too, so the portability is definitely appealing to me.
I am so incredibly excited. I've had my eye on the hydras for a while now.
Great fun Sarah! It sounded like there was a small army of stoned aliens hiding inside the machine, tapping on the key triggers and smiling like mad men, all the while hoping you didn't realize they were in there! 🥰
Everything is really wonderful.
:)
Now THAT's how you make a synth video !!! THANK YOU Sarah !!! :D
Why are there not more people out there making video's like this one???
Honestly, I love my Hydra, it has the easiest interface ever made, and yet it still has one of the deepest synth engines ever made. It's my Xpander (yes yes, ASM certainly took the right synth to look at interface wise :D), but more reliable, and with way more options and features, and lovely FX. And the playability of this synth is absolutely amazing and extremely inspiring. Coming from a classical background, I always hated synth action keys, but I never have this feeling playing my Hydra. Extremely responsive keys !! And the polyphonic AT is just so inspiring.
Ugh, I wish all my synths were more like the Hydra :D
Thank you Sarah and ASM !!
Amazing sounds wow! New sub :)
Thank you!
Awesome take here! As a minifreak-er, there’s a kindred spirit lurking here in the explorer, finding a home outdoors and so in the moment.
Fantastic instrument. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for watching! :)
Great video. I have the ASM Hydrasynth keyboard version - very excited to know that Hydrasynth has gone bigger and smaller with the Deluxe and Explorer models, respectively. I really like the idea that the Explorer can be powered by batteries! :)
A very magical machine for sure. Great video too. 🤘
Thank you!
@@sarahbellereid your welcome. I think you are lucky to have the opportunity to get to know this synth. If it were me, several years later all my friends would be like "where's kevin, I haven't seen him in a few years ". 🤣 🤘
Great vidéo that well explains the key differences between the three versions. In addition I like the lovely Sarah’s hands on the tiny keyboard with an original music performance…
Really cool sound design here, perfectly paired with a detailed overview and comparisons. Great video - happily subbed!
Thanks for showing some of the more out there sounds. I honestly was starting to think this synth was a bit boring/ tame but you did a great job at showing the possibilities
What a wonderful travel setup!
Very nicely put together video, and great info! Thank you
Wonderful non-mainstream exploring btw :D I am not alone....
Thank you :)
I really enjoyed this! Lovely sounds and info
Very poetic, thanks a lot !! :-) How do you layer up the 2 sounds in the "Patches - part 1" (the pad + the metalic delicate one) ?
This is cool. I should go outside some time. Maybe one day.
Excellent video. I had a Replace CP that also ran on batteries and really liked the flexibility that provided.
I have the Hydrasynth keyboard version and could see a time when I will downsize my studio and replace the 49 keyboard with an Explorer.
Very informative. Thanks!
Thank you!
That patch starting at around 3:30! I'm dead. Not even sure how I'm typing this, honestly. Absolutely amazing!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this very useful and inspiring video!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching :)
Super excited about this actually. The HydraSynth already sounds very good and interesting, this format factor is pretty cool for someone like me that has way too much gear for their own good, hahaha.
Great sounds. I know people are fascinated by analog synths but I still prefer the weird tones from a quality digital synth.
Very engaging and substantial review! I particularly liked the range of sounds that you created and demonstrated. Finally, having objective comparisons of the Explorer vs. the larger keyboard helps me a lot in my decision making process.
About afterthought, Access virus indigo also had it, and was also 37 keys
Could you please name the model of Gator case that appears on 0:10? thanks in advance!
yep it's the GK-2110 Micro Controller Gig Bag: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/S0BERUlFSUBFSEZMREZATEpITA?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fgator-cases-gk-2110.html
This is so informative as wel as musically amazing! Really love the creative patches. Thank you!
Thank you for watching! :) glad you enjoyed it
Such a helpful video. Thanks.
Dang I have a feeling this will replace my keystep 37
I’ve been going back and forth between this a the new Arturia Minifreak. I’m leaning towards this one.
The Minimoog itself was a scaled down version of the big modulars
Woah!! This is so cool!
Nice video, I would really love to try this machine. it seems incredible for sound design.
Very cool. BTW - Midisynth/Sigabort says he's coming out with an iOS version of his Hydrasynth editor soon so that could be cool with the Explorer on the go - assuming the editor works just fine with all versions.
Nice job! What a cool little weird sounding machine🧡🦑
thank you! I agree, it's a weird one, but definitely fun :)
Super nice video, had me chilling for 20 minutes, exactly what I needed :)
Awesome review by the way
Thank you! :)
Very good video. Clear many doubts. The Explorer certainly has great potential. It will be my next purchase thanks to this video. Thanks for sharing your experience.
---
Muy buen vídeo. Despeja muchas dudas. Sin duda el Explorer tiene un gran potencial. Será mi próxima compra gracias a este vídeo. Gracias por compartir tu experiencia.
Excellent demo! What model is the gator bag in the beginning? Been looking for a good travel case for the explorer but the options seem somewhat limited.
The first patch reminds me of Jon Hopkins‘ track „Open Eye Signal“ which was my first introduction to techno(-ish) music. Good memories. Awesome video! I will definitely get my hands on a Hydrasynth soon 🎛📡
Thanks for posting this highly informative video, and your take on exploration of the hydrasynth explorer. Struggling between this and the module. Was wondering about bottle necking in those 4 instead of 8 parameter knobs.
I didn't quite realize you can modulate external audio. So rad. As a lover of field recording and sample based synths, this puts me over the sonic moon.
