I had a go on Zebra 2

[red37]

CM 138? supposed to be out yesterday? ...Still isnt out today

edit: scratch that - its out now.

[Urs]

Zebra is more flexible and can do clean, crisp better.

That's something I see slightly different. I think that Zebra has plenty of grit potential, as e.g. the demo song I posted a few pages back shows.

There are certain tricks to go that route, for instance by adding an eq in front of a waveshaper or by using an oscillator through a resonant filter as a modulator for an FM oscillator (Osc1 -> XMF1 -> FMO1). My favourite nasty effect though is using the "Scrambler" OscFX while modulating the waveform (check Biomechanoids excellent patch for Zebralette, Zebralette->Rhythmic->[bio] Sustained Attack).

Zebra is intentionally as clean as it gets by default, but there are dozens of means to add grit and character. You just have to exploit them

Urs

P.S.: I'll eventually release a patch collection of my "remastered" favourites which conatins a lot of gritty stuff...

[pedrorf]

There are certain tricks to go that route, for instance by adding an eq in front of a waveshaper or by using an oscillator through a resonant filter as a modulator for an FM oscillator (Osc1 -> XMF1 -> FMO1). My favourite nasty effect though is using the "Scrambler" OscFX while modulating the waveform (check Biomechanoids excellent patch for Zebralette, Zebralette->Rhythmic->[bio] Sustained Attack).

This is exactly the stuff I've been trying out lately, and it's what I really love about Zebra. I understand some people don't have the time (or the will) to spend a couple of hours a day for several months just learning the fine details of a synth, and experimenting with new module combinations. IMO, this is the sort of devotion Zebra demands and deserves. For me, it's not a chore, it's an hobby, it's something I enjoy doing.

If someone is not willing to go through this (which I fully understand), there are a lot of high quality patches for Zebra, and some of them are free. Zebra food, for instance, boasts some exceptionally warm sounding presets. These are not only a source of inspiring sounds, but also a library of sound design tips and clever solutions, if one takes the time to study them.

Not trying to change the OP's mind in any way, of course, just giving my opinion about zebra. I understand that sometimes people just want to get their music done, they want a certain sound, and they need a synth that gives them that sound fast and easily. If the natural sonic character of zebra doesn't appeal to them, and if they can't afford the time or the work to adjust said sonic character, then by all means they should get a synth that fulfill their needs. I really admire zebra, it's the only synth I'll be using for quite a while, but it's certainly not perfect for all the people on all the occasions.

[Arksun]

CM 138? supposed to be out yesterday? ...Still isnt out today

I have it.

Great interview with Arksun. When asked the secrets of his sound making abilities his response was pretty much. LEARN!

Word

Thanks, I wondered if the interviewer might have preferred more specific answers and examples but I think my response more accurately reflects the appraoch people should really take when learning synthesis.

Anyways, back on topic. I guess if my mp3 demos of the Soundbank I made for Zebra (or those by Howard, Michael etc) can't stir your soul then Zebra might not be the synth for you.

Zebra really inspired me to make some emotional melodies for the demo tracks and I can't wait to start using it in actual releases.

No biggy, we all have different tastes in sounds and needs in GUI. Plenty of synths to chose from out there

How a basic comment by tehlord that Zebra just isn't his thing exploded into 8 pages already says a lot about the strong support for this synth, but at the same time we need to recognise that not everyone has the same taste or will ever apreciate the things we personally like, along with recognising that differences between synths GUI design and sound are a GOOD thing for us.

[tehlord]

CM 138? supposed to be out yesterday? ...Still isnt out today

I have it.

Great interview with Arksun. When asked the secrets of his sound making abilities his response was pretty much. LEARN!

Word

Thanks, I wondered if the interviewer might have preferred more specific answers and examples but I think my response more accurately reflects the appraoch people should really take when learning synthesis.

Anyways, back on topic. I guess if my mp3 demos of the Soundbank I made for Zebra (or those by Howard, Michael etc) can't stir your soul then Zebra might not be the synth for you.

Zebra really inspired me to make some emotional melodies for the demo tracks and I can't wait to start using it in actual releases.

No biggy, we all have different tastes in sounds and needs in GUI. Plenty of synths to chose from out there

How a basic comment by tehlord that Zebra just isn't his thing exploded into 8 pages already says a lot about the strong support for this synth, but at the same time we need to recognise that not everyone has the same taste or will ever apreciate the things we personally like, along with recognising that differences between synths GUI design and sound are a GOOD thing for us.

I think the word LEARN is the best advice you can give somebody anyway unless it's something specific.

The comment about being inspired to create melodies is precisely what I meant, music is an emotional experience!

And yes, I can't believe the response to a small comment either!

