zebra2

[original flipper]

HI

This is my concern as well - in fact I find that moving modules around the matrix can bring XT to a momentary standstill - and this is quite often.

Flipper.

[Urs]

I understand your concerns.

Honestly, I'd be more concerned if some of the presets were *not* cpu hogs. Having 15-20 modules running per voice is quite something.

There may be room for further optimization, but not much. In some cases (oscillators, filters) I've already squeezed every cpu cycle out of the algorithms.

However, if doing anything in the gui brings your cpu to its end, something is wrong in your host. The gui can be extremely cpu exhaustive, but it should run in a low priority thread, only draining otherwise idle processor cycles. My gui framework is btw. relatively fast, i.e. compared to other plugins using VSTGUI etc. - Use a cpu performance monitor while tweaking Z2's MultiStage envelopes and compare to any other VSTi with similar complex envelope controls.

I don't think it's a problematic issue. Most patches will be moderate in cpu usage, some will be cpu hogs and - like in FilterscapeVA - there'll also be a lot of eco presets.

Cheers,

Urs

[djsubject]

i find Z2 the most cpu easy out of blue & octopus

[sinkmusic]

I have installed the demo version of Z2, and now, i would like to uninstall it... i see a folder in my vst folder, a folder in C: , but i don't know how to uninstall it... I don't see it in my list of programs, nor in the windows remove programs menu, nor an uninstall executable in the Zebra2 folder...

[djsubject]

just deleate the Zebra 2 folder you copyed to your vst plugin folder

Subz

[wrench45us]

re: cpu usage
some of us have run into this already when Tim Conrardy discovered rhino and made a bank with his algorithmic patches. After that he and Tick conferred and shared methods of creating the same or similar effects with less cpu use.

so I would also expect as people explore the many capabilities of Zebra that they don't initially give much thought to cpu eficiency. given the great idea of continuing to build up a user library site of presets, that might also include some tips about designing efficiently. there are some very skilled sound designers in the community already and i'm sure they're all still picking up on what Zebra can do. And fortunately most hosts have some sort of freeze function these days.

[sinkmusic]

just deleate the Zebra 2 folder you copyed to your vst plugin folder

Subz

ok
i was just wondering if any changes were made to the registry... ?

[Urs]

just deleate the Zebra 2 folder you copyed to your vst plugin folder

Subz

ok
i was just wondering if any changes were made to the registry... ?

Nope, the point about my not-so-common way of handling things (a special data folder next to the plugin, stuff that should persist across updates being put in the program files directory) is *because* I don't wanna mess with the Registry or anything else. Just trash stuff and it's gone.

Any hints why you don't wanna keep it?

Cheers,

Urs

[pd]

Nope, the point about my not-so-common way of handling things (a special data folder next to the plugin, stuff that should persist across updates being put in the program files directory) is *because* I don't wanna mess with the Registry or anything else. Just trash stuff and it's gone.

I appreciate that. I don't like plugins that mess with the registry.

[sinkmusic]

Any hints why you don't wanna keep it?

Yes.
Don't worry about your stuff, it is quality.
But i used to like very simple synths, and i think Zebra is a little too huge.
I have found german Keyboard magazine, and the point is that i think i am much more comfortable with that zebralette cut-up version of Zebra ! This might sound strange, but the fact is that it is my point...
This is the reason too why i can't hardly get into NI synths... THe sound is awesome too, but i never can find a place for it in my mix, the sound worths for itself alone... !

[beej]

So just use 1 oscillator in Zebra then!

[machinesworking]

This is the reason too why i can't hardly get into NI synths... THe sound is awesome too, but i never can find a place for it in my mix,

I exist on that other planet, where Zebra ( now 2), Absynth, and Reactor are in almost every song I do.

[hellleutel]

I, too, do think that presets in all of these synth tend to be over-hyped, with too much movement+ effects, too broad and such things.
I always cut them down somehow before working with them (=Reaktor, Zebra, Atmosphere, all.)
Of course it's not a fault of the synths, it's the demo attitude of the patches.
So I'd have nothing against some more basic or "orchestrateable" Presets.
(BTW I prefer these as starting points to the big ones)
u

[steffe]

cpu usage again:

might it be that Zebra VST consumes more CPU than Zebra AU? If Zebra AU sits still, it does not consume CPU - as far as I have recognized. Zebra VST seems to consume even if not playing.

Best

[Urs]

Hey Steffe,

nope, they're both identical in code. The cpu usage in standby is related to the effects used in the FX Grid. They still don't follow into standby when there's nothing to process. Which is one of the things on the slowly shrinking to do list

Cheers,

Urs