Zebra 3 - Analogue Beauty

[bmrzycki]

I love these videos, particularly how you explain and deconstruct the instability in analog synths which can lead to more lively sounds. Having never owned one of those vintage analog dinosaurs I was unaware about the significant timiing differences between envelope voices nor did I know about the harmonic distortion when summing them.

[Urs]

Well, the Jupiter 4 adds extra much distortion here... most analogue poly synths are pretty clean after summing...

[stippenstoh]

Again nice to see a video made by you, sharing knowledge how to use Zebra 3... On the other hand I already am able to tie my shoes, maybe the level could be far more advanced? This is a level above "1st step - how to breathe"

For every person like you (who knows this 'basic' stuff), there are a dozen who don't.

I don't think so, this is a common misunderstanding. If someone does not intuitively realize what's different in the sound of an analogue synth, the person might simply lacking of auditive skills. I don't think the world needs more videos describing obvious things, or things that a 10 year old already can understand. The internet is filled with that, the main reason is money here. Youtube is flooded with very low content quality videos, and then expanded to the maximum, so sponsors can interupt it.

On the other hand, what's the internet lacking of is really high quality content, dense and depth knowledge packed into a video. So real learning stuff, just as you were used it in school or while studies, too. You don't need to target also grandma and a stonecutter as your audience...

[zerocrossing]

Again nice to see a video made by you, sharing knowledge how to use Zebra 3... On the other hand I already am able to tie my shoes, maybe the level could be far more advanced? This is a level above "1st step - how to breathe"

For every person like you (who knows this 'basic' stuff), there are a dozen who don't.

I don't think so, this is a common misunderstanding. If someone does not intuitively realize what's different in the sound of an analogue synth, the person might simply lacking of auditive skills. I don't think the world needs more videos describing obvious things, or things that a 10 year old already can understand. The internet is filled with that, the main reason is money here. Youtube is flooded with very low content quality videos, and then expanded to the maximum, so sponsors can interupt it.

On the other hand, what's the internet lacking of is really high quality content, dense and depth knowledge packed into a video. So real learning stuff, just as you were used it in school or while studies, too. You don't need to target also grandma and a stonecutter as your audience...

The point you're missing is that the people who want the dense and in depth videos already own Zebra 3, and it might be nice to sell some licenses to people who don't.

[jtsterays]

Calibration is just per note detune, what about the constant drifting random LFO (Diva) ? Would be cool if you put that to the pitches tab too. It's way better than sacrificing 1 LFO and having to route it to multiple OSCs.

[pdxindy]

For every person like you (who knows this 'basic' stuff), there are a dozen who don't.

I don't think so, this is a common misunderstanding. If someone does not intuitively realize what's different in the sound of an analogue synth, the person might simply lacking of auditive skills. I don't think the world needs more videos describing obvious things, or things that a 10 year old already can understand.

This and other forums are full of people asking questions about the most basic synthesis stuff.

Also, the video is not about analog sound, but how to do certain things specifically in Zebra 3... which doesn't have many videos on any topic, basic or complex (since it is new and still in beta). Any videos at this point are going to be helpful to someone. For example, just in the past few days I twice read someone not knowing how to adjust voice detune in Z3 (exactly what Urs showed on the Pitches tab).

Personally, I would rather not see Urs spending lots of time making complex, in-depth videos when there is still work to do to get Z3 released. On the other hand, you could create exactly the video series you want to see!

[bonch]

Again nice to see a video made by you, sharing knowledge how to use Zebra 3... On the other hand I already am able to tie my shoes, maybe the level could be far more advanced? This is a level above "1st step - how to breathe"

For every person like you (who knows this 'basic' stuff), there are a dozen who don't.

I don't think so, this is a common misunderstanding. If someone does not intuitively realize what's different in the sound of an analogue synth, the person might simply lacking of auditive skills. I don't think the world needs more videos describing obvious things, or things that a 10 year old already can understand. The internet is filled with that, the main reason is money here. Youtube is flooded with very low content quality videos, and then expanded to the maximum, so sponsors can interupt it.

