Blairy’s Beatlab Unleashes the Hydrasynth: Sequencer or Secret Weapon?

1. February 2026

TAS

Blairy’s Beatlab Unleashes the Hydrasynth: Sequencer or Secret Weapon?

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If you reckon the Hydrasynth is just another pretty face with no sequencer, Blairy’s Beatlab is here to flip that idea on its head, mate. Old Uncle Blairy dives deep into the Hydrasynth’s wild sound design tricks, showing off how its LFOs moonlight as sneaky step sequencers—no menu-diving headaches, just pure creative chaos. With a DIY spirit and a knack for turning happy accidents into bangers, Blairy samples his Hydrasynth patches straight into the Octatrack, then spices things up with drums and a dash of outback unpredictability. This is hands-on hardware jamming at its finest—grab your coffee and get ready for a ride wilder than a kangaroo on a Red Bull bender.

Hydrasynth: Sound Design Like a BBQ Gone Wild

Blairy’s Beatlab kicks things off by wrangling the Hydrasynth, aiming to cook up an ambient, textural patch from scratch. Forget boring presets—he dives straight into the oscillator section, blending waves quicker than you can say “snag on the barbie.” The Hydrasynth’s wave list lets you pick and randomise up to eight waves, so you’re never stuck with the same old sausage sizzle. If it sounds dodgy, just hit random again—no shame in chasing happy accidents.

The process is gloriously hands-on and a bit chaotic, just how we like it. Blairy’s approach is all about experimentation, using the Hydrasynth’s powerful oscillators and modulation options to sculpt glitchy, evolving sounds. It’s a reminder that this synth is as versatile as a Swiss Army knife at a bush doof, and if you want to see the real magic, you’ll have to watch the video for those wild sonic twists.


LFOs: The Hydrasynth’s Hidden Sequencer Party

Here’s where Blairy drops the bombshell: the Hydrasynth doesn’t just have a sequencer—it’s got five, hiding in plain sight as LFOs. These aren’t your average wobbly LFOs, mate. Set to step mode, they become full-blown sequencers up to 64 steps, and you can lock them to pitch intervals for melodic mayhem. It’s like finding a secret stash of Tim Tams in your tent after a dusty festival night.

Blairy sends LFOs to modulate the wave scan and filter, crafting step sequences that jump, morph, and generally misbehave. The mod matrix is your playground, and with a few tweaks, you can get the Hydrasynth to spit out patterns that’ll keep your neighbours up all night. This trick turns the Hydrasynth into a sequencing beast—no external gear needed, just a bit of Aussie ingenuity.

The way these LFOs work, the Hydrasynth essentially has five sequences up to 64 steps.

"The way these LFOs work, the Hydrasynth essentially has five sequences up to 64 steps."

© Screenshot/Quote: Blairysbeatlab (YouTube)

Octatrack Sampling: Chopping Up the Chaos

Sometimes it's good when you hear things just slowly drift out in and out of time too.

"Sometimes it's good when you hear things just slowly drift out in and out of time too."

© Screenshot/Quote: Blairysbeatlab (YouTube)

Once the Hydrasynth patch is sizzling, Blairy grabs his trusty Octatrack and gets ready to sample the madness. He’s not fussed about perfect sync—just grabs a chunky slice of the patch and lets it drift in and out of time. Sometimes, those wonky rhythms are what make a beat slap harder than a magpie in spring.

With the sample loaded, Blairy skips the tedious slicing and just punches in triggers, tweaking start times to taste. It’s a lazy, brilliant approach that keeps things spontaneous and fun. If you want to see how this unconventional workflow turns chaos into groove, the video’s got all the juicy details and happy accidents.

Drums and Synths: Building a Beat Buffet

No beat’s complete without drums, and Blairy’s not shy about raiding his synth stash. He layers in hats and kicks from the 2600, plus a snare pinched from a vinyl break, mixing old-school grit with futuristic synth textures. It’s a sound palette broader than the Nullarbor, and every element gets its moment to shine.

The process is all about stacking flavours—each drum sound adds a new layer of character, and the Hydrasynth’s patch holds it all together like a good esky at a summer BBQ. If you want to hear how these ingredients blend into a tasty groove, you’ll have to tune in for the jam session that follows.

As soon as you chuck something that's very rhythmic in there, your mind just kind of makes it make sense.

"As soon as you chuck something that's very rhythmic in there, your mind just kind of makes it make sense."

© Screenshot/Quote: Blairysbeatlab (YouTube)

Live Jam: Outback Improvisation and Sonic Mayhem

With everything loaded up, Blairy launches into a live jam that’s as unpredictable as Melbourne weather. He dials in reverb, delay, and fader effects, letting the sounds bounce off each other in real time. The interplay between the Hydrasynth’s evolving patch and the Octatrack’s chopped samples creates a vibe that’s equal parts chaos and control.

This is where Blairy’s Beatlab really shines—improvised, raw, and full of energy. The jam session is a reminder that sometimes the best music happens when you stop worrying about perfection and just let rip. For the full sensory overload, you’ll want to watch the video and catch every twist, turn, and accidental banger.


This article is also available in German. Read it here: https://synthmagazin.at/blairys-beatlab-entfesselt-den-hydrasynth-sequencer-oder-geheimwaffe/
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