Invisible Light - Ambient Performance (Hydrasynth)

Semi-improvisation using only the Hydrasynth, and effects pedals (Microcosm, Big Sky). DittoX4 for some looping. Sequencing and multitrack parts for the second half prerecorded with Bitwig Studio and using the Korg NanoKontrol2 for mixing levels. This track uses custom presets designed by me.
Recorded direct to DAW.
Video shot on a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k with a Sirui 35mm anamorphic lens. Editing and colour grading done in Da Vinci Resolve.
Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed the music, and want to be notified of new uploads.
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[@rubenschinali]

You just turned the Hydrasynth into a must have for everyone.

[@gordoncarson8612]

Absolutely amazing you have put a lot of thought into this performance and for improvising so well! Thank you!

[@JohnSmith-1957]

Well that oughta sell a few Hydrasynths! Whew! As always, remember that tax, shipping, and the amazing, incredible talent of State Azure are not included in the Hydrasynth price.

[@TheHorseValse]

Always wonderful!

[@hansholema4740]

Always a delight to listen to!

[@powermix24]

Amazing stuff as always Mr. Azure! 💯

[@MikeUIibarri]

All these Next Level artists, being such a big part of my life. Especially these days. These are the good old days.

[@buddystewart2020]

Another excellent improvisation.

[@sandalwoodnghts8453]

I love this piece, the way it's layered is beautiful. 💫

[@Glenfiddich101]

Sounds absolutely amazing 🤩😄👍

[@Philandthesynths]

Excellent track, as usual ! Warm atmosphere created with a synth which doesn’t allways sound that way! Thanks for sharing.

[@eternalsenses]

As ever an awesome track. The layers of Sound take me to another dimension! Healing vibe man!

[@elsabernthal]

This is amazing!

[@DanielFrankDK]

Wow. Breathtaking!

[@mike_qbik]

stunning … as always … oh, and did I mentionec that the lighhting elevates your music to your branding signature as well … well, as always ;-) just superb. loved the session.

[@J.Hermansson]

Ohhhh, really nice piece of music. As always I might add. Beautiful!

[@DaomingLi]

This track slays. So good.

[@rayflux]

The blend of the sounds is amazing as usual! keep up the wonderful work! :)

[@HermanvanGelder]

I love this synthesisey ambient music. Hope to see you live one day.

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

Wow, I have the explorer version and will have to play with that concept! Nice work!

[@matsewunderlich]

awesome work - and sound 🍀

[@silvermyth2119]

Nice one! 👍🎹

[@basuraproject5988]

Excellent as usual. Lovin the 🐬 Dolphin Dance inspirationings 😊 Encore!

[@davidl8094]

Bravo, maestro!

[@JimButler1234567890]

WOW THAT WAS EXCELLENT !!

[@woodrowclose]

Amazing as usual.

[@chorltondragon]

Awesome. Truly awesome.

[@mzekonis]

Wow. This is really good. Thanks!

[@user-wh7jg7nt9s]

absolutely amazing....

[@mattsmith1440]

Speechless! 😯

[@amangogna68]

Great music and sound !

[@JimButler1234567890]

Wow - so far so good :-)

[@amb13nt59]

So delightful and calming! Much needed in this day and age.

[@juzon]

YOU ABSOLUTELY RITE

[@stonecastle858]

Beautiful - you sir are a genius

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Awesome SA I am running out of superlatives to express how fantastic your music is.

[@andyjey3126]

Dreaming of Tangerines...Very nice...The Hydrasynth is a real "Sound Monster"🙂

[@TonyThomas10000]

Beautiful!!!!!

[@sohoskydive]

That's wonderful. I can hear the possibilities of the Hydrasynth. Happy owner of the Hydrasynth desktop since two weeks I have a lot of work to achieve the perfection of your track!!!!🤗

[@piranha32]

I love the Tangerine Dream vibes. It's one of my most favorite bands.

[@jeanlot]

Tangerine Dream.....nice👍

[@stereohertz]

Sublime… una pasada de sonidos relajantes con atmósferas increíbles!!! ❤❤

[@GrzegorzStyczen]

Excellent soundscape

[@zman28159]

Cool , Refreshing.

