Ashun Sound Machines HYDRASYNTH User manual

EDIT SUSTAIN
MODE
TEMPO
OCTAVE
RATCHET CHANCE
DIVISION SWING
GATE
IN PU TS
MOD 1 MOD 2 PITCH GATE MOD 1 MOD 2 CLOCK
OUTPUTS
MASTER
VOLUME
PHONES
OC TAVE
1 432
5 876
TRIPLET TAP
TEMPO
LATCHON
GLIDE RIBBON
DOWN UP CHORD
HOME
PAGE
EXIT
VOICE
MACRO
ASSIGN
MOD
MATRIX
MIDI INDC USB SUSTAINEXPRESSIONMIDI THRUMIDI OUT L/MONO OUTPUT RPOWER
UP
UP & DN ORDER
RANDOM
CHORD
PHRASE
DOWN
UP / DN
OFF
58 62
66
70
75
52
54
1
2
3
4
1 32
1 16
1 8
1 4
MAX
MIN
FILTER
1
FILTER
2
ENV 1DRIVE / MORPH LFO 1RESONANCECUTOFF
00
-10 +10
PANIC
FAVORITE
RANDOM
BROWSE
SYSTEM
SETUP
SAVE
FILTER CONTROLS
MODULE SELECT
MASTER CONTROLMAIN SYSTEMSCV / GATE
ARPEGGIATOR
SHIFT
INIT
R L/MONO SUSTAIN EXPRESSION THRU OUT
MIDI
IN
OUTPUT PEDAL 12V 1000mA
OSC
2
OSC
1
MUTANT
3
MUTANT
1
MUTANT
4
MUTANT
2
OSC
3
RING-
NOISE
MIXER
LFO
1
FILTER
2
FILTER
1
LFO
2
ENV
1
AMP PRE-FX
ENV
2
LFO
3
LFO
4
REVERB
DELAY
ENV
3
LFO
5
POST-FX
ENV
4
ENV
5
Owner’s Manual

DESIGN & DIRECTION
• Glen Darcey
PRODUCT MANAGER
• Dominic Au
ENGINEERING
• Chen Jiejun (engine) • Bob Liao (engine)
• Xie Yingchen (software) • Banner Xu (software)
• Zhang Huaihe (electronic) • Chen Si (electronic) • Luo Liangsheng (electronic)
• Li Qiang (VST)
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
• Gao Chao • Long Ping
TESTING
• Zheng Wei Cheng
• Ken “Flux” Pierce
• Boele Gerkes
• Ed Ten Eyck
• Randy Lee
• Ben Scheer
• Maria Zhang
SOUND DESIGN
• Drew Anderson
• Dominic Au
• Jim Cowgill
• Glen Darcey
• Daniel Fisher
• Mord Fustang
• Boele Gerkes
• Rob Jervons
• Ken “Flux” Pierce
• Matt Pike
• Ben Scheer
• Paul Schilling
MANUAL
• Randy Lee (author) • Nancy Lee (design & layout)
© Ashun Sound Machines – 2019 – All rights reserved.
www.AshunSoundMachines.com
Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does
not represent a commitment on the part of Ashun Sound Machines. The software
described in this manual is provided under the terms of a license agreement or
non-disclosure agreement. The software license agreement species the terms and
conditions for its lawful use. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use, without the
express written permission of Ashun Sound Machines.
All other products, logos or company names quoted in this manual are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Special Thanks

3
Important Safety Instructions
Save Your Ears!
The product and its software, when used in combination with an amplier, headphones or
speakers, may be able to produce sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. DO
NOT operate for long periods of time at a high level or at a level that is uncomfortable.
If you encounter any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, please consult an audiologist.
Precautions Include, but Are Not Limited to, the Following:
1. Read and understand all the instructions.
2. Always follow the instructions on the
instrument.
3. Before cleaning the device, always
remove the USB and DC cable. When
cleaning, use a soft and dry cloth. Do
not use gasoline, alcohol, acetone,
turpentine or any other organic
solutions; do not use a liquid cleaner,
spray or cloth that’s too wet.
4. Do not use the device near water or
moisture, such as a bathtub, sink,
swimming pool or similar place.
5. Do not place the device in an unstable
position where it might accidentally fall
over.
6. Do not place heavy objects on the
device. Do not block openings or vents
of the device; these locations are used
for air circulation to prevent the device
from overheating. Do not place the
device near a heat vent at any location
with poor air circulation.
7. Do not open or insert anything into the
device that may cause a re or electrical
shock.
8. Do not spill any kind of liquid onto the
device.
9. Always take the device to a qualied
service center. You will invalidate your
warranty if you open and remove the
cover, and improper assembly may cause
electrical shock or other malfunctions.
10. Do not use the device with thunder and
lightning present; it may cause electrical
shock.
11. Do not expose the device to hot
sunlight.
12. Do not use the device when there is a
gas leak nearby.
13. Ashun Sound Machines is not
responsible for any damage or data loss
caused by improper operation of the
device.
Specifications Subject to Change
The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing.
However, Ashun Sound Machines reserves the right to change or modify any of the specica-
tions without notice or obligation to update the hardware that has been purchased.
Before Requesting Service...
Please study this manual carefully and consult your dealer before requesting service. Service
charges incurred due to a lack of knowledge relating to how a function or feature works (when
the product is operating as designed) are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and are
therefore the owner’s responsibility.

