Rare Waves Hydronium

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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The Rare Waves Hydronium is a semi-modular synthesizer with unmistakable true analog tone. Its rich array of CV patch points can interconnect with other analog synthesizers to inspire your music deeper and further in the creative zone.

While it is designed to fulfill the role of a TB-303 inspired acid synth, Hydronium is not a clone circuit. Instead it is an all-new design with its functions re-imagined and extended a little beyond what you might expect from the clone genre.

Its tone is based on a single VCO, a resonant low-pass filter, and a simple decay envelope. And as you’d anticipate of any acid synth, it has programmable glide (pitch slide) and dynamic accents for individual notes.

Hydronium’s classic tone is a natural choice for sequenced basslines. Switch the envelope to gate mode, and it also serves as a lead synthesizer when you need a bright, clean sawtooth or pulse waveform in the mix.

It can be played either by MIDI control or CV-Gate. In addition, its built-in MIDI-to-CV converter with post-glide v/oct output lets you use it as a bridge between your MIDI controller and other analog synthesizers.

Hydronium features an audio effects loop that is positioned between its filter and VCA. This is a good place for distortion effects, phaser, and certain other effects that tend to increase the noise floor when patched to a synth’s line out. The pre-VCA effect return silences the self-noise from the effect, preserving full dynamic range even when you bend its tone with a high-gain fuzz pedal, for example.

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EA78751

Rare Waves Hydronium: DIY acid synth

EA78751

Synth DIY: The Rare Waves Hydronium kit

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Rare Waves Hydronium - Lithium Drift (synth demo)

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Rare Waves Hydronium analog synth acid noodle

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Rare Waves Hydronium – Anode Sludge (synth demo)

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Rare Waves Hydronium: TB-303 for Eurorack

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Rare Waves Hydronium Sound Demo (no talking)

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Critic Reviews

Rare Waves Hydronium Acid Analog Synthesizer Is Inspired By TB-303!

synthanatomy.com

The Rare Waves Hydronium is a fresh take on the classic acid synth, delivering a rich, analog tone that stands out without being a mere clone of the TB-303. Its semi-modular design and CV patch points provide extensive creative possibilities, particularly for acid music enthusiasts. However, the single VCO and basic envelope may limit some sound design aspirations. While it excels in producing classic basslines and leads, the synth's utility could hinge on your specific needs. Overall, it’s a worthy addition for those seeking to expand their sonic palette, though it might not satisfy every producer's quest for complexity.

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