Extensive modulation capabilities
With its 32-slot modulation matrix, Hydrasynth Explorer empowers you to create incredibly nuanced and expressive sounds. Synthesists at Sweetwater are particularly impressed with its envelope generators (five per voice), which offer delay and hold in addition to ADSR stages. Each stage of the envelope can sweep through exponential and logarithmic curves, which offers big creative potential for long, evolving modulations.
Like most of the functions on Hydrasynth Explorer, envelopes can be locked to bpm for tempo-synced modulations. Combined with the looping function, you can use the envelopes as LFOs with interesting waveshapes. And speaking of LFOs, Hydrasynth Explorer offers five LFOs per voice with 11 total waveshapes. That includes the 8-step LFO, which allows you to create custom waveshapes.
Amazing performance potential with PolyTouch
Whether you’re performing or recording, Hydratouch Explorer delivers an incredibly expressive playing experience, especially when you dig into its PolyTouch capabilities. PolyTouch is a new method of polyphonic aftertouch sensing. You have full control over aftertouch curves, offsets, and release times, giving you big creative potential when using aftertouch to manipulate your sounds. Plus, you can expand your performance even further with the highly responsive pitch and mod strips!
Deep synthesis with an intuitive interface
While the Hydrasynth Explorer engine is remarkably powerful, it’s relatively simple to find and tweak the parameters you’re looking for. On the front panel, you’ll find a graphic representation of the audio path, with buttons to select each section (individual oscillators, mixer, effects, and so on). Selecting a section brings its associated parameters to the display, with eight encoders ready to tweak. In other words, every section of this synth can be accessed with a button press — no menu diving required!
Features
- 37-key virtual analog synthesizer with polyphonic aftertouch
- Combines multiple synthesis methods like wavetables, linear FM, WavePWM, subtractive, and more
- 8-voice polyphony, with 3 oscillators per voice and 4 Mutator waveshapers total
- 7 types of Mutator waveshapers: FM-Lin, WaveStack, PW-Orig, PW-Squeeze, PW-ASM, Harmonic Sweep, and Hard Sync
- WaveScan oscillators offer a total of 219 waveforms
- Dual filters: 1 multimode (11 types) and 1 variable LPF-BPF-HPF, with series/parallel routing options
- 5 envelope generators (ADSR) per voice with delay, hold, and looping abilities
- Envelopes can be locked to BPM (MIDI Clock) for tempo-synced modulation
- 5 LFOs per voice, with 11 waveforms: Sine, Triangle, Saw Up, Saw Down, Square, Pulse27%, Pulse13%, S&H, Noise, Random, and Step
- Powerful arpeggiator with 8 modes, including chord and phrase modes
- 32-slot Mod Matrix provides ample options for manipulating your sounds
- CV/Gate connectivity for integrating with modular/semi-modular synthesizers
- 8 insert effects, with Chorus, Flanger, Rotary, Phaser, Lo-Fi, Tremolo, EQ, Compressor, Delay (5 types), and Reverb (4 types)
- 8 Macro controls allow you to tweak multiple parameters simultaneously
- Can be powered by 8x AA batteries for on-the-go fun!
Tech Specs
- Type:Keyboard Synthesizer
- Sound Engine:Hydrasynth Engine, Complete
- Analog/Digital:Digital
- Number of Keys:37
- Type of Keys:Mid-sized, Semi-weighted
- Aftertouch:Yes, Polyphonic
- Velocity Sensitive:Yes, Note On/Off
- Other Controllers:Pitchbend/Modulation Touchstrips, Octave Up/Down Buttons, Chord Mode Button
- Polyphony:8-voice
- Oscillators:2 x Wavemorphing, 1 x Fixed-Wave
- LFO:5 x LFOs
- Filter:1 x LP/BP/HP Filter, 1 x SEM-style Filter
- Envelope Generator:5 x 6-stage DAHDSR Envelopes (delay, attack, hold, decay, sustain, release)
- Effects Types:4 x Reverb, 4 x Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Rotary, Phaser, Lo-Fi, Tremolo, EQ, Compressor, Distortion
- Arpeggiator:Yes, 64 x Preset Phrases
- Audio Outputs:2 x 1/4″ (L/mono, R)
- Headphones:1 x 1/4″ TRS
- USB:1 x Type B (MIDI)
- MIDI I/O:In/Out/USB
- Pedal Inputs:1 x 1/4″ (sustain)
- Other I/O:Pitch, Gate, Mod 1, Mod 2, Clock
- Mod Matrix:32-slot Modulation Matrix: 35 x Sources, 191 x Destinations
- Power Source:8 x AA Batteries or 12V Power Supply (both sold separately)
- Height:3.07″
- Width:21.88″
- Depth:10.03″
- Weight:7.49 lbs
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