Review: Hyve Synth - 60 oscillators, and as many VCAs as you have fingers...
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Hyve synth is very different from any synth you might know - here's how.
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Gear used in this video:
► Hyve Synth: www.hyvesynth.com or / hyvesynthesizer
Note from Skot: Maker kits are available; others on pre order. For pricing see here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
► Make Noise QPAS: www.makenoisemusic.com/modules...
► Mutable Instrumnets Clouds: Not longer available - buy used or a clone...
► Voicas LedRover: voicas.audio/
► Pam's New Workout - busycircuits.com/alm017/
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0:00 Intro
1:00 Hyve versions
1:30 Architecture
2:30 Touch control
4:00 Note layout
4:35 Hyve layout
6:15 One-finger chords
7:00 Isomorphic layout
7:35 Stereo control
8:15 Stereo effects
10:15 Pros and cons
11:30 Outro jam
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
love that little FX skiff
Are you gonna jam on this?
Nitpicking, because reality is cooler than what you said: the Hyve does _not_ use capacitive touch sensing (which would require a microcontroller or other complex logic). The touch plates actually carry the audio signals for each note, and you're "patching" them through the resistance of your skin to the left and right output buses. That's why it's so sensitive to humidity, and how it achieves every-note-polyphony. The first time I looked at the Hyve's schematic, it seemed like there were missing parts because it couldn't possibly be that simple!
(Nor is it "resistive" touch sensing - that involves a force-sensitive resistor matrix, not exposed contacts. Both standard capacitive and resistive systems require scanning by a controller.)
You're right. How about "conductive touch"....?
@@loopop Sounds good to me. I haven't ever seen any standard term for this.
@@kevinpreid This is the same technology used in resistive touch screens. There's no need to invent another name for it. In fact, Ensoniq used a similar technology for his SQ-80 and that allows for a velocity sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch that doesn't need those carbon impregnated rubber membranes. And that was 30 years ago.
@@crimsun7186 I think it's a relevant difference that there is no force-sensitive resistor being pressed against but rather the finger is part of the circuit. (Though, force-sensitive resistors _could_ be used to make a keyboard identical in layout and internal circuit to the Hyve. I hadn't quite noticed that before. It'd have to be either custom layout or be a matrix scanned by a microcontroller; more complex and expensive either way. And you'd have to press harder.)
@@kevinpreid This is capacitive technology used in a resistive way, which sort of makes it fundamentaly work similar to a resistive screen without being electronically similar.
first time seeing a video of yours and just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for including time stamps for specific features, OMFG. i never realized this is what is so frustratingly lacking in demo videos.
Oh boy, this is crazy! What a smart little device, and so inspiring...
What I would like to hear is an entire album done with one of these synths - to really exhibit what it can do. But what I see here is tantalising. I want one! Thanks for the demo.
Excellent video!!!!! Really lets you think of all the possibilities this synth has.
just hunting around today for one of those hyves.. and there's a loopop video from yesterday. love it
I do love your timestamps! Thank you very much!
I'd love for this to be released as a controller...so much potential, and the size...
Yes... I came to the video expecting it to be midi...
@@Nicole-pt4bx to be fair, the synth is designed to be upgradeable... someone may have already figured out this upgrade in particular.
You can get the schematic from their website. It's far too simple a circuit to have something like midi output upgraded. The structure of the circuit itself would make MIDI impossible without being more complex than the instrument itself.
It's a classic divide-down organ circuit, with only twelve audio-rate square wave oscillators (one for each note of the scale) running at the frequency of the highest octave on the touch panel. Each one is divided in half four times to provide the the other four octaves. The touchplate is allowing you to short each signal (middle contact) to the left or right output headphone amplifiers.
amazingly simple - the versatility is in the keyboard layout -too bad there is not a polychromatic version @@sehrgut42
awesome innovative synth with an awesome review, as always
Interesting device indeed. Thanks for sharing.
I want one. I love that it’s an instrument to its self. Very original.
I was sooooo tempted to join in on that kickstarter campaign... but I didn't. So instead I've been watching with interest and I really appreciate seeing it here. It's ridiculously cool, one of the most exciting synths of the past few years. :)
As an aside, the Hyve's harmonic table layout is really nice to use sometimes. I love my Axis-49, and I highly recommend that everyone who makes music try something like it for a while. It's a really inspired and inspiring approach to using the common 12-note scale.
Wow, this is amazing device!
I've always thought that type of layout is more melodic or at least makes more sense than linear layouts for me. Gives it more dimension and makes playing easier if u ask me. Thanks foe the post.
This LITERALLY made my mouth water, when I watched half of this video (due to time constraints) yesterday. Today my mouth watered, simply THINKING that I wanted to watched the rest of the video.
I love synths that are small. But sonically, the way this organically interacts with skin moisture is so insanely interesting to my artifact-loving brain.
... And then I realized it even has a wooden enclosure.
SOLD!!!!
... And then you show the chord stuff 6:30 ... this synth is so cool! Intuitive!
The only toy synthesizer for the last 10 or even 20 years I think that 100% worth its money.
