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Zebra
by u-he
104 members are watching Zebra for news
Product Zebra
Developer u-he
Primary Type Synth (Modular)
Price (MSRP) $199
Plug-in Formats
Instrument(s)VSTAudio Unit
Operating System Availability
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System		 Latest
Version		 Download Is it
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Windows 2.2 Demo / TrialReleased
Mac OS XMac OS X Universal Binary 2.2 Demo / TrialReleased
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Average User Rating Average rating - 9.708
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Zebra

Zebra is a wireless modular synthesizer that combines subtractive and additive synthesis with a powerful modulation engine and built-in effects section. Version 2.0 adds the sonic capabilities of FM, modeling of natural sounds and advanced wavetable synthesis.

Zebra 2 offers many different types of synthesis and sound manipulation options, and you can mix them up in any way you choose. For instance, you can easily combine additive synthesis with phase distortion and frequency modulation. Or you can recreate the structure of your favourite analogue synthesizer. All this is done in an intuitive drag-and-drop fashion, without cluttering the user interface with cables.

Zebra is meant to be the most flexible yet easy to use synthesizer one can think of. Zebra presents you with as much complexity as you need for a particular sound, but not more. It's layout is arranged so that nothing gets in your way, unless you explicitly want it.

Features:

  • Modular architecture with up to: 4 oscillators, 4 dedicated FM oscillators, 4 filters (19 types), 4 VCA/pan, comb filters, wave-shapers, ring-modulators, noise-generators for each voice -- 24 audio modules, 28 modulation sources, thousands of parameters to tweak; accessible via an intuitive user interface.
  • Drag and drop circuit building.
  • 4 syncable Multi-Stage envelopes/step-sequencers.
  • 4 ADSR envelopes, 4 LFOs per voice.
  • Play-modes: polyphonic, single trigger, legato modes and arpeggiator/step sequencer.
  • Spectral Editor: Unlimited number of Waveforms (including additive synthesis).
  • Flexible Modulation Matrix.
  • 16 on-board Effects: ModFX (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser), Delay, Reverb, Ring-modulator, Filters, Waveshapers, Mixers.
  • 2 internal send busses and flexible effects routing.
  • Many effect parameters can be modulated.
  • 4 XY-controls, allowing for deep realtime sound morphs.
  • MIDI Learn: All knobs remotely controllable by MIDI Control Changes, also with relative/incremental controllers.
  • More than 1000 presets.

User Reviews by KVR Members for Zebra.

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By VitaminD
On 27th June 2007
Version: 2

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VitaminD

6 of 7 people found
this review helpful.

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If I for some odd reason was stuck on an island with nothing to do but eat fruit and write music and then ONLY could pick one synth to use.. Zebra2 would be my pick.

That said, I'm obviously not in such a situation yet still tend to use Zebra2 a lot.

The capabilities of this synth are rather incredible to me.. It has a very full sound naturally, but has the ability to sound thin and digital or even harsh if so desired. There are so many features packed into the synth that I'm unsure if I'd ever need any other synth.

Stability has been good in my host of choice (Orion Platinum) and cpu usage is acceptable for me (at this time I'm still on an Athlon XP 2600+)

Zebra2 can be a very complex synth if you want it to be.. at the same time, I've made several stunning sounds through much less complex patches. And the amount of presets that are available for Zebra2 means even if you aren't looking to be a synth sound designer/programmer, you will still have no trouble pulling out tons of fantastic, usable sounds.

In short, Zebra2 one of a very short list of software synthesizers I feel is actually worth it's asking price. You'll want to give the trial and run through for yourself.. I think you'll be pleased.
 
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By JacK_SoliuM
On 20th March 2007
Version: 2.1

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JacK_SoliuM

8 of 14 people found
this review helpful.

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GUI :
very easy to use.
very easy to understand.
very clear interface.

SOUND :
this synth have a perfect sound , very professional.
you can do everything with it!! (synth, pad, bassline, ambient textures, fx...and many more!! )

FEATURES :
the best thing of this synth are the X Y controllers (crazy realtime modulation , very useful in live)
but it had a lot of different great features like : Arp , modmatrix , and many others...


DOCS :
no problem , it's clear and very full ( but Zebra is so easy to understand that you dont need docs!!)

PRESETS :
there are a lot of presets , but they aren't all excellent ( some are really great ,
some aren't ) .
but the most important thing is that you can do everything with this synth so you can create your owns presets very easily !!

SUPPORT :
go in "u-he" forum at KVR for support, Urs is always ready to explain something if you
need help or if you have a problem !

STABILITY :
no problem in my host (FLstudio) ,

and value for money is excellent !!!!

Zebra is really an awesome synth, very easy and with a perfect sound !!!
 
Last edited by JacK_SoliuM on 20th March 2007    Report

By Howard
On 14th January 2007
Version: 2

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Howard

10 of 12 people found
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There are very few virtual synths I can get excited about, but Zebra2 is certainly one of them. The sound quality, attention to detail and programmability are second to none. Zebra2 is more addictive than the obvious competition (Absynth, Tera, Massive), its more of a fun environment to work in. U-he got something very right here - a well-deserved 10 points for the interface.

