I went to a shop to try out both. Making patches on the Hydrasynth is work, making patches on the Minifreak is fun - easy choice after actually trying them.
The Hydrasynth is very easy to make patches for, but it different than most synths as far as how you do it... And this is from someone that owns both of these.....
I haven't tried the minifreak yet, but did you feel it forces a little bit certain type of sound on you by the way it is layout, or not at tall? The hydra looked a bit seducing by its kind of "from scratch" approach... what are you thought / experience on this?
My Minifreak arrived last night; I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, yet, but just toying with presets and some basic filter tampering, I'm feeling a bit inspired. This hasn't happened in a looong time. I can't wait to get into the nuts and bolts. Once I'm pretty deepy into it, I'll be looking to pick up an ASM, because I love everything I've heard from those, as well.
I get why Dan chose those patches , with headphones they all add about 30% depth of awesome . I'm torn , these are both amazing and well within my tax return :P You guys both did great in this video , but you didn't make my choice even a little bit easier .
I love my original Hydrasynth. It's just a really amazing synth. Together with a Deepmind 12 and Montage, all my albums use them, and usually on every track I create.
2 mates having some fun, nothing wrong with smiles on the dials. An Osmose on both would be great, for people starting out, I would suggest getting either, or both as they're diff synths. I had the HS and it just never fit into my mixes, not to say it cannot do what it can, cheapest PAT keybed synth out there too and runs on batteries. Thx boys.
EPIC! love the vid! thanks guys... I got both (also HS DeLuxe 2.0). Only thing I can say some of us should be called the "cat lady" of the synths... whish I could have them ALL!
I would like to buy a synthesizer someday. I have listened to many types and for a long time my favorite was Korg Radias until I came across ASM Hydrasynth, which is a brighter version of Radias in my opinion. I wouldn't look down on Minifreak either, but Hydra has already wrapped its heads around me. Thanks for the duel.
the minifreak is all sweetspots that are easy to dial in for beginners. but the hydra is a real sound design monster that can sound as awful or sweet as you make it sound. the presets are based on presets of other synths to show you it's really a blank digital canvass to take in whatever direction you want
"the minifreak is all sweetspots that are easy to dial in for beginners." You shut your mouth. You shut your filthy mouth. Okay goddammit you're right.
minifreak is super deep as well. it can be a preset machine for beginners, but's also a serious deep dive into an incredible amount of synth engines and filter/modulation algorithms with a surprisingly deep mod matrix. i think they're both impressive in terms of synthesis but the minifreak's approach and it's included vst are way more simple to get the most out of.
Keep in mind that the synths are also played by two different musicians. The guest keyboard player plays some really tight rhythmic stuff and some very inspired harmonies. You cannot simply accredit everything about what you’re hearing to the synths.
A series where you try to create similar patches or have to find specific style patches(scavenger hunt style) on each synth could be cool Would show strengths and weaknesses
Is it just me? Everytime the Hydra plays I'm like...ok... each time the Minifreak hits, it's instantaneous WOW. I love the Poly AT but the sound? Each one in the Minifreak was just RIGHT
I want both so my approach will be to get the 49-key version of the Hydra with the poly aftertouch and the full-length ribbon controller that do Pitch , Mod and Theremin. THEN get the VST version of Minifreak and midi control it with the Hydra. I feel Pigments would be close to what a bigger freak might be but with enhanced controls so I expect it to have touch screens, more shortcut/dedicated buttons (or those m1, m2, m3 etc buttons to put your own macros) and deep integration with Arturia's excellent VST collection. ASM cut the price of the Hydra's by Black Friday and Arturia do VST sales like twice a year.
Neat approach. I would like to ask you a question: If for instance both instruments were arpeggiating and you wanted to control both their filter cut off in a live setting, how would you go about doing that?
@@MatsueMusic Hi! In a live setting for both hardware and vst I'd have the Hydra and Freak sequenced and midi controlled by Ableton Push 2. Since the Hydra does not have a sequequencer and anyway I'd need Live for the Freak vst. Just midi both filters to a shift function in Push or perhaps both with a single knob or one or another to the Hydra ribbon controller at different para meters depending on track. Cheers!
