I'm in the market for something like Z2. But it's hard to know what's going on here, having just "dropped in". I've read various threads, but the 71 page Z2 thread is so detailed... I need an overview:
- When is Z2 for PC due out ? I was reading about it in January I think and it seemed imminent then. Is there a problem ? Will it be another few weeks, or early next year ?
- I went to download the PC demo and it says it expires Jan 1 2006 !
Is there some up to overview of what's happening and a direct link to the latest PC demo ?
What's the Z2 overview ?
-
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1530 posts since 20 Feb, 2003
-
- u-he
- 28062 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
The Overview:
I havn't updated the website, the download email or anything because there *was* indeed a problem: Too much feedback, too many requests, too little time left to get actual work done. That's the disadvantage of company models that are based on personal email contacts. I'm slow at writing things, even a little post like this costs me 30 minutes (well, drinking my first coffee here).
The download email links to a version that still works, but it's in demo mode. Like the original preview, it's already pretty close to the final thing. Customers can unlock it and use it in production. There are a few bugs and features missing, but none are critical.
Technically, it will be finished soonishly, when all of these features are implemented and tested:
- support for VST 2.4 - prepared
- SSE optimizations for Pc + Intel Macs - being tested, some bugfixes required
- installer + better file layout on Windows - outsourced to freelancer
- Module Presets - technically done, but awaiting new file handling for Win
- Microtuning - mostly done, waiting for Module Presets
- Smart Patches - ready for testing
- GUI layout persistance - concept awaiting implementation
- finally a keyboard control in the gui - concept awaiting implementation
- some little buttons & knobs that do various little things - 90% done
As you can see, none of these things are critical issues. If you can live without them, then the current state of Z2 can be considered final, with the expectation of some nice extras due soon. However, these little extras will make it a round product and it won't become official without them.
Most or all of the above mentioned features are more or less ready for beta testing. Once this is done (1-2 weeks from now, hopefully?), customers will be provided with the final product. It will take another 1-2 weeks to update the website, finish some tutorials (hopefully, if one of my freelancers has enough time), add final graphics to the manual. And, Zebralette (currently mag ware) will be added which is good for learning things.
So, a lot of things are going on, it makes great progress, but I won't do any marketing in terms of "Update: Cutoff knob moved two pixels to left for ultimate usability!". Instead I'll remain as concentrated as possible on the most important thing: Making it perfect.
Cheers,
Urs
I havn't updated the website, the download email or anything because there *was* indeed a problem: Too much feedback, too many requests, too little time left to get actual work done. That's the disadvantage of company models that are based on personal email contacts. I'm slow at writing things, even a little post like this costs me 30 minutes (well, drinking my first coffee here).
The download email links to a version that still works, but it's in demo mode. Like the original preview, it's already pretty close to the final thing. Customers can unlock it and use it in production. There are a few bugs and features missing, but none are critical.
Technically, it will be finished soonishly, when all of these features are implemented and tested:
- support for VST 2.4 - prepared
- SSE optimizations for Pc + Intel Macs - being tested, some bugfixes required
- installer + better file layout on Windows - outsourced to freelancer
- Module Presets - technically done, but awaiting new file handling for Win
- Microtuning - mostly done, waiting for Module Presets
- Smart Patches - ready for testing
- GUI layout persistance - concept awaiting implementation
- finally a keyboard control in the gui - concept awaiting implementation
- some little buttons & knobs that do various little things - 90% done
As you can see, none of these things are critical issues. If you can live without them, then the current state of Z2 can be considered final, with the expectation of some nice extras due soon. However, these little extras will make it a round product and it won't become official without them.
Most or all of the above mentioned features are more or less ready for beta testing. Once this is done (1-2 weeks from now, hopefully?), customers will be provided with the final product. It will take another 1-2 weeks to update the website, finish some tutorials (hopefully, if one of my freelancers has enough time), add final graphics to the manual. And, Zebralette (currently mag ware) will be added which is good for learning things.
So, a lot of things are going on, it makes great progress, but I won't do any marketing in terms of "Update: Cutoff knob moved two pixels to left for ultimate usability!". Instead I'll remain as concentrated as possible on the most important thing: Making it perfect.
Cheers,
Urs-
- KVRAF
- 25393 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
What is up with ModFX1? Doesn't seem to work...
Also, vibrato on the Comb module has an effect sometimes, and other times has no effect... Is that just how it is, or is it not working correctly?
Also, vibrato on the Comb module has an effect sometimes, and other times has no effect... Is that just how it is, or is it not working correctly?
