Zebra 3 Public Beta 3 Revision 20977

[tasmaniandevil]

Hey everyone,

since Zebra wants you to download a new version, we thought it might be a good idea to actually provide one. We've been so busy (check the changelog if you doubt it), we didn't notice the looming deadline.

You'll find bucketloads of bug fixes and some nice improvements in this new build.

Some things you need to be aware of:

The Ctrl ABCD macro feature is still in flux. We ran into several usability issues and have to work on this some more.
The Ctrl ABCD parameters are now host-automatable and have been placed at the start of the parameter list. This, of course, breaks automation in existing projects, there's just no way to avoid this.

Due to the sheer amount of bug fixes in all areas, some sound changes are possible. Those are expected changes and shouldn't alter the sound of existing presets too much. But you might have to check and adjust some of your presets slightly.

We are still working on an improved GUI. It should be done soon, and will be featured in the next beta, which might already be a first release candidate, if everything goes well.

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Downloads:

Zebra 3.0 Public Beta 20977 Mac
Zebra 3.0 Public Beta 20977 Win
Zebra 3.0 Public Beta 21001 Linux – added 2026-03-10

Linux build will follow asap, we found some last-minute gremlins. And it's finally there.

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Licenses, Pricing

Everyone eligible for a free upgrade (owners of both Zebra 2 & The Dark Zebra licenses from before they became Zebra Legacy) should already have their license in their account. Head over to our My Licenses page to request your license card.

Zebra 2 license owners (from before it became Zebra Legacy) can upgrade to Zebra 3 for 30€ – just also head over to our My Licenses page, your license email contains a link.

During the beta phase, everyone else can purchase a Zebra 3 license at the introductory price of 179,-€ here (note, this is 70€ off from 249€, so this is better than anything we'd be able to offer owners of Zebra Legacy):

Pre-Order Zebra 3 for 179€

And for everyone who just wants to test Zebra 3 for a while without running into the demo restrictions, we got a beta license card (it'll expire at some point...):

Download the Zebra 3.0 Public Beta License Card

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Changelog (changes since the second public beta, revision 20552):

New or improved:

* Faster preset loading
* GUI open/close times improved
* MPE support added
* Constant mod source added
* Trigger mod source added
* Two more ModFX modules added to FX grid
* Drag & drop support for license cards added
* Beta license expiration date extended
* Updated factory preset library (still WIP)
* Updated user guide (still WIP)
* Mod Mapper: expanded step range via Shift key
* Mod Mapper: subdivision options expanded to 24
* Mod Mapper: "Snap all" option added to subdivision menu
* Mod Mapper: Gate and Trigger now increment globally
* Ctrl ABCD added to the start of the automation parameter list
* Ctrl ABCD knobs react to MIDI controller movement in the GUI
* Module list sorting improved
* Modulation sources list sorting improved
* Modulation: "Remove all" option added to modulation target menu
* Mod source automatically assigned when mod slot is created from MSEG or Mapper tabs
* Option to display value strings added for some parameters
* Grid now shows in which slot a new module will be loaded
* Some parameters have been renamed
* Multiple improvements in the Linux installer script

Fixed Issues:

