Improvements!

[amoeba]

I am still waiting for an affordable multitouch screen solution so that I can control Zebras 4 pads with four fingers. The ipod Multi-Touch might do the trick someday.

someday? i've been doing this for a while now. there are several really nice OSC apps already, and with OSCulator in between them and your zebras, you are all set for multi-touch XY padded goodness.

[xh3rv]

I'm not saying to copy what Alchemy or Fabfilter did, but to learn from them and come up with an even better way to deal with modulation

The expanded, 12-destination ModMatrix tab might be a bit more equatable to Alchemy or FabFilter. While I mostly disagree with your assessment of the usability of Zebra, it might be nice to have something a little quicker like being able to map parameter-> ModMatrix slot (as opposed to within the menu from the ModMatrix entry boxes), like with the XY mappings (like, right-click, 1 option to send it to an open ModMatrix entry)

The per-module modulation options are _very_ sensible, and the 'low' number of them relative to having a huge pile of mod parameters is actually a good thing IMO. You're correct that the ModMixers are a solution here when you want more parameters; they are extremely flexible and well worth exploring, especially I think when it comes to performance-based modulation (velocity, modwheel etc.). There are also other options like modulating modulation sources (e.g. LFO rate by envelope), going to the ModMatrix, going to MSEGs for tricky curves etc. And these methods can be combined in interesting ways too. There's a real proliferation of options and there are usually several ways to do something.

But where it becomes really awesome is: instead of having 8 parameters affect cutoff of a filter, I think it's really, really nice to be able to have just 1 or 2 parameters function as modulation depth controls and have the modulation logic separated from that. Doing things this way, Zebra promotes a structure of patches with a kind of depth that you don't always get with flat lists of parameters.

I don't have much experience with Alchemy or FabFilter Two, they are good and I'm sure they have great qualities in this area that I can't see from demos, but Zebra is unique here.

New Zebra GUI looks great! (Shades of green for knobs is good for a technical reason: the human eye is more sensitive to shades of green than any other color.)

[pd]

I am still waiting for an affordable multitouch screen solution so that I can control Zebras 4 pads with four fingers. The ipod Multi-Touch might do the trick someday.

someday? i've been doing this for a while now. there are several really nice OSC apps already, and with OSCulator in between them and your zebras, you are all set for multi-touch XY padded goodness.

I was hoping someone would set me straight. You may have to give me some more details. You are using an ipod touch (or iphone)? Can you really use four fingers at the same time?
I am thinking of four pads in this configuration:

._______
|___|___|
|___|___|

[gbles]

Great! Collapsible folders! Thanks, Urs.

[blurk]

Even then, one has to know what those "blank" nobs are actually supposed to be modulating in the first place.

This is actually a good point that has been overlooked in the responses so far. Forget all the other pros and cons for the moment and think about it from the point of view of a new or only casually acquainted user: it's completely mysterious what those blank knobs are for. Most other knobs are reasonably descriptive, so you don't need to have the manual open, but these aren't. Therefore, there is something that can be improved in Zebra modulation.

[rectus_dominus]

I do love some of the other things Alchemy has -- like the Kore-like morphing pads. I am still waiting for an affordable multitouch screen solution so that I can control Zebras 4 pads with four fingers. The ipod Multi-Touch might do the trick someday.

Maybe check out some DIY stuff and get a friend to do it, if you can't. For example: http://www.doepfer.de/pe.htm
If you manage to make a working controller with 4 touchpads and 8 knobs, then please send it to me via mail service. I'll gladly test it for you

[Urs]

You get EIGHT mod sources for EVERY PARAMETER!

One can of course do that.

Zebra is however coded with speed and quality in mind. The so-called "control rate" is 1/4 audio rate, meaning that each modulator updates every 4th sample. If you query other developers, typical control rates are every 16th sample or even every 64th sample (you can verify this in the DSP Dev Forum). Which I just find too grainy for a high quality synth (I evaluated this from the analysis of the Virus A and another synth which alledgedly have a control rate of 16 samples).*

This means however that one can't offer too many modulation slots because it would bring down the cpu.

On the other hand, well, it's also a certain paradigm that Zebra is designed by. Zebra enforces one to work economically. And if you look at Howard's factory presets, I think one can clearly see that one can. I also believe that creativity needs a *frame* within which it can unfold. I believe that an inherent property of creativity is "creating something not-obvious out of the given possibilities". And just like a blank piece of paper can be paralysing, I think that unlimited possibilities within a synth defeat the purpose.

Cheers,

Urs

[Urs]

Even then, one has to know what those "blank" nobs are actually supposed to be modulating in the first place.

This is actually a good point that has been overlooked in the responses so far. Forget all the other pros and cons for the moment and think about it from the point of view of a new or only casually acquainted user: it's completely mysterious what those blank knobs are for. Most other knobs are reasonably descriptive, so you don't need to have the manual open, but these aren't. Therefore, there is something that can be improved in Zebra modulation.

