Zebra 3 and Zebra Legacy

[Urs]

We hope to have first public beta about 1-2 weeks after our current sale ends.

Does "public beta" mean it is already available for everyone, e.g. via pre-purchase?

I expect Zebra3 to make quite some waves so it makes sense not to release prematurely. If a Q1 2026 commercial release is possible that'll be great.

Yes, it'll be on sale. We'll do a roughly 25% off introduction offer during the public beta phase.

All owners of Zebra 2 + TDZ (from before it became Zebra Legacy) will have a Z3 license in their accounts and can just request them then. The account update may happen earlier, as soon as next week.

Likewise, all owners of Zebra 2 (from before it became Zebra Legacy) will have a link to a 30€ upgrade in their license emails.

We are not sure if we can offer a time limited, free beta tester license this time as we also change the way we deliver the license (license file instead of serial number, more on this next week as well)

[stippenstoh]

Likewise, all owners of Zebra 2 (from before it became Zebra Legacy) will have a link to a 30€ upgrade in their license emails.

Thanks so much, Urs! The Vorfreude is through the roof, Zebra3 is really happening.

[Benjamin923]

I wanna throw my 2 cents to say that I appreciate the intentional design philosophy taken on Zebra 3. Synths which have every possible feature and can do every conceivable thing in every conceivable way are, in my experience, often unwieldy and confusing to use. The middle ground can be hard to find sometimes, but I appreciate that it’s an important consideration for u-he.

[Fannon]

I also appreciate the opinion that Zebra 3 takes. It will be an unique, special Synth, I'm sure.

[Urs]

I wanna throw my 2 cents to say that I appreciate the intentional design philosophy taken on Zebra 3. Synths which have every possible feature and can do every conceivable thing in every conceivable way are, in my experience, often unwieldy and confusing to use. The middle ground can be hard to find sometimes, but I appreciate that it’s an important consideration for u-he.

Yes. Thank you.

[ffx]

Might be a good idea to do some introduction videos per feature or so, if you have some time again... But please not "look, this is how you use your mouse", "this is an osc" etc... I mean advanced video :=) Crazy Urs design secrets

[Urs]

that is exactly what I've been doing. Like, yesterday I did a 5-minute sketch on how to make an arpeggiator without an arpeggiator.

[jtsterays]

Imo built in arp always feel like a sketch tool too me, it's just superior to draw them manually in the piano roll because you can add small melodic variations to the sequence.

[Philo999]

Thanks so much, Urs! The Vorfreude is through the roof, Zebra3 is really happening.

I’ve studied German, but hadn’t seen Vorfreude before. What a great word! Literally could be translated as “anticipation,” but that wouldn’t capture the connotation of “expected pleasure” or of “enjoying now a future expected pleasure.” Which exactly fits this moment vis a vis Zebra 3!

[mabian]

Imo built in arp always feel like a sketch tool too me, it's just superior to draw them manually in the piano roll because you can add small melodic variations to the sequence.

But. You. Can't. Arp. Live. On. Piano. Roll.... I think this has been brought so many times, and it really makes a difference.
For me, at least

- Mario

[jtsterays]

Imo built in arp always feel like a sketch tool too me, it's just superior to draw them manually in the piano roll because you can add small melodic variations to the sequence.

But. You. Can't. Arp. Live. On. Piano. Roll.... I think this has been brought so many times, and it really makes a difference.
For me, at least

- Mario

I don't disagree. Maybe because I'm an FL user, where you can have a built in arp for every instrument which you can turn off anytime you want with 1 click. So an arp in a synth doesn't really interest me.

[exmatproton]

Imo built in arp always feel like a sketch tool too me, it's just superior to draw them manually in the piano roll because you can add small melodic variations to the sequence.

But. You. Can't. Arp. Live. On. Piano. Roll.... I think this has been brought so many times, and it really makes a difference.
For me, at least

- Mario

I don't disagree. Maybe because I'm an FL user, where you can have a built in arp for every instrument which you can turn off anytime you want with 1 click. So an arp in a synth doesn't really interest me.

Indeed. That build-in wrapper Arp is pretty handy for quick stuff.

[stippenstoh]

Thanks so much, Urs! The Vorfreude is through the roof, Zebra3 is really happening.

I’ve studied German, but hadn’t seen Vorfreude before. What a great word! Literally could be translated as “anticipation,” but that wouldn’t capture the connotation of “expected pleasure” or of “enjoying now a future expected pleasure.” Which exactly fits this moment vis a vis Zebra 3!

Yes you describe it well. The literal translation is probably "pre-joy" but it's indeed about the feeling of joy itself that we experience when waiting for something we are very much looking forward to.

Probably the opposite of a dentist appointment haha.

[aMUSEd]

There are some very nice arp-like but without an arp patches in Spektralisk's free bank for Zebralette 3 if anyone wants to see one approach to this (not the only one, there are several)

https://spektralisk.com/products/varial/

[wilx]

You know those gumroad things where someone lists something for free, but you can donate any amount you want if you feel charitable?
I feel like you should do something like that for Zebra3. I have 2&HZ but would happily pay a little extra when 3 is out, even though it's technically free. I'm sure others would too.