FM Synthesis With The Hydrasynth Friday Fun

In today's Friday Fun, we took some ideas from a chat with the Hydrasynth's product designer Glen Darcey in regards to the instrument's FM capabilities through the Linear-FM Mutator.
Aside from some of the more common FM piano type voices, Nick worked up a few more examples.
Grab the FM patches (and some extra from Nick) and the routing graphic, check out our Patreon:
/ sonicstate
00:00 Talk with Glen
06:11 overview of Linear FM mutators
08:20 Basic FM patch
08:59 Nick's patches
#fridayfunsynthjam
#hydrasynth #fm
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[@thomashoffend4299]

There are not enough hours between work and sleep... just not enough.

[@mikeexits]

And this is exactly why my sleep schedule has gotten so messed up, lol.

[@nsjx]

I understand Exactly what you mean. It dosen't help matters that getting behind one of these things is like slipping into a Time Warp ;)

[@1980VINZ]

Oh mate I feel you....... I’m just 40 years old and more I’m getting older more I realize how much free time is PRICELESS...... and too short in a day. Plus I’m passionate by a lot of things........ Organisation becomes so important to me for having most free time possible! By the way this synth to me is an infinite source of happiness, what an unbelievable job ASM done, what a great team..... It’s just their first product and it’s a fucking masterpiece I mean who else does that today? I’m fascinated by this brand I would like so much to have a whole documentary about them.

[@5dgisd528]

@@1980VINZ "It’s just their first product and it’s a fucking masterpiece I mean who else does that today" - the UDO Super 6 comes to my mind ;) But I agree with you

[@gregorykulinski2186]

Very true, if only work can become this.

[@fromfilmtocode]

I support Hydrasynth content.

[@docgify]

Just ordered and paid for asm hydrasynth lol

[@nsjx]

they'll have to pry mine from my dead fingers

[@MrWaightyboy]

I really have to buy one!

[@donaldpriola1807]

A great synth, indeed. One of my favorites, right there with The Peak. The future for digital is bright.

[@Pighood]

@@nsjx verily a mini quantum

[@k-o-a-m]

Great stuff. Please do more “talking with the creators and then exploring” type videos.

[@studiospeets]

I can't live without polyphonic aftertouch anymore. One of the best features of this synth.

[@stateazure]

Lovely patches!

[@manalainen]

Lovely, certainly gave me inspiration for this weekend, some quality time with my Hydrasynth ahead...

[@e-conrecords4665]

Hydrasynth is such a stunning synth. It sounds like one massive sweet spot.

[@BucF16]

Well, it's awesome, but it's NOT one massive sweet spot. There's plenty of room to make crap patches in it! Anything that powerful has more ways to make unusable junk than usable stuff. Especially when you start messing with FM.

[@e-conrecords4665]

@@BucF16 wow it’s like you took that literally. 🤔

[@BucF16]

I guess I missed the"not literal" emoji.

[@e-conrecords4665]

@@BucF16 we all know that you can make unlistenable patches on every synth. That part is obvious. It was just a flamboyant way of saying it sounds great.

[@SuchaDoofus]

@@e-conrecords4665 Yeah thats how I took it. But thanks anyway for the exchange. Comedy Gold. :-)

[@johndjameson]

I love, love, love my Hydrasynth. Thanks for hosting this!

[@jeanette_c3896]

I love this! I don't express my appreciation nearly enough. It makes me want a Hydrasynth of my own all the more!

[@ianchurch9969]

Brilliant. my hydra synth has been out at sea being ship from Nz to England. Can’t wait to try these techniques

[@kenzgbr]

Fantastic video Nick, got mine 2 weeks ago and am only scratching the surface. It’s the sonic gift that keeps on giving.

[@TheBiggerNoise]

Always great to hear what someone else is capable of with this synth. I love mine; the sounds are great and the user interface is just incredible. It’s just so much fun to play with.

[@hoagy_ytfc]

This is amazing - I haven't yet dug very far into the FM facilities on my Hydrasynth - but this is really giving me the inspiration to look deeper into it. Thanks.