[brok landers]

tehlord, i've tried a lot of payware i wasn't fond of either. i understand zebra isn't the kind of sound you need. >snip<

hmm, i actually do not understand this ... with zebra you can actually do _any_ sound you're after, even ultra realistic acoustic stuff

wow, any sound?

pretty much ... you just have to know zebra very good and take your time to tweak ... your ideas are the limit ...

[tehlord]

your ideas are the limit ...

I've always found my patience kicks in long before my ideas limit me.

[brok landers]

I dont see what all the fuss is about.

try a different skin, maybe?

That's a good idea.




/time passes





I'm now a black man, and still don't really care for it.

I think the problem is Zebra's not for trance.

but it is ... the great arksun did a bank for zebra, that should pretty much cover every tranceheads needs ...

[brok landers]

Yes, and yes I also checked out that preset demo. As for synths I think the closest thing that is is going to replace the KLC AE is either the FXpansion Synth Squad or AQ Poly-Ana. Not sure about a replacement for the digital edition yet.

This sounds AMAZING: http://www.admiralquality.com/products/ ... _dance.mp3

That bass and chords are just insane!

i just wanted to say it: it's the clever playing ... the sound can actually be made in mostly every decent substractive synth, and they're a piece of cake for zebra ...

[thespecialist]

Zebra is more flexible and can do clean, crisp better.

That's something I see slightly different. I think that Zebra has plenty of grit potential, as e.g. the demo song I posted a few pages back shows.

To be honest, that 'grittyness' doesn't really impress me. I love Zebra for its natural sounds, I think it's unmatched in that area. But for example compare it to the Adam Van Baker soundset Part 2 demo on Lennard's mainpage: http://www.lennardigital.com/modules/home/
And then, just for example, the part 57-64 in it. That's something I don't think Zebra2 can do like that. Of course it can come close, like Sylenth1 can come close to Zebra when it comes to natural sounds, but it's a certain detail that lacks (both when it comes to Sylenth1 doing natural stuff and Zebra2 doing crunchy/gritty stuff)

So no, I wouldn't agree that Zebra2 can do ANY sound. Don't get me wrong here, I think Zebra2 is one of the best sounding VST's out there and in some area's even unmatched, but I also think it has its limitations, just like ANY other synth (or even piece of hardware that is).

I'd be gladly proven wrong though

[brok landers]

... with zebra you can actually do _any_ sound you're after, even ultra realistic acoustic stuff ... there's only one other synth that comes close in flexibility, and that's helix ...

Considering you're one of the best sound designer around I think you know what you're talking about.

wow, thanks! always nice to hear that ...

I'm already a user of Zebra and I love it. Can you help me understand why you think Helix is that great? I tried the demo, love the sound but didn't really try programming it. Thing is it take me a lot of time to really start understanding new synths (its just a hobby for me, don't do a lot of time with that). So just by the demo I can't really judge its value and power. That's whay I'm asking you if you (or anyone else really) can provide me with reasons you beleive its so great.

Also, can Helix do some thing Zebra can't?

well, i wont go into what helix can that zebra can't (and vice versa), simply because it takes too much time to indepthly make a true comparsion in public ...
let's just say they're both great sounding and both extremly versatile ...
see, for both goes: you actually need to spend your time with it, there's no way around, if you really want to get max out of those ... or you just use presets ... you can't expect a synth like zebra or helix magically doing it all for you by itself, they can't know ... you have to learn the synths in order to understand how they behave, how they react, how they do certain things ... once you know that, you're up to get max out of these synths, there's just a few, far away limitations then, if any ... see, good sound takes time, thats how it is ... if you don't have time for that, you depend on good patches, but you're limited ... actually that's how i got to be a sounddesigner - i simply did listen to all the patches a synth comes with, but they mostly did not satisfy me ... so i realized that i'm faster by building my own patches right for what i need them ...
an example:
ifyou have zebra and all it's great soundsets, it would take hours to listen to all of them, just by trying to find _that_ certain sound you're after ... in that time you could aswell just do it yourself, once you learned it ...

[rob_lee]

Is this thread going anywhere? Either you like it or you don't Im gonna download the demo after iv'e installed cubase to see for myself..looks like it's gonna be good from what i see...plenty of modulation/lfo options..
rob

[tehlord]

Is this thread going anywhere? Either you like it or you don't Im gonna download the demo after iv'e installed cubase to see for myself..looks like it's gonna be good from what i see...plenty of modulation/lfo options..
rob

you're just going to download it to annoy me

[rob_lee]

Is this thread going anywhere? Either you like it or you don't Im gonna download the demo after iv'e installed cubase to see for myself..looks like it's gonna be good from what i see...plenty of modulation/lfo options..
rob

you're just going to download it to annoy me

Lol no im gonna download it and if i like it im gonna make a soundbank for it..strictly no flutes/brass/drums or fx
If i don't like it i won't say i'll just slither away and you won't hear another thing from me about it

Iv'e a feeling that i will though
rob

[tehlord]

For the first time in my life i'm starting to doubt myself.