Zebra 3 Public Beta (final beta)

[jtsterays]

On the topic of performance meter, after the meter gave it's suggestions, could you make it so we can just click on a suggestion text and have Z3 apply it automatically? Would save a bit of time.

I would love to post the emoji...

This suggestion made laugh out loud because while I totally get it, my first thought was "gosh, when is anything ever enough?".

But that's also because firstly we haven't even gone through all modules to gather possible suggestions, and thus haven't tested how useful they'd be, and secondly, adding such a one-click setup requires quite a bit of development. More than one might think. We have already done something similar with the MPE setup in other plug-ins, but in this case it would need to be something to switch back and forth, to see if the patch still works. On top of also being somehow dynamic UI layout based on DSP data... not really anything our UI framework is has templates for...

I will put it on the eternal ToDo List, but can't make any promises...

Heh, I don't expect this to be implemented if it's just a bit difficult. Not a big problem though, this is extremely minor anyway.

[Urs]

No worries, it's a good idea, but it's just so much work, I currently can't comprehend it...

[sQeetz]

Was trying it using the Beta card.... but just bought it because I know I would end up doing it anyway.


I jumped on the Zebra Legacy wagon and had to pay the full (discounted) price, but I believe it's worth it anyway

[jtsterays]

No worries, it's a good idea, but it's just so much work, I currently can't comprehend it...

Nah, you can shelve that. I think this other request will be a bit more important regarding performance tho: Even till this days, lots of windows users are still not aware of the multicore button in Diva even though it's right there, I've seen this in countless of youtube/other socials videos, because of that the reputation of Diva being high CPU still exist.

First, I can't blame really them because most of them are purely musicians, they don't understand these terms, and second: most people nowadays are too lazy to read the manual. With that, the chance of them finding about the performance meter is too low.

I think the performance meter should be right next to the Key Ctrl, Undo, Redo icons, named CPU to be obvious, so hopefully when they encountered a heavy CPU situation, their eyes might naturally land on the CPU icon, and the suggestions will do the rest.

[sQeetz]

If I might add: I'm not really much interested into 1-finger full music kinda patches (which there are a lot of present). As interesting as they are, I'm much of a "patch modder" and like patches one can play by oneself

[anra]

Enjoying making new sounds in Z3 which I haven’t been able to create previously.

One question is this possible to do with Z3 and how? ”Coarse tuning can be modulated by any source. But what is unique here is the ability to modulate the pitch according to the specific notes you want to hear. The Quantize Mod feature will filter out the pitches you don't want the modulation source to produce.”

[Urs]

If I might add: I'm not really much interested into 1-finger full music kinda patches (which there are a lot of present). As interesting as they are, I'm much of a "patch modder" and like patches one can play by himself

We'll have loads of both!

And of course in the final version they'll be sorted, so you can decide what you want to get (or not) when browsing.

[sQeetz]

We'll have loads of both!

And of course in the final version they'll be sorted, so you can decide what you want to get (or not) when browsing.

thanks!

[Urs]

Enjoying making new sounds in Z3 which I haven’t been able to create previously.

One question is this possible to do with Z3 and how? ”Coarse tuning can be modulated by any source. But what is unique here is the ability to modulate the pitch according to the specific notes you want to hear. The Quantize Mod feature will filter out the pitches you don't want the modulation source to produce.”

Is this from any of our user guides?

Anyhow, you have two options to harmonically quantise modulations:

- Modulation in the Pitch Modules can happen pre-quantiser. You need to activate that option and of course the quantiser. This will keep everything within the quantizer's scale, regardless of keys played.

- Modulation via the ModMatrix can be quantised chromatically and in Major, Minor and some scales (a few more scales should pop up by the end of the beta phase). This would get transposed by the keys played.

[adash123]

Just starting to scratch the surface but as someone who dabbles in Eurorack/VCV Rack I am hearing some very similar types of sounds. The modal module is great. Also discovered the txvb granular into reverb effect. Very nice!

[sQeetz]

I will learn how to use this one and try to sell every plugin I own

[Teksonik]

To the five people who have quoted me in this thread since yesterday, I'm sorry I just don't have time to read and respond to them all.

So if your posts were in opposition to any of my stances, congratulations you "win" because I'm tapping out.

If your posts were in support of any of my stances, congratulations you've proven yourself to be in the higher echelons of intellectual ability.

But seriously back on the subject of beta testing.....I think right now the number one priority should probably be taming the CPU demand a bit.

Everyone can try the factory preset "Eternity Divides" and play a series of 6 note chords to gauge the CPU hit on your system.

Here it brings my Ryzen 7 7700X 8 core 16 thread that turbos at 5.4Ghz to its knees. No, that CPU is not state of the art on the cusp of 2026 but it handles everything I've ever thrown at it and has never before been choked out in the year since I had it built. So yes at this point in its development Z3 is definitely on the higher end of CPU demand of the synths I own.

Yes I now it's a Beta, yes I know optimisations are most certainly coming but I thought it would be good to get some real world numbers from the beta users since I assume feedback is why you make a public beta in the first place. Maybe others can relay their numbers as well and five dollars to the first guy who says "it doesn't choke out my system maaaaaan".

The one thing I can report is I haven't experienced any crashes or any stability issues, it's rock solid here (Windows 11).

Anyway on the subject of tapping out, I'm going to have to suspend beta testing for a while due to time constraints but I'll keep an eye out for any new betas and will certainly give them a test. Good luck.

[adash123]

Is there any way to extend the Env times beyond 100%? Doing a slow attack pad sound doesnt seem possible as the attack at %100 is too fast. I can do something similar with an mseg but cant program any release time options etc as far as I can tell.
AH! nevermind. Figued it out. I hadnt set the mseg curve points correctly and I needed to set the release to adaptive. Working great now.
Incidentaly, this means I can design amd and filter envs with a curve editor. Nice.

[HcDoom]

Here it brings my Ryzen 7 7700X 8 core 16 thread that turbos at 5.4Ghz to its knees. No, that CPU is not state of the art on the cusp of 2026 but it handles everything I've ever thrown at it and has never before been choked out in the year since I had it built. So yes at this point in its development Z3 is definitely on the higher end of CPU demand of the synths I own.

In 3-5 years CPU load of Zebra 3 will be like 2-5% max. So, not an issue, imo. Synths are built for the future.

[glokraw]

Was trying it using the Beta card.... but just bought it because I know I would end up doing it anyway.


I jumped on the Zebra Legacy wagon and had to pay the full (discounted) price, but I believe it's worth it anyway

It's easy to greatly underestimate the value of being able to create music that you personally enjoy repeatedly over the years. There are tangible physical and mental health benefits to the string of small victories that lead to a completed piece of music. Those benefits have dollar value that may be easier viewed by a legacy of good health seen in retrospect, but I'm sure the price of a few world-class plugins and a midi controller, is far less than bills incurred from a heart attack, stroke, or addiction resulting from a high-stress/low peace lifestyle without a creative release valve. U-he, among many others, offer strong medicine at very attractive prices!
Mi dos centavos