[@donaldpriola1807]

I like this approach. Hope you can get more Friday Fun videos in this style.

[@josephlindsey3062]

Wow great sound around 13:00! Thank for this inspiring video, and I agree with other commentators, more direct feedback from manufacturers is obviously getting some really promising results.

[@1980VINZ]

I would like so much to have a whole documentary about AshunSoundMachines, how this brand was born, how they gave birth to their first product who is directly a masterpiece... This is fascinating me! Thanks to ASM for this product, sincerely. A very very happy HYDRAsynth owner, Vinz.

[@kenb7540]

Beautiful patch at the end there. Love it.

[@pthomas36]

I've had mine for just over a week. Watching this is like g.a.s for a synth I already have! Lots and lots of learning to do, and this was very inspiring! Thanks Nick, and to Glen as well.

[@Jimbo386000]

Right? I've had two different iterations of the hydra for over a year now and I STILL have so much to learn!

[@hawk194]

Great work Nick. Beautiful atmospheric patches.

[@MichaalHell]

As a new Hydrasynth owner, this is great!

[@Phil-1]

It is. I'm off to buy one now too!

[@marzzz1]

As an old Hydrasynth owner, this is great!

[@denatra7144]

*•°•☆Congrats Michael!

[@chriscopeman8820]

I''m just trying to decide if I need the keyboard or desktop version. How does the keyboard feel to play??

[@GertBoers]

@@chriscopeman8820 I'm not sure if I'm too late, but anyway: the keyboard is excellent! Especially now with the latest firmware update, where they tackled the slight difference of the velocity between the black and the white keys. (For some heavy handed players the keyboard was 'unplayable', but with this new firmware that is fixed.) The aftertouch (poly!) is very responsive. You can see in a lot of KZbin videos how easy it is to get the programmed modulation responding. (Not to play, because it's definitely a learning curve.)

[@rickr.mortis4821]

I've had mine for around 2 weeks and I'm glued to it.

[@WRKRigon]

Bought one about 4 months ago, this synth will go down as a modern legend, i love it and i think its pretty limitless. Sits nice underneath my virus ti, they're amazing together.

[@nsjx]

You recognise this fact as well 👍

[@nsjx]

Also, don't forget that there are "already FM'd waves" in the single wave bank. So in a roundabout way, these have already been FM'd. Now, if you want more modulation from the get-go then don't forget your wave-sequencing function, where you can build a (pre-)modulated carrier. This will give those FM'd single waves movement and as such, create a crude operator from a single OSC. Other things to bare in mind: 5 LFO's capable of audio-rate (~150 iirc) and the loopable ENVs (LFOs in of themselves, if need be).

[@muitosabao]

Damn that last jam at 20min on is just so beautiful!

[@Demoulous]

Utterly love my Hydrasynth, its a beast with a lot of power packed into it.

[@amphora8321]

Excellent idea/execution of a Friday Fun.

[@push-pull3647]

Hi Nick, your patch D024 is truly fantastic ! Congrats !

[@Marc_Angel]

Always beautiful patch and melody. with Nick.

[@alban6101]

How interesting it is here ! Between the conversation...& this synth. FM prodigy's ! Merci Messieurs, great best of this Hydrasynth !

[@thirfytash7286]

The nord modular line is great for creating your own FM algorithms as well lots of fun!

[@Rockky67]

This is great stuff Nick, cheers! Sound design on the Hyrdasynth is so much fun I wish there were more bank and patch slots, but they’d only get full up too.

[@nickcoyne4949]

Yes, more space would be awesome. Or a patch editor that allows sound previewing - currently its a tedious process moving sounds on and off the synth.

[@Rockky67]

@@nickcoyne4949 yes it is crazy slow. The other poly I’ve got is the Deepmind and the process on there is very snappy to swap patches and banks in and out.

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Wow, I think the Hydrasynth has to be the most expressive synth I've heard for a very very long time. Outstanding. Would love one of these, especially for Ambient chilled out Ibiza sunset styled tracks.

[@mraduanemc]

Great info right from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I LOVE that machine. Thanks Nick and thanks Glen!

