u-he

Extremely versatile sound design, has many capabilities not found in many plugins today.

Unique Features:

Curve controlled or phase morphing wavetable generation (as oppose to Crossfade in Serum/ Vital). Detailed curve editing and morphing that also applies to MSEGs.

Full Additive Wavetable Oscillator. Morphs either a Waveshape or Spectrum and includes Spectral Distortion which detunes the partials into inharmonics. And with unique wavetable warp FX.

Crispy and realistic sounding Comb/ Modal resonator. The Comb filter is not just a comb filter, but a reverb/ chorus / karplus-strong string synthesis.

Ring modulator capable of FM/ Frequency Shifting modes (Sideband filter).

FM module with unique FM modes other than just linear/exponential.

Repro's wavefolder with teeth amount.

Large library of Filters with analog modeling and Filter FM that can be modulated by an Oscillator

Good sounding effects including granular cloud reverb and tap delay

CPU usage is significantly optimized, though can spike on heavy patches.

Unique modulators such as a Math modulator and a Mapping modulator which allows for quick sequencing or psuedo-random modulation.

Exciter Generator for realistic physical modeling impulses

4 lane Modular Setup

Cons:

No Feedback, the modular setup is Up to Down with side inputs for parallel processing.

No Granular Oscillator or Sampler, if you want an all-in-one plugin, this is one feature that is missing.

Non-intuitive UI, such as the confusing FMO generator.

Long learning curve for mastery

Verdict:

Absolutely worth it if you like hybrid synths that combine many different modes of synthesis into one package. For example, rather than taking say Harmor/ Razor / Parsec/ etc and routing it into FM8 or some other FM effect, this synth gives you the ability to FM an additive oscillator in the same environment. Or perhaps you want to stack physical modeling resonators and analog filters with fast decay and high res to create percussive metallic sounds? The possibilities will make you feel like a mad scientist, combining completely different synthesis capabilities together and experimenting with sound in new ways.

The Additive Wavetable oscillator is the greatest selling point and adds new sound-generating capabilties evolving on the now-passed Wavetable era. Wavetable synths are restricted to harmonic and periodic sounds, but Additive Wavetables allow you to control every sine partial so that they aren't just integer ratio. Combining partial control with deep waveshape editing is something that no synth has ever done and adds new capabilities to a sound designer.

En français: Le retour de "la" légende de chez U-HE est enfin là (certains diront Diva mais c'est un autre sujet). C'est simple: Zebra 3 fait encore plus fort, en encore mieux. Il est déjà évident qui si vous ne devez n'avoir qu'un seul vsti: c'est lui: Zebra 3.

L'interface a été retravaillée et elle invite à créer / expérimenter tellement de choses en très peu de temps que c'est un plaisir : Un seul osc et on part très loin, très vite... Le son reste digne de la réputation de U-HE: un plaisir pour les oreilles.

Possédant déjà Zebra 2, j'ai du payer 30 euro pour l'upgrade qui, par rapport au travail effectué est une somme dérisoire. Le nouveau système de protection par carte est juste excellent et cerise sur le gâteau: pas besoin "d'activation internet" à laquelle je suis complètement allergique.

Pour ce qui est de la partie conception de patch: je laisse cette partie au vrais concepteurs de patch car mon niveau est bien trop bas. Pour la consommation cpu, je laisse aussi les pros en parler. Je dirais juste qu'il consomme un peu plus que Zebra 2.

A noter hélas, que les patch Zebra 2 ne sont pas compatibles avec Zebra 3.

En conclusion, c'est simple: Zebra 3 est déjà légendaire dès sa sortie, ce qui est un exploit, compte tenu du fait que Zebra 2 avait déjà mis la barre très haute. Totalement conquis: je recommande chaudement et sans hésiter l'achat de ce synthétiseur, félicite les développeurs et note Zebra 3 d'un 10/10.

Daniel.

I agree its great. Actually, I just don't like the pricing politics from u-he. I have purchased the version two like 10 days before version three was announced. I agree that they had put this in the pricing policies that there would be no special upgrade price, but I also think they should've implemented some kind of grace perion. Like I think pretty much any other software app producer does. Even if the version two had a great price, I think it's a difference if you have used that for some years with these great features or 10 days only before you then kind of double pay the synth to have the new version. But anyway, it is what it is.

Awesome sounding reverb!!! It's so easy to receive a nice reverb sound at slightly wet level, even without other settings.

A lot of synths get high use when you first buy them, then slowly fade. Diva was the opposite for me. At first it was a seldom used preset machine, but the more time I invested with it, the more I came to appreciate its flexibility and sound. At times it can be a little CPU heavy but that is the price you pay for good, thick sound. The ability to mix and match parts from popular analogs was an early goal for my modular. Now that is available in a VST and without the tedious process you frequently deal with using a modular. It has been on my DAW's favorites list for years and will remain there for many more.

One of the most powerfull FXs out there. There is only something like Coldfire comming to my mind to compare it quality wise but that's a distortion tool so they are actually incompareable.

One of the most advanced tools I've encountered. When I first opened it, my thought was omg I'm never gonna learn to use that in detail. It's an absolut nerd tool to freak with.

You can get this with the Q6 Version together.

This is magic out of the box.

Expresive, deep, clear sound with a bunch of presets.

This synth comes through.

Not surprising from u-he.