4
Contents
Important Safety Instructions . 3
Welcome to Hydrasynth! .........8
Main Features .............................8
User interface..............................8
Patch features .............................8
Sound engine..............................8
Eects .....................................9
Hardware ..................................9
Keyboard-specific Features ..............9
Desktop-specific Features ...............9
Quick Start Guide ...................10
Inside the Box ............................10
Save Your Receipt! ........................10
Plug It In...................................10
Power .....................................10
Audio .....................................10
USB .......................................10
MIDI ......................................10
CV/Gate ...................................10
Make Some Noise! .......................11
Select Patches ............................11
Octave shift...............................11
Arpeggiator basics........................11
Tweaking the sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Saving ....................................12
Check for Updates .......................13
That’s Enough Reading for Now........13
Overview ................................14
Top Panel: Hydrasynth Keyboard ......14
Top Panel: Hydrasynth Desktop ........14
General Concepts ........................15
Access buttons ...........................15
Function buttons .........................15
Control knobs ............................15
Control buttons...........................15
Module Select buttons ...................15
Knob types ...............................16
The displays ..............................16
Main Systems .............................16
The HOME button ........................17
The SAVE button..........................17
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The INIT button...........................17
The RANDOM button.....................17
The SHIFT button .........................18
Master Control Section ..................18
EXIT button...............................18
VOICE button .............................18
PAGE Up / Down buttons.................19
MACRO ASSIGN button...................19
MOD MATRIX button .....................19
CV/Gate Section ..........................19
Arpeggiator Section .....................19
Filter Controls.............................20
Module Select ............................20
Performance Controls ...................20
Chord mode (keyboard only) .............21
Ribbon controller (keyboard only)........21
Front Panel (keyboard only) ............21
Headphone jacks .........................21
Phones volume control ...................21
Rear Panel.................................22
Outputs...................................22
Control Inputs ............................22
MIDI ......................................23
USB .......................................23
Power .....................................23
Kensington lock ..........................23
Hydrasynth Desktop ..............24
Attaching the Rack Ears .................24
SHIFT + Pad Functions...................24
Pad Scale selection .......................24
Octave Transpose.........................24
Changing the Pad Key ....................25
Pad response options.....................25
Pad Modes................................26
Pad Mode examples ......................27
Pad Scale vs. Voice Scale..................29
Pad Notes and MIDI Notes................29
Pad Notes vs. Key Lock....................29
Understanding the Modules...30
Module Groups...........................30
Oscillator group ..........................30
Mixer module.............................30
Filter group ...............................30
Envelope group...........................30
LFO group ................................30

5
Amp module .............................31
FX group..................................31
Other Modules ...........................31
Voice module .............................31
Ribbon (keyboard only) ..................31
Module Shortcuts ........................31
Create Mod routes........................31
Select Macro Destinations ................32
Copy / Paste settings .....................32
The Oscillator Group ..............33
Oscillators 1 and 2........................33
Switching modes .........................33
Single mode ..............................33
WaveScan mode..........................34
Oscillator 3 ................................34
Mutants 1–4 ..............................35
FM-Lin ....................................35
WavStack .................................36
OSC Sync .................................36
About Ratio...............................36
Pulse Width modulation ..................36
PW-Orig ..................................37
PW-Sqeez .................................37
PW-ASM [Warp]...........................37
Harmonic .................................37
Ring-Noise Module ......................38
Waveform List ............................39
The Mixer Module ..................40
Setting Levels.............................40
The Solo Function........................40
Set the Pan Positions ....................41
Osc 1-3 Pan ...............................41
Ring + Noise Pan .........................41
Filter Routing of Sources ................41
Osc 1-3 Filter routing .....................41
Ring + Noise Filter routing................41
Filter Configuration ......................41
The Filters and their Controls . 42
Filter 1 .....................................42
Filter 1 types..............................42
Compensated vs. Uncompensated filters.42
Filter 1 parameters: page 1 ...............42
Filter 1 parameters: page 2 ...............44
Filter 2 .....................................45
Filter 2 parameters........................45
The Amp Module ....................46
How the Parameters Interact ...........46
LFO 2 Amount ............................46
Velocity ...................................46
Amp Level ................................46
The Envelopes ........................47
What’s an Envelope? .....................47
Envelope features.........................47
Envelopes 1 and 2 ........................47
Envelope parameters: page 1.............48
Envelope parameters: page 2.............49
Envelope Shortcuts ......................50
Copy Env A to Env B ......................50
Create a Mod route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
The LFOs.................................51
What’s an LFO? ...........................51
LFO features ..............................51
LFOs 1 and 2..............................51
LFO parameters: page 1 ..................51
LFO parameters: page 2 ..................53
LFO Shortcuts.............................54
Copy LFO A to LFO B......................54
Create a Mod route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
The Eects..............................55
Pre- and Post-FX..........................55
Bypass ....................................55
Chorus ....................................55
Flanger ...................................56
Rotary ....................................56
Phaser ....................................56
Lo-Fi ......................................57
Tremolo ...................................57
EQ ........................................57
Compressor...............................58
Delay Types ...............................58
Delay Parameters ........................58
Reverb Types .............................59
Reverb Parameters.......................59
Freeze the Reverb ........................59
Mod Route Shortcut .....................59
The Voice Module ..................60
Voice Parameters: page 1 ...............60
Polyphony settings .......................60
Density & Detune.........................60
Random Phase............................60

