KVR Audio

SuitcaseOfLizards · Post by **SuitcaseOfLizards** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:10 pm

Hi, I'm looking for a synth that will compliment Alchemy in my ambient compositions.

Absynth is an obvious choice, but how about Zebra? Zebra looks like it's better supported but I'm not sure how "ambient" it can get...

All opinions appreciated!

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:13 pm

Both are equally valid choices. Absynth is more "alien" sounding (in particular because of its effects which are quite non-standard), Zebra is more pristine and solid sounding, but with a lot of potential to mess things up however you like.

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:20 pm

Absynth is held back for me by it's GUI, in particular, the text fields everywhere. But it's a first choice for a lot of people into the ambient/industrial/illbient side of things.

Zebra can pretty much do anything. With the right treatment any sound can be ambient. I'm thinking reverb and environmental cues here. Check out xoxos' Outdoorverb, good for giving an outdoors feel.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:21 pm

+1 on them being equally valid choices. I find the three compliment each other quite well. Absynth comes a little closer to sounding like Alchemy and so to get some more 'range' in character I would probably decide to go with Zebra over Absynth. Really depends on how you intend to use them though.

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:31 pm

Generally what make most ambient patches sound ambient are effects. Reverb, delay, modulations etc over a sound that has a long release and all that. Absynth does have some pretty great ambient effects. Another thing that gives Absynth the edge is the granular synthesis which is a massively useful synthesis technique for ambient sounds.

SuitcaseOfLizards · Post by **SuitcaseOfLizards** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:33 pm

I'm really leaning towards Zebra now. As I do more research it seems Absynth is a pain to create patches for, while with Zebra I can get Dark Zebra and go from there...

I hate having to choose! I can only afford ONE of them!

PatchAdamz · Post by **PatchAdamz** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:47 pm

As several have already said, BOTH are great.

Something important to keep in mind is the variety of using DIFFERENT oscillators and filters is of extreme importance.

Let me explain, each synth has its own sound due to such elements as filters, oscillators, effects, etc.

When you layer one synth in a recording many times without the contrast of other synths, you begin to get a "sameness" that may not benefit the recording when mixed.

Using multiple synths allows for tonal variation and sonic depth that using one synth cannot duplicate.

So tonal variety in using multiple synths is really the way to go.

An example would be that synth "X" is really good for thick pads while synth "Y" is great for bass sounds.
Yet synth "Z" is fantastic for atmosphere.

I generally find that each synth has its own strengths and weaknesses.

No one synth does it all.

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:48 pm

woolyloach wrote:I'm really leaning towards Zebra now. As I do more research it seems Absynth is a pain to create patches for, while with Zebra I can get Dark Zebra and go from there...

I hate having to choose! I can only afford ONE of them!

Exactly what I thought when playing around with Absynth, that it's a pain to program.
...but my obvious choice atm would be Zebra.

Zebra is so flexible that you can build synth structures within at one point. ...basically every synth that is great for physical modeling (without being specially for physical modeling) is great for doing about everything....

You don't need The Dark Zebra to create complex ambient patches if you wish to do that... TDZ is more like a cool patch bank with few extra Zebra stuff.

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:52 pm

double post, sorry!

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:56 pm

woolyloach wrote:I'm really leaning towards Zebra now. As I do more research it seems Absynth is a pain to create patches for, while with Zebra I can get Dark Zebra and go from there...

I hate having to choose! I can only afford ONE of them!

Absynth probably has more sounds available for it from various sources, I like its browser and since it has so many sounds for it. I really use it more as a preset player. But I bought Zebra because of being able to program it and finding new depths in it while doing it. Still the range of sounds available for Zebra is also enough to use it for its presets too.

The other things to consider is that Absynth seems to be waning a bit while Zebra interest seems to be growing quite a bit. So again, the edge goes to Zebra. And especially if you plan on getting the dark Zebra HZ version, since that will also set you up for Zebra3 whenever it's released.

ZebraHZ is the better choice here since you can only get one IMO.

xx JPRacer xx · Post by **xx JPRacer xx** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:00 pm

Alchemy would be my 1st choice (or NI Reactor, The Mangle, Granite or any other granular ones). Since you already have Alchemy I would say go for Zebra. Another good one would be Diversion, it really got a unique, "crystalline" sound.

4damind · Post by **4damind** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:14 pm

Absynth is the first choice for a lot of people making Ambient but I would also take into account that Absynth is Afaik older than Zebra. I remember it was some of my first softsynth I bought in 2001 or 2002... and I cannot remember about a competitor this time.

For preset users Absynth is IMO a better choice because 80% of the presets are ambient/soundscape/FX/experimental stuff and so it's easy to find something which can be used for typical Ambient (and to be honest, I don't like the Zebra presets). There are also some 3rd party libraries available (eg. from John Lehmkuhl) which showing a bit that Absynth is not only a "alien sound machine"

Absynth GUI is... yes.. not so easy to understand and in this department Zebra wins.

Anyway... for Ambient (but also for Lounge or similar styles) I would prefer Absynth.

S1gnsOfL1fe · Post by **S1gnsOfL1fe** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:17 pm

That is a tough choice. Surprised nobody mentioned Iris though...Alchemy & Iris, that's my combo. However Zebra is such a noble beast. I find myself turning to it way more than Absynth, but again it depends on what you want to do with it. Absynth is king of the weird and Zebra...well, it's Zebra.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:26 pm

S1gnsOfL1fe wrote:That is a tough choice. Surprised nobody mentioned Iris though...Alchemy & Iris, that's my combo. However Zebra is such a noble beast. I find myself turning to it way more than Absynth, but again it depends on what you want to do with it. Absynth is king of the weird and Zebra...well, it's Zebra.

I actually prefer Iris over Absynth too. But they are different though, and the OP asked specifically about Absynth and ZebraHZ (which are close enough in price after applying the Dino coupon). I personally think that Alchemy covers the Absynth area well enough and that leaves ZebraHZ.

Another thing to consider... Absynth will probably get a sale price in a few months to pick it up cheaper. The best deal you're going to get on Zebra is through the retire a dino deal.

Oh, and the Dark Zebra is more than just a Hans Zimmer soundset.

Delfinoverde · Post by **Delfinoverde** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:36 pm

Absynth 4 or 5 is very good for making Ambient music!
It's impossible to get similar deep & wide sounds with u-he Zebra.
Alchemy is also very good.
VIR2 - Q has some fantastic ambient sounds, but the library is so huge, taking much space on your HD.
http://www.vir2.com/instruments/q

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Zebra vs Absynth for ambient?