* Fixed: random crashes while switching presets
* Fixed: random crashes when saving presets
* Fixed: crash when exporting wavetables on Windows
* Fixed: crash if pasting in the Mod Mapper without any values
* Fixed: preset going silent after using Ctrl ABCD
* Fixed: multiple issues in connection with Undo/Redo
* Fixed: stuck notes when switching presets while using Sustain pedal
* Fixed: LFO slew was remembering slewed amplitude for next note
* Fixed: LFO wasn't setting phase correctly in Free mode
* Fixed: LFO phase issue after loop wrap in Free mode
* Fixed: LFO could drift in Free mode
* Fixed: LFO Delay Time options were broken in Single trigger mode
* Fixed: LFO out of sync after host playback loop wrap in Single trigger mode
* Fixed: Mixer: Scanning mixer modulation now smoothed to avoid scratches
* Fixed: Mixer: vector mixer modulation wasn't wrapping correctly
* Fixed: Mixer: wrong volume when switched to R/L
* Fixed: Modulation: mod depth indicators still visible after deleting modulation
* Fixed: Modulation: renumbering wasn't working if multiple slots deleted at once
* Fixed: Ladder filter could produce audio glitches
* Fixed: MSEG "x2" option could slow down the GUI
* Fixed: MSEG could produce clicks when used as VCA source
* Fixed: MSEG could cause silent voices when used as VCA source
* Fixed: FX: small glitch in Distortion module
* Fixed: FX: Textureverb wasn't working at 176.4 kHz
* Fixed: FX: Distortion Corrode mode could play remnants of old voices
* Fixed: FX: Delay Digital mode was colouring the feedback
* Fixed: FX: Distortion Corrode mode was sample rate dependent
* Fixed: FX: Reverb was sample rate dependent
* Fixed: FX: Reverb signal mixing issue in the FX grid
* Fixed: FX: voice initialization issue in 8-tap Delay
* Fixed: Osc: voice initialization issue in additive render mode
* Fixed: Osc: glitch in additive render mode when using Curve Morph on Windows
* Fixed: Osc: rough Maths mode could cause glitches
* Fixed: Wavefolder could produce noise if input signal was low
* Fixed: Exciter: glitches after changing stiffness
* Fixed: Modal Resonator was sample rate dependent
* Fixed: Voice Discharging was sample rate dependent
* Fixed: Envelope modulation could be steppy
* Fixed: Grid: bus selector was only switching mode on the next voice
* Fixed: Grid: it was possible to select multiple modules in the FX grid
* Fixed: some parameter names weren't displayed in main data display
* Fixed: some buttons didn't show useful values in main data display
* Fixed: glitch when mixing multiple Pressure sources
* Fixed: Ctrl C+D were not listening to MIDI control slew preference
* Fixed: Setting Ctrl ABCD to "None" wasn't stored in the preferences
* Fixed: a new note could be triggered when releasing a note on another MIDI channel
* Fixed: PreListen (now called Listen) was saved in presets
* Fixed: Init preset was setting author name to he
* Fixed: click-dragging in curve editor could delete the point
* Fixed: some parameters were causing zipper noise when modulated
* Fixed: some non-modulatable parameters could be reached by the mod assigner
* Fixed: locale issue could prevent plugins from running on Linux
* Fixed: plot graph flicker causing audio glitches on Linux
* Fixed: preset context menu misses favourites and junk icons on Linux
* Fixed: Pitches page UI was looking odd on Linux

Known Issues:

* Crash when deleting a mod slot right after opening the GUI (VST3 only)
* Loading module presets with long names can lead to a crash
* Entering value strings via key control might not work correctly
* Listen button in big editor is not in sync with the button in the module
* Clicking a module in the grid sometimes causes Zebra to fall silent
* Mod Mapper: value range is not limited when using mouse wheel
* Loading the Init preset will not reset all parameters in Bitwig when using CLAP (Bitwig bug)
* Mouse sensitivity issue on some Windows systems (switch off "Hide Mouse on Drag" to fix)
* VST3 failing plugin scan in Digital Performer
* MIDI table scrollbar is invisible
* Preset adapter to load Zebralette 3 presets inside Zebra 3 is not finished yet
* The key control selector does not adjust its position when using the scrollbar
* Modulation depth indicator UI glitch when swapping Osc FX slots
* Some quirks and small bugs in the curve editor still remain
* Guide curves are currently only saved for MSEG 1, not for 2-4
* Mouse cursor quirks in Pro Tools on Windows
* No module preset option for curve sets yet
* No multicore support yet

Special Notes:

* Slight changes in sound are possible due to loads and loads of fixes
* Ctrl ABCD macro feature is still in flux, the parameters won't get saved with presets yet
* The host automation list has changed, automation in existing projects might be broken
* Waveform import from .wav files is an experimental feature

Cheers,
the u-he crew

[zvenx]

Thanks.. you guys have been busy.

rsp

[Urs]

900+ presets now, partly still WIP, but loads of great additions!