6
How does Analog Feel?...................61
Stereo mode..............................61
Voice Parameters: page 2 ...............61
Pitch Bend ................................62
Vibrato settings...........................62
Glide settings .............................62
Voice Parameters: page 3 ...............62
Key Lock ..................................62
Select a Scale .............................63
Custom Scale .............................63
Ribbon Controller
(keyboardonly) ......................64
Theremin Mode ..........................64
Theremin parameters: page 1 ............64
Theremin parameters: page 2 ............64
The Ribbon as a Mod Source............65
The Arpeggiator Section ........66
Arp Edit Mode ............................66
Arp parameters: page 1...................66
Arp parameters: page 2...................67
Additional Arp Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Latch and Sustain.........................68
Initialize the Arp ..........................68
Mastering the Macros.............69
Home Page................................69
Make a Macro.............................69
Assign a Destination......................69
Name the Macro ..........................70
Macro Slot Copy ..........................70
Save the Patch: Macro Options .........70
Macro Button Response .................71
Preset Macro Name List .................72
The Mod Matrix ......................73
Creating Mod Routes ....................73
The Whole Process .......................73
The Shortcut .............................73
Notes About Mod Routes.................74
More Shortcuts ...........................74
Copy Mod X to Mod Y ....................74
Clear a Mod Slot ..........................74
Clear the Entire Mod Matrix...............74
Be Random ...............................74
Modulation Sources .....................75
Modulation Destinations ................75
The CV / Gate Section .............77
Basic Concepts ...........................77
A Few More... .............................77
CV/Gate Polyphony .......................77
The Ribbon and CVs ......................77
Clocks and Sync ..........................77
Compatibility .............................78
Output Connectors ......................78
Pitch ......................................78
Gate ......................................78
Mod 1 and 2 ..............................78
Clock......................................78
Input Connectors.........................78
Esoteric Uses..............................79
CV Attentuator............................79
CV Inverter................................79
Process Audio.............................79
CVs and Arpeggios .......................79
Patch Management ................80
Using the Browser........................80
The Browse page .........................80
Sort Methods ............................80
Compare..................................81
Favorite Assign... ..........................81
Browse Favorites..........................81
Save the Patch ............................82
Patch Protection ..........................82
The Save page ............................82
Name the Patch...........................82
Select a Category.........................82
Macro Options ...........................83
Choose a Color ...........................83
Patch Backup .............................83
The System Setup Pages.........84
Operational Notes .......................84
Navigation ................................84
Access, Action ............................84
Saving the Settings .......................84
Notes About Notes .......................84
Master: Page 1............................84
Master: Page 2............................85
Knob Mode ...............................85
Knob Speed ..............................85
Tempo Lock...............................85
Macro Button .............................85
Safe Edit ..................................85

7
Keys / Pads: Page 3.......................86
Velocity settings ..........................86
Aftertouch settings .......................86
MIDI: Page 4 ..............................86
Clock Sync ................................87
Local ......................................87
Expression Pedal setup ...................87
MIDI: Page 5 ..............................87
PolyAT Transmit...........................87
MIDI: Page 6 ..............................88
What’s a NRPN? ...........................88
Send Patch / All Patches ..................88
Overow..................................88
Arp TX ....................................88
Pgm Chg TX / RX .........................88
CV – Pitch Gate: Page 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
CV Source: Keyboard, Theremin ..........89
CV – Clock: Page 8 .......................89
Clock Division ............................89
CV – Mods: Page9 .......................90
Calibration: Page 10 (keyboard) ........90
Calibrate Ribbon..........................90
Calibrate Wheels..........................90
System: Page 10 (desktop) /
System:Page11(keyboard).............91
OS: Page 11 (desktop) /
OS:Page12(keyboard) .................91
Control Combinations ............92
[INIT] + Button X .........................92
[INIT] + Control Button X ................92
[RANDOM] + Button X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
[SHIFT] + Button X .......................93
[SHIFT] + Control Knob X................94
[SHIFT] + Control Button X ..............94
Scales .....................................95
Hydrasynth Specifications......97
Keyboard..................................97
Desktop ...................................97
Connections: Rear Panel.................97
Connections: Top Panel .................97
CV inputs: Two (1/8” TS)...................97
CV/Gate/Clock outputs: Five (1/8” TS).....97
Control Voltages ..........................97
Gate Output ..............................97
Clock Output .............................97
Connections: Front Panel (keyboard) . . 97
Declaration of Conformity......98
USA ........................................98
CANADA...................................98
EUROPE....................................98

