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Hmmm, dunno...

I just think that having no obvious limitations invites to work on a song directly.

I'm all for being able to work on songs and to listen to the way Z2 lines up with other gear and to check if it fits the way one works.

Another problem would be... you will certainly want to check out the presets. Thus some sort of loading must be possible. I think it would be a stunt to put something into the presets that distinguishes between the ones that come with Z2 and the ones made by the user. If I only restrict that to presets that are saved with song, people will just save the presets manually and load them up when they continue on the songs.

Several people told me that they simply work with Z1 until it plays wrong notes, load the song again and freeze the Z1 tracks. Fortunately, they get so fed up with this style of working that they surrender and buy it :hihi:

Nevermind, demo restrictions is a science on its own behalf. Everything has got pros and cons and I'd really wish we'd live in a world that worked without them.

Cheers,

;) Urs

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The 'bad' note thing doesn't sound too bad. As you say though, demo restrictions are a science. Rendering with 'thanks for evaluating' messages (like Microtonic), limiting to ten minutes or so when creating an instance, 14 day evaluation (like Kjaerhus stuff) are amongst my preferred ones (though they each have a somewhat awkward 'workaround', I guess). Anything but the restriction that Blue had when it was first released.....
Its definitely a tough thing to decide on, so good luck with the decision :-)

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Friday again? Damn... where does all the time go?

So... what has happened since last Friday?

In short:

- new LFOs /w rate modulation
- Reverb
- Waveshaper (alpha)
- new envelope modes /w Sync and adjustable slope
- more ui improvements
- lots of emails...

Well, yesterday I got the tech side of XY Controls going. I hope it works. I mean, it looks like they should work. Today I'll try to add their ui elements.

I'm scared that the December release will be pretty crippled. I mean, it's already deep and all, but so many details can't be done sufficiently until then. :help:

We'll see...

Cheers,

;) Urs

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As this is going to be the first impression of Zebra for many PC users such as myself, I know I'd rather wait a couple extra weeks if it makes a substantial difference in the quality of the preview (quality meaning stability, performance, features, etc). Don't want to scare people off with a bad first release, right?
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Warmonger wrote:As this is going to be the first impression of Zebra for many PC users such as myself, I know I'd rather wait a couple extra weeks if it makes a substantial difference in the quality of the preview (quality meaning stability, performance, features, etc). Don't want to scare people off with a bad first release, right?
Well... stability is no problem... performance is like it is (complex patches can drain a lot, but there's gonna be a lot of great patches that eat close to nothing)... features... you won't *miss* any features. There's just some nifty little details in the pipeline... such as:

- save/load module specific presets (i.e. wavetables, MultiStage stuff, Arpeggiator sequences)
- XY Setup Wizards for quick & easy patch control
- microtuning
- alternative gui skins & layouts

These things won't be in there, but everything else is gonna be pretty much the final stuff. You'll only miss them if you really expect this stuff to be in there...

Cheers,

;) Urs

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Urs wrote:features... you won't *miss* any features. There's just some nifty little details in the pipeline... such as:

- save/load module specific presets (i.e. wavetables, MultiStage stuff, Arpeggiator sequences)
- XY Setup Wizards for quick & easy patch control
- microtuning
- alternative gui skins & layouts

These things won't be in there, but everything else is gonna be pretty much the final stuff. You'll only miss them if you really expect this stuff to be in there...
Ahh - I can live without these things! (Not to imply that getting the other features is a life-or-death matter :lol:)

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Here is a small demo to show that zebra2 is also good for vintage drum machine sound.

http://www.wonderlabs.de/electrobeat.mp3

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wazun wrote:Here is a small demo to show that zebra2 is also good for vintage drum machine sound.

http://www.wonderlabs.de/electrobeat.mp3
:D

More of that!

;) Urs

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Dudes & Dudettes,

I got good news and bad news!

Good news: I left the exhausting and ugly work on the XY Controls behind. They have become pretty usable! 8)

Bad news: I'm gonna postpone the preview release for a couple of days :cry: - Despite working 24/7 for, uhm, months(?), it's just not ready for prime time. For instance, a lot of presets have to be adjusted to make use of the XYs and I still have to do some preparations...

But I can promise some phat sounds then ;)

Laterz,

;) Urs

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No problem Urs. Take your time. This is not a life or death situation. Filterscape VA will keep my heart pumping until then. :wink:

Regards, Phil.

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Screambox by Tasmaniandevil

8)

Laterz,

;) Urs

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Urs wrote:Dudes & Dudettes,

Bad news: I'm gonna postpone the preview release for a couple of days

Couple of days soundz like wonderful news actually!
:shock:

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Friday again!

I have the scary impression that this thread will have an end soon. :-o

Isn't that a disturbing thought? I mean, in 18 months I got sooo used to have a bad conscience, it's almost unreal.

Another unreal thing: I have wanted to build a synth ever since 1986 or so. It should be able to sound like a DX-7 e-piano and it should be able to make the Jump sound. The latest 2 patches I made with the Z2 prototype delivered just that. So, does that mean my quest for the perfect synth has found an end? Is there a Freudian aspect in the motivation/obsession to code plugins? I hope not, because there are still a couple of projects on the horizon!

Back to Earth. Today I'm gonna add the last bits to the graphics of Z2 preview prototype, i.e. for the new mixing modules, and send it to the beta team for final adjustment of patches. Tomorrow and Sunday will be fully occupied by web design. Well, I'm also invited to a party on Sunday, so maybe I need Monday as well. Thus... check the news after this weekend!

Cheers,

;) Urs

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how does one become a beta tester?
My other host is Bruce Forsyth

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spaceman wrote:how does one become a beta tester?
Typically not by asking :lol: - I can't even answer these emails anymore (just like I don't answer emails offering help with gui design or stuff) :oops:

I invite people to take part in the beta team upon...

... recommendation of other members

... inspiring discussions while having a beer

... knowing this person for quite some time and having a good feeling, i.e. because I like their music or their software

... situations like somewhen after page 10 of this thread

In most times, beta testers are also customers. Some who are not have at least 5000 posts in the forums and have shown deep interest in my stuff. I know about 50% of the team in person. About 20% are also developers. 10% are magazine reviewers (but they're not the ones who write reviews about my stuff).

The team consists of 100+ people. A third is highly active at any time. There has hardly been a week without traffic within two years. The number is decreasing because I'm dropping communications with those who havn't contributed at all.

Many participating developers are host developers and remain more or less anonymous. They don't take part in discussions but they test my stuff with their latest software and send detailed bug reports.

Some people have special skills, like playing live with polyphonic aftertouch, having (and mastering) certain gear, knowing nothing about shit (yes, these are valuable members, too!), or are great patch designers/musicians in general.

You see, I'm very happy with the team already. It's got the right size, the right mix of skills, the right mix of tastes and including a new member is typically based on a very careful decision.

It's much like Can I Have An NFR? - You won't believe how many people want software for free. They promise to mention it in interviews (sorry, I don't buy opinion), they promise to write great reviews (uhm, where's the hardcopy issue you promised to send?), they promise to make an outstanding preset bank or demo song (Huh? Where is it?), stuff like that. Sure, some (10%?) have done what they promised. For all others I've learned to say no.

Cheers,

;) Urs

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