u-he roadmap information
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- KVRist
- 86 posts since 2 Dec, 2004 from lowlands
It seems to me that things are slowing down on u-he side as far as concerning updates and final releases since Zebra 2 release. As a registered user, I would like to learn the roadmap of the u-he softwares like next Filterscape update with new filter algorithms, MFM final release, Zebra 2 improvements & other surprises...
Last edited by earthlinger on Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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prism spirit
prism spirit
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- KVRAF
- 10815 posts since 26 Nov, 2004 from UK
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- u-he
- 30213 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Fair enough!
I've learned to *never* give dates. It just doesn't work this way. A reasonable estimate may well be corrupted by a system crash, an update of MacOS X that renders formerly working AUs incompatible, high priority requests from the outside etc. etc.
For instance, there hasn't been a new Zebra beta in almost three weeks because I've been working on 2 pretty urgent magware updates and some improvements that just had to be tried out before they could go online. I've also finished a version of Zebra 1.5 for IntelMacs so that people can still open old projects. Many of these things just "pop in" all out of the sudden and stall other areas of development. Oh... and Zebra has won some kind of international competition for which the initator wants me to deliver all sorts of things...
Now, regarding Zebra 2.2, I had hoped to release it before my vacation (Sept 1-14), but I'm a bit pessimistic about some issues (i.e. persistance of preset name in VST still doesn't work and I have no clue why).
MFM2 users seem to be pretty happy, there are no complaints about the current state/pricing. Hence I put it a bit on hold. It's meanwhile full featured (compression, MSEG bug fixed), but before final release I'd love to add some little features such as a "notepad" to explain the patch usage. The manual is work in progress, too. So this would be *after* Zebra 2.2.
Filterscape is the application with the most satisfied users. It mostly requires an easy bug fix in VST Mac. I think that Filterscape will be updated in two steps, both *after* MFM2 release: V1.3 will add new filtertypes (like XMF) and the goodies from overall improvements (see related threads about Zebra - most improvements apply to *all* u-he plugins). In the next step I want to add some plugins to the bundle that I have secretly worked on over the past 2 years. As this isn't urgent, some other developments may or may not fall inbetween.
Other projects such as drum machine, sampler, something rumoured as A.C.E. (or A-device) will start after Filterscape updates.
I'm not yet sure if I'll take part in the KVR developer challenge.
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In general I think it's easier to act like most other companies that don't exhibit any plans/developments at all. On the other hand I think it's vital to get feedback early, and thus I'll keep posting previews, betas and what not.
It's way easier for me to know what to expect *before* releasing anything. If one holds back all information until day x, one jumps into the cold water as we say - which in the case of complex developments such as most of my stuff can break a companies neck.
Of course, another goodie about pre-releasing stuff as soon as it's doable is, early adopters can save money and I don't need to release things "too early".
Cheers,
Urs
I've learned to *never* give dates. It just doesn't work this way. A reasonable estimate may well be corrupted by a system crash, an update of MacOS X that renders formerly working AUs incompatible, high priority requests from the outside etc. etc.
For instance, there hasn't been a new Zebra beta in almost three weeks because I've been working on 2 pretty urgent magware updates and some improvements that just had to be tried out before they could go online. I've also finished a version of Zebra 1.5 for IntelMacs so that people can still open old projects. Many of these things just "pop in" all out of the sudden and stall other areas of development. Oh... and Zebra has won some kind of international competition for which the initator wants me to deliver all sorts of things...
Now, regarding Zebra 2.2, I had hoped to release it before my vacation (Sept 1-14), but I'm a bit pessimistic about some issues (i.e. persistance of preset name in VST still doesn't work and I have no clue why).
MFM2 users seem to be pretty happy, there are no complaints about the current state/pricing. Hence I put it a bit on hold. It's meanwhile full featured (compression, MSEG bug fixed), but before final release I'd love to add some little features such as a "notepad" to explain the patch usage. The manual is work in progress, too. So this would be *after* Zebra 2.2.