They are both very good small sythersizors, it's nice to have a small sythersizor just to pick up and mess around with. Minifreak being the newest in a line started with the Korg Microkorg, then Novation MiniNova and then a whole lot of them coming from multiple brands. Seems every brand is making sure to have a mini sythersizor on the market.
Love them both but Microfreak has the edge I think. And damn Dan Bingerz can play! (Not based on this video alone). Love Jack's playing as well 😁 Hoping Arturia will release a larger version of the "freak" series... kind of like their Polybrute, only in the freak series. Really loved the video where Jack hooked the minifreak up to the Osmose as well... Damn that sounded great.
How do you avoid the Blade Titles patch on the Hydra? It’s almost impossible. I commend him for showing restraint. For that one and Sawpressive. As for MiniFreak, I thought its best patches were 4 and 5 here.
honestly neither of these synths are well described by going through presets - they both have some good ones but they both can do so much better too. This is more about the sound design the oems paid for or did than the actual synths themselves.
yeah I won, I got a CS80, OB-X8, P10 and some other stuffs. Really good too as I converted them all to keytars, I'm the best. OK jokes aside, they will announce the winner in a vid or show a live draw, that's what I am assuming. Good luck.
@@dankeplace I was also joking. For me it is funny to even think about 100k give away i mean it is one in a 100k chance. All the winners will be informed and contacted via mail. And you should not expect that mail whatsoever because someone might get sad lol
Is it just me or does the first patch on the minifreak sounded a little bit like the sub 37 ? I can’t imagine recreating that on my hydrasynth explorer
@@danbocook What firmware version are you on? (I believe it's System, last page.) The sounds from version 1.5.4 were improved on the previous versions. You might wanna upgrade the firmware. In case you didn't know, last week version 2.0 came out! And don't forget to backup your sounds first!
@@GertBoers I'm, on 2.0 -- I just restarted the unit and it was fixed. Hard to explain, but essentially all lfo's and any looping envelopes were stuck at a high bpm making everything wobble and warble...it was horrible! Haha!
Here's my big question: can the hydrasynth be used to make a patch like Dan's fourth (Flickers)? So many people say hydrasynth can be used to make emulate most other synths. If so, can it make flickers with all of its complexity? If it can, I'm sold. Because I bet there are a lot of patches on hydrasynth that minifreak can't make. Or am I wrong on this?
@@Powhart Me too. I owned the Hydrasynth but didn't find it to be particularly inspiring to do sound design on. It's a little bit over the top. The Minifreak looks much more approachable and fun.
@@Powhart I haven't, but (as my channel will show) I'm a big fan of the Syntakt and it shares similar ethoes around playfulness and breadth over depth where the focus is on the musicality and immediacy. I'm pretty sure I'd love the Minifreak. To be clear, I don't necessarily *need* a standalone synth because I have almost all synthesis I could ever need in the MPC Live 2, the Syntakt and the Push 3 Standalone, but sometimes I miss playing on real keys and there the Minifreak would be my first choice. Plus, it comes with the VST companion which means you can go from composing and sound design on the synth to producing and mixing in the DAW. The Hydrasynth can't do that.
It is, but for many that will be restrictive. The Arturia just seems easier to use and has it's own deepness which is easier to access. The Arturia sounds better in this video in any case.
Every? Bit bold, but let’s say you are right…that doesn’t make it better. Both can sound similar, but their interfaces are vastly different. The hydra is great for those who love getting into deep sound design, whereas the mini just invites you to tweak and have fun. Each unto their own.
The hydrasynth blows the minifreak out of the water, hydrasynth is one of the most feature rich synths on the market, it even stands up against the virus ti. The freaks architecture is just based off of mutable instruments plaits while it’s very nice in its own right it’s very lacking
That is a subjective statement, I have both they are 2 different synths that have a different approach on sound design. The Minifreak is really fun to sound design and having sequencer built in the minifreak is nice for creative live content. The macros that are assignable makes the minifreak great for live use. The Hydra other hand is not as intuitive and definitely not designed for live use. It has a very deep range of customization for sound design but not as enjoyable and can be very frustrating due to not have a true plugin editor software. The hydrasynth has a better poly aftertouch that stands out over most.