Sound: This was the biggest surprise to me. I was not expecting to be able to copy a patch I did on a Voyager, but I reckon I nailed it 100% (BTW I'm a pro sound designer). Apart from all the clean/digital sounds, Zebra is one of the very few virtual synths capable of "pushing some serious analog air" (you can easily e.g. boost an oscillator's fundamental). 10 points. Also 10 points for features - read the spec at u-he dot com :-)

8 points for documentation, which needs to be completed and turned into a PDF at least. I could have given as low as 6 or 7 here, but u-he is a one-man-show (I guess Urs Heckmann has more pressing work right now) and the online manual as it stands is quite helpful.

6 points for presets, although there are one or two eye-openers. Once the user base grows, we should be seeing some truly fantastic sounds coming out of this beast! It has the potential.

10 for customer support - Urs always seems willing to help (as his posts on e.g. K-v-R prove). Zebra2 sells at a lower price than the competition, although IMO it's a better product - 10 points for good value.

Very stable. Never crashed on my Windows PC.
 
Last edited by Howard on 14th January 2007    Report

By vic_france
On 27th June 2004
Version: 1.5

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vic_france

5 of 5 people found
this review helpful.

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Zebra is one of the reasons I love making music on computers! It is a pleasure to use...while looking kinda familiar to "classic" synths in some ways, it also has its unique way of luring you into unsuspected territories..all of them interesting.
Interface: The only reason stopping me from giving a 10 here is that there are a couple of areas (notably the matrix) which are a bit hard to grasp without the manual ( but this is such a novel concept anyways, I don't see any way of making it graphically more immediate). Also minus one, possibly, because although there is a choice of "skins" available, I find they all slightly lack a bit of definition/contrast in the choice of colours. At least a real zebra is black 'n' white, not beige 'n' darker beige! :-)
Sound: O.K let's just borrow the available 10th position from the Interface rating, just so that I can give Sound an eleven! It may be a zebra, but it ate a Maserati for breakfast! For versatility, this is pretty close to the Virsyn Tera (and that is a compliment!).
Features: surprise after surprise after surprise! The matrix, the X-Y controllers, the multistage modulations..etc, etc.
Documentation: dropped one point for being late to the party with the doc for v1.5 ( if I get the chance to do so, I will update this when the 1.5 doc arrives:-)
Presets: Do these inspire you to go on and make more of your own, or is there no need to do so?
Customer support: Urs = President of the Universe!
VFM: Can't say all that about Zebra, then complain about having to get my wallet out! I've seen (and have bought!) instruments at twice the price, which offer far less.
Stability: Rock solid, of course. But more than that, because we are lucky enough to have Urs frequently in this, and other, forums, we can see the extent to which this guy really knows his stuff!
I'm also using the ZebraShell VST beta in Cubase SX without problems so far.
I'm looking forward to reading PC users' comments in the (hopefully) near future:-)
 
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By tribalogical
On 18th June 2004
Version: 1.5

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tribalogical

6 of 7 people found
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Having used Zebra from its first beta, I have to say the latest 1.5 version is a significant enhancement from the previous version, and well worth the price.

The addition of the new modulation routing alone has me in fits (the good kind :). But it doesn't stop there. It brings a deeply expanded flexibility of programming throughout, with added features laid out in 'tabs", which bring the new controls into play without making it any harder to use. That's quite a feat, from a UI point of view.

I usually find programming patches a rather tedious process, but I enjoy -- actually, get kind of enthusiastic -- tweaking sounds in Zebra. The way the controls are laid out just make a solid, intuitive sense, and is quite simply a fun process. You can easily jump from "planned, fundamental sound creation" to "wild, experimental, surprising results", which happens often, as the nature of this beast is playful (and even mischievous sometimes).

Ultimately though, it's about the sound, and the Zebra has few equals in the soft-synth realm. I own a few dozen synths (soft mostly, but a few old-skool hardware synths as well), and I reach for Zebra more often than any other... and that's including all the fab eMagic plugs built-in to Logic Pro.

It can be subtle or extreme, smooth or harsh, and is capable of being incredibly variable. I like it most of all for "morphing" type patches, and use the XY controls extensively (you've got to try those to "get it"). I've discovered sounds -- and performances -- I simply cannot duplicate on any other synth. Not simple nuances in the timbral differences, but broad, rich, unique sounds that no other synth seems quite capable of.

It also has no issues at all with stability in Logic Pro. It's rock solid and dependable. I would happily use it in a live situation.

Other comments:
The presets are plentiful (I contributed a *very* few to the massive 500 included), and most are quite useable. Urs' support is direct, responsive, and amazingly friendly... you won't find better!

The only downside for some might be that the docs for 1.5 are still at v1.0. The 1.0 manual covers all the basics though, and as I find it easy enough to use the Zebra without them, it isn't really an issue for me. I give it a 9 *in principal* in the docs rating, but as they are written so well and clearly, I give that a 10 in reality anyway... :)

In short, if you use AU at all on your OSX Mac, this one is a must-have...

peace,
tribalogical
 
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