Using Komplete6/Alchememy/Omnisphere - Zebra Recommended?

[jufros]

I hear sooo much about this synth that I'm wondering if I'm missing out.

[GeorgK]

Try the demo (fully functional, gets out of tune after a few minutes).

Georg

[VSTJuNkiE]

gets out of tune after a few minutes.

Which ironically on some patches makes it even better

[Echoes in the Attic]

That's pretty much setup you've listed with a few more VA's. But the big guns of mine are Komplete, Omnisphere, Alchemy and Zebra. They all have their special place. Zebra can do some things the others can't, like ultra punchy leads for example. So yeah, recommended. Great addition to what you have currently.

[rockmachine]

I hear sooo much about this synth that I'm wondering if I'm missing out.

You are!

[jufros]

This is what I'm currently using everything for and why I'm considering Zebra:

Massive: Wave-morphing bass sounds, Alchemy is more comprehensive in this department but Massive has better filters for this application IMO and is much quicker and easier to program in

FM8: weirder modern sounding percussion and snares, percussive lead sounds and secondary electro basses

Absynth/Alchemy: Complex morphing, granular synthesis, pads, sample-based synthesis and mangling, lots of overlap here but I find Alchemy much more fun and use it for most of my spectral work when I'm not using Omnisphere samples (all over film scores right now), I also really like sampling multiple Omnisphere elements and then mangling them in Alchemy

Reaktor: mostly for fun when I have the time to spend on sound design as a purely abstract pursuit independent of a project, also periodically audition user modules and have found some great stuff there, wish I had more time for it

Battery: self-explanatory! Great library but even better drum sampler and librarian.

Omnisphere: WOW umm.. film scoring, FILM SCORING, multi-timbral basses, leads, and pads, GROOVE-LOCKED envelopes for basses... incredible. Massive is getting less and less use all the time.

So yeah, the vast majority of my synthesis work is done in Omnisphere, FM8, and Alchemy, and all three of them truly phenomenal excellent synths. I'm thinking Zebra would be a good addition for....

a) Really streamlined efficient way of doing more basic modular synthesis, but probably enough when you're on a deadline or just want certain effects before the filter, only some oscillators going to such and such filters, splitting signal chains, parallel chains/effects, etc. etc. All of this is obnoxiously difficult, time-consuming, or impossible with what I've listed.

b) A go-to VA for more old school sounds when I need them. Most of stuff my definitely tends towards the modern side, but lately I've been thinking that I might be better capable of accentuating that aesthetic with some contrast instead of a more-of-the-same and arguably ultimately less subtle approach

c) Similar additive/waveshaping capabilities as Alchemy, but the modular approach makes it a totally different ballgame as far as I'm concerned.

d) I have Uhbik, love it, and need no convincing of sound quality.

I did download the demo and while yeah it's assured me that the synth sounds great, I really need it not to go totally bonkers all the time for me to really build something original that I'd actually use and am satisfied with to make a decision, thus my asking about user experience here.

[jufros]

Man that comment about the punchy leads though... soooooo right on man. I'm A/Bing the Zebra demo vs. Massive and Omnisphere right now. Massive is nowhere even close to as punchy in the middle register. It's nice and lush but too.. stereo for funky stuff. Omnisphere can do it of course but uses WAY more CPU. Zebra would almost be worth it just for a live performance lead synth... hmm. If I can buy a license used I think I'm down.

[pdxindy]

a) Really streamlined efficient way of doing more basic modular synthesis, but probably enough when you're on a deadline or just want certain effects before the filter, only some oscillators going to such and such filters, splitting signal chains, parallel chains/effects, etc. etc. All of this is obnoxiously difficult, time-consuming, or impossible with what I've listed.

b) A go-to VA for more old school sounds when I need them. Most of stuff my definitely tends towards the modern side, but lately I've been thinking that I might be better capable of accentuating that aesthetic with some contrast instead of a more-of-the-same and arguably ultimately less subtle approach


I did download the demo and while yeah it's assured me that the synth sounds great, I really need it not to go totally bonkers all the time for me to really build something original that I'd actually use and am satisfied with to make a decision, thus my asking about user experience here.