True, it’s leagues ahead! All joking aside, they both have their place, their relative strengths and their weaknesses. Depends what you are looking for. Personally I’d rather have the immediacy and intuitive nature of the Minifreak. They Hydra suffers from a cut down version of an already non intuitive interface, but it repays you with Poly AT and some incredible sounds if you put the time in. Mind you, just hook up a Poly AT MIDI controller to the MF and you get the best of both worlds.
Is it only me or others also hear unpleasant harsh high frequencies in Minifreak, whereas Hydrasynth seems to be having more of an analog warm tone to some extent?
Yeah, I hope people aren’t making decisions based on this video. It’s not representative of either synth. They’re also very different kinds of boards and could even complement each other.
This is - another of many - cool video to show the progress and innovation in the rapidly evolving keyboard scene ... so much fun to watch The keyboard scene seems to be accepting new stuff/technology/invention quite well 👍 I evolved in a more traditional bass/guitar world with very little acceptance of new stuff We all know these "Gold Top only and a history correct amp too"-cork-sniffers and i truly h... em With money being an issue i started with a Volca and luckily came across the MicroFreak: an affordable tone and feature monster .,.. Much more affordable stuff seems to be in the pipeline: great time for keyboard newbees
![[TH] 2024 PMGC League | Survival Stage วันที่ 1 | PUBG MOBILE Global Championship](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FVFT-PFwU80/mqdefault.jpg)
I went to a shop to try out both. Making patches on the Hydrasynth is work, making patches on the Minifreak is fun - easy choice after actually trying them.
The Hydrasynth is very easy to make patches for, but it different than most synths as far as how you do it... And this is from someone that owns both of these.....
I agree I've owned both. No longer own my Hydra and i now own TWO Minifreaks.
I haven't tried the minifreak yet, but did you feel it forces a little bit certain type of sound on you by the way it is layout, or not at tall? The hydra looked a bit seducing by its kind of "from scratch" approach... what are you thought / experience on this?
Have both - LOVE both.
It's kinda wild that they're both REALLY excellent sounding while also sounding very different.
BEAUTIFUL BOARDS. Both of them are awesome synths. I would love to see the Explorer Hydrasynth being midi controlled by the Osmose. 😊
My Minifreak arrived last night; I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, yet, but just toying with presets and some basic filter tampering, I'm feeling a bit inspired. This hasn't happened in a looong time. I can't wait to get into the nuts and bolts.
Once I'm pretty deepy into it, I'll be looking to pick up an ASM, because I love everything I've heard from those, as well.
If you just got it and haven't spent a lot of time with it, this qualifies you to make a video about it.
How's it going now?
Still going great!
Most amazing helpful and most importantly fun reviews ever. Thanks!
I get why Dan chose those patches , with headphones they all add about 30% depth of awesome . I'm torn , these are both amazing and well within my tax return :P You guys both did great in this video , but you didn't make my choice even a little bit easier .
I love my original Hydrasynth. It's just a really amazing synth. Together with a Deepmind 12 and Montage, all my albums use them, and usually on every track I create.
2 mates having some fun, nothing wrong with smiles on the dials.
An Osmose on both would be great, for people starting out, I would suggest getting either, or both as they're diff synths.
I had the HS and it just never fit into my mixes, not to say it cannot do what it can, cheapest PAT keybed synth out there too and runs on batteries.
Thx boys.
both sound fantastic
MiniFreak is really interesting to me like what I heard.
This battle was awesome!!
Dan’s fourth patch just sold a MiniFreak. 🤷🏻♂️🤤
This is exactly the video i was looking for about these two. answer,,I need both of these lying around❤
Are you referring to the synths or the blokes?
EPIC! love the vid! thanks guys... I got both (also HS DeLuxe 2.0). Only thing I can say some of us should be called the "cat lady" of the synths... whish I could have them ALL!
Both really great-sounding synths. I think the Minifreak presets surprised me the most.
Hydrasynth is a monster!!! Amazing. ❤
Came here trying to decide between the Explorer and Minilogue XD. Now I need all three of them - That Minifreak sounds amazing.
This is the type of content I like to see!
