Help Me Make These Sounds With Zebra!

[Suntower]

Hi,

I just purchased Zebra2 and AM I IMPRESSED. Really hits a sweet spot between 'power' and 'ease of use'. And while I'm gushing, It doesn't seem nearly as much of a one-trick pony as a lot of VSTis. So...

Here are two short sound samples I'm trying to re-create in Zebra in order to learn how to program it. Probably both are pretty simple to do, but I keep getting close and then veering off course.

1. From PPG: http://jchmusic.com/downloads/ppg-test.mp3

2. From Alchemy: http://jchmusic.com/downloads/alchemy-test.mp3

I -know- it can be done. With your help, of course.

TIA,

---JC[/url]

[mcnoone]

Both are one osc saws set to single mode. using sync modulated by the env2.
No filter needed for these.
Their the same sound with different envelope settings.
The alchemy one use PW so click that on and set it at 50% for the more square sounding thing of that.
Experiment with the sync settings and env 1&2.
The attack on the 1st sound is 0, but the 2nd sound is probably like 20 or so.

[Suntower]

Hey thanks so much! I've got to practice with this.

One initial comment: the Alchemy sound is actually done like so: a -very- wimpy single saw sound (it sounds like it's from a CS-80---you know how thin one wave could sound). Their 'trick' (and it's a great one IMHO) is that it runs through a distortion effect, which is -then- followed by an ADSR with a short release so the notes don't run together. It's sort of like Winwood's organ/sax sound on 'Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys'.

Is there a way to do this in Zebra? ie... run a distortion after a wave and -then- apply an ADSR to that buss? I see a distortion for the output buss, but not one for the wave.

TIA,

---JC

Both are one osc saws set to single mode. using sync modulated by the env2.
No filter needed for these.
Their the same sound with different envelope settings.
The alchemy one use PW so click that on and set it at 50% for the more square sounding thing of that.
Experiment with the sync settings and env 1&2.
The attack on the 1st sound is 0, but the 2nd sound is probably like 20 or so.

[bmrzycki]

Is there a way to do this in Zebra? ie... run a distortion after a wave and -then- apply an ADSR to that buss? I see a distortion for the output buss, but not one for the wave.

Several ways to do this, all with varying sonic colorings:

[OSC1]
[Shape1]
...
Env1

or:
[OSC1]
[VCF1]
[VCF2]
...
Env1

or:
[OSC1]
{VCF1]
[Shape1]
...
Env1

or:
[OSC1]
[Shape1]
[XMF1]
...
Env1

Distortion in Zebra is achieved mostly via shapers and filter drive. You can seriously color the sound of an input signal to a VCF by setting the drive close to 100 and cutoff at 150 (fully open) and then trying different filter types.

The XMF overdrive can be subtle or incredibly strong, watch both your input and output levels. The XMF filter settings also have a strong coloring component (XMF vs Analog vs biased vs folded as well as the serial/parallel/diff modes)

You can also add bite to a sound with Oscillator FX. Scramble, Fractalz, Wrap, Turbulence, Ripples can all add a bit of distortion to a clean saw. Be sure to do minor nudges of these knobs! A little goes a long way.

You can also split the signal like so:

[OSC1]
[ | ] [FMO1]
[VCF1]

So that VCF1 is fed by both the OSC1, and the FMO1 being modulated by OSC1. This can dirty up a signal too.

There are a lot of things you can try to change the "wimpy" saw. Try a few and see if it's close to what you're trying to achieve.

One last tip, tiny amounts of the SR Decimate VCF type can add digital grit to a signal.

[Suntower]

WOW. THANKS! Back to the cave to try it out.

---JC