-
- KVRAF
- 25393 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
oh... osc and fmo both have those nice key and velocity curves... the comb which is also a sound generator does not have such curves... any plan to add them? Lovin the comb modules btw.
what is cluster? the only time I tried it it pegged the meters with a god awful screetch no matter what settings.
also, the formant filter - even a little bit of the formant control ups the gain a lot. Makes it hard to use without having to go turn the volume of everything else way down.
what is cluster? the only time I tried it it pegged the meters with a god awful screetch no matter what settings.
also, the formant filter - even a little bit of the formant control ups the gain a lot. Makes it hard to use without having to go turn the volume of everything else way down.
-
- u-he
- 28062 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
That one shouldn't have any bug. Just send me a patch where it doesn't work so I can determine the problem...pdxindy wrote:What is up with ModFX1? Doesn't seem to work...
Vibrato-not-assigned bug is fixed.pdxindy wrote:Also, vibrato on the Comb module has an effect sometimes, and other times has no effect... Is that just how it is, or is it not working correctly?
Well, combs are a chimera between generator and filter...pdxindy wrote:oh... osc and fmo both have those nice key and velocity curves... the comb which is also a sound generator does not have such curves... any plan to add them? Lovin the comb modules btw.
The noise generators have Key/Vel Scales, too, but no gui for them currently. Might be worth considering.
It's experimental and it's not in the official preview version, just in the "leaked" beta. It's some dsp stuff I thought about, but it doesn't deliver just yet. It won't be in the final.pdxindy wrote:what is cluster? the only time I tried it it pegged the meters with a god awful screetch no matter what settings.
That's the property of these formant filters. They are a pretty unique algorithm that emphasizes very narrow bands. Thus you either hear nothing, or it'll be very loud, depending on the input material. Hard to tame. If I can find a better way to implement this stuff, I'll add it as an extra mode or even an extra filter.pdxindy wrote:also, the formant filter - even a little bit of the formant control ups the gain a lot. Makes it hard to use without having to go turn the volume of everything else way down.
Cheers,
Urs-
- u-he
- 28062 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Fixed already.pdxindy wrote:Can you please add polyphonic AT in the future.
Thanks for a great synth!
Urs-
- KVRAF
- 35271 posts since 14 Sep, 2002 from In teh net
-
- something special
- 8570 posts since 16 Mar, 2002 from Birmingham, Alabama
http://www.u-he.com/zebra/manual/aMUSEd wrote:Manual?
-
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1530 posts since 20 Feb, 2003
Thanks Urs 
I hear so many good things in lots of threads about Zebra 2, I'm holding off buying anything else
I hear so many good things in lots of threads about Zebra 2, I'm holding off buying anything else-
- KVRAF
- 25393 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
hmmm... the preset where modfx1 was not working (and I tried everything repeatedly) now works when I activate it. If it happens again, i'll save the preset and send it to you.
There is room for another page like the more FMO page with 4 sets of key/vel scales. 2 for noise, 2 for comb. The noise can use it too for sure. I didn't mention it the first time cause I was trying not to be greedy
and cabinfever - I just purchased Zebra2 and though it is not the 'final' version, it is solid and functional as is. If you are waiting for the final, there is no need to wait. What is there now is more final than many shipping apps, which then come out with a v2.1 a few months later.
There is room for another page like the more FMO page with 4 sets of key/vel scales. 2 for noise, 2 for comb. The noise can use it too for sure. I didn't mention it the first time cause I was trying not to be greedy
and cabinfever - I just purchased Zebra2 and though it is not the 'final' version, it is solid and functional as is. If you are waiting for the final, there is no need to wait. What is there now is more final than many shipping apps, which then come out with a v2.1 a few months later.
-
- u-he
- 28062 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Wait and see. Nothing too serious though. Just little add ons that help learning things. It'll start out with one or two of them, and more are gonna be added in subsequent updates.strav100 wrote:What are these secret modules referred to on your website
Cheers,
Urs-
- KVRAF
- 25393 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
When I overwrite a preset with change to the reverb settings, it does not save.
Also, would it be possible to make a module that had something like the osc fx which could be put in the chain after the comb module? The osc fx do wider range of shaping to an osc than a shaper module can do on the comb.
Also, would it be possible to make a module that had something like the osc fx which could be put in the chain after the comb module? The osc fx do wider range of shaping to an osc than a shaper module can do on the comb.
-
- KVRAF
- 25393 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
The ARP is interesting, more powerful than at first glance... It has the function 'step'. Options are Next, Same, First and Last... Not clear what they do. Sometimes one or the other creates some alternating pattern with each run through?
Also, the octave control. I am used to octave doing the run through the arp, then transposing up for the next run through. This does something different where it sound like it alternates by note rather than by sequence. A moe musical choice I would say.
ARP Portamento switch is backwards. Off is on, On is off.
Also, the octave control. I am used to octave doing the run through the arp, then transposing up for the next run through. This does something different where it sound like it alternates by note rather than by sequence. A moe musical choice I would say.
ARP Portamento switch is backwards. Off is on, On is off.