Zebra is a streamlined way to crafting sounds. For me it hits the sweet spot for power vs ease of use. I have done quite a bit of sound design for video documentaries and Zebra is great for its wide sonic palette, excellent sound quality and ability to fine tune sounds effectively. Since you have multiple channels, it is so easy to say add a bit of harmonic resonance or body without having to tweak the base sound.

Zebra also can make such sweet beautiful sounds that NI stuff or Alchemy don't.

[jufros]

Yeah I'm pretty much sold. I can "Dinosaur" crossgrade for $150 which is a decent deal right there but if I can better I will. I'm really really knocked out by the low-mids in everything I've thrown together in the demo version. I tried the Zebra demo before 2.5 was released and Urs must have done something pretty epic his algorithms because it sounds totally different from what I was able to recall.

[bmrzycki]

I tried the Zebra demo before 2.5 was released and Urs must have done something pretty epic his algorithms because it sounds totally different from what I was able to recall.

Urs in 2.5 refined the XMF filters with the new filter types (LP, HP, BP, BR, AP, etc), added the serial/parallel/diffed logic, and added new filter models (XMF, Analog, eco, etc).

For the digital (VCFn) filters he reworked the overall volume level, the drive coloration, and in some cases the resonance coloration. He also added a sample reduction SR filter type for lo-fi sounds.

These massive filter changes really rounded out the sound palette of Zebra IMO. On top of that you can still use the old 2.3 style filters if you prefer giving you effectively double the filter algorithms of 2.3.

Finally, The XMF filter in 2.5 is more tame but has more flexibility while the XMF in 2.3 really screams with certain settings.

[Nig]

Biggest problem with Zebra for me is that it's a bit too addictive, not like that's a bad thing, it can just be hard getting out of bed the next morning after using it

Great synth though, things just seem to make sense with it, really helped me learn synthesis. Find it easy to get the sound I want out of it.

Bought Alchemy too a couple of weeks back but to be honest I've hardly used it because I tend to go to Zebra first. Will have to study this a bit more though cause looks like you can do wonderful things with it.

[JackD]

You are using Komplete6/Alchememy/Omnisphere. Everything you are using is sample based. But, for your type of music (?), that may be appropriate. If you decide you might want a synthesizer, Zebra comes highly recommended. But so might a Prophet8.

[phlake]

You are using Komplete6/Alchememy/Omnisphere. Everything you are using is sample based.

Komplete isn't sample-based (Massive, FM8, Absynth, Pro53 -- you must be thinking of Kontakt), and both Alchemy and Omnisphere can do subtractive synthesis, while Alchemy can also do from-scratch additive synthesis.

[jufros]

Well thanks for the recommendation guys. I did manage to find Zebra used here and so far I'm totally sold on the hype. It really does have a unique sound and a GREAT filter section. It's really flexible due to the modular architecture and wealth of features but at the same time, for simple VA stuff, it's really fast to program. I think I'm sticking with Omnisphere for basses and Alchemy for pads but I definitely have a new favorite lead synth.

Also, I was rehearsing with my band yesterday and busted out some Zebra sounds. There's a special clarity to this synth that I've only been able to replicate with Omnisphere at a much higher CPU cost. I threw some nice saturators on a few leads and was really astounded at how lively this synth is, and this is coming from a former all-hardware-on stage guy.

[mcnoone]

Well thanks for the recommendation guys. I did manage to find Zebra used here and so far I'm totally sold on the hype.

Great for you. You can check out some presets for it here.
http://www.u-he.com/PatchLib/zebra.html

You might find something there you like.

There's also some good commercial ones here.
http://www.u-he.com/zebra/index.php?item=patchsets

Have fun.