We need More videos
I would like to buy a synthesizer someday. I have listened to many types and for a long time my favorite was Korg Radias until I came across ASM Hydrasynth, which is a brighter version of Radias in my opinion. I wouldn't look down on Minifreak either, but Hydra has already wrapped its heads around me. Thanks for the duel.
Hydrasynth Explorer 🙌
Woooow this is brilliant, just subscribed, amazing musicians really inspiring🖤
It's interesting to listen again when to swap synthesizers
the minifreak is all sweetspots that are easy to dial in for beginners. but the hydra is a real sound design monster that can sound as awful or sweet as you make it sound. the presets are based on presets of other synths to show you it's really a blank digital canvass to take in whatever direction you want
"the minifreak is all sweetspots that are easy to dial in for beginners." You shut your mouth. You shut your filthy mouth. Okay goddammit you're right.
minifreak is super deep as well. it can be a preset machine for beginners, but's also a serious deep dive into an incredible amount of synth engines and filter/modulation algorithms with a surprisingly deep mod matrix. i think they're both impressive in terms of synthesis but the minifreak's approach and it's included vst are way more simple to get the most out of.
Hydra is so simple those orange keys for every thing gets instant access
Minifreak is also a sound design monster.. :)
Love the series!
Keep in mind that the synths are also played by two different musicians. The guest keyboard player plays some really tight rhythmic stuff and some very inspired harmonies. You cannot simply accredit everything about what you’re hearing to the synths.
my exact toughts too!
I can't decide. So amazing! Both of them.
A series where you try to create similar patches or have to find specific style patches(scavenger hunt style) on each synth could be cool
Would show strengths and weaknesses
Is it just me? Everytime the Hydra plays I'm like...ok... each time the Minifreak hits, it's instantaneous WOW. I love the Poly AT but the sound? Each one in the Minifreak was just RIGHT
I want both so my approach will be to get the 49-key version of the Hydra with the poly aftertouch and the full-length ribbon controller that do Pitch , Mod and Theremin. THEN get the VST version of Minifreak and midi control it with the Hydra. I feel Pigments would be close to what a bigger freak might be but with enhanced controls so I expect it to have touch screens, more shortcut/dedicated buttons (or those m1, m2, m3 etc buttons to put your own macros) and deep integration with Arturia's excellent VST collection. ASM cut the price of the Hydra's by Black Friday and Arturia do VST sales like twice a year.
Neat approach. I would like to ask you a question: If for instance both instruments were arpeggiating and you wanted to control both their filter cut off in a live setting, how would you go about doing that?
@@MatsueMusic Hi! In a live setting for both hardware and vst I'd have the Hydra and Freak sequenced and midi controlled by Ableton Push 2. Since the Hydra does not have a sequequencer and anyway I'd need Live for the Freak vst. Just midi both filters to a shift function in Push or perhaps both with a single knob or one or another to the Hydra ribbon controller at different para meters depending on track. Cheers!
@@obshaky Gotcha okay so there is still some common interface software/hardware. THank you :)
They are both very good small sythersizors, it's nice to have a small sythersizor just to pick up and mess around with. Minifreak being the newest in a line started with the Korg Microkorg, then Novation MiniNova and then a whole lot of them coming from multiple brands. Seems every brand is making sure to have a mini sythersizor on the market.
I don't think the freak is really in the same lane as those two, it doesn't really do the same things
@@PTMPTM I'd certainly say it feels less like a toy. Though I also feel limited by it as well.
The minifreak is not in a line with the microkorg or mininova - they are all very different synths.
@@randommcranderson5155 All 3 are in the same market small mini key digital sythersizors.
Dan’s Fifth Patch literally sounds like heaven
this category of synths are so good for people wanting a mobile setup
Wait, 100k!!
Love them both but Microfreak has the edge I think. And damn Dan Bingerz can play! (Not based on this video alone). Love Jack's playing as well 😁
Hoping Arturia will release a larger version of the "freak" series... kind of like their Polybrute, only in the freak series.
Really loved the video where Jack hooked the minifreak up to the Osmose as well... Damn that sounded great.
Do you mean minifreak?
