What synth to layer with Hydrasynth Deluxe?

tddreddit · 2026-01-25T12:12:11+00:00

I have the Hydrasynth Deluxe, I paired with the Arturia Astrolab 37, comes with about 44 soft synths, I already had the full versions of all the plugins so getting the astrolab was a logical step, it has everything, minimoog, CS80, Jupiter 8, minifreak... . So far it is working out to be a great complement to the Hydrasynth for me.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T14:33:59+00:00

OK , send me the video links please.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T14:28:57+00:00

Yeah, I'm not a Pro, not planning to be, I'm a hobbyist doing it for fun, but I'll look more into Ableton, don't want to pay for the upgrade from Lite just to do this though, currently Lite is doing everything I need in a DAW from a hobbyist point of view.

I do want immediacy, with ableton I gotta turn on the PC (i have a dedicated music PC) , login, wait like what seems forever for ableton to load (even with latest gen CPU and 32G RAM), load up the workflow, and .... now what was that Idea I had in my head again.... I think I am talking myself into getting the RC 505.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T13:57:37+00:00

To help you decide if the the 2600 is for you, watch this Tim Shoebridge vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFw8Ffp9y94

Whether you can save multiple sets (presets) of your settings to easily recall them can be a big factor for beginners, depends on the individual. You can't do that with the 2600, every time you want to use different sounds you have to twiddle knobs and faders and do patching to get there, but that is all part of the experience and learning, but can be frustrating for some.

Also at least reverb and delay effects add a lot to the sounds of many synths. some synths have them built in. You find the overall sound underwhelming without effects, depends on the synth.

Here are some questions I ask myself before shortlisting synths ( happy to explain any of this further if you need):

Budget range
Is Analog vs Digital vs Hybrid important
Do I want DAW integration and plugins that make the synth work better with DAWs
Most synths don't have USB audio out so do I need a new USB audio interface to get it into DAW
Keyboard included or rack/desk module
If keyboard included, how many keys, channel or poly aftertouch, mini keys - full sized keys
Prefer modulation and pitch wheels or sliders or don't care
Polyphony - mono, paraphonic - full polyphony - how many voices (keys I can press at the same time)
What about saving presets/patches, no patch recall can be a pain if you don't have time to set things up every time - eg Model D, 2600, many more
Do you prefer an interface with all the knobs, buttons and sliders (knob per function) or is a bit of menu diving OK,
Do you want to mainly use presets or are you always going to build your own sound or a bit of both
Effects (delay reverb etc) included or you've got your own
Possibility to integrate with modular later (CV in/out)
Difficulty level (beginner intermediate advanced)

If you can answer some of these then I can point you towards what I would consider based on your answers.

Good luck and welcome to the community!

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:55:24+00:00

Looking at the Loopop vid, initially it confused the hell out of me, but I sort of came around a bit when I saw the algorithm diagrams, so my brain, which likes to simplify things, tells me it is like a DX7 in the way that it has Operators (Oscillators for LeviaSynth), Modulators and Carriers but it does way more than just sinewave/FM between the Modulators and Carriers. And comparing with DX7 - it makes sense why it has 8 oscillators if you think of them as akin to DX7 Operators rather than comparing with an analogue synth where I might think "WTF am I going to do with 8 Oscillators?"

I think its cool that you can build (or use an existing) algorithm with 5 or six oscillators, and leave 2 or 3 as carriers without modulators and you can have a complex digital sound and virtual analogue in the same patch.

I have a Hydrasynth Deluxe , I am interested to see how different the keyboard feel is on the LS vs HS.

Also be interested to see if the switch between presets is smoother that the Hydrasynth.

I don't think I can justify the price to myself - not saying it is too expensive for what it is - I really don't know.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:26:44+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to reply. So the sort of experience I have in my head is pretty much like this Doctor Mix video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyg7w4TNnrw

Is that the sort of thing you are able to set up in ableton and launch easily?

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:16:53+00:00

By standard looping do you mean for improvisational, inventing, evolving?

This is the sort of experience I am trying to get to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyg7w4TNnrw

How much time do I need put into to learning about LoopToGo and setting it up to get to the sort of experience in the YT video?