[zvenx]

Oh yes I noticed that, and no offense to the other fine sound designers you have on board, but tons from BigTone... Yes!!!!
rsp

[Sampleconstruct]

Thanks for the controller labels!

[Sampleconstruct]

The controllers still don't remember their saved states, I just re-saved a patch and re-loaded it, all controllers were set to hard left although I had saved them differently.

EDIT: Sorry, I just read the release notes again, my bad.

[exmatproton]

polar switches for the CTRL knobs?? neat! Great update this! The mappers are awesome now, with the SHIFT modifier; just awesome (could be implemented in the older synths as well, ACE, Bazille).

The UI is indeed loading significantly faster now. great! As are the presets

When left clicking the matrix, there is that white block showing where a new module will be loaded. Lovely. However, i would add the same block when using the right mouse click. For consistency

[EvilDragon]

Right-clicking an empty slot in the grid (doesn't matter which one), has a disabled entry on top that says "Add &_Paste". Not sure if that's intentional or not, if it is intentional, then the underline should be a whitespace. If it's not intentional, it should not be there period.

[EvilDragon]

The mappers are awesome now, with the SHIFT modifier; just awesome (could be implemented in the older synths as well, ACE, Bazille).

The only UX improvement here would be that you could start the Shift operation during an existing mouse drag. Currently you have to pre-mediate pressing Shift before you start dragging. Same situation is with knobs and sliders across all u-he products...

It would just be way better and natural if you could press Shift at will and it just works.


Also, "Hide mouse on drag" option doesn't work with mappers. Now THIS is very annoying, because especially with Shift held this is where you want that option the MOST, IMO.

[Urs]

The controllers still don't remember their saved states

Yes. Unfortunately when we tried saving the controllers like macros, things became rather confusing when using in conjunction with MIDI. It was quite a bit "uhm what's happening here?" - so we rolled it back...

We'll keep experimenting, but it may not work out. In any case, one can "bake" the Controls into the patch, and then add the Controls to something else.

[Urs]

Also, "Hide mouse on drag" option doesn't work with mappers. Now THIS is very annoying, because especially with Shift held this is where you want that option the MOST, IMO.

Hide mouse on drag would be horrible if you don't have an indication as to where the cursor currently is...

[EvilDragon]

Well, currently I have to constantly click-drag-release-move mouse-click-drag-release-move mouse when holding Shift in a mapper, it's not very pleasant to use, the drag scale is extremely slow...

We do this in Surge XT, it's consistent UX according to the name of the option. If you hide the cursor when dragging, it happens everywhere, in step sequencer table as well as sliders and when editing MSEG nodes. ^_^; What helps here is to have a tooltip that shows the value right there, then you see where the cursor is. Yet the mouse drag is limitless still because actual mouse cursor is hidden. See GIF:



You could argue it's a choice, but I do prefer the consistency in behavior.

Since in Z3 you lock the axis for the mouse drag after you started dragging a step in the mapper, I don't think there would actually be any problems if the mouse cursor were hidden, IF you allow enabling Shift for finetune after you started dragging. It would just allow more free movement to cover a wider value range at higher precision. Which I think would be an improvement overall.

[EvilDragon]

Oh and by the way, tried this with mousewheel vs mapper steps as well and, Shift to slow things down works (yay!) but the slowdown scaling is even bigger than with mouse drags. So I have to flick the scrollwheel a helluva lot to cover a few units of value (doesn't matter if scrollwheel raster is on or off, doesn't matter if I enable or disable mousewheel ratcheting on my mouse (Logitech MX Master 2S). Would be nice if this could be looked into!

[EvilDragon]

Actually a bug: if you Shift+mousewheel on mapper steps, there's no UI refresh happening. You can see the value changing in the display atop, but the matchstick doesn't change its size.

[Sampleconstruct]

The controllers still don't remember their saved states

Yes. Unfortunately when we tried saving the controllers like macros, things became rather confusing when using in conjunction with MIDI. It was quite a bit "uhm what's happening here?" - so we rolled it back...

We'll keep experimenting, but it may not work out. In any case, one can "bake" the Controls into the patch, and then add the Controls to something else.

I see. How do we “bake“ them in?