A Taste of the Flagship

When the ASM Hydrasynth was first released, I fell in love with it immediately. I remember planning exactly where it would go in my studio—on the far-left shelves of the synth wall, which were wider than the others and would have been a perfect fit. At the time, that felt like the plan.

Not long after, ASM released the desktop version. That caught my attention as well, mostly because of its smaller footprint. It felt like a practical alternative in case space became an issue. Then they released the larger keyboard version, which I thought was fantastic—but realistically, I knew I didn’t have room for it.

What really got my attention came next.

The Explorer Moment

ASM released the Hydrasynth Explorer—a 37-key mini version with the same core sound engine. Naturally, it lacked a few features found on the larger keyboard and desktop models, but it hit a sweet spot for me:

• A much smaller footprint
  
• Slightly lower cost than the desktop version
  
• Polyphonic aftertouch keys still intact
  

Suddenly, I could have the flavour of the Hydrasynth in my studio in a way that made sense for both my space and my budget. It didn’t feel like a downgrade—it felt like a smart adaptation.

A Growing Trend

This idea of releasing smaller, more accessible versions of flagship instruments seems to be catching on.

I could be wrong, but I believe Modal may have been one of the first to really lean into this with their mini-key versions, starting with the Cobalt line. More recently, Arturia released a compact mini-key version of the Astrolab, offering most of the same experience as the larger models in a reduced form factor.

We’ve seen similar ideas before in different ways:

• Yamaha’s MODX as a streamlined alternative to the Montage
  
• Roland’s Fantom-0 series as a lighter, more affordable take on their flagship workstation
  

It’s encouraging to see manufacturers offering these kinds of options. Flagship instruments are often priced and designed with professional, full-time use in mind—but that doesn’t mean only professionals want them.

Access Without Excess

Of course, no one is saying that if you’re not a career musician you shouldn’t own high-end gear. Plenty of home studios feature flagship instruments, and for good reason—they’re inspiring, powerful, and often beautifully designed.

But for those of us who want most of the sound and experience without the size or cost of the full model, these scaled-down versions are a welcome option. Yes, there are compromises—but if they’re compromises you can live with, the trade-off can be well worth it.

In the end, having access to the sound and character of an instrument—without needing the space or budget of a commercial studio—can be exactly what makes it usable and inspiring in a home studio.

And sometimes, a taste really is enough.