The Evil Progger what about Stylophone Gen X-1?
"toy"? jesus if this isn't a real instrument what in the world is?
A no to the korg volca series ?
phristan van bentum I wouldn't say it's a toy anymore
@@mientone haha no doubt
Wow sounds amazing
That's an interesting synth I've never heard before. Great presentation. *Thumbs up* *Subscribed*
Stunning.
@9:25 and more pure gold. Thank you, that is all.
I'd love to hear what Brian Eno would do with this
or King Crimson
Lovely Piece of Hardware! Melikes. Reminds me of the Mugician App for Ipad. What sprang to mind was, that if the in and output jacks were on the side of this Synth, you could actually hold it like a n Accordion and play it from both sides, without the cables interfering. :)
Good video, thank you
First chords you played immediately reminded me of an organ, which kinda makes sense actually
That outro jam reminds me of the music from the original Blade Runner
Also reminds me of the FEZ soundtrack by Disasterpeace
Thanks for sharing. It seems we may have a keyboard designed for Ambient Analog Synth composers! I like how the hexagon geometry supports the formation of harmonious chord progressions with natural flows of the fingers. I also like the GSR sensitive keys, since through meditation I have learned to reduce GSR (and increase conductance). The relaxation would then be translated into musical changes. What this means is that one might be able to gently hold a point on the keyboard and change the sound by deep, slow, and full conscious breathing (making it a very pleasant biofeedback machine).
I want one so badly. I need them to make more
Fascinating coverage... I came close to backing this.I'm somewhat disappointed and glad I didn't backed it. Thanks for covering it. It is still a possible target for later consideration.
Can we get a 1 hour version of the intro PLEASE!!
I'm quite open to that idea
More echo and reverb! It makes every synth awesome.
Some blade runner vibes
Really wanna hear a longer version of the beginning, reminds me of the Slowmo guys music when they slow stuff down and it’s so relaxing.
That intro really amazing. I can not to wait for the one hour version :) what I can to type into Google if I want to find this kind of souds?
Nice, little, awesome thing! Want to try it out :)
Very cool patch you have hooked up there to a very strange/interesting synth.
A Korg NTS-1 would be perfect for this, nice compact setup.
Nice performance.
Pure genius
Why couldn't the microfreak have looked this awesome?
Very interesting!
Fascinatng!
It puts the lotion on the skin or else it gets no notes
:1
LOL!
🐐
Sounds like this was made for the ladies of the synth World 🗺
Peace ✌️ out people 🌍
alienorbiter 😂😂😂
Sounds like the fez game soundtrack at the end. Nice one!
Can't wait to put a few slugs on the hive section, and create some drone music.
So basically a pretty motherboard that would be awesome as a diy synth build for someone so inclined to do so
The sensitivity of this thing is very awesome tho!!!
I kinda want one
Amazing
this is so cool if i had the money i would love to buy this and mess around with it
@8:59 pure gold.
Sweet!
Damn, that outro - LUSH
2:07 sounds so much like Motion Picture Soundtrack
That outro reminds me a lot of the FEZ soundtrack. Great work
Such a great soundtrack
Love it. Want it. But it could even be cooler with an Envelope.
Thanks a lot !! the most intersting part (to me) is your use of stereo filters, actually this is something I'm really missing, both in my personal knowledge and my gear ability. i'm really disapointed by the lack of stereo ability in non modular world, the only thing I can do easily are panning, stereo reverb and ping pong delay.( well I can also apply same sequence with different filters/synths, filters, etc to my digitakt on 2 channels, but that's quite a mess to use I'm pretty sure you have many ideas about a better use of stereo, would love to watch some stuff about it. thanks again for your great channel !
Thanks very much and I will give it some thought. Check out my quadraphonic videos as well - those concepts apply to stereo in many ways as well
@@loopop I will do it now !
I actually just used your Digitakt midi cable trick to control 2 tracks of the digitakt at once ( with one midi track), with 1 track going to left speaker and the other to right one, and apply different settings on these tracks to experience with panning , now I feel space !!
Yes!
good video
I got a lot of trigger fingers, from the NAM man, the NAM, OH no another flashback! Flashdance time, a maniac maniac on the floor
amaizing thing! it schuld become a MIDI OUT interface!!!
This would pair awesome with Meris Enzo
That's insane.
the jazzier the chord gets :)
Hi this is HYve :D
Man I’d love to know more about your modular effects build. Did you make any videos on it or its components
Hey - thanks, there are plenty of modular videos on the channel - the specific modules in this setup are mentioned in the description
can ou plug it to a deepmind12d for example and mess with the sound of the hive?
The hexagonal grid reminds me of a concertina. I don’t play one but I’m guessing the arrangement of chord buttons is similarly conceived.
Love it! Simple and interesting! Do you happen to know how the osc are made? Circuit wise...
Yes I do - there’s a full circuit board layout on his github - it’s brilliantly simple
I'd like to build one but it looks to be all surface mount stuff. If they made it through whole the PCB would be big enough to play. Oh well, crazy tiny is cool now I guess.
very nice little machine. Any idea where to buy it? Kickstarter is finished, their website says sold out, so no luck..