[@ChrisGilcher]

I really love the patches you program and also how to "put them to use". Great harmonies and progressions that show their potential. Keep it up!

[@ElectronicazMusic]

Spent all evening making fm patches. Many thanks for the guidance. I now have my very own Aphex ambient factory.

[@theaudioeng]

Cheers Nick, interesting synth - sounds like my ESQ-M a lot! Good to see you in convo with Glen too, great guy. 😎👍🎹🎶

[@cooltrades7469]

As a long time Ensoniq user I also can hear some similarities.

[@theaudioeng]

@@cooltrades7469 Not just me then! Love Ensoniq gear still - keeping my ESQ-M & TS-10 for sure 😉🤘🎵🎹🇬🇧🍻

[@makeperceive]

Really great sound design, tastefully played.

[@sorrynotcyborg]

So much respect for the team at ASM for making an amazing product. I can't stress this enough, the Hydrasynth is a masterpiece.

[@davidburden3835]

Some lovely sounds in there

[@nsjx]

Excellent synthesizer, Glen. You guys deserve highest accolades for this instrument. I love my Hydra Desktop module.

[@SynthAddict]

good coverage here and I'm a big FM fan :-) getting a Hydrasynth shortly

[@GareauRA]

Most impressive. That patch "Nicks Patches" is crazy good. Love it

[@thefool2007]

Nice demo to show the depth of this synth. I absolutely love my HS49. The sound design capabilities are nearly limitless. This synth was made for move soundtracks for sure.

[@wiseoldfool]

Wow! A Swiss Army Chainsaw/Scalpel Sound Sculpture Tool. I've been looking at the Hydrasynth for a while now, gotta say this really inspired me! Always good to get some insights from the people who create the instruments.

[@rmonlu]

Love my hydra synth!

[@nsjx]

The highly Playable Arpeggiator on the HS is also fantastic. A couple cool things. The Arp can be turned off and on WHILE maintaining its Latching. This is fun with lots of FX Feedback or when changing tempo, length, Triplet Button etc settings Before turning back on the Arp. Live potential here is fab. The two Sustain modes and being able to use these interactively on-the-fly provides an extra layer of playability (note that the Sustain level of the 5 EG's CAN be modulated as well, unlike on some synths.. The tap-arp function of course is fun when combined with this. If the Arp is Latched and you temp change to Tap mode then you can go right back to the Latched Arp seq after switching it off. Arp modes and several other functions CAN be modulated. Because of this ability, combined with the fab Macros, one can change rhythms and modes either by a Toggle or Switching. Mod-routings, in general, are so quickly assigned on the HS (faster than on my P12, which is also a mod monster) that with little practice assigning performance modulations on-the-fly is absolutely a possibility. Just some lovely things I adore about this instrument. I could go on and on

[@TRaddcliff]

WHOA you fixed your camera DoF....looks great! Sick Friday fun!

[@thesnipecatcher116]

Great tutorial, thanks! Been considering this synth for awhile. Whether to grab this or just keep saving toward an Iridium is the question

[@audioartisan]

So basically there's a 4OP synth built in ...Now I want one :D Thank you for an in-depth FM view!

[@jesusrocks7500]

Modern synthesis wouldn't be what it is without Glen Darcy. He's pretty much the Dave Smith of the millennium. Hydrasynth raises the bar for ALL manufacturers. Kudos!

[@ideologikal]

Nick always know how to make any synths. sound beautiful :)

[@wiseoldfool]

"There are no bad sounds, that's my jazz saxophone background coming out" Lol!

[@Bawookles]

More stuff with the Hydrasynth please!!!

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

16:50 opened up my ears, mind, emotion and all senses!!

[@tamersallam5833]

Jheeeeeez

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

@@tamersallam5833 That is what new fresh creative sounds do to this sound designer.

[@StarfieldBound]

This is an extremely informative demonstration.

[@Philandthesynths]

Thanks so much for this amazing overview. I need to try all this with my Hydrasynth! D24 is just incredible 👍👍👍!

[@sonicstate]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Cesiumswimsuit]

Thank you for this!

[@CO5MA]

Excellent patches!