8
Welcome to Hydrasynth!
Everyone at Ashun Sound Machines would like to thank you for choosing one of our
Hydrasynth instruments. We’re very proud of what we have created, and are condent they will
take you into musical realms that have never been explored.
Every aspect of these ground-breaking devices has been carefully considered, from the way
the sounds are generated and processed, to the intuitive layout of the controls and displays.
Everything from impulse to performance has been optimized to unleash the creative potential
of these instruments in your hands.
Main Features
This chapter will only list the main features of the Hydrasynth. But there are many more, and
each feature and its related parameters will be described in the pages ahead. Advanced users
might nd quick answers to important questions in Hydrasynth Specications (p.97).
User interface
• Intuitive workow, perceived at a glance
• Front-panel controls for instant access to
important features
• Easy shortcuts for patch / mod route
construction (connect / copy / paste)
• Two independent OLED displays
• 8 Control knobs and 8 Control buttons
around the Right display
• LED rings around the Control knobs
indicate parameter values
• 8 assignable Macros per patch, accessible
on Home page
• Arpeggiator: 8 modes with direction,
octave, chord, and phrase options
• Patch browser: Organize by Name,
Category, or Patch number
• Memorize / instantly recall up to 32
Favorites
• Overow mode can link two units for
16-voice polyphony
Patch features
• 5 banks of 128 patches each
• Mono and Unison voice modes, with
unison detune
• Glide with programmable time, curve,
trigger mode
• Mod Matrix with 32 routes per patch
• Programmable Analog Feel emulates
circuit designs
• Randomize function for individual modules
or an entire patch
Sound engine
• Eight voices, with three oscillators per
voice
• Analog modeling (Osc 1-3) and WaveScan
synthesis (Osc 1+2)
• Select from hundreds of waveforms and
then morph / mutate / warp them at will
• Filter 1: 11 lter types, including vocal
formant lters
• Filter 2: classic state-variable 12dB / octave
• Filters can be placed in series or parallel
• Loopable ADSR envelopes with Delay and
Hold stages
• Curve and BPM value for each segment

9
Eects
• Delay: ve types, including Left-Right-
Center and reverse
• All delays can sync to tempo
• Reverb: four types, with pre-delay and
damping parameters
• Reverb lengths to 90 seconds, plus
“Freeze”
• Independent Pre/Post FX: Chorus,
Flanger, Rotary, Phaser, Lo-Fi, Tremolo, EQ,
Compressor
Hardware
• MIDI In/Out/Thru
• USB type B port, class-compliant
• CV/Gate inputs and outputs for integration
with modular synthesizers
• Headphone output(s)
• Stereo 1/4” outputs
• Sustain pedal input (polarity-sensing)
• Assignable Expression pedal input
(reversible)
• LED Dim feature for darkened rooms
• Kensington lock port
Keyboard-specific Features
• 49-key, velocity-sensitive keyboard with
polyphonic aftertouch
• Ribbon controller with Pitch bend,
Theremin, and Modulation modes
• Additional Filter controls (Envelope
amount, LFO amount)
• Additional Arpeggiator controls (Tempo,
Ratchet, Chance, Gate)
• Backlit pitch bend and modulation wheels
• Octave Down / Up buttons
• Chord mode with dedicated button
• Glide button
• Two headphone jacks share a dedicated
Volume control
Desktop-specific Features
• Rack-mountable (ears included)
• Recessed connection jacks allow for
straight connectors
• 24 velocity-sensitive RGB pads with
polyphonic pressure
• Pad colors indicate note relationships for
each scale
• Shift + Pad to access secondary functions
(Octave, Scale, etc.)

10
Quick Start Guide
Inside the Box
Your Hydrasynth was carefully packed at the factory with the following items:
• The Hydrasynth
• This manual
• The power supply (12VDC / 1A)
• Rack ears (Hydrasynth desktop only)
Save Your Receipt!
Ashun Sound Machines designed and constructed your Hydrasynth with extreme attention to
detail. Our quality assurance personnel test each unit thoroughly before it goes out.
But in the unlikely event of a hardware problem, you will need to present your original receipt
in order to obtain warranty service. This will help the service center to conrm your warranty
coverage. So please be sure to save your receipt in a safe location!
Plug It In
Power
Use only the DC power supply that was in
the box with your Hydrasynth (12 Volts DC, 1
Amp). Make sure the power switch is in the
OFF position before making this connection.
Before switching the unit on, please lower the
volume of your speakers or mute the input
channels on your mixer. This will help prevent
any damage to your speakers or ears.
Audio
Using a mixer
After muting the channel inputs or lowering
the volume of your speakers, connect a pair of
1/4” cables from the rear-panel output jacks
of the Hydrasynth to the inputs of your mixer.
Then set the Hydrasynth power switch to the
ON position.
Using headphones
If you plan to connect headphones to the
Phone jack on the Hydrasynth, turn the unit
on rst and then connect the headphones.
The Hydrasynth keyboard model has an
independent level control for the headphones
next to the connection jacks. The headphone
level is controlled by the Master Volume knob
on the Hydrasynth desktop unit.
Master Volume control
The Master Volume knob controls the overall
output level of the Hydrasynth.
But there’s an important thing to remember:
the Master Volume knob is an analog control.
This means it does not communicate its
position or movements digitally to your
computer via USB.
USB
Hydrasynth is a USB class-compliant device,
so there are no drivers to install. Just plug it
into your computer and it will be available
immediately as a MIDI input/output device.
MIDI
The Hydrasynth has three 5-pin MIDI
connectors to allow you to interface with
other MIDI devices. MIDI Out sends data from
the Hydrasynth, MIDI In receives data, and
MIDI Thru passes data from the MIDI In without
data from the Hydrasynth.
CV/Gate
Your Hydrasynth has a row of connectors that
are used to interface with modular synthesiz-
ers. Each one can be congured to match the
voltages and signal types of the most popular
formats. For details, see The CV / Gate Section
(p.77).

