Synthesisers

Notes: One of the most exciting new synths of 2020. Extremely high-quality wavetable synth engine with great expressive features like a CS80-style ribbon controller and polyphonic aftertouch. Powerful.

*** New 2.0 Firmware update for all Hydrasynth models - March 2023 ***

This is a free of charge update for all current and new users of Hydrasynth. The biggest news in this update includes:
Expanded memory to 8 banks (Keyboard, Desktop, and Explorer only)
NEW modulation source: VOICE MODULATOR
OSC Bit reducer
LFO quantizer
ENV quantizer
LFO Step Advance
Global FX bypass
Increased Vibrato resolution
New Sustain pedal options including Sostenuto
More LED options
Glissando in glide options
Arp Range goes to 6 octaves
Arp Step Offset parameter
More Rand/Init shortcuts (all STEP LFO steps, Wavescan waves, Voice mod offsets)
Local On/Off saved
......And more!
This is the first major update to the Hydrasynth family in a little, which adds a tonne of new features.


Supplier notes:
The HYDRASYNTH keyboard is both a sound designers dream synth as well as a performing musicians ideal. The sound engine is designed for maximum flexibility. At the same time, we designed the user interface in a way to allow you to edit the patch quickly with a minimal amount of paging and many workflow shortcuts.

Utilizing an advanced wavetable synthesis engine, 3 Oscillators, dual Wave Mutators and 2 filters that can be configured in series or parallel, the tone generating capabilities are unmatched.

As for the performance capabilities, The HYDRASYNTH keyboard has our proprietary Polytouch keybed that offers polyphonic aftertouch over each note, giving you the type of expressive control found only in certain vintage synths.

Add to this a 4 octave ribbon controller and ergonomically designed pitch and mod wheels and you have expression and control that is not equaled in any other hardware synthesizer on the market.

The new ASM Polytouchr keybed allows not only the standard velocity and aftertouch found on other keybeds but it also supports fully polyphonic aftertouch.

In recent years companies have been trying to find ways to give the keyboard musician more ways to better express themselves. The problem is that their solution is almost never a keyboard, so you have to learn a new technique to play them.

The Polytouch keybed features a high quality, standard sized keys, so you can start playing it instantly.

The tone generation capability is the heart of any synthesizer.

The 3 oscillators allow you to choose from a selection of 219 single cycle waveforms.

Wavemorphing is a feature usually found on synths with preset wave tables. Creating user wavetables is arduous or downright impossible. Unlike most wavetable synths, the oscillators 1 & 2 have our WAVELIST mode.

This mode allows you to pick and choose 8 waves, from the bank of 219, arrange them in the order you want, and then morph from one to another.

Oscillators 1 & 2 are routed into our MUTATORS. The Mutators allow you to modulate, bend and sculpt the sound in new (and old) ways.

Each MUTANT allows you to choose from 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 amount.

Hard Sync - This gives you those classic hard sync sounds. Try hard syncing a morphing wavetable for some fun.

Pulse Width - This will pulse width modulate ANY input sound.

PW - Squeeze - This is a different form of pulse width mod that creates a smoother sound.

PW-ASM - this mode divides the incoming wave into 8 slices and allows you to set how much pulse width mod will happen in each section.

Harmonic Sweep - this will sweep the harmonics of the incoming sound.

The Mutant's can also generate its own waveforms in both FM and Sync modes so that you do not have use another oscillator....Of course the routing is flexible so you can choose the other oscillators as mod sources if you like.

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 of each source is routed to filters 1 and 2.

The filters can be set to be parallel or series for ultimate flexibility.

If oscillators and tone generators are the heart of a synthesizer, the filters are the soul.

The Hydrasynth has two filters that can be configured in series or parallel.

The first filter has 11 different filter models, giving you multiple options for tailoring your sound.

The second filter is a 12db per octave has a continuous sweep from Low pass to bandpass to high pass, similar to the way the classic SEM filter worked.

5 DAHDSR Envelopes.

An advanced sound engine needs plenty of modulation sources. Our 6 stage envelopes feature Delay, Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain and Release stages.

The time settings for the stage can be set in seconds or in time divisions, giving you envelopes that play in
sync to your song.

You can also loop the envelopes to create LFO's whose shape can be voltage controlled in the modulation matrix.

