Which vst-synths can do things, Zebra can't?

[akira]

Hi everbody,
I own Zebra and I love it...but I would like to know, which vst-synths (free or commercial) can do things, Zebra can't...I mean soundwise!

[Sampleconstruct]

Anything that combines several synthesis forms beyond wavetable/subtractive/FM - like sampling, granular synthesis, re-synthesis (additive and spectral) and whatnot.

[pdxindy]

And audio rate modulation like Ace or Bazille

[Urs]

Modal synthesis, yet.

[Gone soft]

And audio rate modulation like Ace or Bazille

The XMF filters in Zebra 2 at least offers audio rate modulation of filter cutoff. But there's certainly stuff in ACE and Bazille that Zebra 2 can't do, like the oscillator soft sync in ACE and linear FM among other things in Bazille. And all the other audio rate modulations.

Anything that combines several synthesis forms beyond wavetable/subtractive/FM - like sampling, granular synthesis, re-synthesis (additive and spectral) and whatnot.

One of many examples of a synth combining granular and other stuff is Absynth, latest version is still Absynth 5 AFAIK.

Modular synths that allow freely routing feedback can allow some stuff you may struggle to emulate with Zebra 2.

There's plenty of stuff in Reaktor ensembles (both in the user library and those from elsewhere) you'd be hard pressed to emulate in Zebra 2, though at least Reaktor 5 had its share of challenges with not everything being recalled by the DAW so one had to save the state of an ensemble for a project as snapshots or something within Reaktor for proper recall etc etc.

[Sampleconstruct]

Anything that combines several synthesis forms beyond wavetable/subtractive/FM - like sampling, granular synthesis, re-synthesis (additive and spectral) and whatnot.

One of many examples of a synth combining granular and other stuff is Absynth, latest version is still Absynth 5 AFAIK.

Which i the most outdated example, much better up to date instruments in this respect are HALion 5 (fully fledged sampler/very good granulator which supports multisampled instruments/good sounding subtractive synthesis, organ module), MachFive 3 (the same as HALion plus FM synthesis, 2 different analog synths a wavetable synth, a drum/noise module) and Alchemy 1/2, the latter being the most complete hybrid instrument as on top of being a sampler/granulator and VA synth it can re-synthesize just about anything in additive/spectral mode (at changing quality levels) and it does audio-morphing - but it comes with a mediocre granulator/sample engine, although in version 2 they at least added a proper sample editor with group editing for round robin/key-switching, crossfade looping in sampler mode and sample reverse.

[EvilDragon]

I still wouldn't discount Absynth... It has its own thing going on, and for some stuff it just works wonders.

[Sampleconstruct]

But those wonders have become very predictable.

[EvilDragon]

I guess that'd be subjective.


One thing I can agree (if that's a part of what you meant) is that Absynth has some very specific and non-standard FX units. That gives it its alien sound that might wear off with time.

[3ee]

Zebra can do (kb tracked) audio rate mod if you know how to trick it...
Fairly limited ATM AFAIK but still possible and very usable!

[Sampleconstruct]

I guess that'd be subjective.


One thing I can agree (if that's a part of what you meant) is that Absynth has some very specific and non-standard FX units. That gives it its alien sound that might wear off with time.

The FX units are cool actually, but the rest sounds and behaves dated, we don't have to agree on this though. I probably had my total overdose of Absynth programming (not drinking), so I am biased.

[pdxindy]

Modal synthesis, yet.

waiting patiently (sorta... hehe)

[akira]

Thank you all for your replies!

[Sendy]

Hmm, not sure. Better buy them all just in case