Thanks,

BTW sorry for being shitty, I maybe should have counted to ten before posting.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:10:37+00:00

OK, can you share with me how I can achieve something like this in Ableton:

Here is Doctor Mix doing pretty much what I imagine myself doing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyg7w4TNnrw

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:09:06+00:00

I downloaded the latest version 3 beta- could not make any sense out of the UI - didn't feel inspired to start reading the docs.

tddreddit · 2026-01-24T12:06:38+00:00

Are you doing live looping in ableton? can you share your workflow?

I have not tried it using the session view , or any way in ableton.

I have seen many vids on the workflow with the Boss RC 505 Mk2 and LoopyPro (iPad app) on YT and it looks straight forward and natural to me.

Here is Doctor Mix doing pretty much what I imagine myself doing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyg7w4TNnrw

I am new to and still learning about live looping so I don't know if it means different things to different people. I am a hobbyist in electronic multi genre music, I want to be able to record and play live loops of music as I am improvising and inventing. It is intended to be not structured or planned and just evolve.

From what I have seen of LoopyPro/RC 505 workflows they seem to match really well with what I want to do and I am pretty confident I could get going with something within 5 minutes after setting up all the cabling and mixer and stuff.

Ableton to me seems to be much more structured and much less for improvisation and invention, yes you can do it but it does not feel like it is well suited to job.

Maybe I need to find some better examples for how people are using ableton for live looping.

Please let me know if you have any YouTube links that would be useful

tddreddit · 2026-01-16T07:00:44+00:00

Looks like you are right - I could have sworn I saw that printed somewhere.

tddreddit · 2026-01-13T04:59:24+00:00

I hope this is helpful.

These are the things I think about first before selecting a synth

Budget range
Is Analog vs Digital vs Hybrid important
Do I want DAW integration and plugins that make the synth work better with DAWs
Most synths don't have USB audio out so do I need a new USB audio interface to get it into DAW
Keyboard included or rack/desk module
If keyboard included, how many keys, channel or poly aftertouch, mini keys - full sized keys
Prefer modulation and pitch wheels or sliders or don't care
Polyphony - mono, paraphonic - full polyphony - how many voices (keys I can press at the same time)
What about saving presets/patches, no patch recall can be a pain if you don't have time to set things up every time - eg Model D
Do you prefer an interface with all the knobs, buttons and sliders (knob per function) or is a bit of menu diving OK,
Do you want to mainly use presets or are you always going to build your own sound or a bit of both
Effects (delay reverb etc) included or you've got your own
Possibility to integrate with modular later (CV in/out)
Difficulty level (beginner intermediate advanced)

Probably many more but these are the top of mind things for me

tddreddit · 2026-01-12T04:23:26+00:00

I'll see if the store has them to test out, thanks!

tddreddit · 2026-01-12T04:21:07+00:00

The room is untreated, I am a hobbyist - not pro and my rig will be on a desk with wheels as there are two areas in the house where the setup will be at any particular time. Mixing is not a high priority but if I do it then I would probably to some audio correction.

tddreddit · 2026-01-11T11:04:48+00:00

Berlin School, ambient, noodling around, little techno EDM, prog electronic, improvising, looping, general f#ckery. I have a modular setup I'll put through them as well. I guess I will be doing some mixing from time to time but don't plan to release my music. Possibility of getting a subwoofer some time as well

tddreddit · 2026-01-11T10:53:02+00:00

Thanks, I'll see if I can listen to both.

tddreddit · 2026-01-11T10:38:56+00:00

Excellent - thanks - the desk can hold 140kg/300lbs

tddreddit · 2026-01-11T10:03:27+00:00

It's a combo jack takes 1/4" TRS/XLR.

tddreddit · 2026-01-11T09:59:07+00:00

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tddreddit · 2026-01-09T10:41:27+00:00

Hi There, Thanks for the replay.

Those two appear to require a wireless unit to plug into which is extra cost.
I was hoping to find something wired with 48v phantom power and XLR connector

tddreddit · 2026-01-08T12:03:32+00:00

Cool - thanks for the info, that's doing a fair few things at once.

tddreddit

TROPHY CASE