KVR Audio

UncleAge · Post by **UncleAge** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:42 am

@OP re: "Your opinion about Zebra2"

My $.02...
Best value purchase in software I have made. I purchased Zebra 2 in Jan of 2007 (I don't know when Zebra 1 came out). The current version "resembles" the original Z2 but really is a different thing. U-he has given a ton of updates over the years and never asked for another penny from registered users. I have no other piece of software that compares to this. The only other purchase that might have rivaled this at the time (and proved the same value over the years) would have been a FL Studio license.

Where we are now may be the only thing that is important to a new user. And I respect the civil conversation in regards to others perception of Zebra's perceived shortcomings. To those who have been along for the ride there has been a lot of goodwill built-up for U-he based on their actions and practices and specifically in regards to how they have developed this one synth over the years. That also has value. I have a tool that took me a while to learn and its nice to still have it progress and continue to be available.

Delta Sign · Post by **Delta Sign** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:46 am

There are even 2 new oscfx in the new version posted a few days ago

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:05 pm

Delta Sign wrote:Edit: There are some trancy presets in Bigtones Chronopheres soundbank: https://u-he.com/songs/zebra2/bigtone-c ... qleads.mp3

How anyone can say this synth sounds "thin" or something is beyond me, honestly.

Yeah, sorry, they sound thin. Because this is not the sound of today. Bigtones make retro presets imho (that sound great btw, but that are not what I'm looking for). Bigtones expansion is one of the few expansion I've not purchased for Avenger, to me the presets sound 90's, they remind me of what I heard in 1998. This is NOT what modern EDM sounds like. What I'm looking for today, what EDM labels want, is the sound of big sellers like R3hab or Kshmr, not the sound of 1998 or even 2012, they want the sound of 2018. You're free to dislike it or even don't care about it, but that's a reality and that's what makes Zebra 2 not a favourite among EDM makers : it doesn't sound like this.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:09 pm

DJErmac wrote:it doesn't sound like this.

At this point I would like to hear an example rendered right out of one of those other synths mentioned, no external FX attached.

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:14 pm

Simply listen to any Avenger expansion demo, there are loads of. This is exactly what you get from the synth (I've compared multiple times), no external FX has been added.

Delta Sign · Post by **Delta Sign** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:18 pm

I can't find any raw Avenger demos that are not produced to hell, any links? Some simple straight up single sounds from the synth would be nice.

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:24 pm

First example I've found :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkyTgLkS_E

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:25 pm

DJErmac wrote:First example I've found :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkyTgLkS_E

That is Raw?
Doesn't sound that way to me at all.

Off to download the demo to hear for myself.
rsp

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:29 pm

Yes, that is exactly what you get from Avenger. If you play the presets mentionned in the demo, you get exactly, exactly the same thing, minus the Youtube treatment. I've compared multiple times on my Event Opal monitors. They don't add anything external to the demos.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:31 pm

DJErmac wrote:Yes, that is exactly what you get from Avenger. If you play the presets mentionned in the demo, you get exactly, exactly the same thing, minus the Youtube treatment. I've compared multiple times on my Event Opal monitors. They don't add anything external to the demos.

Sounds very compressed for that in your face sound..... Demo downloading.
rsp

Delta Sign · Post by **Delta Sign** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:34 pm

Yeah, there are a bunch of sounds going on at once at least and there are drums etc. I'd really love to hear one of those modern EDM sounds raw without a mix and without a bunch of additional elements. I really just want to know what I'm missing here.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:41 pm

Whilst it was being developed there was a huge thread and indeed the developer listened to user input and it seemed that the user interface was really really smart. I remember demoing it when it was released but not buying it. Not sure why now though, did it have gpu issues initially or was that rapid?
rsp

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:42 pm

Avenger is only one example : it has this "spike" trick on its enveloppe that instantly simulates a compressed sound and makes it ready for EDM. Rapid and Thorn also have a very agressive and spikey sound that fits modern EDM. When I think of Zebra 2 I think of smooth and complex sound, but not agressive and spikey, I think of pads and spacey presets, I think of cinematic sounds. I use Zebra 2 when I need those deep sounds. But when I need front massive EDM sounds, I use Avenger.

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:46 pm

zvenx wrote:Not sure why now though, did it have gpu issues initially or was that rapid?
rsp

Yes, I think it was Avenger. It needs a good hardware setup to run (especially a good graphic card), and some people still complain about it.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:47 pm

DJErmac wrote:First example I've found :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkyTgLkS_E

So Avenger somehow knows what the other tracks do and uses a built-in external side chain compressor to duck its sound?

I'm sorry, but let's start discussing this with absolutely plain raw sounds, not mixed, right out of the synth. No Youtube tricks.

Your opinion about Zebra 2