Zebra 3 feature suggestions

[SynthasaurusRex]

filters which do not change frequency and operate in a range where the numerical inaccuracies don't matter.

So, a fixed filter bank a la Moog 914. Got it. Great!

[Shiek927]

Will features from Bazille also be imported into Zebra3? the FM oscillators could be taken from Bazille and the Phase Distortion and Fractal Resonance would find a perfect home in the OscFX section c:

[nilhartman]

Oh I'd love that too !

[Urs]

Hehehe, we try to avoid "one synth that has all the features of every other synth"

[Hanz Meyzer]

Why not, if only Zebra is the exception? True, wouldn't expect comb filters in Repro for example...

[Urs]

Why not

In software design theory, there's an Anti-Pattern called "Feature Creep".

If one can do Fractal Resonance in form of a wavetable, why would we add specialised oscillators as well, if the point of those special oscillators (audio rate modulation) isn't part of Zebra's scope?

[Shiek927]

Hehehe, we try to avoid "one synth that has all the features of every other synth"

Interesting!!

I guess I was under the assumption that's what Zebra3 would be: essentially bits and pieces of every u-he innovation over the past decade or so rolled into one, like a giant hybrid. Essentially ZebraHZ but on a more grand scale. I guess it's strictly gonna be it's own thing

I guess it makes sense, though. I don't remember when, but I think you said at one point that you didn't actually like the way the Diva filters were imported to ZebraHZ? like there was a better way it could have worked? this is just a vague recollection, so I might be wrong. I guess it's much better to code and build everything from the ground-up instead of stitching aspects from other synths into a new one and trying to make it work like that.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Hehehe, we try to avoid "one synth that has all the features of every other synth"

I think that's where I got hung up in terms of "getting Zebra" initially. I figured it was more modular. Meant to be sort of a "oh, it can do analog, wavetable, FM, and modular stuff all in one." When it's just kind of it's own unique thing. It's Zebra! Not a wireless VCV.

"Semi-modular Wavetable synth" maybe?

[EvilDragon]

Zebra is not wavetable only, though.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Zebra is not wavetable only, though.

See? That's what I mean. Just hard to put into any one box. Even when I'm trying.

[Shiek927]

Zebra is not wavetable only, though.

See? That's what I mean. Just hard to put into any one box. Even when I'm trying.

It really is just it's own thing. The best way to think of Zebra is simply Zebra haha. A "wireless semi-modular" synth or simply an extremely flexible digital polysynth

But yeah, it make sense that, while Zebra3 will conceptually borrow bits and pieces of everything that's been developed the past ten years, the coding will be entirely unique and it's not gonna be a case of simply lifting certain pieces from Hive, Bazille, or Repro and stuffing it into Z3

[MitchK1989]

besides, if zebra 3 just had all of the other synth's stuff in it, I couldn't immediately start asking for an ACE/Diva/Bazille 2 as soon as I get my hands on Z3! (mostly joking... Maybe a little more serious on ACE )

[gentleclockdivider]

Those are just your basic "perfect" digital biquads... I somehow feel it'd be beneath Urs to include those in Z3

Chebbyshev filters are nice , 4 th , 8th order ripple

[alberto_balsalm]

"Semi-modular Wavetable synth" maybe?

Synth creation platform? Seriously, the VA capabilities alone are amazing, you can set up templates to mimic all kinds of analogue synths, and together with effects it makes Zebra a seriously powerful (and great sounding too, despite it not being modeled or anything, and of course there are Diva filters in ZebraHZ to consider) VA platform. And that's just scratching the surface. That's the cool thing about Zebra - it's crazy flexible, yet pretty easy and painless to use (some quirks here and there though). You only use what you need, so you never have to deal with seeing 5 million options together at the same time, and yet it has all those options should you need them.

[Hanz Meyzer]

Those are just your basic "perfect" digital biquads... I somehow feel it'd be beneath Urs to include those in Z3

Chebbyshev filters are nice , 4 th , 8th order ripple

Exactly. I know you guys, Urs and Evildragon, are really experienced and wise. But here I really wonder, did you actually used those filter types? If not, I would assume that you cannot really judge it

In software design theory, there's an Anti-Pattern called "Feature Creep".

Well, I asked for a feature which isn't yet existing anywhere. Also I didn't want Zebra to be another U-He synth, but a very flexible, good sounding workstation. Isn't that what you are aiming for the brand Zebra? Why not put all useful "workstation-stuff" in, as long as it does not clutter the UX and is not in any other of your product?

Personally I find it nice to have many good synths like yours (and I understand this marketing wise), but I don't think you can't be an expert of any good vsti and know each specific sweet spots and workarounds of all those products :p . Instead I would like to have a few, which are really good and capable. Not 20 VSTis anymore. You make better music, if you use less vstis, at least that is my impression.

My original intention was: "Please also add very steep filter types with lowest audible resonances possible". Btw. I also even miss a more steep, less resonant bandpass in Zebra 2. Sure you could say that you should EQ your sound in the end anyway, but it would be more nice, if the sound came out of the box ready to go.

Please don't be afraid to add useful stuff, only because you think it might be too much features then! I think you could hide such "advanced" from the basic user with a clever UX design, e.g. a baby-one-knob-mode and a royal-amaze-mode

You also could add a "pre-processing" FFT-filter to any kind of wavetable. VPS avenger has that, and it is super slick for layering (apart from VPS avenger being unusable due worst CP on the market, and having heavy technical issues)! Of course it's then keyfollowing 100%, but that's ok. Please, give those "EDM" approaches a try. Thanks.

I think EDM is aiming for mostly a very "cold" and dry sound. Only very chirurgical resonances might be used. The resonances in Zebra 2 filters sound amazing for warmness and lushness, but maybe are not so practical for the cold machine sound.

P.S. Of course I would prefer a very soon release of Zebra 3 over any theoretical feature additions, since it is awesome already for sure. But I just try to open your mind a bit, where it looks to me that it might not be the case.