Zebra3 Info

[EvilDragon]

This is why vibrato shouldn't be done via LFOs, but via pitch bend directly. That's how you get the most control.

[mrj1nx]

This is why vibrato shouldn't be done via LFOs, but via pitch bend directly. That's how you get the most control.

Yep thats how I normally do it, thats why I prefer sticks over wheels, to have the wah control on modwheel and be able to use both simultaneously.

There might still be a point in sampled vibratos since its hard to emulate all of them I guess.

[EvilDragon]

You mean you prefer having wheels over sticks? I have no problems in using pitch bend and modwheel at the same time.

[mrj1nx]

You mean you prefer having wheels over sticks? I have no problems in using pitch bend and modwheel at the same time.

Nope sticks, meaning Im pretty much stuck with Roland and Korg for hardware. On the other hand it was a long time since I tried wheels now so.. <\ot>

[Der Tatortreiniger]

I think people have gone nuts

This. The wavetable import/editing capabilities of Serum are nice, but I don't find anything else about it especially appealing (and I happen to be a big fan of hard, dynamics-free electro). The waveform visualization looks cool, but I think it's distracting. Nobody on the dancefloor gets to see and be impressed by the flashy visualization when I sweep through a wavetable, so why would I want this visualization sitting in the middle of the interface, potentially biasing my sound design judgement? If you really want to know what a wavetable sounds like you listen to it, you don't look at it... Serum would not have been nearly so successful a product if NI had made wavetable import/creation/editing possible in Massive.

I think a big part of Massive's success is due to its unusual envelopes and Performer. In theory you can emulate these with MSEGs but I don't enjoy working with MSEGs. I always start swearing at the screen because the MSEG interface doesn't behave like I expect it to and I don't understand what the little buttons mean. I have read the manual several times, but I always need to read it again when it comes time to do something with MSEGs. Massive's approach is simpler and more restrictive but fast and easy. I prefer having the ability to create my own envelopes to Massive's closed system, but maybe there is a way interesting and flexible yet quick and fun modulation can be done in Z3?

[Simon-Claudius]

Well, I had a look at the function parsing input of that synth... hmm, yeah, too geeky. Sorry for bringing it up.

I disagree. I'm glad you brought it up.

According to drzhnn, it's already possible with the scripting engine. And the scripting engine was never all that popular, which might hint at why a formula parser for Z3 isn't such a good idea

I think a graphic editor will be better.

I'm not here to argue any of these points. Just expressing that I personally think having something along the lines of a function editor accessible directly via the UI as an alternative (i.e. in addition) to a graphical editing tool would be a neat feature and I'd use it.

[nordickvr]

...I personally think having something along the lines of a function editor accessible directly via the UI as an alternative (i.e. in addition) to a graphical editing tool would be a neat feature and I'd use it.

definite + 1

[Urs]

maybe there is a way interesting and flexible yet quick and fun modulation can be done in Z3?

I hope so... totally agree that the waveform/envelope editing interface in Zebra has fallen behind some of the competition. It is and was the main reason to think about Zebra3, to make a great editor that provides for a consistent and fun interface for osc waveforms, MSEGs and whatever other curve we'd need.

[Urs]

...I personally think having something along the lines of a function editor accessible directly via the UI as an alternative (i.e. in addition) to a graphical editing tool would be a neat feature and I'd use it.

definite + 1

I can see the appeal, but it won't be our top priority. In our project management system we'd have it tagged as "maybe subsequent update".

I also think that if we do this, it should be some kind of editable OscFX mode. Something that lets one create/bend the waveform on the fly based on parameters. Why, we haven't said it'd be easy on CPU

[teilo]

No idea. I'm just surprised that they get away with factory presets that don't allow for virtuosity. Which might be a pro rather than a con within various scenes.

I believe this has more to do with their target audience and the pros they collaborate with . Serum is almost all EDM. That’s got to be over 90% of their customers. Of that 90% I would venture to guess that the vast majority don’t play keyboard - i.e., actually play it, with expression. Joel Zimmerman, for example, certainly doesn’t keyboard.

Therefore virtuosity is pretty meaningless. And with the heavy venn between Ableton and Serum, having to modify envelopes in a MIDI clip, but automation in an automation lane off of the track is an impediment to an EDM workflow. They generally use automation for everything. Thus, why bother with velocity and other modulation?

This explains why so many presets make heavy use of their Macro feature. Assign multiple modulations to a Macro knob, each with their own ranges, then automate the Macro knob or assign it to a MIDI knob for performance. This is, by the way, a very cool feature that I wish were possible in Zebra.

[bmrzycki]

This explains why so many presets make heavy use of their Macro feature. Assign multiple modulations to a Macro knob, each with their own ranges, then automate the Macro knob or assign it to a MIDI knob for performance. This is, by the way, a very cool feature that I wish were possible in Zebra.

This has been a part of Zebra2 from day one. The Perform page is exactly what you describe. The lower XY tab allows you to create 8 mappings per macro knob. There are 8 macro knobs X1-X4, Y1-Y4. Finally there are XY pads above that let you control two macros with the mouse. You can midi map any of the 8 macros or automate them in a DAW.

Factory presets that end with '+' make use of the performance panes.

[Cyoon]

that was a hard hit @bmrzycki

[teilo]

This has been a part of Zebra2 from day one. The Perform page is exactly what you describe. The lower XY tab allows you to create 8 mappings per macro knob. There are 8 macro knobs X1-X4, Y1-Y4. Finally there are XY pads above that let you control two macros with the mouse. You can midi map any of the 8 macros or automate them in a DAW.

Ducking... That’s some real passion you have there. Good on you.

And thank you for the education. I didn’t ever think to look for this under performance. I knew about the X/Y controls, but didn’t realize that bottom section worked the way you describe.

[bmrzycki]

This has been a part of Zebra2 from day one. The Perform page is exactly what you describe. The lower XY tab allows you to create 8 mappings per macro knob. There are 8 macro knobs X1-X4, Y1-Y4. Finally there are XY pads above that let you control two macros with the mouse. You can midi map any of the 8 macros or automate them in a DAW.

Ducking... That’s some real passion you have there. Good on you.
And thank you for the education. I didn’t ever think to look for this under performance. I knew about the X/Y controls, but didn’t realize that bottom section worked the way you describe.

My apologies if that appeared gruff! I did not intend it that way. I just wanted to show you the feature you wanted already existed and you could go use it right away.

[pdxindy]

Regarding stuff like that, i just read the feature list for a new electric guitar vst library, and they use sampled lfos for vibrato, maybe that would be something for Zebra 3, grabbing vibratos from a bunch of different instrument players. They seem to be evolving over time so maybe it would be an mseg thing but that mighy need loop points. It would be cool to have a list available with vibratos anyways. Specifically electric guitar can have quite a range of expressivity in the vibrato alone not to mention everything else about the guitar.

Does anyone know whats the best electric guitar emulation patch in Z2 to check out?

Forget a bunch of complex, but still basically static vibrato shapes... get an MPE controller. One finger gives you amazing control over vibrato... both speed and depth. It is a whole new expressive experience.