u-he

Howard · Post by **Howard** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 2:50 pm

knowix wrote:...how does the Zebra "wireless modular" interface compete/contrast with patch cable designs? Should the GUI work as an explicit statement about why all synths *shouldn't* be patchable? Does it have to be more than - it's just tidier looking?

I think Zebra's grid is perfect for the job, certainly much better than cables or pin/switch matrices for a no-loops modular synth. Cables and matrixes can get messy, but if anyone has a better alternative for full modular synths, please let us know! (I'd say forget about 3D for the next 5 years or so, as not enough people will have VR systems).

RedChameau · Post by **RedChameau** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:19 pm

node-based UI ? (ala reaktor)

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:41 pm

RedChameau wrote:node-based UI ? (ala reaktor)

Not really necessary since Zebra is not fully modular.

RedChameau · Post by **RedChameau** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 5:36 pm

Sure it's not, but it doesn't have to either. Node-based UI may also refer to a "layout concept" where instead of stacking/layering modules within columns and rows, you "draw and connect them within an empty/open canvas.
I think the main problem of this this kind of UI lies in its popularity : it's far from being unanimous

But then again, so is Zebra so...

ulph · Post by **ulph** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:26 pm

The thing I dislike about the zebra grid is the necessity to right click when choosing inputs across lanes.

knowix · Post by **knowix** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:48 pm

Howard wrote:
knowix wrote:...how does the Zebra "wireless modular" interface compete/contrast with patch cable designs? Should the GUI work as an explicit statement about why all synths *shouldn't* be patchable? Does it have to be more than - it's just tidier looking?
I think Zebra's grid is perfect for the job, certainly much better than cables or pin/switch matrices for a no-loops modular synth. Cables and matrixes can get messy, but if anyone has a better alternative for full modular synths, please let us know! (I'd say forget about 3D for the next 5 years or so, as not enough people will have VR systems).

Oh, I think it's entirely possible that Ur's came up with the best softsynth alternative to patchable modulars, years before people became so obsessed with modular. But I'd be disappointed if everyone at U-He thought that the GUI only needed a cosmetic do-over, and weren't willing to question aspects of the current design or research exciting improvements.

I'm just sitting here looking at Zebra 2 now. Probably the only structural improvements that immediately spring to mind are finding a way to combine the main grid with the modulation grid, to give more oversight of the entire signal flow. And maybe a radial rather than linear drop down menu in the grid, so the mouse has to travel roughly the same distance to click on all options.

Howard · Post by **Howard** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:30 pm

knowix wrote:I'd be disappointed if everyone at U-He thought that the GUI only needed a cosmetic do-over, and weren't willing to question aspects of the current design or research exciting improvements.

That's an unlikely *if* (as far as I can tell).

aumordia · Post by **aumordia** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 3:11 am

The basic formula works and is unique, what's the benefit of throwing it out and coming up with a completely new UI paradigm? I'm all for innovation, but why not do that stuff in a different synth, since Zebra is the only Zebra out there, and it's excellent at that.

And -- to that end -- note that u-he has, in fact, released quite a variety of different UI paradigms for their synths, and we all know that there's the whole "berlin modular" thing lurking in the background.

I'm looking forward to a new UI for Zebra as much as the next guy (I bought the Massive Modular skin, and Zebra never clicked for me until I did that), but a completely brand new UI paradigm? I hope they save that for a completely brand new synth.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:14 am

aumordia wrote:a completely brand new UI paradigm? I hope they save that for a completely brand new synth.

No worries - never change a winning team. Zebra *is* its workflow, we won't take that away.

giorgiomartini · Post by **giorgiomartini** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:42 am

Urs, when is this baby coming out ? x-mas ? pleassseee ? And the drumsynth thing ?

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:44 am

Perhaps xmas next year.

vvilms · Post by **vvilms** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 2:43 pm

Urs wrote:
diaper@ky wrote:What's the chances of modules accepting audio as a Modulation source..?
In Z3? - We might be supplying a module that takes audio and converts it to a modulation source, not sure. It would however have to downsample the signal to control rate (12kHz or so). Maybe it could add trigger and envelope follower functionality. But as most of the volume shaping happens in the VCAs behind the audio modules, maybe that's not such a good idea either.

It might be better to add "classical" audio rate modulation where possible - we already have phase modulation (FMOs), Ringmodulation and FilterFM (XMF) and we'll certainly add Osc FM/PM. With the experience of Bazille we might also add through-zero FM where possible.

In the same vein, it might be better to add the flexibility of the audio generation tools to dedicated modulators to create complex behaviors. The main goal of Zebra3 is to unify the data format and editors for wavetables (Osc, LFO), MSEGs and ModMappers. This would be for both sample based and curve based waveforms, such that each of those modules will receive the capability to process each of those things. That, and more means to shape modulation signals might do the trick

- U

This entire exchange has me cleaning my floor at the moment. Of what, I'll leave to you good people.

-continues drooling-

MickMack7 · Post by **MickMack7** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:18 am

Hi!
I've finally given up waiting for Zebra 3! Other mothers also have beautiful daughters, and I have become accustomed to them now ;-)The magic of U-he products has disappeared, I can not understand the lost time and effort, in the X-emulation of classics like Pro One, or the X-th EDM, Trance, Techno-synth like Hive! I do not know how to explain this, but U-he loses to fans who may have been reassured by DIVA! U-he has the !!! Best synthesizer with zebra, and has let him sleep for years! Inform yourself at what still keep many fans from Native Instruments, which have done the same with Massive, Absynth and FM8, and none, except DJs, can more endure NI!

That's sad

Michael

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:59 am

Yeah, I'm sorry, but life is a bitch.

uselessmind · Post by **uselessmind** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 1:20 pm

I am not waiting for Zebra 3 either. Instead i think about whether or not to buy RePro One and continue to use Zebra2 and my other U-he and not U-he synths . They work as well as they ever have.

And i am so not waiting for those awesome ProOne,Synthex and Wasp Modules for Diva.
Really, i don't care anymore.

Unless they get released and are friggin awesome of course...

u-he

KVR Audio

Zebra3 Info