The modulation capabilities on the 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 Modulation matrix points themselves can also become modulation destinations.

Notes: The top dog of the Hydrasynth range, featuring a dual synth engine offering 16 voices (double the standard model) and a larger six-octave keyboard. Serious synth power with great wavetable sound.

*** New 2.0 Firmware update for all Hydrasynth models - March 2023 ***

This is a free of charge update for all current and new users of Hydrasynth. The biggest news in this update includes:
Expanded memory to 8 banks (Keyboard, Desktop, and Explorer only)
NEW modulation source: VOICE MODULATOR
OSC Bit reducer
LFO quantizer
ENV quantizer
LFO Step Advance
Global FX bypass
Increased Vibrato resolution
New Sustain pedal options including Sostenuto
More LED options
Glissando in glide options
Arp Range goes to 6 octaves
Arp Step Offset parameter
More Rand/Init shortcuts (all STEP LFO steps, Wavescan waves, Voice mod offsets)
Local On/Off saved
......And more!
This is the first major update to the Hydrasynth family in a little, which adds a tonne of new features.


Supplier's Notes:
The ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe is the new flagship Hydrasynth. Offering a dual-engine setup with a total of 16 voices plus an all new 73-note keybed featuring ASM's much sought after PolyTouchr polyphonic aftertouch functionality, clearly in a class of its own. With essentially two Hydrasynths in one instrument, KeySplit and Dual voice mode patches with 8 independent voices each are possible. You also have separate balanced stereo audio outputs for each of the two parts. The easily accessible 4 octave ribbon controller adds for truly expressive playing. The Hydrasynth Deluxe of course offers CV/GATE I/O for interfacing to modular and other voltage controlled synths. There's a ton of potential for sound creation, using ASM's WaveScan oscillators together with the Mutator waveshaping section and user configurable filters. A plethora of LFO's and Envelope's plus Insert and Master Effects makes this a dream sound creation tool and quite possibly the ultimate synthesizer and controller combo for your rig.

Tech Specs

Type: Polyphonic Wave Morphing Synthesizer
Sound Engine Type(s): Wavescan
Analog/Digital: Digital
Number of Keys: 73
Type of Keys: ASM POLYTOUCH Polyphonic Aftertouch Keyboard, On/Off Velocity-sensitive
Other Controllers: Ribbon Controller, Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel
Polyphony: 16 voices (Full/Layer/Split)
Number of Presets: 1024 Single Programs, 1280 Programs in Multi (Upper/Lower)
Number of Multis: 640 Programs
Oscillators: 3 x Wavescan oscillators (219 Waveforms), 4 x Mutator wave shapers (8 Types), Noise (7 Types)
Mutators: 8 Types (FM-Lin, WaveStack, PW-Orig, PW-Squeeze, PW-ASM, Harmonic Sweep, Hard Sync, PhazDiff)
Noise: 7 Types (White, Pink, Brown, Red, Blue, Violet, Grey)
LFO: 5 per Voice (Sine, Triangle, Saw Up, Saw Down, Square, Pulse27%, Pulse13%, S&H, Noise, Random, Step), Tempo syncable, Semitone Lock
Envelopes: 5 per voice, Tempo syncable, Variable trigger sources
Filter Types: 1 Multimode Filter (16 types) and 1 Variable LP-BP/Notch-HP filter, series or parallel routing
Filters: Filter 1 (LP Ldr12, LP Ldr24, LP Fat12, LP Fat24, LP Gate, LP MS20, HP MS20, LP 3-Ler, BP 3-Ler, HP 3-Ler, LP Stn12, BP Stn12, HP Stn12, LP 1 Pole, LP 8 Pole, Vowel), Filter 2 (LP-BP-HP, LP-Notch-HP)
Effects: 9 Insert Effects, 5 Delays, 4 Reverbs
Effects Types: Chorus, Flanger, Rotary, Phaser, Lo-Fi, Tremolo, EQ, Compressor, Distortion, Delay, Reverb
Arpeggiator: 8 types (Up, Down, Up&Down, Up/Down, Order, Random, Chord, Phrase)
Other: Mod Matrix (32 slots), Macro Controllers (8), Favorites (32), Randomizer (Patch and Module), MPE Compatibility, Warm Mode, Microtuning
Audio Outputs: 4 x 1/4" Balanced (L/Mono Upper, R Upper, L Lower, R Lower)
Headphones: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8", Separate volume control
USB: 1 x Type B
MIDI I/O: In/Out/Thru
Pedal Inputs: 2 x 1/4" (expression, sustain)
Other I/O: 2 x 1/8" Inputs (Mod 1, Mod2), 5 x 1/8" Outputs (CV, Gate, Mod1, Mod2, Clock)
Power Supply: 12V DC switchable power supply
Additional: Utility shelf
Height: 3.62" / 9.2cm
Width: 44.45" / 112.9cm
Depth: 13.62" / 34.6cm
Weight: 29.33lbs / 13.3kg
MPN: HSLX