[@DerHammer68]

Great video on a great synth! So thank you Nick for presenting it this way :-) I'd really like to have seen such a great video for Alesis Fusion in its old days as one of the most underrated synths ever. Underrated because of its - buggy initial OS (1.24 was stable, 2.0 with SATA burner support was never released), - ugly housing, - not that really high quality buttons and encoders, - bad effects quality (try leslie...uh...). Only a few hardcore users noticed the great capabilities of this thing: - 4 synth engines (Sampler, FM, AM, Wind/Reed) - Max. 192 voices (140 @AM, 40 @FM, 40@Wind/Reed) - 32 mod matrix entries - smoothness factor and in/out table PER MOD ENTRY - 8 LFOs - 8 envelopes PER VOICE This speaks for itself. Well. Can't stop repeating: Most underrated synth ever IMHO.

[@nsjx]

Great patching, Nick. The real Soul of the synth is reached by those who spend Tiime exploring its Great Potential.

[@aviolentpurple9925]

Man, that’s some beautiful music Nick

[@mikeexits]

That jam in the outro is gorgeous. Props to Mr. Nick Batt haha

[@ramonster163]

This absolutely sold me on the Hydra. My goodness.

[@josuearesav]

I freaking love the Hydrasynth!

[@Hightreewalker]

That was a very nice jam Nick. Seems like this Hydrasynth spaceship can bring you everywhere, even the analog domain and other planets. ASM deserves my cash i think.

[@sonicstate]

Thanks, I jusrt watched it again, makes me want to turn it on and pla with it, its a great synth for exploring sound design and patching

[@EarlyMist]

This synth with the captain at the helm... soothes my soul

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

Sounds great!

[@downpatmusic]

After working with the Hydrasynth for a week I'd say that FM is one of its main strong points. I'd almost consider it as a main FM synth for any set up, though is does a lot more.

[@kiko1935]

I love the idea behind the Hydra. The price point and all the features like poly AT and Esq1 style layout. I didn't end up connecting with it but it's definitely a step in the right direction for the industry. Hoping more companies follow ASM's lead.

[@KordTaylor]

Another great video. Thanks Nick! I makes me think of something. Has ANY synth company made a synth Nick can’t sort in a day? 😂.

[@ZAYAZOfficial]

I love my Hydra more than anything. It’s a beautiful beast.

[@moosemuseum1853]

Killer lesson!

[@kevinsturges6957]

Those are really good FM sounds. So fresh! Could the Hydrasynth possibly be the new Jupiter 8?

[@e-conrecords4665]

Nick should be making sound packs for these companies. I love the way he approaches sound design. These are the types of patches that show off the synths true power. Leagues ahead of most of the factory preset offerings from Synth companies. Don’t get me wrong, I love the standard bass, pads, leads etc as much as the next guy… but this is elevated stuff! Come on ASM! Nick Batt Soundpack Please!

[@jantuitman]

These sounds are better than most hydra synth sounds I’ve heard before.

[@Pighood]

ikr

[@jamest.135]

this synth has way more personality when its doing purely digital synthesis like FM than when its trying to emulate analog which it does well too.

[@macronencer]

You did a great job, Nick. D24 was really cool! The point about subtle changes is extremely important. This is something the HS has in common with the MatrixBRUTE: they both sound way better if you just back off a little and don't go turning things up too high. It's like having to keep a light foot when driving a Ferrari around a town (or so I imagine...!).

[@benwearne542]

The patch at 16:40 that everyone likes can be downloaded on patreon. He named the patch "insects." It has a 880ms delay and an 8.80 second cloud reverb. The mod wheel pitch setting is at 1 and the vibration rate for the mod wheel is 1 hertz

[@benwearne542]

I've tried to figure out exactly why it sounds so good when he uses the mod wheel. I've noticed to get that warping layering effect you have to use a sine wave on the oscillator, regardless of the other parameters like delay or reverb. I think its because the vibrato is modulated BY a sine wave. So when you just barely apply some vibrato it puts the original signal just slightly out phase with the other instances of the oscillator created by the delay. I'm going to see if I can create that effect tonight with other waves by integrating a phaser with the vibrato on the mod wheel.

