What is Wav2Zebra?

[Darkstar2010]

I've seen a few discussions about Wav2Zebra on this forum and others... But none of the threads I've read have explained what it is.

Can someone explain exactly what Wav2Zebra is?


thank you for any help!

[Urs]

It's a tool that converts .wav files into presets containing Zebra wavetable, i.e. it lets you import audio files into Zebra's oscillator section.

[Darkstar2010]

But what does that do exactly? If I record a part in a song I like as a .wav file I'll have that as a patch in Zebra 2?

[bmrzycki]

No, it's best used on single cycle material. Think more waveforms and less .wav samples.

[xh3rv]

Just to outline what's possible, the PatchLib has oscillator presets. I think some were made with Wav2Zebra, not sure which though. These load into the OSC# modules in Zebra.

It's better to think of the results as re-synthesis than sampling (IMO, but really ... ). More or less since it's wavetables, each frame is representing single cycles of waves, or a spectral graph frozen at a particular moment. There's an implicit trade-off: a loss of information and detail but also a gain of Zebra's OSC module functionality - wavetable modulation, OSC FX, phase/sync/reset, etc.

Using these results for not-so-creative emulation then is a bit hit or miss I think, but more creative interpretation or mangling or whatever, it's viable and even a bit exciting

[Darkstar2010]

No, it's best used on single cycle material. Think more waveforms and less .wav samples.

I have no idea what that means which is why I started this thread in the first place...So that hopefully someone could explain what it's for in as clear a way as possible. I know that all of this stuff is highly technical but cant you describe exactly what Wav2Zebra does without using terminology that I dont understand?

I just want to know what it does. Where do the Wav files come from if you don't record them from a song? Can I make my own? If so, how do I do it? I'm so unclear about what Wav2Zebra is and It'd be really helpful if someone could explain it with some clarity.

[Darkstar2010]

Just to outline what's possible, the PatchLib has oscillator presets. I think some were made with Wav2Zebra, not sure which though. These load into the OSC# modules in Zebra.

It's better to think of the results as re-synthesis than sampling (IMO, but really ... ). More or less since it's wavetables, each frame is representing single cycles of waves, or a spectral graph frozen at a particular moment. There's an implicit trade-off: a loss of information and detail but also a gain of Zebra's OSC module functionality - wavetable modulation, OSC FX, phase/sync/reset, etc.

Using these results for not-so-creative emulation then is a bit hit or miss I think, but more creative interpretation or mangling or whatever, it's viable and even a bit exciting

Thank you I appreciate the effort you put into being as thorough as possible. I'm gonna need some time to absorb what you wrote because this is like the least intuitive thing ever to me. I hope that I'm able to understand it oneday.

[bmrzycki]

No, it's best used on single cycle material. Think more waveforms and less .wav samples.

I have no idea what that means which is why I started this thread in the first place.

Here's an image that should explain waveform cycles:

This is a Voltage over time graph (Voltage is the Y-axis, time is the X-axis). A simple way to think about this is the line in red is how your speaker moves in and out to produce the sound of that waveform. Everything above the time line is the speaker moving toward your ear and everything below that line is is it moving away. A single cycle of the waveform is when the repeating shape has moved 1 time in the negative direction and 1 time in the positive. The picture above represents with the notation of <-- one cycle --> for each waveform.

I know that all of this stuff is highly technical but cant you describe exactly what Wav2Zebra does without using terminology that I dont understand? I just want to know what it does.

Wav2Zebra takes the data about a waveform stored in a .wav format file and converts it into the wavetable format used internally in Zebra2. The [OSC X] panes at the bottom of the screen in Zebra2 are where the waveforms will show up. This is useful if:

1. You have a ton of waveforms that you want to convert and use (hear) with Zebra2. There are several free and paid sets of waveforms on the internet.

2. You want to import a waveform that you either aren't sure how to draw or it's too complex to do so. An example of this is Howard's factory presets that used short samples of Urs saying "Vintage Modular Blubbery Thing".

Where do the Wav files come from if you don't record them from a song? Can I make my own? If so, how do I do it? I'm so unclear about what Wav2Zebra is and It'd be really helpful if someone could explain it with some clarity.

A song is a complex collection of sounds, this tool is ideal for simpler, isolated, sound sources. There are places online to get waveforms:
http://www.galbanum.com/products/archit ... forms2010/
http://www.adventurekid.se/akrt/wavefor ... waveforms/
And if you do a bit of googling you'll find plenty more.
You can also try to sample your own sources if you'd like. It's best if the materal is short (less than 10 secs) and in mono.

I hope this helps.

[Darkstar2010]

I'm unbelievably grateful for just how much you put into that post to help me out! You really made it as clear as possible. I cant thank you enough for all the extra effort you put in to lend me a hand.


I'm not really sure what to Google exactly to find links like the ones that you shared. Do I just search for Waveforms VST Zebra something like that?


Is there a thread somewhere that lists the best paid waveform websites and the best free waveform websites?


Thanks again for being so helpful!!!!

[perivar]

Wav2Zebra is really useful.
Check out the "updated" version here:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 9#p6147139

[ere2learn]

best paid waveform is here,its an huge collection

product link
http://www.galbanum.com/products/archit ... eforms2010
shop link
http://www.galbanum.com/shop/product_in ... 174a6ee099


also go here for some pre-made free wavetables + mseg

http://www.u-he.com/PatchLib/zebra.html#mseg

[jdoo]

There was an excellent thread a couple of years ago on what you can do with wavetables in Zebra. Here is that link: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 1&t=377567

It kicks off with a link to a tutorial by Will Marshall on Wavetables in Zebra. You really should check it out - as it explains what you can do with the wavetables that are in the Patchlib. Going through the tutorial, and then messing around with the Wavetables in the patchlib really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of what these can do.

It is definitely one of those things, that you should try -- Explanations are cool. But fiddling around the tutorial - then changing up some of your existing patches by introducing different wavetables will really show you what is possible.