11
Make Some Noise!
By now you’ve already played the instrument and tweaked the controls. Now let’s take a quick
tour of some of the main features.
To get started, press the Home button. This will exit any page and take the Hydrasynth to the
top level of the patch.
Select Patches
There are several ways to explore the patch
banks inside the Hydrasynth. The simplest way
is to turn the Patch knob (the big one in the
middle), or use the left and right arrow buttons
above the Home button. This will move you
through the bank one patch at a time. You’ll
see the patch name, bank, and number in the
Left display.
You can also hold [SHIFT] and skip through
the bank by 10 patches at a time, which can
save a lot of scrolling if you know what you’re
looking for.
The Browse button opens the patch browser
in the Right display. You’ll want to read the
section Using the Browser (p.80) to learn
about things like Categories, Favorites, and
other search techniques.
Octave shift
If you want to hear a sound in a higher or
lower range than the keys or pads currently
reach, you can shift the range quickly by one
or more octaves. The Hydrasynth keyboard has
dedicated buttons above the wheels that ash
faster as the range moves further from center;
at maximum shift the buttons are lit solid. To
reset the range, press both buttons.
For the Hydrasynth desktop, hold [SHIFT] and
press the rst two pads in the top row ([Oct -]
/ [Oct +]). As the octave range moves further
from center the selected pad glows brighter.
You can see if the pads are transposed by
pressing [SHIFT] when on the Home page. To
reset the octave range, hold [SHIFT] and press
both pads.
Arpeggiator basics
Arpeggiators can turn a great sound into a whole performance! So when you’re ready, press
the Arpeggiator [ON] button to activate the arpeggiator. Then hold down two or more keys or
pads while experimenting with the other controls in the Arpeggiator section. Here’s a quick
description of each.
Arpeggiator: Both units
Control Function
Mode Determines the arpeggiator direction and other behaviors.
Octave Sets the range of the arpeggiator.
Division Selects the basic time division of the arpeggiator relative to the tempo.
Swing Eight settings allow you to add a certain amount of “shue feel” to the arpeggio.
On This toggles the arpeggiator on and o. Use it with [SHIFT] to enter Edit mode.
Latch Lets you to take your ngers o the keys or pads and use both hands to adjust
parameters.
Triplet Subdivides the selected Division setting into triplets.
Tap Tempo Tap several times to set the tempo.
There are words in orange letters under two of the buttons: EDIT and SUSTAIN. These are used
with the [SHIFT] button to access their secondary functions. We’ll describe those and the other
arpeggiator features in The Arpeggiator Section (p.66).

12
Keyboard-specic controls
The following controls are present on the top panel of the Hydrasynth keyboard, not the
desktop model. However, these parameters are available for both units: see Arp parameters:
page 2 (p.67).
Control Function
Tempo Turn this to adjust the tempo, or use the Tap Tempo button.
Ratchet Sets how many subdivisions of an arpeggiator step are possible (1, 2, 4, or 8).
Chance Determines the likelihood of a Ratchet event happening on a given
arpeggiator step.
Gate Adjusts the relative duration of the arpeggiator notes.
Tweaking the sounds
The Right display provides information about what is happening and what the options are, no
matter what you’re doing with the Hydrasynth. We’ll dig down into every parameter eventually,
but for now let’s start at the top again. So please press [HOME] to make sure you’re seeing what
we’re describing.
The Home page: Macro City
When Hydrasynth is on the Home page the
Control knobs and Control buttons become
modulation sources for the Macros. Each
Macro can alter as many as eight parameters
at one time by activating a single control.
Every patch has eight Macros available.
Macros allow you to achieve complex results,
but they’re easy to create. When you’re ready
to try that, see Mastering the Macros (p.69).
The rest of the Master Control section has
buttons that will be useful in the near future.
We’ll cover them in Variable knobs (p.16).
The Filter section
This section has two buttons and either three
or ve knobs, depending on the unit you have.
The buttons select which of the two lters the
knobs will control, after which the knobs can
do their thing.
Knobs 1 and 2 are the same for either lter:
they control Cuto and Resonance, respective-
ly. If Filter 1 is selected the third knob controls
the Drive amount for that lter; if Filter 2 is
selected the third knob allows you to “morph”
the characteristics of that lter.
Those descriptions barely scratch the surface,
though. To delve more deeply into what the
Hydrasynth lters can do, read The Filters and
their Controls (p.42).
Saving
In the process of tweaking a sound you will often create something you’d like to keep. If that
has already happened, jump ahead to the Patch Management chapter and follow the instruc-
tions in Save the Patch (p.82).

13
Check for Updates
Be sure to visit www.AshunSoundMachines.com soon, and often! It’s your source for important
things such as:
• Firmware updates for your Hydrasynth
• An interactive version of this manual
• Banks of new patches from our top-notch
sound design team
• Tutorial videos to help you master the
intricacies of the Hydrasynth
• …and more!
That’s Enough Reading for Now.
We’ve covered the basics. Now let your creativity go wild!

