KVR Audio

TiUser · Post by **TiUser** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:13 am

Hi Folks.

Maybe some of you can help me correcting a mixed impression of u-he Zeba VSTi.

Without doubt it is felxible in structure and compared to that relatively easy to use. I was also pleased - if not thrilled - with the sound in a phase I checked it out with medicore multimedia speakers and a usual PC soundcard.

Later I put it on my test notebook and sent all via my Virus audio interface and was a bit dissapointed. It sounded not bad anyway but not near as thrilling as before and kind of thin as many other VSTi's.

Has anyone an idea why I got that impression?

D-Fusion · Post by **D-Fusion** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:21 am

My guess would be the Volume difference

1db to high or to low can really make a difference to the sound.

contrary · Post by **contrary** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:27 am

So the Consumer sound card and multi-media speakers are engineered to have a more lively midrange. most stereo and computer type speakers are jazzed up, thats why they sell "flat response " near field monitors to recordist.

TiUser · Post by **TiUser** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:37 am

D-Fusion wrote:My guess would be the Volume difference
1db to high or to low can really make a difference to the sound.

No, the simple PC setup speakers I use when surfing the net has lower volume than the "more professional" setup with virus D/A and better speakers.

It may sound odd, but I always check music on simple and better speakers and a good mix or sound works always well on both but this counter experience is really odd.

TiUser · Post by **TiUser** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:47 am

contrary wrote:So the Consumer sound card and multi-media speakers are engineered to have a more lively midrange. most stereo and computer type speakers are jazzed up, thats why they sell "flat response " near field monitors to recordist.

Sorry, I am not sure if I understand your message, can you please try a second explanation?

Well, what I expected when using the virus D/A and better speakers is that I could hear more details, better resolution, fuller spectrum or whatever, but that didn't happen. It was worse and that is really unlikely compared to other experiences I made, let's say when checking out the NI B4 demo for instance, that was great and the expected enhancement in sound, or Arturias Modular V, just to name two.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:49 am

TiUser wrote:
D-Fusion wrote:My guess would be the Volume difference
1db to high or to low can really make a difference to the sound.
No, the simple PC setup speakers I use when surfing the net has lower volume than the "more professional" setup with virus D/A and better speakers.

It may sound odd, but I always check music on simple and better speakers and a good mix or sound works always well on both but this counter experience is really odd.

A good 61 key velocity/aftertouch midi controller and some 'too expensive' headphones
are the way to begin using Zebra. And the third hour is where you start finding the truth,
not the first

mkastrup · Post by **mkastrup** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:01 am

Hmm thats odd because i have a really hard time hearing other VST coming up with the clear and direct sound as in this demo for Zebra:

http://www.zebrasynth.com/songs/Zebra_Oldskool.mp3

This demo was created using Zebra only when i tested my new Yamaha HS 50M speakers. Nothing was added, not even a limiter, its straight out of Zebra.

/Michael

TiUser · Post by **TiUser** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:06 am

glokraw wrote:
TiUser wrote:
D-Fusion wrote:My guess would be the Volume difference
1db to high or to low can really make a difference to the sound.
No, the simple PC setup speakers I use when surfing the net has lower volume than the "more professional" setup with virus D/A and better speakers.

It may sound odd, but I always check music on simple and better speakers and a good mix or sound works always well on both but this counter experience is really odd.
A good 61 key velocity/aftertouch midi controller and some 'too expensive' headphones
are the way to begin using Zebra. And the third hour is where you start finding the truth,
not the first

Ok, I'll try the headphones.

Hearing for hours? Ears are sooo... adaptable and after a while you can accept any sound. I think some instant, fresh impressions do lie less... and I just asked myself why it's different this time...

I still think something should sound well on average speakers too, otherwise there is something wrong. Often music isn't consumed via high end hifi

Howard · Post by **Howard** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:36 pm

TiUser wrote:I still think something should sound well on average speakers too, otherwise there is something wrong. Often music isn't consumed via high end hifi

Maybe your DAW is distorting the signal, although nothing's going into the red (seen this in Cubase and just now in MainStage). Just a thought...

Guenon · Post by **Guenon** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:36 pm

TiUser wrote:I still think something should sound well on average speakers too, otherwise there is something wrong. Often music isn't consumed via high end hifi

What kind of patches did you build/test? And when listening on the better system, what did you think about the clip Mr. Kastrup posted?

Dr.Wu · Post by **Dr.Wu** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:29 pm

mkastrup wrote:Hmm thats odd because i have a really hard time hearing other VST coming up with the clear and direct sound as in this demo for Zebra:

http://www.zebrasynth.com/songs/Zebra_Oldskool.mp3

This demo was created using Zebra only when i tested my new Yamaha HS 50M speakers. Nothing was added, not even a limiter, its straight out of Zebra.

/Michael

Brilliant!
Great job!
Many good ideas in that medley.
I particulary like some of your chordchanges and the stratlike arpeggios.

Kloz · Post by **Kloz** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:44 pm

Michael...

it's really ALL Zebra ???

not EQ ??

not COMP ?

not ANYTHING out of Zebra ???

just pan and level on your DAW ???

AWESOME TRACK !!!

beej · Post by **beej** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:02 pm

Kloz wrote:Michael...

it's really ALL Zebra ???

not EQ ??

not COMP ?

not ANYTHING out of Zebra ???

Yeah - he's annoying like that...

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:22 pm

Since you're a TI-user maybe you should check the "Viral - ..." sounds in "9 Clowns" against the similar named "HS - ..." sounds of the Virus C bank in the TI. At same level (!) these should show the relatively minimal differences, apart from the slightly different implemented features such as portamento and detune.

TiUser · Post by **TiUser** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:32 pm

Howard wrote:
TiUser wrote:I still think something should sound well on average speakers too, otherwise there is something wrong. Often music isn't consumed via high end hifi
Maybe your DAW is distorting the signal, although nothing's going into the red (seen this in Cubase and just now in MainStage). Just a thought...

Thanks for the idea... no, I don't think there is distortion involved. I don't know how to find words for it, it's not sounding bad, the best word I can find is thin, thinner as on the cheapo speakers...

Mixed impressions on u-he Zebra