[@ferchorps2224]

That sounds good 💻🎶🎵🔊

[@giorgionieddu8343]

Hydrasynth una meraviglia..❤

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

I find the Hydrasynth such a fascinating machine. I've litterealy lost hours and hours in sound exploration with it. So many ways to sculpt sound it's phenomenal. Truly one of the most interesting synths for sound design in a long long time. And you use it beautifully.

[@scholzdigital]

No hours are lost with the Hydrasynth

[@dolvaran]

I really like these minimalist pieces you are doing. More please!

[@jacquesboere]

much more!!!!

[@takiidabeats589]

beautiful mix 🙂👍

[@astrogerry]

Wow ... really amazing ... I love your ambient style !!!

[@stateazure]

Thanks!

[@brunozalaffi947]

Molto bello, interessante ed equilibrato, molto bello il crescendo e l'atmosfera ...

[@jessefoulk]

That must be his bed. To jump up from there with an inspiration in your head and get on your electronic machines it's an awesome feeling

[@stateazure]

That's my sofa :)

[@user-sm4jr1dx8i]

@@stateazure вы из какой страны

[@jessefoulk]

Oh. I didn't look very carefully

[@SoundMediaVibes]

Wonderful! :)

[@alexs.1242]

This is so cool.

[@agrozdanovski]

lovely!

[@mom4life907]

amazing thanks for sharing 😍🤝👍

[@klausgabriel7956]

Einfach toll gefällt mir sehr gut 👍

[@mercurysteve1]

Just found this channel, feels like I struck gold.

[@RichardOlpin]

Love this. I've been eyeing up the Hydra since it was launched. This vid has tipped me over the edge... so thanks! (Though my wallet will hate you!).

[@Facemaker77]

I hope to see your recent sessions on Bandcamp. I mean I want to pay for them all in uncompressed formats. Your work is mind bending. And it's incredible you do this weekly and live. It remarkable! Thank you Azure.

[@thesupersoundoftrieste]

Great bro, I enjoy it,we could collaborate tomorrow arrive my hs!!

[@MarcWeertsMusic]

As always, sounding and looking gorgeous... :-O

[@stateazure]

Cheers, Marc!

[@eoy_private]

Wow, such a nice sound and set. I think, I know what do I buy next time, hmmm xD

[@EZMusicman]

Awesome

[@Truthasvictim]

Wow, this is really beautiful stuff man, and planning on getting the Hydrasynth Deluxe whenever it ends up arriving along with the Korg Wavestate.

[@stateazure]

The Deluxe sure looks amazing.

[@Rose_Arcana]

What a dangerous combo ;)

[@Truthasvictim]

@@Rose_Arcana Ended up getti ]ng the 49 note, the desktop and a Roland SH-4.

[@lgomesdix]

I love that Synth. Hydra and Iridium, those are my fave Synth's. You have a dream studio... I just cant believe how many gear you have...? Amazing. I love your channel. And i wish to have one synth, but the price of those things is crazy. The Iridium is like 2600€. Keep going please.

[@stateazure]

Thanks! Yes, Iridium is very expensive, but also one of the best I own.

[@ErwinSchrodinger64]

I've been debating between the Hydrasynth and Novation Peak. I think I've made my choice after watching this video and hopefully my last synth for some time. State Azure, has also persuaded me, indirectly, with his wizard ways in music to get a Waldorf Iridium.

[@earlsfield]

Hydrasynth is one of the best digital synths around. the interface can be a blueprint for many "experienced" developers out there. No need to praise the sound, it is awesome. Well modeled filters too.

[@citizenofearth]

That was wonderful! It's incredible what people can do with just one synth if they know how to use it properly. I thought the Hydrasynth is monotimbral, but obviously one can work around this limitation.

[@andrewgenner2613]

I think there might be a looper at work here also. Perhaps Pat can explain - there are certainly beautiful layers in this piece.

[@stateazure]

@@andrewgenner2613 Yes I used the DittoX4 looper, though only for some background layers. There were other layers playing that I multitracked into Bitwig before I started recording.

