Ashun Sound Machine Hydrasynth Explorer
Introducing the Ashun Sound Machine Hydrasynth Explorer. Featuring a 37-note mid-sized keyboard it offers the same 8-voice sound engine as the Hydrasynth Keyboard and Desktop. The KEY-BED provides you with great playability and expression as it features polyphonic aftertouch. The inclusion of a battery-powered form factor and reduced footprint makes the Hydrasynth Explorer a great versatile portable synth for home, studio and live performance use.
Portable Polytouch KEY-BED
The 37-note mid-sized semi-weighted KEY-BED offer users polyphonic aftertouch for full expression. The high-quality key bed allows for both ON/OFF velocity and aftertouch as well as full polyphonic aftertouch. You can power the Hydrasynth Explorer with a power supply or with 8 x AA batteries (not included). When powered with batteries, the Hydrasynth Explorer has a life expectancy of around 3-4 hours. This however depends on the type, make, and model of the battery manufacturer.
Oscillators and Mutators
The Hydrasynth Explorer offers 3x Oscillators that provide you with a selection of 219 single cycle waveforms. Because creating user WAVETABLES on synths is arduous or downright impossible the Hydrasynth Explorer offers Oscillators 1 & 2 to have a WAVE-LIST mode instead. The WAVE-LIST mode gives uses to pick and choose from 8 waves and from a bank of 219 so you can arrange them in the order you want. Once selected you can then morph from one to another.
Mutators allow you to modulate, bend and sculpt a new sound. Oscillators 1 & 2 can be routed into Mutators in order to alter the sound in new (and old) ways. When using a Mutator it can also generate its own waveforms in both FM and Sync modes. This means that that you do not have to use another Oscillator. However, the routing is flexible so you can choose the other Oscillators as mod sources if you like.
Mixer/ filter routing
When using one of the 3x Oscillators they are fed into a mixer with the Noise generator and Ring Modulator. Aside from panning, you can mix the levels of the input source. The balance control allows you to choose how much of each source signal is routed to filters 1 & 2. You can also set the filters to series and parallel for ultimate flexibility.
LFO’s and Envelopes
The Hydrasynth Explorer features 5 Low-Frequency Oscillators. You can create patterns of up to 64 steps with the STEP mode function. This provides you with an amazing amount of possibilities as you have 5x mini step sequencers that allow for shaping your sound. The Hydrasynth Explorer also offers 10 standard waveforms to choose from.
Furthermore, 5x DAHDSR Envelopes have been included. The 6x stage envelopes feature Delay, Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain and Release stages. Setting a time setting for the stage can be set in seconds or in time divisions which ensures the envelopes can be played in sync with your song. The envelopes can be triggered from multiple sources as of (UPDATE 1.5).
Modulation Matrix in the Hydrasynth Explorer
Arpeggiator & CV/GATE
Hydrasynth Explorer Macros & Patches
In a live performance situation, the patch MACROS allow the user deep control over the engine. Each of the 8x assignable encoders and buttons can be routed to 8 destinations. This results in a complete sound transformation that can take place with the press of a button or the turn of a knob.
With 5x banks of 128x patches in total, the Hydrasynth Explorer offers plenty of choices. The included browser makes searching for the right patch in the library easy. When using the PC/MAC based Patch Manager application it also offers you to create a favourite order that you are comfortable with. You can also load in new patch libraries for future use.