14
Overview
The Hydrasynth represents a perfect balance of instant access, intuitive workow, powerful
features, and great sound, all with a single aim: to make the creation and performance of mind-
blowing music easier and more fun.
Top Panel: Hydrasynth Keyboard
5
4 6 7 8
9
1
3
2
Section Name Section Name
1 Master Volume 6 Main Systems section
2 Wheels, Octave / Chord buttons 7 Master Control section
3Keyboard, Ribbon, Ribbon / Glide buttons 8 Filter Controls section
4 CV / Gate connectors 9 Module Select section
5 Arpeggiator section
Top Panel: Hydrasynth Desktop
14
13
15
16
17
10 12
11 Section Name
10 Master Volume
11 CV / Gate connectors
12 Arpeggiator section
13 Filter Controls section
14 Module Select section
15 Main Systems section
16 Master Control section
17 Pads
The majority of the features of the Hydrasynth keyboard and desktop models are
identical, and most sections of this manual apply to both. Please refer to Hydrasynth
Desktop (p.24) for more information about the features specific to that unit.

15
General Concepts
Access buttons
The orange-lettered Access buttons are
located in several areas of the top panel. All of
the buttons in the Module Select section and
many of those in the Main Systems and Master
Control sections are Access buttons. Their
purpose:
• Press an Access button and the main
parameter page for that feature appears in
the Right display for editing.
• If more pages exist, one or both Page
buttons will point to the other pages.
• Pressing an Access button repeatedly will
also scroll through its pages.
Function buttons
These are the white-lettered buttons, and they
make instant changes (load a patch, switch
lters, toggle something, activate a Macro,
etc.). It might help to remember that
• buttons with orange letters select things
and
• buttons with white letters do things.
For example: To enable the Arpeggiator, press
the [ON] button. To exit any page, press [EXIT]
or [HOME].
Control knobs
Above and below the Right display are two
sets of four knobs. They are “endless encoders”:
parameters are edited from their current
value, rather than jumping to another value
that was based on the position of the knob.
The Control knobs play dierent roles
depending on the page that has been
accessed:
• On the Home page they are used as Macro
controls.
• On a parameter page they are used to
adjust parameter values.
Control buttons
Each Control knob is paired with a Control
button. Their function also depends on the
page that has been accessed.
• On the Home page they can aect a Macro
in one of four ways (Toggle, Trigger, Switch,
or Reset). This choice is made on System
Setup Master: Page 2 (p.85).
• On a parameter page they are used to:
• select a parameter value for editing
• toggle a value (Oscillator Solo on/o,
for example), or
• enter a lower-level editing page (i.e.,
Wavelist Edit for a WaveScan oscillator).
Module Select buttons
These buttons access the parameter pages of
the selected Module (Osc 1, Delay, LFO 5, etc.)
The signal path generally moves from left to
right, but vertical lines between two buttons
indicate:
• a pre-wired connection (Env 1 / LFO 1 to
Filters, Env 2 / LFO 2 to Amp), or
• the ability to be routed in Series or Parallel,
as with the Filters, or
• order of operations, such as the output of
the Delay is fed to the input of the Reverb.
The Module Select buttons can be used as a
quick way to set up a Mod Matrix route, too
(hold one, press another). For information
about that, see The Mod Matrix (p.73).

16
Knob types
Selection knobs
These are only found in the Arpeggiator
section. A “selection knob” clicks between
positions to select a value. Of these four, only
the Swing parameter can be set to intermedi-
ate values (see Swing (p.66)).
Note: The keyboard model also has four
variable knobs in its Arpeggiator section. For
a complete description, see The Arpeggiator
Section (p.66).
Variable knobs
Hydrasynth uses two types of variable knobs:
• 270° encoders: The range has an upper and
lower limit. Examples: Master Volume, Filter
Cuto
• Endless encoders: These have no range
limits, so an edit always starts from the
current value.
The displays
At the center of it all are two high-resolution
OLED displays, also known as the Left display
and the Right display. They serve dierent
purposes:
• The Left display is for Patch selection and
helpful graphics.
• The Right display is for parameter selection
and adjustment.
When an Access button is pressed, the Right
display and its surrounding controls change
functions to allow instant access to the
most-used parameters. The Page up/down
buttons put all other parameters within easy
reach.
Main Systems
615 Patch selection
One of the major
functions of this
section is patch
selection. There are
several methods,
and you might use
them all at dierent
times depending on
what you’re doing.
Patch knob
From the Home
page you can select
an adjacent patch
by turning the Patch
knob a single click in either direction. You can
also skip through the banks 10 patches at a
time if you hold [SHIFT] while turning the knob.
Left / Right arrows
As with the Patch knob, press one of these
buttons to select an adjacent patch. Hold
[SHIFT] rst to make the buttons jump
through the patches 10 at a time.
Browse
This page lets you alter the way the patches
are presented in each bank. There are three
dierent sort orders: By Patch #, by Name, or
by Category.
The Browse page also contains a robust
Compare feature, as well as a sub-menu where
you can designate a patch as a Favorite. You
can stash up to 32 patches in your Favorites
bank for instant access.
For details on each of these functions, see
Using the Browser (p.80) in the Patch
Management chapter.
Favorites (Shift + Browse)
When you need to nd your best sounds
immediately you can jump straight to your
Favorites bank from any other page.
• Hold [SHIFT] and press [BROWSE] to access
your Favorites
• Use the Page Down/Up arrows to move
between the four banks of Favorites
• Press the Control button next to the patch
name to select it.

