HYDRA SANITY
HYDRA SANITY is a utility for Renoise HYDRA DSP, created for live recording, overwriting, and cleaning automation graphs from a physical MIDI controller.
Renoise supports automation, but its native workflow is not designed for comfortable live drawing and overwriting of a HYDRA automation graph from an analog hardware input with dedicated ARM / LATCH / STICKY / IRON control, graph focus, LED feedback, and an Aftertouch → VST automation path.
A Renoise HYDRA DSP target exists, but the native live overwrite workflow is limited.
SOLUTION
Controller movement ─► HYDRA SANITY ─► ARM/LATCH/STICKY/IRON ─► clean automation graph
opens and follows the correct HYDRA automation graph
ARM, LATCH, STICKY, Touch Punch-In, Safe Listen
records and overwrites automation from live hardware input
smooths and cleans existing graph movement
Aftertouch pressure can drive VST instrument automation through HYDRA
The problem HYDRA SANITY solves
Native Renoise workflow
Renoise can record and edit automation, but live graph overwriting from a hardware controller lacks a specialized layer for recording intent, safe state switching, graph focus, input priority, IRON smoothing, and hardware feedback.
HYDRA SANITY workflow
HYDRA SANITY places its own automation engine between the controller and the HYDRA input. It decides when to wait, when to write, when to hold the value, when to clean the graph, and when to only play back safely.
How to start recording an automation graph
HYDRA DSP
Prepare a HYDRA DSP in Renoise and route its input to the target VST or DSP parameter.
Input source
Select a MIDI IN source, encoder, fader, Pitch Bend, Aftertouch, or OSC / MCU_COM source.
Learn / assign
Map REC, LATCH, MUTE/SOLO, input control, or use the AT button without a classic Learn step.
Intent
Choose ARM, LATCH, or STICKY according to how the write should begin and end.
Record / Iron
Start REC PLAY Automation, move the controller, then clean the curve with IRON if needed.
Input sources for the HYDRA graph
ENC REL, DEC REL, ENC ABS, fader, Pitch Bend, MIDI CC, Note buttons, Aftertouch, and MCU-style feedback are not the reason the tool was created. They are the available ways to bring physical movement or pressure into a HYDRA input and then into the Renoise automation graph.
ENC REL / DEC REL
Relative encoder input for precise stepped movement. DEC REL can use LINKING TO GRAPH to continue from the existing automation curve value.
ENC ABS / FA / PB
Absolute value from an encoder, fader, or Pitch Bend source. Useful when the physical controller position should directly represent the value.
MIDI CC / Note buttons
Buttons for REC, LATCH, ARM, MUTE/SOLO, transport, and utility actions. Learn stores the device slot, channel, and MIDI message type.
Aftertouch / AT
Aftertouch can drive a HYDRA row and write keyboard pressure into a VST instrument automation graph — a practical path for a workflow that Renoise does not natively provide as direct AT → VST automation control.
Buttons by recording logic
Prepare the engine
START ENGINE starts monitoring. MODE SETUP / PERF switches between configuration and clean performance view. MIDI ENC / MIDI DEC defines the input interpretation.
Find the correct graph
LINKING TO GRAPH lets a relative encoder continue from the current graph value. ►►►o◄◄◄ opens the selected HYDRA automation graph.
Control recording intent
ARM ON waits for the first movement. LATCH is the default recording state. STICKY holds the last value. LEAVE exits the active intervention.
Write or listen safely
REC PLAY Automation writes the graph without recording notes. REC PLAY NOTE & Automation records notes and automation. Safe Listen plays without overwriting.
graph smoothing / cleaning
Aftertouch as HYDRA input
protects STICKY through boundaries
MIDI / AT / OSC state
Aftertouch for VST instruments
Typical case
In Kontakt, a VST synth, or another instrument, a parameter is exposed in Renoise Instrument Automation. Through a HYDRA row, it can be controlled by Aftertouch pressure.
Practical benefit
Channel Pressure or Poly Pressure is normalized as a HYDRA input and written into the automation graph. AT has high priority over ordinary CC/PB/Panorama input.
MCU_COM / Panorama W.A. workflow
When MCU_COM is used, the hardware layer remains inside MCU_COM. HYDRA SANITY remains the automation engine, receiving W.A. / SGA / ARM / CB events through OSC and writing them into the Renoise graph.
ENC1–ENC8 W.A. PANORAMA_E1–E8 rows
SGA request graph absolute return
ARM / CB flags HYDRA recording intent
GUI Modes: Setup vs. Performance
Setup & MIDI Learn Mode
Detailed view for input configuration, mapping hardware controls, and defining the core behavior of the tool before recording.
Slim “Performance” Mode
Compact layout focused purely on recording intent (ARM, LATCH, STICKY) and real-time visual feedback during live tracking.
Tested hardware, not a limitation
Nektar Panorama T/P
Tested mainly through MCU_COM: W.A. encoders, ARM buttons, LCK, SGA, OSC IPC, display, and LED feedback.
X-Touch Mini / MCU-style
Tested for MCU mode, relative V-Pot data, encoder ring feedback, button LED feedback, and Pitch Bend / FA workflow.
Generic MIDI / virtual ports
Usable with CC, Note, PB, AT, and routed ports. The important part is message type, channel, device slot, and correct Learn storage.
Ready to clean up your automation graphs?
