Hi,
I'm seriously eyeing Zebra and have a question about modulation.

In Massive I can set the modulation range of the target between any two points. So, for instance, on a knob that goes from 0 to 10 I can modulate between 0 and 10 or 2 to 9 or 6 to 7 etc.
This is a very helpful feature to dial in the sweet spots I'm after.

In viewing Zebra tutorials I suspect that Zebra is limited to modulation ranges that start from 0 and go to the specified range. In other words all modulation must be from 0 to 10 or 0 to 4 or 0 to 7 etc.

Is my understanding accurate or is the modulation range user definable?

Thanks

It doesn't need those, because the modulation is done using separate modulation knobs by which you use to move thereby setting it's range by default.
Basically assigning a modulation knob to a parameter, accomplishes the same thing, only in a different way.
Setting the modulation source knob to whatever value, is the range for it's target.

Very much so. There are a lot of modulation options with Zebra, the simplest being direct modulation of a target.

For example, almost every knob labelled "..." in a device is a modulation destination. When you set it to a specific modulator (for example, LFO2) the knob label will change names from "..." to "Lfo2". At this point the knob controls the amount of modulation from the source modulator applied to the target. For example, here's a simple setup:



In the above patch I have LFO2 modulating the Tune (pitch) value of Oscillator 1. The display at the top shows I have the knob's value set to -12.00. On the right I have LFO2 set as a square wave LFO. Now when I hit a note I have a poor man's arpeggiator playing 1/4 note octaves. I can set the LFO modulation knob to +12.00, +7.00(fifths), +5.00(fourths), etc...

There are actually many, many more ways to refine the modulation range within Zebra -- I don't want to overwhelm you.

In short I consider Zebra a modulation playground with quite a bit of flexibility in how to dial in the sweet spot. I hope that helps.

If you have a parameter set to 5 and you apply an LFO to that parameter with a depth of 2.5, the range of modulation will be 2.5-7.5. If you adjust the parameter to a value of 7.5, the range of modulation will then be 5-10. If you apply an envelope to the parameter with a mod depth of 2.5 the range will be 7.5-10 because the envelope is a uni-polar modulation source. If you set the mod depth to -2.5 the range will be 7.5-5. In this way, the parameter itself acts as an offset and the mod depth is a bi-polar attenuator. So yes, you can define the range of modulation.

All those "..." knobs are modulation destinations (IIRC). And modulating modulation depth is the next level anyway, "meta-modulation".

I guess you meant to write something else, but I'm currently in smug-know-it-all mode.

There's exactly 8 knobs that made me write "almost" -- Pre delay and loop mode for ENV1-4:

Maybe you can convince Urs to change the not-used label to something like '---' for consistency in the next update.

Strictly speaking, there IS consistency for Pre delay and loop modes, and IS NO for modulations. Labels under the usual knobs show name of parameter that this knob is tweaking - for example, "decay", "damp". And "Pre delay" mode and "Loop" mode also showing name of tweaked parameter. But "..." modulation knobs show not parameter that is tweaked, but modulation source (Env1, for example). So there is unconsistency that some knobs have labels representing source of modulation ("..." knobs) , and some - destination of modulation (usual knobs), and they all have the same design of knobs and labels.
Last edited by trance_lucent on Wed May 16, 2012 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total

I have slightly modified my default Zebra skin so that modulations are shown in red, and adujustable envelope parameters remained in black. I also made some reverb labels orange to discern the diffusion section from the rest. It's neat.

Urs, take note for Zebra GUI update?


Last edited by EvilDragon on Wed May 16, 2012 8:07 am; edited 1 time in total

Thanks for clearing it up, guys.

Ah of course - I forgot about those. I'd like to see a visual clue as to what the "..." is actually modulating. Lines / arrows / enclosing boxes or whatever. OTOH there are tens of possible tweaks (maybe even a hundred!) that would all add up to make the Zebra environment a more inviting place to "be". Like OSX vs Win7 (ducks). I still intend to make a list

Hey that is handy, can I get that skin off you by chance? Thanks.

Sure, here you go.

https://www.box.com/s/0d255965c3dcd2db2e52

Go to your Zebra2.data folder, inside there you have Data folder. Back up "Images" and "Scripts" folders and unpack the archive there, replacing those two folders.

Thanks EvilDragon

Hey...great idea.
Thanks.

Just wanted to update that I bought Zebra and within minutes had a fantastic Dubstep sound that I'm working into a tune.
Great synth, the possibilities are endless!

And I love how you can adjust the UI size... this needs to be a more common feature.