Improvements!

[benj3737]

I love that some cable sources can be automated in ace, but I wish all of them could (like lfo1 s&h source)
I also wish that things like lfo1 tunemodes could be automated too.
I've been building ipad based controllers for u-he plugins and I was hoping to completely avoid using the mouse, but it doesn't look possible right now.
Thanks!
Ben

I'm also on the brink to unleash all parameters possible for automation. It may however mean a lot of support, and a possible rewrite of all such control templates. Not sure yet. We'll try to get it right.

That would be great!

[Suntower]

I would like a text search button for patches, based on the large description text box.

I'd submit that this is what's missing from EVERY 'browser' system. They all stink.

I don't care about categories or 'favorites' or 'authors' What I want, is what Zebra -has-... a nice big box to put lots of random info (tags) about a patch in any way you want. WELL DONE, URS! Half way there.

Now all we need is a 'Search' button in the Browser. And the Search button should work like this forum and Google... full-text search for any terms. (RegEx would be double plus good!)

Perhaps the Scripting language mentioned in the manual will be able to do this?

Best Regards,

---JC

[rockin1]

I just discovered the Hamburg Audio Nuklear synth which uses pulsar train oscillators. http://www.hamburg-audio.com/index.php?nav=1000&lang=GB

This explores some granular territory I was interested in years ago but haven't paid much attention to since it never became commercialized. Instead of granulating existing samples it uses granular algorithms to generate the initial source at the oscillator level. It looks really interesting and something along these lines seems like a nice option to be added to Zebra at some point.

What do you think Urs?

[SJ_Digriz]

I'm not saying it won't be a good synth ... But, I find it a bit ironic when the marketing bullet says "NEVER BEFORE HEARD SOUNDS", then provides a link to bog standard annoying club music.

[rockin1]

I'm not saying it won't be a good synth ... But, I find it a bit ironic when the marketing bullet says "NEVER BEFORE HEARD SOUNDS", then provides a link to bog standard annoying club music.

Regardless, my point is that it is interesting that they are commercializing a method of synthesis not explored outside of academia and esoteric programs in the past. I have long hoped to see somebody explore this commercially and am glad to see them doing it.

It seems like a pulsar synthesis module would be right at home in Zebra's mix and match semi-modular approach. Zebra already explores new directions in its oscillator section and this would go even further into new areas of synthesis. It probably isn't for everyone, but it would be great to see what people do with it. Good sound designers exploring new techniques will certainly find new sounds. Don't discard this method of synthesis just because the first commercial product doesn't show new potential in the first demos...

[Howard]

Don't discard this method of synthesis just because the first commercial product doesn't show new potential in the first demos...

True - but I think we would need a "usable" instrument first.

[Urs]

Don't discard this method of synthesis just because the first commercial product doesn't show new potential in the first demos...

True - but I think we would need a "usable" instrument first.

Yo, how was the flight?

[Bronto Scorpio]

Don't discard this method of synthesis just because the first commercial product doesn't show new potential in the first demos...

True - but I think we would need a "usable" instrument first.

Have a nice vacation Howard!
Sorry for the OT!

Cheers
Dennis

[Howard]

Yo, how was the flight?

Loooooooooong! I'll get in touch via Skype chat soon. Till then, FB message - OK?

[rockin1]

Don't discard this method of synthesis just because the first commercial product doesn't show new potential in the first demos...

True - but I think we would need a "usable" instrument first.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If u-he was to add this to Zebra I'm sure it would be very usable!

[Howard]

I mean that I tried Nuklear a while back, and was not impressed at all...
I'm skeptical about the potential of that method.

[rockin1]

I mean that I tried Nuklear a while back, and was not impressed at all...
I'm skeptical about the potential of that method.

I see. I haven't tried it yet. However I have been very interested in the work of Curtis Roads (which is what this synth is based on) for a long time and have wanted to see a high quality implementation in a commercial plugin. Based on your experience it sounds like this may not be a high quality implementation. But just as many VA synths suck this synth lacking doesn't necessarily mean the method behind it is lacking. Of course I wouldn't expect lots of melodic material to come from this method. It is more about texture and atmosphere in my experience...

The reason for my interest is that I have had the book Microsound by Curtis Roads for a long time: http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/de ... 87&ttype=2 (review here: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct03/a ... ntials.htm) and have spent some time with the old pulsar generator app http://www.create.ucsb.edu/PulsarGenerator/index.html (sadly Mac Classic / PPC only) and the old cloud generator app. I find this a really interesting approach for granular textures, soundscapes, fx, etc.

Here is a YouTube series with Curtis Roads for anyone interested in more: http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/ ... tis-roads/.

[Gonga]

Using Logic pro 8.
Saving a Zebra patch.
It will not allow me to input the user name area, but does allow me to input words in the other fields there.
It does not have this problem in either Live8 or Garageband5

This is the same sort of thing we SONAR users see Michael - except none of the patch dialog fields can be typed in directly, they have to be pasted in from the clipboard.

Hello,

I am experiencing this problem in Sonar too. Is this fixed, or is the best thing to do for now is the clipboard "workaround"?

Thank you,

Todd

They are definitely aware of the problem. As to whether U-He is working on the problem, I would say yes based on all the discussion...I'm not sure whether it has been determined to be something U-He can fix, as it appears to be a problem introduced by SONAR X1's rather radical key-mapping, where single key-presses have "hard-wired" behavior. I've tried altering settings in SONAR to no avail, and when I contact Cakewalk they say "make sure you've installed the latest patch" yada yada. So...let Cakewalk know we need to be able to give keyboard focus to other apps and it has to work! If they hear this from enough users we might get a fix someday - prolly in X2 or X3

[xh3rv]

I see. I haven't tried it yet

...

Here is a YouTube series with Curtis Roads for anyone interested in more: http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/ ... tis-roads/.

A demo is available, not sure if that's clear (?) Observations: (a) The 'pulsar train' label is pretty strictly accurate; (b) it's a limited implementation, it doesn't allow for the same range of uses as in a flexible programming environment, no pathway to re-synthesis, the grains are fairly static. I"m not really sure how interesting (a) considering (b) is technically, if there's much in the sonic results that's truly novel.

Thanks for the link! Anything from VBS.TV is always a trip.

[ford442]

i just had a thought - would it be good if Diva had an 'offline voices' option, so that you can play in low voices to save CPU (i do this a lot lately), but render automatically at full 16 voice poly?

i am wondering if my last track would sound better if i had set all poly voices to 16 at render time..?