Zebra 2.5 Released!
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- KVRAF
- 1950 posts since 17 Jun, 2005
Couldn't say it better, so I just quoted you saying it.suthnear wrote:Urs - an incredible upgrade. It speaks volumes of your integrity that you chose to hone an already sharp tool to a razor's edge. Zebra is my favourite digital synth by miles. Thank you.
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- KVRist
- 381 posts since 27 Sep, 2006 from Eastern US
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- KVRist
- 30 posts since 30 Jul, 2008
It almost seems like 2.5 is Urs' answer to the suggestion that Zebra's overall sound lacks a certain "bite" or crispy edge.Urs wrote:Absolutely! Especially LP Allround/LP12/RezBand/BR/Vintage1+2 and the XMF have been revamped. Vintage 1 & 2 are actually much like eco-modes of the new XMF.phazed wrote:Really great! Using the filters in native 2.5 mode gives you a completely new synth.
From the video description of XMF, it also seems like 2.5 offers an answer to the requests for feedback.
All I know is that I'm unable to pull away from my headphones at the moment. The crispy edge is so punchy that I'm kind of stunned. I'm so happy to hear this quality of sound coming out of this already amazing instrument.
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- KVRist
- 43 posts since 2 Oct, 2007
Was just playing around with 2.5. The skin almost seems too bright. It's not as easy on the eyes as the other ones. I guess that's just my preference. 
The filters sound great though.
The filters sound great though.-
- KVRist
- 376 posts since 8 Apr, 2004 from Portland, OR
Thanks for the great work, Urs. I love the sound of the new filters.
I think I found a reproducible bug (I've done it a few times now). Change an MSEG point, click Undo, then click Redo, and the host hangs.
I'm on Vista 64 using Reaper. I can send a video if you are unable to reproduce it.
I think I found a reproducible bug (I've done it a few times now). Change an MSEG point, click Undo, then click Redo, and the host hangs.
I'm on Vista 64 using Reaper. I can send a video if you are unable to reproduce it.
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- KVRian
- 875 posts since 26 May, 2009 from Area 51
Likewise here.gbles wrote:Thanks for the great work, Urs. I love the sound of the new filters.
I think I found a reproducible bug (I've done it a few times now). Change an MSEG point, click Undo, then click Redo, and the host hangs.
I'm on Vista 64 using Reaper. I can send a video if you are unable to reproduce it.
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- KVRAF
- 37470 posts since 14 Sep, 2002 from In teh net
That and a global 2.5 toggle would be usefulGMusic wrote:Urs is there a way to mass convert presets to use 2.5? some presets sound bad in 2.5 but the majority I have tested sound a bit better. Saving each as a new 2.5 preset is a chore (right clicking each time, saving, then having to delete the old one).
thanks
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- u-he
- Topic Starter
- 30216 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Hi There,
Sorry I've been offline for 18 hours (went to an early Russian dinner with *heaps* of vodka and then had to sleep till noon)
There seem to be some fresh bugs. undo/redo on Windows is completely out of control, the Arpeggiator has its problems and some other minor niggles. However the crash bug from Z2.3.3 is gone for good!
#--
Regarding the gui and its brightness, there's a classical problem with gamma values on Mac and Win. Everything Win looks darker than what I designed on Mac. I've started compensating for that by adjusting the gamma value during png import, but I havn't quite sussed it out perfectly (using Parallels Desktop doesn't work in that respect). I also have to adjust the gamma of the actual drawing colours (text, boxes, shapes). So I think I'll offer user adjustable brightness at some point.
#--
Automatic conversion of patches
There's a feature not yet finally implemented but coming, and that's the "OnLoad Preset". The OnLoad preset would be a preset or a script that would be loaded each time after a normal preset is loaded. It can of course overwrite the whole preset just loaded which doesn't make sense, but it would usually be used for surgical modifications:
- automatic switch to 2.5 mode
- automatic switch of oscillator mode from soft to crisp or vice versa
- automatic assignment of XY controls
- automatic assignment of Controllers (ModWheel, AT)
I will also finally document the built-in features for rapid batch conversion of presets.
#--
Regarding native 2.5 presets
These will come for sure. Howie is working on a revamped and extended factory bank, and I can imagine that a lot of patch designers will release new versions of their soundbanks.
Nevertheless, a 2.3 preset is still a valid preset, and must not be stigmatised. In fact, many great presets were built on the shortcomings of 2.3, such as the massive resonance gain of LP Allround, or the nastier growl of the XMF. These presets are likely to sound different with the new - may I say tamed - engine, so there might be a good reason to even stick to 2.3 for some patches.
Urs
Sorry I've been offline for 18 hours (went to an early Russian dinner with *heaps* of vodka and then had to sleep till noon)
There seem to be some fresh bugs. undo/redo on Windows is completely out of control, the Arpeggiator has its problems and some other minor niggles. However the crash bug from Z2.3.3 is gone for good!
#--
Regarding the gui and its brightness, there's a classical problem with gamma values on Mac and Win. Everything Win looks darker than what I designed on Mac. I've started compensating for that by adjusting the gamma value during png import, but I havn't quite sussed it out perfectly (using Parallels Desktop doesn't work in that respect). I also have to adjust the gamma of the actual drawing colours (text, boxes, shapes). So I think I'll offer user adjustable brightness at some point.