[@benwearne542]

Oh yea, and the type of reverb is "cloud" reverb. The high shimmer from mutator 2 and the change in the wave table from wave 3 to wave 4 are what accent that phase sound and help make it sound so beautiful. It doesn't sound nearly as good without those two accents

[@LordoftheBadgers]

Cheers Nick. I've had an enjoyable 30 mins looking at tempo synced loops and general LFO mayhem. Not much of a plan but who cares. I had fun and that's all that matters 😊

[@allenwright69]

16:46 I actually started tearing up, the layering of that patch was so moving once you nudged the mod wheel. My Hydrasynth is on the way.

[@We.Are.Lockhart]

I am not surprised to see the Expander and ESQ-1 lurking in the background of Glen Darcey's studio 😂

[@Winter-CIG]

I've been dying to get my hands on a Minifreak. Been waiting months for my work bonus so I could get one. Today I got that bonus and went for a Hydrasynth Explorer instead. I don't know what it is but the thing just sounds so much more lush and massive. I know the Minifreak has tons of creativity and it also can sound huge but there's just something missing which I hear instantly in the Hydrasynth engine. Seems to not matter what sound is coming out of this thing it just comes across as super inspiring.

[@boolage]

Wonderful

[@richc848]

16:45 - wow, lovely!

[@freezeetch]

I don't comment on many KZbin videos, but I felt a knot in my brain unravel when the modwheel was nudged at 16:45. So good. My Hydra arrives tomorrow (replacing my Prologue 8) and I can't wait!

[@SynthAddict]

nice job Nick, and my GAS for a Hydrasynth is even greater now :-)

[@cjunglecharana]

I took the same class at UCLA with Clark Spangler. great times

[@firesailstudios1003]

Nice!! Could be get Glenn's infographic of using the Hydra to do FM?

[@markcox5385]

Yes please!

[@MichaelRohaly]

Something that will appeal to your sense of PWM is that if you're on oscillator 1 and you use oscillator 1 as an FM source, you'll flip the wave around going from a depth of 0 to 64. It's yet another PWM source, but messier and weirder, allowing a bunch of kooky phase variations with the other oscillators. Turn the feedback up on a pulse wave while the depth is being modulated and you get a bizarre polyphonic flanger.

[@tommymandel]

Beautiful. Was the mod wheel bringing in Chorus from the Hydrasynth itself? Thanks. Very clear sounding instrument.

[@1980VINZ]

As a HydraSynth owner I’m TOTALLY crazy happy thank you so much Nick!!!!!!!!!! By the way, are Glen’s patches available on Patreon? These patches at 8:21 that Glen sent to you Nick? I’m still learning a lot about synthesis on my Hydra and I would like so much to understand how to create or recreate this kind of classic patches.....🙏 Thanks again for this video!! Big salut from France 🙋‍♂️ Vinz.

[@proxymerchant]

we might do a tribute record to Glen Darcey using only Hydras

[@per-magnusmansnerus3953]

About the aftertouch...is it asignable to do/trigger other stuff/filters etc? Just love the synth🥰

[@oraz.]

Amazing

[@MikeUIibarri]

good stuff

[@BrazdaluiNovac]

I was thinking to get the Korg Opsix, but after seeing this I wonder if it's not a better idea to have Opsix and Modwave combined into one synth...hmmm. Love your patches Nick

[@MichaelRohaly]

Maybe these are tryouts for a Korg workstation.

[@PrimitiveBaroque]

Discovering that this machine can do FM convincingly is an insta-buy.

[@thomashoffend4299]

Nick, any time you are demoing and wiggling knobs and end up with an unscripted “that’s quite interesting” you should save the state of the synth in a patch for later. 😊

[@user-tp1dn7ug9i]

I was very fortunate to have a Synergy (GDS) with the Kypro Computer back in the '70's.. It sucked as a synth for Prog rock, but for sound creation it was extremely deep. I did about a half dozen sessions using it and don't have a copy of any of them .😞

[@MichaelBlueMusic]

Amazing! Is the FM bank Glen Darcy sent you available anywhere?