[@kenb7540]

Amazing as usual .LOVE the focus on one synth. Are the Bitwig sequenced sounds from HS too ? Beautiful piece.

[@volkerwagner6885]

tres super. en face. merci.

[@lemarchandbernard9641]

Quelle atmosphère dimensionnelle, profonde , mystérieuse, apaisante...ressource

[@lemarchandbernard9641]

💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@lemarchandbernard9641]

Trop bien l'ambiance lumineuse et l'enregistrement de la composition..l'impression du direct...j'adore le son électro et relaxant doux...ah les synthé 🧡💛💚✌👌✌

[@JimButler1234567890]

I'm listening on a pair of ESS Heil AMT1 Towers, driven by a pair of VTL Deluxe 120 807 tube monoblocks. The bass range is gently reinforced with a pair of Karlson K15s driven by a Yamaha CR3020. Believe me when I tell you, this track you are playing sounds LOVELY from where I am sitting.

[@VisionsMusicGroup]

@Jim B - talk dirty to me! I love good sound. Today was experienced through a pair of Harbinger HX152's powered by a Crown XLS2000 (old but mighty, like me!) and lightly seasoned with a pair of HS8 studio monitors all coming through the DL32R from the mac. I mean, if you're gonna listen, listen powerfully right? ;)

[@stephenmesquire]

I'm listening through a pair of XB256 Krippstein Woofscrapers driven by Express RSL64 Beambaby hyper drones output through an Eversonic Gatewise T1 Cage Deck. *chef's kiss*

[@ageezz]

@@stephenmesquire I had one of those - but the battery died on me. Had to revert to a pair of JVC £20 headphone - still sounds expansive, mind twisting and somewhere close to heaven!.

[@compfox]

I would never bother my Quadral Titan Mk.3 driven by two Luxman M-02 in mono mode with that crappy YT sound. Although I love the music of State Azure...

[@LOM1911]

My best friend has a pair of the ESS AMT1 Towers. I should drag my Hydras over to his house and plug them in.

[@Slabshaft]

That “flute” sound at 15:30 just takes me to another place. Especially on top of that hypnotic arp/ostinado that glues the whole track together. It kind of reminds me of BoC Wildlife Analysis in a sense. Would it be rude to ask how one might create a similar sound? Seems sine wave ish but with more edge to it when you open the filter.

[@trillian6244]

👌👌

[@robertbrown3413]

Deep in Tangerine Dream territory...

[@PolarityMusic]

💖

[@grafton3073]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@cartertakesatrain7108]

I really wish that I loved it as much as people on here do. This is a lovely performance though. I suspect a Ton of Valhalla or another top end effects. I would love to understand the Mix of Signal and effects

[@stateazure]

It's literally in the description on the first line, Microcosm and Big Sky were used for effects, along with DittoX4 for looping purposes. No point using the built in reverb of the Hydrasynth, because it's simply bad.

[@LOM1911]

Almost a little Tangerine Dream-ish in places.

[@HEARDIFFERENT]

Shut the world around me. I am Azure's for the next half an hour.!!! Only Azure can speak to me. No one else.!!!

[@AnalogFlava]

The sound at around 3.50 or so sounds almost like an opera vocal sample being bended - really nice. I have only played with Hydra for less than 10 minutes listening to presets and found it too digital. But perhaps adding fx like here is half the trick? Apart from good soundsculpting ofc :) Great track!!! I wonder how much post mixing you did if any, levels, eq and all sounds like a finished product! :)

[@stateazure]

Well the Hydrasynth can certainly sound very digital, but there's nothing preventing creation of warm/soft analog-like sounds on this machine. I do wish a lot of the modulators weren't so FM based though, and that it could do some of the wave-shaping that Serum and Vital can do, FM stuff quickly pushes sounds into a harsh/digital place unless used very subtly. The track didn't need much in post, as I made sure the levels were set beforehand while everything was playing at the same time. With all the faders on the NanoKontrol2 right up, I then set each track's Gain to the right amount, that way I could mix in the layers during the performance. Unfortunately the lead parts were recorded a little low, so I did need to bring that part up in post.