See description
Good morning! I made a big bet on this spring in terms of the appearance of new devices, synthesizers or groove boxes. Right now Synthfest is taking place in France and Superbooth is the main show of the year in May if I'm not mistaken. What is your personal opinion, what can be expected this year, because it feels like the maximum progress has been achieved a long time ago and nothing much can be expected at all. 🤝🤷♂️
Expect many new things... progress happens in baby steps though
@@loopop ❤️
How well would a polyphonic octave pedal (like the Boss OC-3 octaver) track the notes on a Hyve?
Oh, it's kinda cute. It reminds me a little of my Omnichord, for some reason.
My Hyve arrives today - I must have watched this one a few dozen times. I thought buying these tinier devices would be a healthy outlet for my GAS, but I guess it doesn't help if I buy 4-5 of them in a go, huh? I guess I'm almost ready for modular.
I'd quite like one of these! I feel the pitch bend wasn't quite entirely explained. It seemed as though it was only bending upwards, but now that I think about it, I guess it's possible that it can go both ways, according to finger position? I doubt that would be very controllable, but perhaps it works out OK.
It actually does only go up
interesting device for movie sound designers
It's a Tonnetz keyboard!
it'd be cool if these guys made one of these with a midi output. i like the layout and design but im not into buying a synth i dont have control over, the reason i love modular.
Would love this as a midi/CV controller; but an instrument to really become skilled at, like a violin, etc/ Or Theremin for that matter; the first Hyve Sonata anyone?
This seems very innovative although for me to use it might make my head explode methinks
Hmmm, I'm thinking it would make a great rain detector.
How very accordion-like :D
Basically, it is a very stripped down Omnichord, right? It even sounds rather similar. The shape of the interface is different and it offers that entertaining auto-pan feature. The divide-down analog engine sounds just like and Omnichord.
One drop of coffee accidentally splashed onto my hyve the other day (triggering a note), took me a while to figure out where the sound was coming from...
Here's a microtonal piece using it. ua-cam.com/video/MMal3f8lMWM/v-deo.html
That sounds very Robert Fripp
yas i wonder what going in a circle would sound like
I did not know CGP Grey knew so much about synths.
Great feature would be to be able to change scale temperament. Would be a bit messy with the hive layout but again interesting...
You can tune each of the 12 main notes any way you like
@@loopop Oh nice. I just checked online tuning manual. Any idea the scale of those tuning pots ? Can you reach half a tone "de-"tuning ? (e.g. generate layers of slightly out of tune "multitone" notes) ? Tks in advance.
MsLeguman I have not tried because I didn’t want to mess with my tuning, so all I have to go by is the manual, but according to that it seems like what you’re asking is possible. I suggest you email them just to make sure…
That outdo wouldn't be out of place in Blade Runner.
Welldamn
Hyve as a module...PLEASE.
The Hyve is eurorack sized, mounting and panel height. It can run from +12V in eurorack. The Hyve Hacker is intended to allow people to explore mods to integrate it into other setups for example. Some people have mounted them in eurorack cases. Fun!
Skot Wiedmann oh, nice. I thought it looked a bit too small.
@@aidanvinum www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-hyve
Is your clouds running Oliverb? Thanks
Yes
I keep missing all these kickstarters, despite trying my best to keep up. Never even heard of this gem, despite following any number of synth youtubers and news pages. Be-all, end-all small scale synth makers news source, please?
I found about mine on synthtopia, if that helps.
Thomas Janowsky
For future synth adventures, it almost certainly will. Thanks!
@@extrudersfx4571 actually, follow their website or fb page, they soon may start selling them directly www.hyvesynth.com
@@tl9930
This "Facebook" thing I don't really use, I reckon it's something like the Angry Birds or some other activity kids these days enjoy. I do frequent websites, though, and will visit theirs the next time I'm playing Internet on my computer. Thanks!
Wow! O_o
6:51 lol !
Hyve Synth, Will Travel?
Damn this would be so much cooler if you could retune each of the isomorphic keys to just intonation.
The isomorphic keys can be tuned - they’re linked to the same oscillators as the “piano keys” (the 12 core oscillators). The 48 sub oscillators will follow
Halfway through the video and I have spent the entire time trying to work out how to actually buy one or find out how much it is
see description
WOW .... just Bladerunner!
It needs the effects and the filter you've added. Will these contacts wear out or rust/corrode over time? 🤔
It looks like the sensitivity of this synth will give problems over time. Sounding by itself and unwanted noise. However, I do like it. It's not gimmicky because that hive arrangement actually serves its purpose.
Peace ✌️ out people 🌍
Needs an envelope follower, then you could use it more
I wish it was like 1.5 times bigger
So that’s a janko layout then?
$150 is not a bad price, I hope they make a bigger one though
Eurorack when
more impressed by the modular fx tbh
Ok this and the Ottobit jr are the last gear I buy then I am saving my money for my trip to Sweden.