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Super sounds, super fast
Hive: lightweight synth, heavyweight sound
Sleek, streamlined and super fast. Hive was built for speed. An effortless workflow, low CPU use and a single page interface means you can build your tracks in no time. Being ‘fast and simple’ does not mean sacrificing sound quality or creative control. Hive is packed with features, controls and enough flexibility to deliver stunning sounds. A lightweight synth with a heavyweight sound.
Hive up close…
Hover over the dots 
below to learn about Hive’s features
See all features
- CPU-friendly VA synthesizer
- Single page design
- Each panel offers presets in a drop-down menu
- Solo buttons for each oscillator and filter panel
- Skinnable UI
- Over 2700 factory presets
- 3 different synth engine characters
- 2 pairs of stereo oscillators and sub-oscillators with 9 different waveforms each
- Polyphonic (up to 16 voices), duophonic, mono and legato modes
- Up to 16× unison per oscillator
- 2 multimode filters: lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandreject or peaking
- Flexible oscillator and filter routing
- Common clock for arpeggiator and sequencer, with strict host-sync option
- 2 LFOs with various shapes, sync options and unipolar switch
- Extra vibrato oscillator
- 2 pairs of ADSR envelopes, each stage can be individually modulated
- Glide control, constant rate or constant time mode
- 12-slot modulation matrix with 2 targets per slot, countless targets including all FX parameters
- Drag and drop modulation assignment
- 7 quality effects on board: distortion, chorus, delay, phaser, EQ, plate reverb, compressor
- On-screen keyboard
- Resizable UI from 70% to 200%
- Arpeggiator with direction, order, octave and frame/restart controls
- 16-step sequencer to drive notes or modulation
- MIDI learn page and editable list
- Global preferences page
Sights and sounds
- Audio Demos
- Videos
- Screenshots
Enter the Hive --:-- / --:--
Hive gets rolling with a drum and bass track from Biome Digital 
. All sounds by Hive except the drums.
Techno --:-- / --:--
Big room style Techno from Biome Digital . All sounds by Hive except the drums.
Ultimate Power --:-- / --:--
A big and brash EDM type track from Biome Digital . All sounds by Hive except the drums.
Nectar --:-- / --:--
An energetic ’90s style trance track from Aiyn Zahev . All sounds by Hive with some additional FX and compression.
Downtempo --:-- / --:--
A gentle bubbling downtempo track created by Oddvar. Some additional drums, EQ and compression
Escalation and Retaliation --:-- / --:--
A soundtrack style example from Kevin Schroeder . All sounds by Hive.
Deep House --:-- / --:--
A contemporary smooth deep house flavoured track created by Oddvar. Some additional drums, EQ and compression.
Dubstep --:-- / --:--
An atmospheric dubstep piece created by Oddvar. Some additional drums, EQ and compression.
Acid --:-- / --:--
Bringing Hive’s acid abilities to forefront with an acid house styled track from Oddvar. Some additional drums, EQ and compression.
Selected Hive presets
A run through of some of Hive’s factory presets
Introduction to Hive - Part 1
Part 1 is all about the control bar and preset browser.
Introduction to Hive - Part 2
Part 2 is all about the oscillators.
Introduction to Hive - Part 3
Part 3 is all about the filters.
Introduction to Hive - Part 4
Part 4 takes a closer look at Hive’s glide, vibrato and pitchbend section.
Introduction to Hive - Part 5
Part 5 demonstrates Hive’s modulation matrix.
Introduction to Hive - Part 6
Part 6 feature Hive’s LFOs.
Hive main interface
Hive main interface showing alternate skin Honeycomb
Hive’s effects
Hive’s arpeggiator and sequencer panel. Also showing alternate keyboard design.
Hive’s modulation matrix along the bottom. Six of twelve shown.
Hive’s preset browser
Preferences and options in Hive
Hive’s MIDI learn screen for quick controller assignment
Whatever your style from dance to ambient, progressive rock to R&B—Hive is the right tool for the job: a lightweight synth that delivers a heavyweight sound.
