What is all the HYPE about?? AIR Hype VST Review & Sound Demo

AIR Music Technology just recently dropped 7 new VST instruments with the flagship product seeming to be Hype. Here's is a first look, sound test, and review of this "new" synth engine.
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Overall this synth has some really nice preset sounds, but lacks the ability to do much sound designing. Seeing as it is $125 for a preset library I don't think this plugin is worth it until they do a steep discount (which AIR does a lot) and you see on sale for like $9. I do however recommend in it's place:
▶ AIR Hype (non-affiliate):
www.airmusictech.com/virtual-...
▶ Cherry Audio Dreamsynth (non-affiliate):
store.cherryaudio.com/bundles...
▶ Arturia's Analog Lab (non-affiliate):
www.arturia.com/products/anal...
0:00 Drink Water
0:53 The Shapes
3:10 The Presets
4:40 The Mods
6:23 More Presets
8:15 Verdict
8:56 Buy These Instead
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[@GourlieRecords]

What do you think, is it worth the HYPE?

[@audiolego]

Yes

[@philippebackprotips]

Got it in my MPC, it is useful. There is more than meets the eye if one digs a bit into it. Granted it is not the kind of synth for tweaking stuff. But for putting out a track out quick, all good. I have Voltage Modular at the other end of the spectrum.

[@mikl2345]

good honest review thanks a lot. (would be great to hear your thoughts on the newer air plugins? like OPx-4 & Fabric?). (or Drumsynth? not sure what to make of that one).

[@GourlieRecords]

No problem. I'll have to check out those other two and see how they are since they offer demos. On initial glance, OPx-4 gives me Vital vibes which has a free version and the most expensive version of Vital is $80.

[@Peter-gu9ph]

Thanks for the alternative suggestions! Your overview/comparison with Arturia Analog Lab V at 10:46 - I have that synth and learned some nice new tips from you! Cherry Audio Dreamsynth at 9:11 also looks interesting...

[@GourlieRecords]

No problem! I have longer videos on both coming out soon. Analog Lab is amazing, I use it in nearly all of my productions!

[@jaderington]

Good one , thanks

[@thecreepysilence4290]

The Hypesynth is very great. I use it in my MPC. And for that kind of stuff for Sound Design is really cool. But I prefer to use the MPC with external Hardwaresynth

[@Hysteric_Subjects]

Love your channel mate

[@GourlieRecords]

Thanks, friend! I have a LOT of stuff cooking for 2023 so this is going to be a good year to linger around 😉

[@Hysteric_Subjects]

Word. Yeah I have had the MPC One for a few years and was into Hype at first but grew bored. Matter of fact I’m growing bored with the MPC dawinabox gonna swap for an Octatrack lol Cheers

[@audiolego]

I use all the time with my MPCX as it came with it. I love it. Sooo pristine. Those pads are ahhhhhh and bells are sooo crystal clear.

[@GourlieRecords]

If this came included with an MPC for free I'd be hyped (wordplay). In an MPC environment this thing seems useful since that's what it was designed for. But as far as a $100 VST in a DAW goes, it's too limited for my taste. 🙃

[@audiolego]

@@GourlieRecords the new tune I finished had the Hype basic deep bass preset accompanied by a 909 kick 4 on the floor. It sounds like a lately bass . Hype is great for ready to play presets. I feel all the preset bells, pads, bass are ready to go. Virus synth, I feel the same as Hype. Presets are game ready. I like it. Oh I do had to convert the wave to mono because those presets sounds so big and wide.

[@GraffHabit]

I just loaded up hype in the MPC. You absolutely can load and save presets. You cannot change the order of the channel strip but there’s about 100 different oscillators to choose from and quite a bit of features that either are not in the free trial or that you did not use/mention in your video.

[@GourlieRecords]

Worth noting to avoid confusion, this is not the MPC version but a new standalone softsynth which was launched the week I made this video whereas Hype on the MPC has been around for much longer. I do notice in screenshots on AIR's website there is now a gear icon next to the preset menu which wasn't there at launch, even in licensed versions. This can be confirmed by everyone else's launch videos. They also added in the description now that you can "save your customizations for quick access later" so it looks like it might be there now, I couldn't have been the first person to complain about that. I can also select from 100s of Oscillators you mention but the lack of ability to change what the macros do and complete lack of modulation is where I find it really limiting. Everything is viewed in the context of price and while Hype can no doubt make some cool sounds, this is a wildly featureless synth for $99. The free version of Vital does 100x more than Hype and there's a multitude of other great synths that can a lot more for a lot less. If you already own Hype on the MPC then jam away but if anyone using a DAW is looking for a softsynth with great value, Hype is not the solution. (Until it goes on sale in a year or two for $5 😉)

[@GraffHabit]

@@GourlieRecords I agree not worth it to buy. I personally find most VST instruments not worth it to buy-- much rather would just save up and buy hardware synths. Omnisphere is pretty cool though

[@nicolaupoceiro7570]

Seems like a modern version of their ancient Xpand2.

[@GourlieRecords]

Sorta. You get way more control with Xpand though.