17
The HOME button
The Home button is located in the center of
the top panel. It provides a quick way to get
back to the top level of the Hydrasynth, where
the Macro controls are. This is known as the
Home page.
All Notes O
Sometimes MIDI signals are disrupted and
a note becomes stuck. If that happens, hold
[SHIFT] and press [HOME] to transmit an “All
Notes O” command. This will silence any
stuck notes.
The SAVE button
Whenever you’ve made an edit that you’d
hate to lose, press [SAVE] to access the Save
page. You’ll be able to select a new location
for the edited patch, rename it, and choose
a category for the sound (Bass, Pad, etc.). You
can even decide which color the Data knob
and wheels will be when the patch is selected.
There’s another feature that determines
whether the positions of the Macro knobs will
be stored as-is, returned to zero, or saved as
edits to the parameters they control.
For details on each of these functions, see Save
the Patch (p.82) in the Patch Management
chapter.
System Setup
This section is 12 pages deep. It houses all of
the fundamental settings for the keyboard or
pads, the knobs, the pedals, and the CV / Gate
section, to name a few.
For details on each of these functions, see the
The System Setup Pages (p.84).
The INIT button
Reset a parameter
The INIT button will reset any parameter to its
default value: just hold [INIT] and press the
Control button next to that parameter’s value.
The Control button will light up next to any
parameter that has been edited, which helps
you know which one to press.
Initialize a Module
You can reset the parameters for an entire
Module using a similar method:
• Hold [INIT].
• Press the Access button for the desired
module.
• Conrm the decision by pressing [INIT]
again.
• If you decide not the initialize, press [EXIT]
to cancel the procedure.
Initialize a Patch
If you want to build an entire patch from
scratch, press [INIT] twice in a row. This will
erase the contents of the Edit buer, so be
sure to save any edits you don’t want to lose.
The RANDOM button
If you’re the adventurous type, you will love
this button! It can randomize the value of
any parameter, any module, or even an entire
patch.
Randomize a parameter
To randomize a single parameter, hold
[RANDOM] and press the Control button next
to that parameter’s value. The Control button
of every available parameter will light up, so
you’ll know which ones not to press (the dark
ones won’t do anything).
Randomize a Module
You can randomize the parameters for an
entire Module using a similar method:
• Hold [RANDOM].
• Press the Access button for the desired
module.
• Conrm the decision by pressing
[RANDOM] again.
• If you decide not the randomize, press
[EXIT] to cancel the procedure.
Random Patch generation
The Random feature can even randomize
every value in an entire patch, including the
Eects! Sometimes you’ll get nothing but
silence, but that’s okay; just press [RANDOM]
again. Once you get something interesting,

18
you can save it like that or tweak its
parameters until everything is just right.
Random Patch selection
Do you nd yourself always resorting to
the same patches? There’s nothing wrong
with that; we’re glad you like the sound of
the Hydrasynth! But if you’re looking for
something dierent, let the Hydrasynth select
a new patch for you. This works from any page:
• Hold [RANDOM] and press one of the Left/
Right arrows.
• Conrm the procedure by pressing
[RANDOM] again.
• To cancel the random selection procedure,
press [EXIT].
The SHIFT button
The Shift button is used in combination
with various buttons and knobs to access
secondary functions. When these are available
the secondary functions are indicated with a
row of orange text under the control.
In some cases [SHIFT] is used to accelerate
value selection. For example, if you hold
[SHIFT] and turn the Patch knob you can
scroll through the Patch bank in units of 10,
as opposed to the standard operation of +/- 1
patch.
You can also use [SHIFT] to help ne-tune
a value that has a large range. For example,
if you want to set a precise value for lter
resonance, hold [SHIFT] and turn the
appropriate Control knob.
For a complete list of the available Shift
functions, see Control Combinations (p.92).
Master Control Section
16
7
If you like to make your own patches, you
might enjoy this top-panel section the most.
When a Module is accessed the parameter
values are shown in the Right display, selected
with the Control buttons, and adjusted with
the Control knobs. The Page Up/Down buttons
provide access to more parameters whenever
a Module oers more than eight. We’ll cover
the parameters of each Module in Hydrasynth
Desktop (p.24).
The Master Control section is also a lot of fun
when you’re on the Home page, thanks to the
powerful Macro controls. For live performance
or on-the-spot creativity, the Macros can kick
everything into high gear. See Mastering the
Macros (p.69)
EXIT button
This button will light as soon as you enter any
page. It will take you back to the previous
page, and it can cancel a process if you decide
not to do something (Initialize, Randomize,
Save, etc.). The Home page is the only page
where [EXIT] is not lit, because that’s the top
level of the patch.
VOICE button
This Access button takes you into a set of
patch-level features like Pitch bend range,
Vibrato settings, Mono/Poly/Unison voice
modes, and the Glide settings. This is also
where the Scale is dened for the keyboard
and pads.
Perhaps more subtle but equally important,
the Voice module is also home to the Analog
Feel and Random Phase settings. These can
really bring a patch to life.
See the Modules chapter for specics about
the Voice module (p.31).