[@AnalogFlava]

@@stateazure Amazing, thanks for letting me know and yes agree with the FM stuff! Would love to see more of your workflow...that video of your monster modular spaceship playing alone (not sure how or what haha) is just insane, looks like it cost the price of a house in malibu beach or. something😁But yeah thinking now if the Hydra would be a good/fun choice. now for me...I am a simple guy and it might be too much, prefer so far the earlier VA stuff 😁

[@giuseppemilazzo2649]

I hope if you feel inspired, that it will be a long immersive improvvisation.

[@ZealothPL]

Maybe a silly question, but is it possible to "parametrise" the generation? You are basically creating the perfect soundtracks for space exploration games, could the generative setup take inputs for tempo or style? Agressive/mysterious/unsettling?

[@speedy1000ism]

To implement that sort of soundtrack generation in a game engine you would probably want to use a collection of bounced audio files (layers of the scores like drums, lead, pads, etc. all in the same tempo and key) and use smart code (or middleware like Wwise) to handle the playback, that's the standard approach to game soundtracks nowadays. To use real-time synthesizer's generating tones like this video would be pretty intensive and not a popular approach in Unity or Unreal (but would be very cool for a space game I agree :)

[@andrewgenner2613]

Tangerine Dream did a soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto (GTA 5, I think). I believe they created "stems" - short parts of tracks that can be combined according to what's happening in the game. Some film music composers work in the same way.

[@inflames2112]

Could work really well cinematically for big fight scenes in EVE online heh

[@SyntheticFuture]

Check how Mitch did the soundtrack of Doom Eternal. He made a stream of that. I think it shows you how they do semi-generative stuff using tracks and blending and matching.

[@coffeepriest6937]

@@SyntheticFuture Link? Sounds awesome...

[@steveb2145]

Can you input vocals ( via Microphone or sample ) into the hydrasynth ? or would it be better to have vocals going separate to DAW ? really appreciate any help/// superb inspiration here..thanks

[@dantenealiguery1848]

wooooooooww awesome! so deep. btw, what camera do you use? very high quality

[@stateazure]

Thanks! I use a Blackmagic Pocket CInema Camera 4k

[@exdeecee]

Which mount did you use for the lens? Camera support/tripod? Needless to say about your music: such a touch...

[@kenb7540]

Also meant to ask, what is your audio signal path between HS/Ditto/Microcosm/BIgSky ? Thanks.

[@CtlinMunteanu]

how can i learn this? i play and try to learn how my synth works but i really don t know how or were to start to learn to make this kind of music. Now I have a minilogue, a behringer crave, arturia keystept 32, korg volca drum and a zoom multiefect pedal. thank you so music for what you do

[@712Jefferson]

Really enjoyed this. Tasteful, musical, interesting, relaxing. Kudos. Are you still a fan of your Hydrasynth a year later? Have been GASing for one since release and strongly considering grabbing a desktop model to compliment my current rig of Summit, Typhon, Micromonsta 2 and Push 3.

[@stateazure]

Not so much really. Software wavetable synths really leave the Hydrasynth in their dust, and pretty much every hardware wavetable synth out there. I personally find the Hydrasynth a bit on the harsh side due to FM based waveshaping, and wish they had looked more into how Serum, Vital and others do it. Its FX also leave a lot to be desired. Still, that doesn't make it a bad synth at all, it's capable of a very wide range of sounds and can sound pretty unique, but I rarely turn it on these days.

[@712Jefferson]

@@stateazure Thanks for your feedback!

[@colintraveller]

Why in the heck someone at a label hasn't signed you up yet ,i'll never know

[@Kubanb3]

Hey great combination!! Really cool stuff! What kind of interface are you using to connect all of these together brother??

[@stateazure]

It's just an Arturia AudioFuse for this small setup. Glad you enjoyed!

[@Kubanb3]

@@stateazure if it doesn’t take much of your time, would you be able to tell me how you connect all of those together? This would be the perfect set up I am looking for. I appreciate your help!!