@@TwinCitiesOxygen Yupp... Had a brain fart. Still hoping for a 61 key version.
Mini freak wins,but i will wait for the Maxi Freak ????
Dan must have been watching Matt Johnson from jamiraquai’s video on playing mini Moog bass on the keys 2:50
How do you avoid the Blade Titles patch on the Hydra? It’s almost impossible. I commend him for showing restraint. For that one and Sawpressive.
As for MiniFreak, I thought its best patches were 4 and 5 here.
honestly neither of these synths are well described by going through presets - they both have some good ones but they both can do so much better too. This is more about the sound design the oems paid for or did than the actual synths themselves.
In the Minifreak, the workflow is faster
Twisted Electrons Mega FM vs the world of digital synths.
Thing is you can almost get there with the mini freak v but it would be nice to have hands on control
3:10 to 4:30, thereabouts, had my throat in great pain the second and third times I rewatched. Humor! _Humor!_
Hydra love
Heaven in a box!!
How close is vst mini freak to hardware version ?
It's 1:1
Losing the analog filters hurts, 1:0.8
Is that an actual tune at 04:32?! Such a groove! I wanna learn it or listen to it if it's a real song!
Any news on the 100k give away?
I guess we didn't win
yeah I won, I got a CS80, OB-X8, P10 and some other stuffs.
Really good too as I converted them all to keytars, I'm the best.
OK jokes aside, they will announce the winner in a vid or show a live draw, that's what I am assuming.
Good luck.
@@dankeplace I was also joking. For me it is funny to even think about 100k give away i mean it is one in a 100k chance. All the winners will be informed and contacted via mail. And you should not expect that mail whatsoever because someone might get sad lol
It’s impossible to be monogamous to one synth. The more the better.
My Hydrasynth understands.
Minifreak incoming to the family v soon.
Hydrasynth firmware 2.0 forever..❤
Minifreak by a mile. So musical. Hydra has some of the stereotypical tones, but the Mini is juicy.
Nop
Good clean fun
were these presets or did you create the patches?
The comment "Very useful!" made me LMAO.
Looks like the display on the Arturia is great and easy to read! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I'm... I'm getting both. lol
MiniFreak /// Hydrasynth
Is it just me or does the first patch on the minifreak sounded a little bit like the sub 37 ? I can’t imagine recreating that on my hydrasynth explorer
Anyone know why the A60 Fretless ET preset on my Desktop Hydra sounds nothing like the Explorer preset??
Odd, all my Desktop Hydra presets sounds not as good as the Explorer's Presets...same names...totally different
@@danbocook What firmware version are you on? (I believe it's System, last page.) The sounds from version 1.5.4 were improved on the previous versions.
You might wanna upgrade the firmware. In case you didn't know, last week version 2.0 came out!
And don't forget to backup your sounds first!
Figured it out, weird glitch in the Hydra (somehow everything was being wobbly as if the mods were all out of control), restart fixed it
@@GertBoers I'm, on 2.0 -- I just restarted the unit and it was fixed. Hard to explain, but essentially all lfo's and any looping envelopes were stuck at a high bpm making everything wobble and warble...it was horrible! Haha!
@@danbocook That sounds like a modwheel pushed all the way up. But on a Desktop... strange.
😮
Here's my big question: can the hydrasynth be used to make a patch like Dan's fourth (Flickers)? So many people say hydrasynth can be used to make emulate most other synths. If so, can it make flickers with all of its complexity? If it can, I'm sold. Because I bet there are a lot of patches on hydrasynth that minifreak can't make. Or am I wrong on this?
Me coming into this video: I have a pretty good idea which one I want to get
Me leaving this video: I have no freaking idea which one I want to get
Your comment included "freak" but not "hydra" - perhaps that's a hint. 😊
@@sinewaymusichahaha xD well yeah, I’m more into MiniFreak xD
@@Powhart Me too. I owned the Hydrasynth but didn't find it to be particularly inspiring to do sound design on. It's a little bit over the top. The Minifreak looks much more approachable and fun.
@@sinewaymusic have You tried Minifreak?