19
PAGE Up / Down buttons
These two buttons are lit if the selected
module has more than one page. If one of
those buttons is lit that means there are
pages available in that direction. If both are lit
then pages are available in both directions. If
neither is lit, there are no additional pages to
select.
Access buttons can be used to ip between
pages too, which works great if there are only a
few pages. But if the module has a lot of pages
and the parameter you want is more than a few
pages away, hold [SHIFT] and press one of the
lit arrows to jump to the rst or last page. Then
use the Page Up/Down buttons to reach the
desired page.
MACRO ASSIGN button
This Access button opens a page that is
like a hallway with eight doors, and behind
each one is a lab that makes a powerful
performance control called a Macro. You can
dene up to eight modulation routes for each
Macro, and then use the Control knobs and
Control buttons to manipulate the Macros
from the Home page. Each patch has its own
set of 8 Macros.
To learn more about what’s on the other side
of those doors, see the chapter Mastering the
Macros (p.69).
MOD MATRIX button
The Mod Matrix button accesses a digital
patch bay that provides up to 32 sets of
modulation routes per patch. These are in
addition to the Macros, although they can be
controlled by them.
• Potential sources for the modulation
routes include LFOs, Envelopes, Velocity,
the Expression pedal, either of the CV
inputs (Mod 1 and Mod 2), and any MIDI CC
# (Continuous Control number).
• Destinations can be almost any parameter
in the Hydrasynth, including any Mod
Matrix route. Additional destinations
include the Mod 1 and Mod 2 CV outputs
and any MIDI CC #.
There’s a lot to say about this topic, so you’ll
want to read The Mod Matrix (p.73).
CV/Gate Section
11
4
These seven connectors allow the Hydrasynth
to interface with the wild and wonderful world
of modular synthesizers. There are ve outputs
(Pitch, Gate, Mod 1, Mod 2, and Clock) and two
inputs (Mod 1 and Mod 2). The outputs send
voltages and signals that can control external
devices, and the inputs receive voltages that
allow external devices to control parameters
inside the Hydrasynth.
The range of each voltage and what type of
sig nals are sent are dened in The System Setup
Pages (p.84), and information about how to
use them is in The CV / Gate Section (p.77).
Arpeggiator Section
5The Hydrasynth provides a comprehensive, cutting-edge
set of arpeggiator features that you can enjoy immediately.
You may have noticed that the Arpeggiator sections are
dierent on the Hydrasynth keyboard and desktop models.
But their capabilities are identical; the only dierence is the
number of controls on the top panel.
If you’d like more information, there’s a chapter dedicated
to the ins and outs (or “ups and downs”, if you will) of The
Arpeggiator Section (p.66).

20
Filter Controls
8
Sweeping the lter frequency of a sound is a
great way to heighten the emotional impact
of the music. This is especially true during an
arpeggio or a sequenced passage.
Hydrasynth oers several controls for exactly
this purpose. You can sweep the lter
frequency, adjust the resonance, and increase
the drive amount of Filter 1, for example,
and then switch to Filter 2 and perform
similar actions. However, for Filter 2 the third
knob does not control the drive amount;
instead it “morphs” the lter between the
Low Pass, Band Pass, and High Pass types.
As with the Arpeggiator section, there are
dierent top-panel Filter controls for the
Hydrasynth keyboard and desktop models.
But again, all of the same features are available
in the pages of the Filter modules. For details,
refer to The Filters and their Controls (p.42).
Module Select
9
The Module Select section has 26 Access
buttons which are used to view and edit the
parameters for each patch. Their placement
provides a visual reference for the signal
ow, which starts with the Oscillators,
moves through the Filters, proceeds
through the eects, and is sent to the
outputs.
Pressing a Module button will reveal the rst
page of parameters for that module. If more
than one page exists, the Page buttons are
used to access the other pages, as described
earlier in PAGE Up / Down buttons (p.19). Full
details about the parameters of each Module
are found in the chapters ahead.
Performance Controls
The Hydrasynth was designed to encourage
the spontaneous exploration of sound and
rhythm. We think you will quickly master
the controls and start travelling the paths of
creativity before you realize it has happened!
The keyboard and desktop models have
slightly dierent layouts, but there are many
similarities. Both instruments have Macro
controls on the Home page, along with Filter
controls, Arpeggiator controls, and CV/Gate/
Clock connectors immediately accessible from
their top panels.
If you have the one model and are curious
about the dierences between them, here are
the most obvious:
• The Keyboard model has 49 keys, a ribbon
controller, pitch/mod wheels, Octave
buttons, Chord mode, a Glide button, and
front-panel headphone jacks.
• The Desktop model has 24 RGB pads,
which also oer quick access to secondary
functions (Shift + Pad X). It can also be
mounted in a rack.
Both models have identical voice architec-
ture, OLED displays, parameters, and editing
methods. And if you will forgive the shameless
plug, if you buy one of each you can combine
their polyphony by enabling Overow (p.88).
Twice the fun for less than twice the price!