I have to respond to that

As you might know, I have a degree in Industrial Design (my official name is Dipl.-Des. Urs Heckmann). During the studies and work in the field it occurred to me that most product designs are all about the initial perception of things. Everything is about "making things easy to handle without experience". Which I think is wrong. And which is also why I can't work in my profession, or not to the extent to make me happy. Let me explain:

Good design distinguishes between two phases of product perception: There's the initial impression during which a product should invite the user to explore. In this phase a product should not unveil all of its secrets (man needs challenge to get rewarding moments of success). Then there's the phase in which a product is used day in day out. In that phase nothing shall stay in the way of the user.

Now comes the point: Things that make the initial perception of a product very easy are usually also the things that a) make a product boring (nothing to explore) and b) get in the way of the experienced user (think tooltips all over the place).

Unfortunately there are marketing forces. Latter tend to promote "easy to handle in the first place". Which is a shame and IMHO even as much as a cultural disaster with numerous social and economic implications. Which to explain I would need to write a book. Which I won't. Back to Zebra:

I used to believe that Zebra is inviting enough for people to find out about [...] and the Grid, but for many it is not. Which is a problem I think can be met by tutorial videos. Of which a bucket load is being prepared, for being posted on a dedicated website, for which I migrated servers and all. You'll see...

Urs

[Urs]

Naughty teasing us with all those Howard presets we can't have

That's not quite true... the "Scratchpad" is filled with 300+ patches that will see the public light of day in a not-so-distant future, hopefully in 2009.

And of course, the screenshots also shows work by Shogger (Fritz), Wonshu (HH), MiroslavH (MiN) and Xenos. The "FRitz with stripes" bank has been lurking on my hard drive for more than a year, but it needs some serious sorting. Xenos and Wonshu are still working on theirs. The MiN bank consists of really crazy stuff and only needs to be posted. Hmmm... which I could actually do...

Later,

Urs

[jensa]

I have to respond to that

As you might know, I have a degree in Industrial Design (my official name is Dipl.-Des. Urs Heckmann). During the studies and work in the field it occurred to me that most product designs are all about the initial perception of things. Everything is about "making things easy to handle without experience". Which I think is wrong. And which is also why I can't work in my profession, or not to the extent to make me happy. Let me explain:

Good design distinguishes between two phases of product perception: There's the initial impression during which a product should invite the user to explore. In this phase a product should not unveil all of its secrets (man needs challenge to get rewarding moments of success). Then there's the phase in which a product is used day in day out. In that phase nothing shall stay in the way of the user.

Now comes the point: Things that make the initial perception of a product very easy are usually also the things that a) make a product boring (nothing to explore) and b) get in the way of the experienced user (think tooltips all over the place).

Unfortunately there are marketing forces. Latter tend to promote "easy to handle in the first place". Which is a shame and IMHO even as much as a cultural disaster with numerous social and economic implications. Which to explain I would need to write a book. Which I won't. Back to Zebra:

I used to believe that Zebra is inviting enough for people to find out about [...] and the Grid, but for many it is not. Which is a problem I think can be met by tutorial videos. Of which a bucket load is being prepared, for being posted on a dedicated website, for which I migrated servers and all. You'll see...

Urs

I'm 100% with Urs here. Damn, it's not everyday you hear someone put it this way but it should. I really dislike being part of extreme noob friendly interfaces putting off experimentation with the software. My grand mother will not use most of the software anyway.

[red37]

Urs - you're a class act lad. The Bill Shankly of software development!!!

[fas1piano]

i think these are great ideas, urs! one think i have problems with is when using a patch i made some time ago or a preset: finding out about all the modulation going on...

"what's cousing that wobble there?" then i need to look at all possible targets, i can't see it from the lfo.

but maybe that is part of the experimentation process.

[aMUSEd]

Naughty teasing us with all those Howard presets we can't have

That's not quite true... the "Scratchpad" is filled with 300+ patches that will see the public light of day in a not-so-distant future, hopefully in 2009.

And of course, the screenshots also shows work by Shogger (Fritz), Wonshu (HH), MiroslavH (MiN) and Xenos. The "FRitz with stripes" bank has been lurking on my hard drive for more than a year, but it needs some serious sorting. Xenos and Wonshu are still working on theirs. The MiN bank consists of really crazy stuff and only needs to be posted. Hmmm... which I could actually do...

Later,

Urs

Ah you see my cunning plan was I hoped you'd say something like that - good

The Angels and Demons patches really sounded lovely though

[spaceman]

where's that 'create hit' button we've all been asking for?

[streifentier]

Yo,

I finally implemented the oldest feature request ever: Collapsable folders in the preset browser...

Finally... That's really great!!!!!

Oh yes, this is also a little glimpse into the new colour scheme. Sort of. It isn't finished though

Later,

Urs

Does that mean there won't be any stripes any more ?