Zebra3 Info

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Zebra Legacy (Zebra2)

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EvilDragon wrote:I disagree with a hardware Zebra 3. Leave hardware to hardware people. Let u-he do what they do best - software.
... what ED said.

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V0RT3X wrote:I think in order for Zebra to be a HW synthesizer, it would probably have to be built to run on a system similar to the Korg Kronos which is basically a computer with it's own O/S inside a fancy midi controller.

It would probably be called ZebraHW or something..

So it is possible, but the price would probably be fairly big as the hardware version of ZebraHW would need to be heavily optimized to run in a system like this. Also you would have to factor in the AD/DA converter which would have to output 24bit/96khz at the very least. I would expect for the added cost that it have features that you could only use in ZebraHW that would attract the software zebra users. However the main reason to build a HW synth version of Zebra would be for the performer crowd who just want a HW synth that "works" once you turn it on.

So high audio quality, ZebraHW exclusive features, daw integration, touchscreens for X/Y controls, Semi-weighted keys,Knobs, Sliders, Pitch and Mod, etc and it would probably cost just as much as a Access Virus TI2. Maybe even more?

It would be nice, and i would want one no doubt. Hans Zimmer would probably buy a few. :hihi:
I´d gladly pay more than a Ti2 costs. Owned a Virus KC and loved it until I played on a true analog synth. I´m in no way a synth-guru, but wery impressed by DSI pro 2, and the concept is brilliant (digital osc. with analog filters. But I am more impressed with the synths from u-he, and really think that Urs could make a hardware synth hybrid far more impressive than the pro 2. With a dedicated software editor, of course!

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EvilDragon wrote:I disagree with a hardware Zebra 3. Leave hardware to hardware people. Let u-he do what they do best - software.
And they might just be the best at the latter...in my humble opinion.
Ha ha suck it!

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I think the ZebraHW should have something similar to total integration, which means it shows up as a software plugin but is run by DSP.

Then this would mean you could run like 100 instances of Zebra each with 32 voices of polyphony. (Ok maybe that's a bit overkill, but having this kind of DSP power behind something like ZebraHW would pretty much destroy the Virus TI2 series)

Other features i would like to see in a ZebraHW since we would be paying a premium.

- Granular synthesis oscillators that let you load in your own samples
- User .Wav to Zebra Oscillator converter with Drag'N'Drop, then i could load all my Serum wavetables in it. :hihi:
- Increased Wavetable length to 256
- Wavetable morphing features similar to Serum & Massive
- More Waveshaping features like Z3TA+2
- Diva Filter Modules and Features from TDZ such as a Polyphonic Resonator module
- Built in Sequencer Modules so you can make Zebra play itself
- Audio In processing Module
- Vintage Presswerk style compressor & Limiter
- Bazille Spring Reverb Module
- Satin Style Tape Saturation Module
- Morphing Equalizer module from Filterscape with updated EQ filters
- SuperSaw Oscillator Module from Hive
- Advanced Multi-tap delay with Swing
- Double the amount of modules that come with the software version.

Hell with all of the U-he algorithms in this, it would be a beast. Only thing is they would probably need a hardware division of some kind that was focusing on building just this thing.

This sort of idea would be interesting, mainly because it wouldn't really hurt their software sales much IMO. It would be kind of like the DELUXE version of Zebra that would have stuff that even Zebra3 wouldn't have. So in order to really have everything you would need the software as well.

The DSP system would really be the winner here though, because it would require no DAW CPU at all to run.


Now if Zebra had all that, then i think the price for a HW version would be justified.
:borg:

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V0RT3X wrote:I think the ZebraHW should have something similar to total integration, which means it shows up as a software plugin but is run by DSP.
Well, that would mean that it's like the Roland System-1 plugins/-outs, and you see how many instances of that you can run on your computer... and 4 voices on the plugout. :P With 100 instances run by the DSP, you'd need a processing power similar to what a desktop CPU can achieve, and something like that surely doesn't exist, and it would blow up the costs of the hardware anyway.

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I think the Roland Engineers could learn a thing or two about code optimization from U-he..
:borg:

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Could be. Not sure if they're capable of wizardry just yet though. :P

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V0RT3X wrote: - Audio In processing Module
You do get Zebrify with Zebra2?

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N.E.K.O wrote:
V0RT3X wrote: - Audio In processing Module
You do get Zebrify with Zebra2?
I'm dreaming up a hardware version of Zebra. :lol:

This hardware version in my head would have a module which lets you just run Audio directly in from the built-in Interface. Then you would only need just ZebraHW as a plugin rather than use Zebrify etc.
:borg:

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I'm close to 0% interested in a Zebra HW system. If someone wants a custom HW Zebra system it's not so hard to put one together with a cheap laptop inside a box exposing the display and a suitable MIDI controller above. Or a Mac Mini with a small LCD display.

A Zebra HW is so boutique, maybe 10 people will purchase one.

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Well, it's quite obvious that the companies who successfully switched to hardware thrive. I am however not convinced that this kind of growth automatically increases overall happiness.

Even if we would like to try this route, the cost of developing a hardware synthesizer exceeds our stash of cash and I'm not much into vulture capital.

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V0RT3X wrote:I think the ZebraHW should have something similar to total integration, which means it shows up as a software plugin but is run by DSP.

Then this would mean you could run like 100 instances of Zebra each with 32 voices of polyphony. (Ok maybe that's a bit overkill, but having this kind of DSP power behind something like ZebraHW would pretty much destroy the Virus TI2 series)

Other features i would like to see in a ZebraHW since we would be paying a premium.

- Granular synthesis oscillators that let you load in your own samples
- User .Wav to Zebra Oscillator converter with Drag'N'Drop, then i could load all my Serum wavetables in it. :hihi:
- Increased Wavetable length to 256
- Wavetable morphing features similar to Serum & Massive
- More Waveshaping features like Z3TA+2
- Diva Filter Modules and Features from TDZ such as a Polyphonic Resonator module
- Built in Sequencer Modules so you can make Zebra play itself
- Audio In processing Module
- Vintage Presswerk style compressor & Limiter
- Bazille Spring Reverb Module
- Satin Style Tape Saturation Module
- Morphing Equalizer module from Filterscape with updated EQ filters
- SuperSaw Oscillator Module from Hive
- Advanced Multi-tap delay with Swing
- Double the amount of modules that come with the software version.

Hell with all of the U-he algorithms in this, it would be a beast. Only thing is they would probably need a hardware division of some kind that was focusing on building just this thing.

This sort of idea would be interesting, mainly because it wouldn't really hurt their software sales much IMO. It would be kind of like the DELUXE version of Zebra that would have stuff that even Zebra3 wouldn't have. So in order to really have everything you would need the software as well.

The DSP system would really be the winner here though, because it would require no DAW CPU at all to run.


Now if Zebra had all that, then i think the price for a HW version would be justified.
:tu:

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In my case, I would love to see a Nord Modular-like system based on Zebra, bazille, ACE, etc... The u-he-ltimate synth!

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Working on a sound with ZebraHZ made me think of a feature that would be awesome, a Reverb module in the main grid. It's a nice way to "smear" the sound. Maybe Resonator as well (with keyfollow)? That would create some awesome possibilities.

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Urs wrote: Even if we would like to try this route, the cost of developing a hardware synthesizer exceeds our stash of cash and I'm not much into vulture capital.
Whenever you feel ready to leap forward into the development of your Berlin Modular dream, I guess a kickstarter will allow you to harvest a lot since your fanbase is growing everyday and word of mouth will spread fast ! Well that's all I wish for you anyway :)

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