#--
Automatic conversion of patches
There's a feature not yet finally implemented but coming, and that's the "OnLoad Preset". The OnLoad preset would be a preset or a script that would be loaded each time after a normal preset is loaded. It can of course overwrite the whole preset just loaded which doesn't make sense, but it would usually be used for surgical modifications:
- automatic switch to 2.5 mode
- automatic switch of oscillator mode from soft to crisp or vice versa
- automatic assignment of XY controls
- automatic assignment of Controllers (ModWheel, AT)
I will also finally document the built-in features for rapid batch conversion of presets.
#--
Regarding native 2.5 presets
These will come for sure. Howie is working on a revamped and extended factory bank, and I can imagine that a lot of patch designers will release new versions of their soundbanks.
Nevertheless, a 2.3 preset is still a valid preset, and must not be stigmatised. In fact, many great presets were built on the shortcomings of 2.3, such as the massive resonance gain of LP Allround, or the nastier growl of the XMF. These presets are likely to sound different with the new - may I say tamed - engine, so there might be a good reason to even stick to 2.3 for some patches.
Urs-
- u-he
- Topic Starter
- 30216 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Three more things:
SSE2
3 of the updated filters (LP Xcite, HP24 and BR) need SSE2. This explains the crashes. However, these filters have been adjusted only marginally, so I'll make them revert to their 2.3 counterparts on non-SSE2 machines. All the goodies (XMF, LP Allround etc.) will sound great without SSE2 too
In short: Final Version Will Run On Non-SSE2 Machines
MIDI Bank Select
MIDI Bank Select (CC 0) can be used to switch between the MIDI Programs directory (0) and any folder within (1-127) that directory. Nested folders are treated as folders within MIDI Programs and thus just count.
You can put all your presets in there (provided you have less than 128 folders) and just use MIDI to navigate.
The MIDI Programs database is still set up when loading the first instance of Zebra, so you still have to restart the host for changes to come to effect.
Automatic Panel Switch
As per request, clicking a module in the Grid while looking at the Preset manager will make the GUI jump to the Synthesis page.
There is probably even more, but I'll recover that information after fixing the new bugs.
SSE2
3 of the updated filters (LP Xcite, HP24 and BR) need SSE2. This explains the crashes. However, these filters have been adjusted only marginally, so I'll make them revert to their 2.3 counterparts on non-SSE2 machines. All the goodies (XMF, LP Allround etc.) will sound great without SSE2 too
In short: Final Version Will Run On Non-SSE2 Machines
MIDI Bank Select
MIDI Bank Select (CC 0) can be used to switch between the MIDI Programs directory (0) and any folder within (1-127) that directory. Nested folders are treated as folders within MIDI Programs and thus just count.
You can put all your presets in there (provided you have less than 128 folders) and just use MIDI to navigate.
The MIDI Programs database is still set up when loading the first instance of Zebra, so you still have to restart the host for changes to come to effect.
Automatic Panel Switch
As per request, clicking a module in the Grid while looking at the Preset manager will make the GUI jump to the Synthesis page.
There is probably even more, but I'll recover that information after fixing the new bugs.
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- KVRian
- 743 posts since 14 Apr, 2004
Urs, about the gui brightness, on snow leopard seems that apple set the gamma like windows...
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- KVRAF
- 11381 posts since 3 Feb, 2003 from Finland, Espoo
I know I've been a critic of how Zebra sounds but I decided, once again, to try the demo now that we have some new filters to play with.. and I have to say.. DAMN MAN!! 
Zebra sounds absolutely wicked! Not sterile at all, like I remembered it. I had absolutely no trouble at all creating some bizarre buzzing leads that oozed personality! The XMF filter in particular, is amazing (fav being the diode mode.. or was it called bias? I'm not sure..) when you run it in parallel or parallel difference.
Damn.. there goes another 200$ (as soon as I have any to spend!). I knew it was just a matter of time.
Cheers!
bManic
Zebra sounds absolutely wicked! Not sterile at all, like I remembered it. I had absolutely no trouble at all creating some bizarre buzzing leads that oozed personality! The XMF filter in particular, is amazing (fav being the diode mode.. or was it called bias? I'm not sure..) when you run it in parallel or parallel difference.
Damn.. there goes another 200$ (as soon as I have any to spend!). I knew it was just a matter of time.
Cheers!
bManic
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
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- u-he
- Topic Starter
- 30216 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Thanks mate!bmanic wrote:I know I've been a critic of how Zebra sounds but I decided, once again, to try the demo now that we have some new filters to play with.. and I have to say.. DAMN MAN!!
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- KVRAF
- 10815 posts since 26 Nov, 2004 from UK
well i never viewed Zebra 2.3 & prior as sounding sterile
in till i played with 2.5
2.3 mode is still better for some sounds, but i'm a farting bass kind of guy
2.5 brings my bottom to life (ok i'll get mi coat)
Subz
in till i played with 2.5
2.3 mode is still better for some sounds, but i'm a farting bass kind of guy
2.5 brings my bottom to life (ok i'll get mi coat)
Subz