“…one of those rare virtual instruments that sounds so versatile nobody will notice that you made the whole song with just one synthesizer.”
SoundBytes Magazine
September 2015
“…most workflow-efficient, high-performance synth I’ve used with this amount of flexibility and pristine sound quality…”
95%
Bedroom Producers Blog
May 2017
“…a straightforward, user-friendly synth with superb sound quality and an interesting sonic range…”
Attack Magazine
June 2015
“…allow[s] you to work fast and without obstacles—something both beginners and advanced users will welcome.”
3.7/5
Resident Advisor
June 2015
“Hive is a modern synth with a great sound…”
Gearjunkies
October 2015
“…makes a convincing case as a go-to plug-in for impressively full-bodied subtractive synthesis.”
AskAudio
June 2015
“…Hive makes a convincing case as a go-to plug-in for impressively full-bodied subtractive synthesis.”
9/10
MusicTech
August 2015
“…easily the best choice for anyone looking for a straightforward, fat-sounding, and future-proof virtual analogue synth.”
ComputerMusic
August 2015
Editor’s Choice Award 2015
ComputerMusic
Performance Award 2015
ComputerMusic
“A true instrument capable of responding to the user’s desires and nuances, regardless of whether he or she is looking for delicate or big, fat sounds.”
Audiofanzine
September 2015
“Er liefert alle Sorten an Analogsounds von fein bis brachial mit erster Güte bei geringer Prozessorlast,…”
Amazona
July 2015
Sehr Gut 2015
Amazona
“Excellent quality and beautiful sounds in a neat little package that doesn’t tax your computer.”
Audionewsroom
October 2015
Global
Polyphonic (up to 16 voices), duophonic, mono and legato modes
Synth Engine
3 synth engine characters (Normal, Dirty, Clean)
Oscillators
- 2 pairs of stereo oscillators, 9 different waveforms each
- Up to 16× unison per oscillator
Filters
- 2 multimode filters (lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandreject or peaking)
- Flexible oscillator and filter routing
Arp+Seq
- Common clock for arpeggiator and sequencer, with strict host-sync option
- Arpeggiator with direction, order, octave and frame/restart controls
- 16-step sequencer to drive notes or modulation
LFOs
2 LFOs with various shapes, sync options and unipolar switch
Performance
- Glide control, constant rate or constant time mode
- Extra vibrato oscillator
Envelopes
2 pairs of ADSR envelopes, each stage can be individually modulated
Configuration
- Resizable GUI from 70% to 200%
- MIDI learn page and editable list
- Global preferences page
Modulation
- 12-slot modulation matrix with 2 targets per slot, countless targets including all FX parameters
- Drag and drop modulation assignment
Effects
7 quality effects on board: distortion, chorus, delay, phaser, EQ, plate reverb, compressor
Download the demo and enter your serial number to unlock the full version. The demo version emits crackling sound at irregular intervals.
Hive 1.1 (revision 3898)
Released October 7, 2015
Release notes
Linux beta note: Before purchasing, please be aware the Linux versions of our plug-ins are still considered beta. While the plug-ins are stable, we are not able to provide the same level of support for these products as we do for the macOS and Windows versions. Support is provided via the Linux and u-he communities on our forum . CLOSE
Requirements
Mac OS X 10.5 or newer
or
Windows XP/Vista or newer
or
Linux
- 1GB RAM, more recommended
- 50MB free disk space
- 1000 × 600 or larger display
- Modern CPU (Sandy Bridge or newer recommended)
- Host software
Formats
Hive is not a standalone product, it requires host software. Hive is compatible with nearly all DAWs.
Avaliable as Audio Units (AU), VST2, AAX (Pro Tools 10.3.7 or later) plug-ins with 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
User Guides
Downloads for Hive
Try the latest builds of Hive, which include improvements and bug fixes. Note: these are stable, but still beta versions.
Older Hive installers are in our release archive (for legacy systems).