On the other hand, what's the internet lacking of is really high quality content, dense and depth knowledge packed into a video. So real learning stuff, just as you were used it in school or while studies, too. You don't need to target also grandma and a stonecutter as your audience...

Man, you're bitter! Not only is it gatekeeping but it also completely misses the point. The video isn't about explaining what makes a synth sound analog; it's about explaining how to use Zebra 3 features like the Mod Mapper and the Pitches screen to recreate characteristics found in analog synths. I have no idea why you think that's some sort of conventional knowledge.

[Amøbe]

Ha - I didn't even start pushing it as a virtual analogue plugin (Lately I have been much more interested in what new worlds that doesn't sound like the 70s we can explore), but this sounds super great!

In your opinion, does it do VA better than Diva (I always use Diva for this, because it is so accessible in its UI and sounds lovely)

[Dirtgrain]

I got a lot from the videos U-he made years ago for Zebra and Zebra 2. Thanks Urs and other U-he people who are developing these.

[Urs]

Calibration is just per note detune, what about the constant drifting random LFO (Diva) ? Would be cool if you put that to the pitches tab too. It's way better than sacrificing 1 LFO and having to route it to multiple OSCs.

That is available, too... same section, it is called "destabilise".

I personally prefer decalibrate. Once the analogue poly synth has reached its temperature, it usually doesn't move that much anymore. Some are worse than others, but the likes of Jupiter-8 are pretty stable. Even the notoriously unstable JP-4 is more stable than people might think.

[Urs]

In your opinion, does it do VA better than Diva (I always use Diva for this, because it is so accessible in its UI and sounds lovely)

Diva is instant VA. Zebra can cover a lot of similar grounds, but as it is more flexible, it requires more work to get there.

[jtsterays]

Calibration is just per note detune, what about the constant drifting random LFO (Diva) ? Would be cool if you put that to the pitches tab too. It's way better than sacrificing 1 LFO and having to route it to multiple OSCs.

That is available, too... same section, it is called "destabilise".

I personally prefer decalibrate. Once the analogue poly synth has reached its temperature, it usually doesn't move that much anymore. Some are worse than others, but the likes of Jupiter-8 are pretty stable. Even the notoriously unstable JP-4 is more stable than people might think.

Oh thanks, forgot that existed. That said, both of them together at low amount sounds quite nice in diva, especially with chords, it's richer but not out of key. Would be cool if you split that option to a separate knob in that window and call it drift instead.

[ffx]

Ok, but the video is named "analogue beauty" which implies that it's about sounding analogue... If the video was named "how to use the mod mapper", ok, but then there should be much more examples for its usage.

For which people is this video for? I don't think that new Zebra3 users are looking for "analogue" sound. Mostly I would consider Zebra3 users as more experienced users, since Zebra3 definitely is not made for newcomers. There are a lot of better choices then. Zebra3 is quite complex, so what's missing is in depth tutorials and not so much - as I exaggerated - what's makes it sound analogue. At least from my point of view. I am ok if I am wrong here. This was just meant as a hint to think about.

I also would like Urs spend time in finishing a first final, before doing complex stuff videos, of course. I just don't think there is much target audience for this video. But I am enjoying Urs' videos a lot.

[Urs]

For which people is this video for?

Maybe it's for people who think that Zebra is just a digital Wavetable synth like every other.

But we could totally prototype Diva modules in it.

I don't see the problem here. We will make deeper tutorials, just like we did for every other product. But we'll probably also continue these bite sized things, because apparently the just work and people like them.

[ThoughtExperiment]

...I don't think that new Zebra3 users are looking for "analogue" sound...

...I just don't think there is much target audience for this video...

Well, that's just your opinion. Here's mine, if you're asking (or even if not ) - This may be considered sacrilege, but to be honest, I'm not that mad about the 'analogue' sound. I should be, given my age and the kind of stuff I grew up listening to, but...Diva is the only u-He synth I don't own, because of this.

But, but, but - I watched Urs' video and I still got something useful out of it. Not because I'm going to create any Moog/Juno/whatever emulations, but synth sounds still need 'life', to 'breathe' somehow.

Anyhow, 13k views in just a few days would suggest there actually is an audience. Just sayin'...