Zebra 3 feature suggestions

[Shiek927]

One thing I am a bit curious about though is if the ZebraHZ additions -- the Resonators, polyphonic compressors and so-on -- will make their way into Zebra3 since they were included mostly to fulfill Hans Zimmer's wishes. I can only imagine he'll be a big a fan of Zebra3 too and would want them brought over or there may be a Zebra3HZ

I really hope the polyphonic compressors make it into Zebra3. To me, they are the reason why getting ZebraHZ over Zebra is a no-brainer. As for the Resonators, I think I remember Urs mentioning it somewhere in this thread that they will be part of Zebra 3... (So hopefully they will be in the new version of Zebrify, too!)

my thoughts exactly (although, instead of a Zebrify3 we might rather add inputs to the synth)

Awesome! as-is, Zebra3 is already looking like a real monster of a synth more inputs? six lanes? eight lanes??

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Does Zebrify have a global mix knob? Did I just feature request one?

I'd love to see a new compliment of effects in Z3 (with some holdovers, but maybe a different chorus, cut down CoCo based delay, Velvet) and then of course a global mix. LFOs and other modulation options would be very welcome. I guess the fear then is that it could cut into Uhbik and standalone effect sales. But the modular nature of it certainly make it easy to turn it into an effects power house.

[Shiek927]

All of these things had to happen "on the side", wrapped up into other projects. Even the drum synthesis modules we have (which weren't realistic enough to compete with sample based systems) will find their way into Zebra3, even if they probably won't be used in their own product.

Ooo could you go into more detail about this? I've heavily been using VPS Avenger for awhile now which has a drum section of it's own, including a sequencer. I believe the drums themselves are samples that can then be manipulated within the engine and I know Z3 will not have sampling and likely will not have a sequencer or section either -- but the drums will still be high-quality?

[Urs]

All of these things had to happen "on the side", wrapped up into other projects. Even the drum synthesis modules we have (which weren't realistic enough to compete with sample based systems) will find their way into Zebra3, even if they probably won't be used in their own product.

Ooo could you go into more detail about this? I've heavily been using VPS Avenger for awhile now which has a drum section of it's own, including a sequencer. I believe the drums themselves are samples that can then be manipulated within the engine and I know Z3 will not have sampling and likely will not have a sequencer or section either -- but the drums will still be high-quality?

Well, drum synthesis in Zebra2 plays a huge role for quite a few people - even without any specialised algorithms. My hope is that dedicated modules in Z3 shall improve on what's there. We don't know yet though, if it's great we'll do it if it's crap we'll scrap it.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

All of these things had to happen "on the side", wrapped up into other projects. Even the drum synthesis modules we have (which weren't realistic enough to compete with sample based systems) will find their way into Zebra3, even if they probably won't be used in their own product.

Ooo could you go into more detail about this? I've heavily been using VPS Avenger for awhile now which has a drum section of it's own, including a sequencer. I believe the drums themselves are samples that can then be manipulated within the engine and I know Z3 will not have sampling and likely will not have a sequencer or section either -- but the drums will still be high-quality?

Well, drum synthesis in Zebra2 plays a huge role for quite a few people - even without any specialised algorithms. My hope is that dedicated modules in Z3 shall improve on what's there. We don't know yet though, if it's great we'll do it if it's crap we'll scrap it.

I've mentioned this in the past, but if I could set per-lane key ranges and outputs, that would really improve the Zebra Drum Machine experience. Example: Kick on notes B1-C1 on Lane 1, Routed to Output 1, Snare on D1-E1, Lane 2 Routed to Output 2. Not to mention per-lane presets (maybe just "copy lane" and "paste lane") to help build up kits. If something is on more than one lane, leave it up to the user to figure out and configure.

[gentleclockdivider]

I don’t think it’s that easy to accomplish .
If you have your kicks on lane 1 ( and specified keyrange ) , snares on lane 2 etc ..,
This would mean that all your modules that make up the desired drumsound have to reside on the same lane .

[Howard]

Tip re key ranges for drum sounds: restrict oscillator ranges, and/or use 'Key' mode maps.

[nilhartman]

Drum modules ? What a marvelous piece of news, the Soundbooth demos sounded glorious already... but inside Z3 it'll unleash endless sonic possibilities. Damn, that's going to be insane !
I for one don't mind using an instance per percussion (that's what I do already... with Hive 2).

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I don’t think it’s that easy to accomplish .
If you have your kicks on lane 1 ( and specified keyrange ) , snares on lane 2 etc ..,
This would mean that all your modules that make up the desired drumsound have to reside on the same lane .

If a drum required two lanes, you could route both to the same output and use the same key range.

Tip re key ranges for drum sounds: restrict oscillator ranges, and/or use 'Key' mode maps.

Not all drum sounds use OSCs though. Maybe there's a workaround but if the drum is being triggered from a noise module or combfilter you're kind of out of luck.

I'm just trying to think of how to build 3 and 4 voice 'kits' out of Zebra and route those to different key maps and outputs like a drum machine. I'm not sure what the best solution is, but that's the wish. I think a multi-output Zebra3 could make a lot of sense for other reasons too.

[Urs]

Well, "per-lane" things won't work for me. There are not just options to split the signal flow, there are also options to funnel it.

There are ideas to group selected modules to be either heard or not for the lifetime of a note, maybe similar to the Ensoniq Patch Select feature from back then. However at the moment that's a detail I can't even begin to think about.

[Shiek927]

Drum modules ? What a marvelous piece of news, the Soundbooth demos sounded glorious already... but inside Z3 it'll unleash endless sonic possibilities. Damn, that's going to be insane !
I for one don't mind using an instance per percussion (that's what I do already... with Hive 2).

Dang, it's been ages since I saw that video. I just re-watched it and that snare sound was very life-like! I like how dynamic it is and how it responds to velocity

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Well, "per-lane" things won't work for me. There are not just options to split the signal flow, there are also options to funnel it.

There are ideas to group selected modules to be either heard or not for the lifetime of a note, maybe similar to the Ensoniq Patch Select feature from back then. However at the moment that's a detail I can't even begin to think about.

Not looking to promote any one idea as the end all solution, just a use-case/opportunity to keep in mind during Z3 development. Would like some good way to build a kit up and have multi outputs to send then to if feasible. Thanks!

[Howard]

…if the drum is being triggered from a noise module or combfilter you're kind of out of luck.

I don't understand. "Triggered from"?

BTW remember that you can restrict the range of any signal using a map.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

…if the drum is being triggered from a noise module or combfilter you're kind of out of luck.

I don't understand. "Triggered from"?

BTW remember that you can restrict the range of any signal using a map.

Just meant, what if there's no OSC module (e.g. one lane, two modules: Noise into Filter for a hat). The Map approach should indeed work for restricting the key range.

[Shiek927]

Okay, so this is gonna probably me one of my more sillier posts haha, but it would be crazy if Zebra3 could actually pull off sounds as good as these:



Even though that is a purely digital synth, it sounds so full and these liquidy-sounds are so incredibly life-like. When he speeds up the LFO, it starts to sound like a waterfall. It's insane how full and analog it sounds like.

Haha, of course I know this is more about clever programming than anything and it's probably well within Zebra2's capabilities to pull of sounds like these, but dang if Zebra3 can sound as huge as this

(synth4ever's videos are very fun to watch for those who don't know about their channel)