Zebralette 3 Additive Engine Discussion

[achapi]

A request: Could the number of harmonics be allowed to slide freely, as demonstrated in the 2023 demo? It would make it much more user-friendly for musical purposes.

[achapi]

About breaking glass sound.
I will set aside time to upload it over the weekend.

[achapi]

This is a patch file for the sound of breaking glass.
The following page describes Zebralette 3.
It is in Japanese.
https://achapi.cloudfree.jp/sound.html#zebralette3

[Urs]

Very nice review, thank you!

[brick]

Is there any way you could make an additive editor so we could add the individual harmonics in ? A bit like Gforce's Imposcar oscillator editor..

[Urs]

Is there any way you could make an additive editor so we could add the individual harmonics in ? A bit like Gforce's Imposcar oscillator editor..

That's a different concept.

In this oscillator, it's a curve, and it'll always be a curve. We have ideas that may help to make editing the first, say, 32 harmonics a bit more explicit and easier. But it won't be a display of so and so many individual lines.

[brick]

Gotcha.

Be nice to have something that allows you to pick out the harmonics a bit more precisely. Thanks

[pdxindy]

Gotcha.

Be nice to have something that allows you to pick out the harmonics a bit more precisely. Thanks

The harmonic grid is buggy currently and drawing a single partial is actually two (even though it indicates one)

[Urs]

Gotcha.

Be nice to have something that allows you to pick out the harmonics a bit more precisely. Thanks

The harmonic grid is buggy currently and drawing a single partial is actually two (even though it indicates one)

It's a matter of perspective. The grid base editing fills the space between two grid lines, but the harmonics depicted in the harmonic grid occupy the exact position *on* the vertical grid lines. So the vertical shift/draw tool kind of changes two grid lines at once, and that influences two harmonics.

[N__K]

Is it currently possible to set partials to semitone distribution, in various divisions?

Example would be Harmor in "oct" mode:

Harmor - partials per semitone.jpg

I haven't yet found a way to do this in Zebralette 3. I've tried Spectral Dist with Curve as Modifier, using rising log-like curve, but the partials never settle exactly on semitones. Also, the distribution of partials in pitch dimension seems to always be based on harmonic series, resulting in denser partials at higher frequencies.

If per-semitone (or semitone-relative, however it's called) partial distribution mode was not part of the design, I'd suggest that to be added - preferably to both wavetable and additive renderer, and modifiable with curves (if feasible). It's a good basis for controllable creation of inharmonic sounds and various chordlike timbres.


***

In any case, it's awesome to see new developments in area of user-programmable additive synthesis. Many thanks to fellows at u-he for efforts past, current and upcoming, and congratulations on getting the beta out!

[JoeLowery215]

Also, please note that Additive Synthesis and our Additive Renderer are two separate things.

Classic Additive Synthesis is done by setting Osc Source to "Curve Spectrum" and Renderer to "Wavetable". This is classic Additive Synthesis where the Curve(s) represents the spectrum of the resulting waveform. Therefore, in Zebralette you can do Additive Synthesis perfectly fine without any drifting overtones.

The Additive Renderer on the other hand allows for rendering of inharmonic spectra. That is its purpose, and it is not a necessity for Additive Synthesis.

Thank you Urs! And just to clarify, will Zebra 3 still have the ability to draw in the Sine wave bars like in Zebra 2?

Thanks

[Urs]

Thank you Urs! And just to clarify, will Zebra 3 still have the ability to draw in the Sine wave bars like in Zebra 2?

At this point of time I'd rather focus on the curve based stuff. I understand the appeal of bars for a limited number of harmonics. But then, "limited number of harmonics" has been one of those weak points of Zebra 2 that we wish to overcome. Instead, I'd rather focus on making the curve based equivalent really, really good.

[JoeLowery215]

Thank you Urs! And just to clarify, will Zebra 3 still have the ability to draw in the Sine wave bars like in Zebra 2?

At this point of time I'd rather focus on the curve based stuff. I understand the appeal of bars for a limited number of harmonics. But then, "limited number of harmonics" has been one of those weak points of Zebra 2 that we wish to overcome. Instead, I'd rather focus on making the curve based equivalent really, really good.

Ah okay thanks for the clarification.

I just know it's really easy to get some of those DWGS sounds or bells or even to replace some fake EP pianos that are based on additive synthesis.

[jtsterays]

Any chance for harmonics panning in the future?

[Urs]

Any chance for harmonics panning in the future?

Not anytime soon, but possibly some time later. Once we have the opportunity to experiment with this, which is rare while we finalize the initial features of Z3…