[@nicolaupoceiro7570]

@@GourlieRecords I am not sure, there is very little control in Xpand. The main difference seems to be the possibility of layering 4 sounds. But the 6 patch-specific parameters are very similar. Which one has better sound quality?

[@pepperparkffm]

Is the Dreamsynth DS-1 available as plugin for AKAI MPC One(+)?

[@GourlieRecords]

I would not count on any Cherry Audio plugins being developed for an MPC anytime soon 😉

[@cannedmusic]

This is fine and dandy, and I'm interested, however, after adjusting the presets will the generated goal tone retain its timbre or will it revert back to what it was? Doesn't save presets? That's odd. I noticed that Nick was using an unlicensed format of this product. After obtaining licensing and certification, will that enable save presets?

[@GourlieRecords]

This version shown was their launch version. A few months after they added in the ability to save presets. However the limitations when building a preset are still there so you can now save presets but it doesn't seem like there is a way to truly unlock its full sonic power. Then again the purpose of it is more to generate quick sounds rather than do a full sound design delve. As for how the presets save when you modify an existing preset, I'm not sure. I imagine it would save a different preset. If you modify a preset and don't press save then switch off of it, you will lose the changes made to that preset and it will revert to the original when you scroll back to it.

[@cannedmusic]

@@GourlieRecords Thanks, that does help quite a bit.

[@DrGrooveBeat]

Surely you can save your own sounds in the full version. You can on mpc/force version.

[@GourlieRecords]

I did some digging on it prior to filming. It’s also not in the manual but every other parameter is. The demo version just adds white noise every now and then. But considering you can’t change what the geometric shape parameters control there isn’t too much sound design to be had. Maybe they’ll improve it in a future update.

[@GraffHabit]

Yeah lol if this guy is judging free trials as if they are fully featured he is probably smoking some good pot. Most plugins and free trials don’t allow you to save things. I can’t remember if the other things are selectable (the functions of the geometries) but I think it is in the MPC

[@GourlieRecords]

​@@GraffHabit Hey there! I verified before making the video and you can't save presets in Hype. Also with the restriction of not being able to change what the shapes do really limits getting the full capability out of this thing. Both are things they could update though! As with every synth demo I've tried, the unlicensed version contains the full feature set but there is just intermittent noise that sweeps in and out making it unusable in a mix (and requires a lot of editing around 😉). AIR does knock their plugins on DEEP discount a lot so when it drops to $5-10 like the rest of their plugins have been then it might be worth picking up. For sound designers though it's far too limiting. You'd be much better off getting something like Cherry Audio's Dreamsynth which functions in almost the same way but has 3 times the amount of Oscillators and LFOs and gives you full control of everything including modulation. It's also only $39 compared to AIR's current price of $99. 😬 But as with all things in life, don't let a random KZbinr sway you. If you think this will inspire you to make cool music then by all means do your thing! At the end of the day, it still makes pretty sounds. 🙌

[@GraffHabit]

@@GourlieRecords I don’t buy synth plugins. I received Hype for free included in the MPC software. Next time I use it I will very but I’m pretty sure at least within the MPC I can save plugins and also select what I want each shape to modulate on the init preset, because I kept accidentally changing it with the rotary dial.

[@stevekirkby6570]

Hahaha Analog Lab ... no master tune of fine tune? I think that may be an issue for some. :) But yea... the Hype needs a stack of external fx to make it better :/

[@phukdupent4275]

Guys, This is the same company behind Hypersonic 1/2 and Xpand!1/2. Almost the same soundbank. Xpand!2 was really what Hypersonic 3 would've been if they didn't leave Steinberg. These modules, like Reason, were meant to compete with Harware Keyboard Romplers like the Triton, Fantom, and Motif of the time. May as well call this Hypersonic 4. Sadly, not much has changed in about 15-20 years now. Still great if you have no prior virtual instruments by Wizoo/Air Music Tech mentioned. Just another repeat performance if you have the others.

[@sederquest]

I see it says unlicensed, might that have limited functionality

[@GourlieRecords]

It doesn't, just periodic white noise. However they did add in some of the features I said it was lacking on a later update... still not worth it until they sell it for $10 like they do with the rest of their plugins, in my opinion. 😉

[@slowdivisionmusic]

I don't think there is a hype in the first place lol.

[@GourlieRecords]

😝

[@deividasgnedinas7592]

sorry but i hear nothing special in 2022

[@GourlieRecords]

Exactly. Air also just released another round of a bunch of plugins and again they're all over priced and underwhelming. I have no idea who their customer is at this point that's buying these plugins at their asking price.

[@jamescuttsmusicjcm5013]

@@GourlieRecords cannot say I am a fan of Air plugins personally. I tried a bunch out, and uninstalled. Lol!

[@GourlieRecords]

@@jamescuttsmusicjcm5013 right there with ya!!

[@ThePlay111]

ur right about the steep sales.... 30 bucks right now

[@GourlieRecords]

😉

[@tommystrawnarm2810]

19$ for special BlackFriday sale going on now