AIR Music Technology – Hybrid 3 v3.1.1 for WiN

This virtual synthesizer combines the coveted warmth of analog synths with the full range of futuristic digital processing capabilities. The result is the best of both worlds – a virtual instrument with a vast set of finely tuned parameters that can sound like the synth you remember, or something no one has ever heard before.

1200+ Built-In Sounds

Hybrid 3 comes with over 1200 inspiring presets designed to accelerate the creative process. Over 200 new patches designed by renowned AIR sound designers include everything from synth pads, arpeggios, poly synths, basses, leads, sequences and more. Hybrid veterans will be pleased to find that the familiar Hybrid 2.0 presets have been completely redesigned, allowing users to experience their favorite sounds with all of Hybrid 3’s sonic enhancements.

If you’re inclined to tweak, Hybrid 3 is loaded with a full suite of user-configurable parameters that allow you to create unique sounds and tweak them to your liking. With support for two simultaneous parts (i.e. a powerful combination of two separate 3-oscillator synths), you can layer, split or spread sounds to create deep, complex and wide patches. 

In addition, a simple patch browser makes it easy to find the preset you need and allows you to load two presets at once, one for each part, for experimenting with rich timbres and playing sounds with multiple patches.

High-Resolution Oscillators

With three versatile oscillators and a sub-oscillator per part, Hybrid 3 can combine multiple oscillators together to create huge pads, leads, basses, and more. Two versatile oscillators can recreate classic subtractive synthesis waveforms for a dose of analog nostalgia. Additionally, these oscillators feature digital wavetable algorithms. 

As a result, users can choose from nine different modes, including Multi-Square waveform, Saw Sync, Saw Cross Modulation (which modulates the pitch of a saw wave with a triangle wave output for complex tones), Saw Multi (a set of seven saws in unison), Square Sync, Square Cross Modulation, Square Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and Wavetable. 

Hybrid 3 offers 100 wavetables, each containing up to 64 single-cycle waveforms. The third oscillator includes sawtooth, square or triangle waves, as well as a noise generator and an auxiliary oscillator for creating deep bass.

Dual Filtering and Saturation Modes

Hybrid 3 features two multi-mode filters that can be run in series or parallel. Additionally, the filters can be assigned one per channel to the stereo outputs, or set up so that Oscillator 1 feeds Filter 1 and the other oscillators are routed to Filter 2. Both filters offer your choice of DCF (Digital Control Filter) or VCF models. The Vintage Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF) makes it easier than ever to achieve the fat retro synth sounds of the 70s and 80s. This sonic filter brings the legendary soft and fat warmth of classic analog synth hardware filters to Hybrid 3.

Use the revolutionary multi-mode filters to control the tone color by removing or emphasizing specific frequencies. Choose from a vast collection of 23 modes. Then dial in the filter cutoff, velocity, and key tracking. Use the Resonance control to change the tone from dull to crisp by emphasizing frequencies near the cutoff and creating self-oscillation. A mixture of the third oscillator and the noise generator can serve as a source of sound modulation for the filter cutoff, creating characteristic electronic sound effects.

To add spice, adjust the filter saturation. Hybrid 3 offers an original Overdrive filter that creates a soft tube clipping and includes five additional filter saturation modes: Distort, which creates a harder, brighter clipping; Hard Clip, which creates a very hard, bright transistor clipping; Rectify, which creates a subtle distortion that preserves the character of the input signal; Bit Crush, which creates intentional distortion by reducing the bit depth; and Resample, which creates intentional distortion by reducing the sample rate.

LFO

Hybrid 3 includes four LFOs per part: two monophonic, one polyphonic, and one dedicated Pump LFO. Use the LFOs to modulate pitch, volume, or cutoff to create vibrato, tremolo, or electronic sweeps. Choose from eight modulation types, from sine and triangle to random, drift, and sample-and-hold. Change the depth, frequency, phase, and sync mode to quickly and dramatically change the sound.

Pump is a special type of envelope that simulates studio sidechains to create a pumping-and-breathing effect. In the case of Hybrid 3, this rhythmic effect can be applied to more than just the overall mix. The Pump LFO can be routed to create a rhythmic effect on a variety of specific parameters, such as pitch or filter settings.

Envelope Editors

Use the four envelope editors to easily model filter, amplitude, and any two other modulation envelopes. Adjust velocity, attack, decay, and tracking, then set the envelope range.

Hype Algorithm

New to Hybrid 3 is Hype, a quick way to enhance the low or high frequencies of any patch. Boost bass and kick drum sounds with deep sub-bass by adjusting the Hype Low parameter, or turn up Hype High to polish the highs with shimmer and shine; the latter sounds great on pads, strings, brass and percussion sounds.