Filterscape is the application with the most satisfied users. It mostly requires an easy bug fix in VST Mac. I think that Filterscape will be updated in two steps, both *after* MFM2 release: V1.3 will add new filtertypes (like XMF) and the goodies from overall improvements (see related threads about Zebra - most improvements apply to *all* u-he plugins). In the next step I want to add some plugins to the bundle that I have secretly worked on over the past 2 years. As this isn't urgent, some other developments may or may not fall inbetween.
Other projects such as drum machine, sampler, something rumoured as A.C.E. (or A-device) will start after Filterscape updates.
I'm not yet sure if I'll take part in the KVR developer challenge.
#---
In general I think it's easier to act like most other companies that don't exhibit any plans/developments at all. On the other hand I think it's vital to get feedback early, and thus I'll keep posting previews, betas and what not.
It's way easier for me to know what to expect *before* releasing anything. If one holds back all information until day x, one jumps into the cold water as we say - which in the case of complex developments such as most of my stuff can break a companies neck.
Of course, another goodie about pre-releasing stuff as soon as it's doable is, early adopters can save money and I don't need to release things "too early".
Cheers,
Urs-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 86 posts since 2 Dec, 2004 from lowlands
Fair enough! 
Thank you for the rocket fast reply and your sincerity (as always)
Thank you for the rocket fast reply and your sincerity (as always)
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prism spirit
prism spirit
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- KVRian
- 714 posts since 23 May, 2005 from Sex
What about midi triggering in Filterscape? I'm still waiting for that before I make a purchase 
a.k.a. Airyck Sterrett
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- u-he
- 30213 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Ah, yep... that's another one...psylevation wrote:What about midi triggering in Filterscape? I'm still waiting for that before I make a purchase
... but...
... actually...
...this is solved in MFM2 already -> Midi Notes can retrigger MSEGs/LFOs; if the host can not send Midi to effect plugins, one can automate the built-in keyboard control instead.
See, Filterscape inherits from recent improvements and will respond to MidiNotes... playing EQ on the keyboard anyone?
UrsP.S.: Reasonable ideas on improvements in this area are always welcome!
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- KVRian
- 714 posts since 23 May, 2005 from Sex
so are you saying that Filterscape...already has the ability to be triggered by midi??? or it will very soon???
a.k.a. Airyck Sterrett
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- u-he
- 30213 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
After the next recompile, when all improvements are compiled into it.psylevation wrote:so are you saying that Filterscape...already has the ability to be triggered by midi??? or it will very soon???
However, as 1.3 shall also sport a new filter, this will take a bit longer than just a recompile...
Urs-
- KVRist
- 155 posts since 9 Dec, 2004 from Stockholm, Sweden
Hey, thanks for the briefing. Indeed, timelines are almost always useless and just add tension, but a milestones-only roadmap and even a few "someday/maybe" items are a good way to rally the troops. 
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- KVRian
- 1215 posts since 17 Apr, 2004
Oh, you will, Mr. Heckmann, you will.Urs wrote:... I'm not yet sure if I'll take part in the KVR developer challenge...
:: FL Studio v9.0.3 :: u-he Zebra2 v2.5 :: u-he MFM v2.0.2b5 :: u-he Uhbik v1.1 :: EnergyXT v1.4.1/v2.0.2 ::
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- u-he
- 30213 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
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- KVRist
- 57 posts since 13 Jul, 2004
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- KVRian
- 581 posts since 21 Feb, 2005 from Upper Left USA
I wish all companies were this forthcoming with what they're working on!
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- KVRAF
- 10815 posts since 26 Nov, 2004 from UK
+1Tarekith wrote:I wish all companies were this forthcoming with what they're working on!
Urs treats all his customers as if they where very important, (VIP's)
i have no idea how he dose it all & still manages to get layed
the best bit is the software he makes is all A+,
i mean he's even doing a UB version of Z1,
now if only we could clone him
Subz
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- Banned
- 46 posts since 29 Jul, 2005
Hey Urs, I read in this forum that Win XP RTAS support for Zebra 2 was in the works. Might this be ready this year or are we looking at a later date? I'm really excited to try the synth in ProTools!