@@Powhart I haven't, but (as my channel will show) I'm a big fan of the Syntakt and it shares similar ethoes around playfulness and breadth over depth where the focus is on the musicality and immediacy. I'm pretty sure I'd love the Minifreak. To be clear, I don't necessarily *need* a standalone synth because I have almost all synthesis I could ever need in the MPC Live 2, the Syntakt and the Push 3 Standalone, but sometimes I miss playing on real keys and there the Minifreak would be my first choice. Plus, it comes with the VST companion which means you can go from composing and sound design on the synth to producing and mixing in the DAW. The Hydrasynth can't do that.
Both great machines but Hydrasynth takes the cake.
Hydrasynth wins, sounds better !
Both lovely synths but by every objective metric, the Hydrasynth is a deeper, more powerful synthesizer.
It is, but for many that will be restrictive. The Arturia just seems easier to use and has it's own deepness which is easier to access. The Arturia sounds better in this video in any case.
Every? Bit bold, but let’s say you are right…that doesn’t make it better. Both can sound similar, but their interfaces are vastly different. The hydra is great for those who love getting into deep sound design, whereas the mini just invites you to tweak and have fun. Each unto their own.
These are poly so demo them that way man!
Laughs in Blofeld
The hydrasynth blows the minifreak out of the water, hydrasynth is one of the most feature rich synths on the market, it even stands up against the virus ti. The freaks architecture is just based off of mutable instruments plaits while it’s very nice in its own right it’s very lacking
That is a subjective statement, I have both they are 2 different synths that have a different approach on sound design. The Minifreak is really fun to sound design and having sequencer built in the minifreak is nice for creative live content. The macros that are assignable makes the minifreak great for live use. The Hydra other hand is not as intuitive and definitely not designed for live use. It has a very deep range of customization for sound design but not as enjoyable and can be very frustrating due to not have a true plugin editor software. The hydrasynth has a better poly aftertouch that stands out over most.
I'd say the Minifreak is kicking all kinds of a$$! It has a fat, analog-y wet sound that I love.
Osmose is already a verb!
The patches chosen for the mini freak are not the best representation.
well it's a fun video and all that , but it's put me off buying a Hydrasynth ..
The Microfreak just sounds bigger, more experimental
Maybe the analog filter of the Mf.
Please for the love of god remove the plastic on the minifreak screen :D
Sound wise the Hydra is not even close to the Minifreak.
True, it’s leagues ahead! All joking aside, they both have their place, their relative strengths and their weaknesses. Depends what you are looking for. Personally I’d rather have the immediacy and intuitive nature of the Minifreak. They Hydra suffers from a cut down version of an already non intuitive interface, but it repays you with Poly AT and some incredible sounds if you put the time in. Mind you, just hook up a Poly AT MIDI controller to the MF and you get the best of both worlds.
no, i don't think so
Is it only me or others also hear unpleasant harsh high frequencies in Minifreak, whereas Hydrasynth seems to be having more of an analog warm tone to some extent?
I don't hear that at all
Hydra is like 16 bit noizy vst from 2005. Meh
"Time better spent watching a "no talking" video of someone playing through the presets of each synth." Just sayin'.
Yeah, I hope people aren’t making decisions based on this video. It’s not representative of either synth. They’re also very different kinds of boards and could even complement each other.
This is not an in-depth loopop review, this is entertaining. I love Jack for being Jack and not an Andrew Fisher wannabe.
@@g3cd I get it, but you gotta admit, they are just phoning it in. Just a little prep, please.
It's just a fun video FFS it's not supposed to be a review, if you want reviews they have done reviews of both of these sythersizors.
@@MosEisleySpacePort1138 Its just a bit of fun for TH-cam, not supposed to be a serious review.
This is - another of many - cool video to show the progress and innovation in the rapidly evolving keyboard scene ... so much fun to watch
The keyboard scene seems to be accepting new stuff/technology/invention quite well 👍 I evolved in a more traditional bass/guitar world with very little acceptance of new stuff We all know these "Gold Top only and a history correct amp too"-cork-sniffers and i truly h... em With money being an issue i started with a Volca and luckily came across the MicroFreak: an affordable tone and feature monster .,.. Much more affordable stuff seems to be in the pipeline: great time for keyboard newbees