Notes: Limited-edition orange version of the superb Hydrasynth Explorer. A smaller, more affordable version of the Hydrasynth Keyboard. Advanced wavetable synthesis with 8-voice polyphony, hands-on control and an excellent keybed with polyphonic aftertouch.

Supplier's Notes:
The HYDRASYNTH EXPLORER is the ultimate in power and portability, combining the powerful Hydrasynth sound engine with battery-powered operation and the new, mid-sized Polytouch polyphonic aftertouch keybed. The user interface is designed with the utmost attention to detail, making sound creation a breeze. This is the ultimate, portable companion for any setup, and anywhere else a smaller footprint is needed.

With an advanced wavetable synthesis engine, 3 Oscillators, dual Wave Mutants, and 2 filters that can be configured in series or parallel, the tone generating capabilities are unmatched.

As for the performance capabilities, the Hydrasynth Explorer has the proprietary 37-note mid-sized Polytouch keybed with polyphonic aftertouch. This provides a level of expressive, per-note control found only in certain vintage synths.

Polytouch Keybed

The perennial pursuit of musical instrument manufacturers is to find better ways for musicians to express themselves. Options have been limited for keyboard players; ASM had to settle for a velocity-only approach to emphasize one note over another. Pressure-sensitive keyboards could only change all of the notes at the same time. Not anymore!

Enter ASM, with patented Polytouch technology. The semi-weighted keybed on the Hydrasynth Explorer provides fully polyphonic aftertouch, as well as Note On / Note Off velocity sensitivity and the monophonic aftertouch found on other keybeds. Finally, variations in key pressure can affect notes individually. It feels great, too: the 37-note Polytouch keybed on the Explorer features high quality, mid-sized keys, and you will feel right at home, right away. The revolutionary Hydrasynth Explorer Polytouch keyboard helps you be more in touch with the music you are making. Now every note you play can ebb and flow like the tide.

Battery-powered operation

The Hydrasynth Explorer is highly portable! In addition to its compact size, it can be powered by 8 AA batteries for hours of music-making anywhere you want to go.

Oscillators
The tone generation capability is the heart of any synthesizer, and the 3 Hydrasynth oscillators are alive with potential. Each of the oscillators lets you choose from a selection of 219 single-cycle waveforms. And on top of that, two of the oscillators have powerful wavemorphing capabilities. Wavemorphing is a feature usually found on synths with preset wavetables. But creating user wavetables on those products is arduous or downright impossible. Unlike most wavetable synths, the oscillators 1 & 2 have an easy-to-use WAVELIST mode. This mode lets you select any 8 waves from the diverse collection of 219 waves, arrange them in the order you want, and then morph from one wave to another. This can be done automatically with any modulation source, such as an LFO or an envelope, or manually with a physical control such as polyphonic aftertouch or a Macro. And now in version 2.0 you can choose the bit depth of each oscillator, which puts those sought-after vintage or grungy sounds at your fingertips.

Mutants
Oscillators 1 & 2 are routed into ASM's MUTANTS. The Mutants allow you to modulate, bend and sculpt the sound in new (and old) ways.