I think with deluxe and desktop version you can but unfortunately not with explorer
Awesome
This nature area looks exactly like a place near me in mid-America, bridge, lake and all. Probably a coincidence…but never thought of playing a synth out there!
thanks for going deep into the comparissons of all of the models.
on the asm website its pretty confussing and glen darcy keeps saying there all the same when in fact not having an expression input,cv input,audio in is alot too have missing.
great video & sounds!! the first few patches w the nature shots were serene!!
Thank you :)
Your Hydrasynth videos helped me decide whether or not to go for this machine. Being a rather old dog I had previously decided I have plenty synths to do most things but there is enough versatiity here to make it uniquely justifiable. Have an Explorer on back order ! It will be interesting to discover how my Doepfer R2M gets on with the new kitten ! Thanks for all you do and all your practice. Taught me a lot about focus.
You're welcome and thanks for watching. I'm glad you find this video helpful!
Arturia Keystep has Aftertouch too, (if you consider that a Synth since it doesn't make its own noise.)
Enjoyed. Subbed. Thx
ah man I'm a sucker for small powerful synths!! This looks like a keeper...
Thx :) no mixing - just live improv?
These patches are very engaging, I find most synth demonstrations utterly boring and uninspired but I cannot say the same about your patches and presets. Does this synth have a deep modulation matrix?
Hydrasynth 4 Life ❤️🎹👽
Great vid, it's sold me on the Explorer, thanks.
Can you pls let me know details / size of that Gator case you're using. Looks like it's padded?
Cheers
Hello, Sarah. I would very much like to clarify, because I did not understood everything by ear. Please tell me, in comparison with the large original, how much worse is the material of the buttons, knobs and cases? Have the patches changed in whole or in part? What are its advantages over the larger version of the original, except for the batteries possibilities. I'll be very thankful. Aleksei 🇪🇪Estonia, Tallinn. ☺️🙏
Inspiring review, thanks!
Good video but you may want to point out that the explorer does not have all the controls on the panel, that the desktop and standard keyboard models have. It is not a big deal for 99% of people probably, but it does matter for that 1% that hate to go menu diving for some options
Really cool! Great video!
glad i found this video I just bought this with a four track. my question what size of chords are plugged into this and were you recording. at the time? thanks
I'm pretty sure my Cme XKEY air 37 has poly aftertouch? - but frankly I've never truly explored that.
The key action is a bit (as we say in britland... Marmite... I don't mind it)
Fantastic video- thank you!!!
I get a Pacific Northwest vibe from the background - love it either way.
The only video that told me about Hydrasynth Explorer was what I needed to know. Thank you! I had prepared a few questions for the seller, which I regularly bring into trauma, because I expect something different from the tool than what it was made for :-) Your video was the best answer for me!
Everyone is racing to sound modern, while you've shown something truly personal. You have to go for the music somehow, and here you have drawn a part of your journey.
I only had one new question: You didn't say anything about connecting to the microphone, you even, I think, excluded the external input - how does it work, please?
Are you in Alaska?
hi, im a new synth user, i buyed a hydrasynth explorer, where could i get somewhat educated? and, how you connect a microphone to the hydrasynth?
This version of it doesn’t have those audio input that are on the bigger versions. Unfortunately, can I do with microphones on the question is April 2024 as I leave this comment, and that was one of the reasons I have resisted getting this model for the last three years. However, as I think of getting one after all, but I’m going to think about for the future is getting a vocoder module.
I wonder how this compares to the novation peak?
How are you powering the Hydrasynth?
in this video I'm running it off battery power (8 AA batteries) -- it can also be powered by a regular wall power supply.
@@sarahbellereid Thanks very much, Sarah. I much enjoy your videos!
What is the equipment that you've plugged into your keyboard?
It is a Zoom field recorder, like this one: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/S0BERUlFSUBFSEZMREZATEpITA?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fzoom-h4n-pro.html
Was that also the sequencing device, @@sarahbellereid?
You are very lucky to have small hands which these tiny keys are ideal for. For me, - anything less than full size, semi-weighed keys is a real torture to actually play. The only instrument I have with such tiny keys is AKAI MPK Mini MK III Black Edition, but I mainly use it to enter notes and as accompanying chords in live play, in which I rely on my Novation SL MK III or a 37 full size semi weighed keys version of Stageright by Monoprice (that is one sweet MIDI controller for live performance).
Not had the opportunity to try out any Hydrasynths yet, although this one has piqued my interest. Some great sounds but I’m not sure how much are usable in a musical context; rather, I see this as a sound design tool. Did like the patch over the intro - very much in the same vein as Jeremy from Red Means Recording (and I know how much he loves his Hydrasynth too!)
the sounds at 16:18 are very similar to skee masks typical percussion sound for example Skee mask - Untitled 279! really nice sounds sarah :)
thank you! :)
Hey Sarah! Thanks for sharing this! I have just gotten a desktop but was considering chaining a second desktop to get a whole lot of polyphony and modulation by chaining them, then the explorer was announced! Can you chain the explorer with the desktop?
Ability to chain explorer to 49 key version will be a deal maker for me. Would love to find that out.
Hey Sarah, thanks for the video!! What are you using there to record the Hydra?
Very glitchy and west coasty in the good way. Do you approach your sound sculpting like you do on the Buchla? As usual, great great video.
Excellent demo and patches! For that second bubbly sounding patch (2:45), how could I go about making something similar? I love how experimental it sounds. Any tips for making those experimental sounds would be appreciated! Also did you do any processing to the sound after recording or is it all coming from the synth?
Thanks! those bubbly sounds in that patch are made with oscillators running at very low frequencies into bandpass filters :) I'm thinking about making another video in the future with some more HS sound design tips, so thanks for this question!
@@sarahbellereid Ythat would be awesome. Thanks for the reply