ASM
Hydrasynth Explorer is the ultimate in power and portability, offering
the powerful Hydrasynth sound engine together with battery-powered
operation and the ASM Polytouch polyphonic aftertouch mid-sized keybed.
The user interface is designed with the utmost attention to detail and
offers a rapid workflow. This is the ultimate companion for a portable
setup where a smaller footprint in needed.
Utilizing
an advanced wavetable synthesis engine, three oscillators, dual Wave
Mutators and two filters that can be configured in series or parallel,
the tone generating capabilities are unmatched. On the performance side,
the proprietary 37-note mid-sized Polytouch keybed offers polyphonic
aftertouch control over each individual note, giving you the type of
expressive control found only in certain vintage synths.
- 8-voice polyphonic digital wave morphing synthesizer
- Polytouch polyphonic aftertouch keyboard with 37 mid-size keys
- MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) compatibility
- Microtuning support via MIDI Tuning Standard files
- 3 oscillators per voice with 4 Mutators total
- 1 multimode filter and 1 variable/sweepable LP-BP/notch-HP filter per voice
- 640 patch storage locations with category search
- CV/gate connectivity
Polytouch keybed
Hydrasynth Explorer features the
ASM Polytouch 37-note mid-sized semi-weighted keybed, allowing both
on/off velocity as well as full polyphonic aftertouch. d In recent years
companies have been trying to find ways to give the keyboard musician
more ways to better express themselves; the problem is their solution is
almost never a traditional keyboard, so you have to learn a new
technique to play them. The Polytouch keybed features high quality,
standard sized keys so you can start playing it instantly.
Portability
Hydrasynth Explorer can be powered by
its included power supply or by 8 × AA batteries (sold separately). The
expected life for battery operation is around 3-4 hours depending on
battery type, make and model.
Oscillators
Hydrasynth's 3 oscillators allow you
to choose from a selection of 219 single-cycle waveforms. Unlike most
wavetable synths, Hydrasynth oscillators 1 & 2 have a WaveScan mode
that allows you to choose 8 waves from the bank of 219, arrange them in
the order you want and then morph from one to another.
Mutators
Oscillators 1
& 2 are routed into Mutators that allow you to modulate, bend and
sculpt the sound using the following processes:
- FM-Linear for making classic FM sounds. Choose multiple FM sources, including external inputs.
- Wavestack creates 5 copies of the incoming sound and allows you to set a detune spread amount.
- Hard Sync gives you those classic hard sync sounds. Try hard syncing a morphing wavetable for some fun.
- Pulse Width will pulse width modulate any input sound.
- Squeeze is a different form of pulse width mod that creates a smoother sound.
- PWM-ASM divides the incoming wave into 8 slices and allows you to set how much pulse width mod will happen in each section.
- Harmonic Sweep will sweep the harmonics of the incoming sound.
- PhazDiff takes the input signal, shifts the phase and then creates a difference result with the original signal.
Mutants can also generate their own waveforms in both FM-Linear and
Hard Sync modes so you do not have to 'use up' another oscillator. Of
course the routing is flexible, so you can choose the other oscillators
as mod sources if you like.
Mixer/filter routing
The 3 oscillators are fed
into a mixer along with the noise generator and ring modulator. The
mixer allows you to mix levels as well as pan the input source. There is
a balance control that allows you to choose how much signal from each
source is routed to filters 1 and 2. The filters can be set to be
parallel or series for ultimate flexibility.
Filters
If oscillators and tone generators are
the heart of a synthesizer, the filters are the soul. Hydrasynth has two
filters that can be configured in series or parallel. The first filter
has 16 different filter models, giving you myriad options for tailoring
your sound. The second filter is 12dB per octave and has a continuous
sweep from either low pass > band pass > high pass or low pass
> notch > high pass, similar to the way the classic SEM filter
worked.
LFOs
Much like its sound engine, Hydrasynth's 5
LFOs are not ordinary by any means, with a step mode that allows you to
create patterns with up to 64 steps. Having 5 mini step sequencers gives
you an amazing amount of possibilities for further shaping your sound.
Of course, there are also 10 standard LFO waveforms to choose from. The
LFOs all have delay, fade in, 3 triggering modes, smoothing and start
phase controls as well as a one-shot mode so that they can act as
envelopes and sync to BPM.
Envelopes
An advanced sound engine needs plenty
of modulation sources. Hydrasynth's 6-stage envelopes feature delay,
attack, hold, decay, sustain and release stages. The time settings for
each stage can be set in seconds or in time divisions, giving you
envelopes that can play in sync with your songs. You can also loop the
envelopes to create LFOs whose shapes can be voltage controlled in the
modulation matrix. The envelopes have the added ability to be triggered
from multiple sources.
Modulation matrix
The modulation capabilities on
Hydrasynth are endless. With 32 user-definable modulation routings, you
will have plenty of ways to use the 29 modulation sources and 155
modulation destinations. Almost everything in the synth engine can be a
modulation destination, including the effects and arpeggiator. The mod
matrix points themselves can also become modulation destinations.
Modulation destinations include the CV output jacks as well as MIDI CCs.
Arpeggiator
The arpeggiator allows for standard
note arpeggiations but also has a phrase arpeggio built in. Parameters
like Ratchet and Chance will generate rhythmic patterns with some
randomness to add life and spontaneity to your performance. You can also
modulate most of the parameters in the arpeggiator, so imagine using
LFOs, envelopes, polyphonic aftertouch or the ribbon controller to
modify your arpeggios in real time.
CV/gate, MIDI, USB
Hydrasynth has standard MIDI
and USB/MIDI interfaces but also goes deeper to allow the use of CV/gate
interfaces for connecting to the modular world. It supports the
standard voltages for eurorack modulars, the 1.2V per octave Buchla
standard and even some Japanese Hz-per-volt standards.
Main controls
The Main section of system controls
is where you navigate your patches, configure system settings and see
parameters relating to envelopes, waveforms and filters on the OLED
screen. Init and Random buttons will allow you to initialize or
randomize a complete patch or specific modules with a press & hold +
module select button. Pressing the Home button returns you to
navigating patches in a simple and easy way.
Master controls
The Master control section is
where all parameter editing, patch naming and macro performing is done.
Using OLED screens, high-resolution encoders and 4 buttons, this section
is designed to give you comprehensive feedback and control. Voice
parameters found here give you access to play modes, analog feel, voice
panning and many other features.
Macros
Macros give you deep control over the
engine in live performance. The 4 assignable encoders and buttons can
each be routed to 8 destinations each. Complete sound transformations
can take place with the press of a button or turn of a knob.
Patches
Hydrasynth has storage for 5 banks of 128
patches each. Finding the patch you want and searching the library is
made easy with the browser. Free patch manager companion software for
Mac/PC allows easy moving of patches to arrange your banks as well as
load in new patch libraries.
Effects
The effects chain goes beyond the typical
options found in other synths with pre-effects and post-effects giving
you unique ways to process your sound. The delays and reverbs were
modeled on some of the most popular effects on the market, making these
effects the perfect way to complete your sound – in the box.