[@stateazure]

@@Kubanb3 It's a very basic setup. The Audiofuse is the interface for the Macbook Pro. Keystep is connected to the MBP via the USB hub, then MIDI out from Audiofuse/MBP is going into the Hydrasynth. The FX pedals are just connected in serial I think, output from Hydrasynth into Big Sky, Microcosm then to DittoX4 then into Audiofuse inputs for recording into the DAW (Bitwig).

[@chriscartwright6331]

Mesmerising - thank you! I've listened to this over and over trying to understand what you've done. It seems the two looper tracks both have multiple layers, but you're using them basically as two additional bitwig clips. Can you explain why you didnt just use bitwig for all tracks? Is it to do with the buildup of those layers prior to the video performance? I'd have thought that, given their complexity, it would be eisier to build them on the DAW. Thanks!

[@stateazure]

Thanks, Chris! I prerecorded some ambient layers into the two loopers on the DittoX4, as an intro background textures that I could improvise over. The reason I didn't use Bitwig for those initial ambient layers is because Bitwig does not have a good audio looping solution, it's my only big gripe with Bitwig (and it's a big one). Bitwig's scenes/clips modes are great for midi looping, which I use a lot of in this piece, but it falls flat on its face with audio looping unless you use a 3rd party software audio looper like Audio Damage Enso for instance, but that brings with it its own problems, so I still rely on the DittoX4 a lot and it's an amazing looper imo. Hopefully one day Bitwig can catch up with Live in the audio looping department one day.

[@chriscartwright6331]

@@stateazure Hi. Thanks for the explanation. But that's left me with two further questions: 1) I assume you're talking about the "dropped first loop" issue in Bitwig? But it looks like you're leaving your loops to run continuously and fading them in, so wouldn't have thought this would be a big deal. 2) If your Bitwig loops are midi in this piece, what are they driving? Surely the Hydrasynth can't accept 8 or so Midi tracks - it's monotimbral afaik?

[@stateazure]

@@chriscartwright6331 1) The dropped loop thing I don't really see as a big problem, but there is that too. No, the real issue with audio looping in Bitwig is not being able to overdub at all with audio which is HUGE, and also that audio loops (unlike midi), will not seamlessly loop (why overdub is also critical). That makes audio looping for ambient in Bitwig next to useless, and I just don't use it at all anymore. As I said, AD Enso kind of fixes that problem, but has its own issues with pops/clicks now and again which seem to be inherent to that specific plugin.

[@stateazure]

@@chriscartwright6331 2) Sorry, what I mean is, these were originally MIDI loops to the Hydrasynth, but I bounced them to audio, so essentially also prerecorded for the track.

[@chriscartwright6331]

@@stateazure Oh ok. Makes more sense. And I had no idea Bitwig had such limitations. Will think twice before trying it now. Thanks!

[@BradfordWarner]

Will a version of this make it into a Bandcamp release?

[@stateazure]

Yeah it will

[@HyBound]

This is great, as always. Do you use much in-the-box mixing as well?

[@stateazure]

Yeah, sometimes.

[@colintraveller]

Anychance of putting some of yer tracks on CD ..

[@rewwhiskas4234]

Ace! p.s what do you have the Hyrda mounted on here?

[@stateazure]

Thanks! It's just a tilting laptop stand

[@rewwhiskas4234]

@@stateazure Ah cool. Yeah fits it nice! I just picked up a Varidock / Mirai which is proving quite natty..

[@voidofwoid]

Very smart. Hydrasynth or Iridium? Or both?.....

[@stateazure]

Big difference in these two synths, except they can both do wavetable stuff. The price also is a hugely different. It's not really fair to compare these.

[@FastRCToys]

Iridium 🐶

[@davefk]

What keyboard are you using here? Does your main keyboard have aftertouch? thx

[@johncrichton4341]

One.

[@akafae222]

What are you using to record into DAW?

[@inflames2112]

Hey state azure are you a fan of miss monique ? Just curious

[@stateazure]

I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I've enjoyed a bunch of her progressive house sets in the past, she's pretty awesome!

[@inflames2112]

@@stateazure i think it would be wild to duo together and make something unique/wild. (Or maybe im just crazy ? )