Each Mutant lets you choose from the following processes:
FM-Linear: This is for making classic FM sounds. Choose multiple FM sources, including external inputs.
WavStack™: Creates 5 copies of the input source and allows you to set a detune amount.
Osc Sync: This gives you those classic hard sync sounds. Try hard-syncing a morphing wavetable for some fun.
Pulse Width Modulation (PW-Orig): Performs the classic pulse width modulation on any waveform.
PW-Squeeze: Compresses the centre section of the waveform, for a unique type of PWM.
PW-ASM: Divides the incoming wave into 8 slices and lets you set the amount of FM that is applied to each segment. This is FM unleashed.
Harmonic Sweep: This will sweep the harmonics of the input source.
PhazDiff: Generates the difference of the incoming wave and a version that is inverted and phase-shifted.

The Mutants can also generate their own waveforms in both FM and Sync modes, so you don't have use 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 gives you independent control over the levels and stereo positions of those 5 sources. After this you are able to choose how much signal from each source is routed to filters 1 and 2. The filters can be routed in parallel or series for ultimate flexibility. Who knew that a simple mixer could be so powerful?

Filters
If oscillators and tone generators are the heart of a synthesizer, the filters are the soul. The soul of a Hydrasynth is a complex thing; it can claw or caress, scream or soothe, mangle or melt. It has been known to speak. The multi-faceted Hydrasynth filters are right in the thick of it. Filter 1 has 16 different models ranging from 1 to 8 poles, many with high-, band-, and low pass options. There is also a flexible vocal filter with formant control. Even if Filter 1 were the only filter the Hydrasynth had, it would take a lifetime to exhaust the possibilities. But it is not alone. Filter 2 is a 12dB per octave state-variable filter, which means it can sweep continuously from either low pass > bandpass > high pass or low pass > notch > high pass. It is similar to the classic SEM filter in many ways.
These two formidable filters can be configured in series or parallel. This means the one can feed and be sculpted by the other (series), or they can complement one another (parallel). With careful use of source panning in the Mixer module, the left and right outputs can be completely different or rich in unified complexity.

LFO's
5 Low-Frequency Oscillators
Much like ASM's sound engine, the LFOs are not ordinary by any means.
The Hydrasynth LFOs feature a STEP mode that lets you create patterns with up to 64 steps. Having 5 mini step sequencers gives you an amazing number of possibilities for further shaping your sound.
Of course, there are also 10 standard waveforms available, including Sample and Hold, Noise, and Random.
Each LFO has delay, fade in, 3 triggering modes, smoothing, start phase, BPM sync, and a One-Shot mode so that they can act as envelopes.
The version 2.0 LFOs have some exciting new features, including a Step option for the One-Shot mode that allows the Step wave to advance by one step per trigger.
And LFOs now can be quantized to create stepped values. It's like bit reduction for your LFOs.
Wait...LFOs can be envelopes?! Can envelopes be LFOs? Glad you asked...

Envelopes
5 DAHDSR Envelopes
An advanced sound engine needs plenty of modulation sources. The 6-stage envelopes feature Delay, Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, and Release stages.
The durations of the ADR stages can be set to seconds or subdivisions of the tempo, giving you envelopes that play in sync to your song.
In fact, you can also loop the envelopes, which turns them into LFOs that can be shaped by any source in the modulation matrix.
Each envelope can be triggered by up to four different sources, and there's a Tap Trigger option too.
And now the envelopes can be quantized to different step levels as of version 2.0. Bit reduction strikes again!

Modulation Matrix
The modulation capabilities on the Hydrasynth are endless. With 32 user-definable Modulation matrix slots, there are plenty of ways to use the 35 modulation sources and 191 modulation destinations. Almost everything in the synth engine can be a modulation destination, including the effects and arpeggiator. The modulation routes themselves can also become modulation destinations, and can be targeted by the Macros too. Modulation sources & destinations include the CV Mod Out jacks as well as all 128 MIDI CCs. There are some hard-wired modulation routes located in other modules too. This means you don't have to burn up one of the 32 mod routes in the Modulation matrix to do certain basic functions.

Arpeggiator
The arpeggiator has all the standard arpeggio directions plus a few twists (up, down, and/or sideways, sort of). There's also a built-in phrase mode, and version 2.0 adds new features like Step Offset and increases the range to 6 octaves. Parameters like RATCHET and CHANCE will generate other semi-random rhythmic patterns to add life and spontaneity to your performance.
You can also modulate most of the parameters in the arpeggiator. Imagine using LFOs, Envelopes, Polyphonic Aftertouch or the Ribbon controller to modify your arpeggios in real time! It boggles the mind.