HYDRA SANITY 8.88 — In Development
H.S. is being prepared to send automation directly via MIDI OUT to external synths and other MIDI hardware.
New EXT role:
will be released soon …
HYDRA SANITY v8.88 adds the new EXT MIDI OUT mode for controlling parameters on external MIDI hardware directly from the automation graph.
EXT uses the existing learned MIDI mapping and converts the current HYDRA automation value to an absolute MIDI CC value sent to the external device. Physical controller input keeps priority while the control is being moved, preventing unwanted MIDI echo or parameter fighting. After release, automation takes control again.
Typical use: automation control of synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, grooveboxes, effects, mixers and other MIDI-controlled hardware.
Version 8.88 already includes its main new feature: EXT MODE for controlling external MIDI hardware directly from HYDRA SANITY.
HYDRA SANITY 8.88 extends the Automation Graph beyond Renoise — allowing automation to directly drive external MIDI hardware.
Each HYDRA SANITY button includes a detailed Help Tooltip explaining its function, available modes, and related options.
To enable them, simply switch TOOLTIP ON in the MIDI MAPPER.
Besides the GUI redesign, several workflow improvements are being added to 8.88.
Sequence / Pattern handling has been clarified. HYDRA now distinguishes the linear Sequence position from the Pattern number assigned to that slot. This keeps SEQUENCE LOOP correct even when the same Pattern is reused several times and when Follow is OFF.
Transport mode behavior has been refined so PLAY, REC Note & Automation and REC Automation behave more consistently while PLAY/PAUSE remains a separate state.
EXT MIDI mode adds safe external hardware control using the existing HYDRA mapping system, including physical-controller takeover and resync without MIDI echo.
Track output routing is now visible directly in the GUI, showing values such as Master, Out 1 & 2 or Out 3 & 4.
MIDI MAPPER Safe REC Handoff. When MIDI MAPPER is opened while PLAY REC N&A or PLAY REC Automation is actively running, HYDRA temporarily switches to PLAY only. BACK TO STAGE restores the original REC mode. PAUSED REC modes are intentionally not restored. This prevents MIDI MAPPER work from unintentionally affecting the Automation Graph.
INFO TEXT 1 — Playback / Editor position
SEQ P: x | PTRN P: y | SEQ S: z | PTRN S: w
Shows the playing Sequence and Pattern together with the currently selected Sequence and Pattern.
INFO TEXT 2 — Track / Audio Output
TRK: xx | Track Name | Output Routing
Example: TRK: 01 | Omnisphere | Out 3 & 4
INFO TEXT 3 — MIDI / HYDRA identity
D#:Device Name | CH# | Hydra Name
Example: D1:MiniLAB3 MIDI | CH3 | *Hydra
Added the new EXT MIDI role for controlling external hardware parameters using the authoritative HYDRA automation value.
Added support for absolute MIDI CC output, including REL encoder/decoder input takeover and post-takeover resynchronization.
Improved MCU REL handling — valid absolute MCU values are now authoritative while delta integration remains only as fallback.
Fixed STICKY reacquisition at pattern/loop boundaries. The writer now correctly waits for a real controller release before allowing a new acquisition.
Improved Sm automation smoothing for automation rewritten with ABS FAD / ENC ABS while LINK OFF. Sharp edges are now replaced with a wider, smooth transition without overshoot.
Added protection against repeated Sm re-processing of an already corrected transition.
Improved transport GUI behavior, including PLAY / REC / PAUSE state handling, button grouping and transport-state feedback.
Added animated transport button pulse feedback for active PLAY, REC and PAUSE states.
Improved PLAY / REC radio-group behavior and PAUSE state inheritance.
Improved MIDI Mapper transition handling — the previous REC mode is preserved while mapping and restored afterwards.
Fixed SEQ LOOP with Follow OFF to use the selected pattern instead of the currently playing pattern.
Expanded GUI information with pattern, playback, track routing and MIDI device/channel information.
Improved external-controller ownership, feedback suppression and synchronization to prevent duplicate or conflicting MIDI output.
HYDRA SANITY originally tackled a specific automation problem in Renoise. Nowadays, though, it serves as a more universal control layer between your DAW, MIDI controllers, and external synthesizers.
Before working with Hydra Sanity it is important to know:
endless ENC/DEC can use the button function “LINKING to GRAPH” this means connecting to the original automation graph with a new movement of endless ENC/DEC and after releasing it calculates H.S. interpolation.
In Hydra Sanity, each hydra row has the option to temporarily or permanently activate aftertouch, even on multiple hydra rows at the same time.
This means that the aftertouch response is transmitted to all automation graphs where I activate the AT button (aftertouch) in the hydra row.
The original MIDI mapping for the hydra row remains saved.
