Zebra 3 Public Beta 3 Revision 20977

[Lyhrus]

You can change this in the preferences. Just set Auto Versioning to off.

Ah ok, thank you!

[Erdemkeys]

it would be great if the preset number would not be counted upwards automatically (e.g. from preset_01 to preset_02) as this forces us to take an additional step to simply overwrite the current preset_01.

You can change this in the preferences. Just set Auto Versioning to off.

If you command + click on save, it directly overwrites your preset

[tompisa]

Quick question regarding scaling factors: Z3 UI is blurry on my Win11/ 150 % scaled 32" 4k Eizo. HiDPI not implemented ? Z3 UI is 100%

Screenshot 2026-03-24 143543.jpg

[XorXisT]

Quick question regarding scaling factors: Z3 UI is blurry on my Win11/ 150 % scaled 32" 4k Eizo. HiDPI not implemented ? Z3 UI is 100%

Screenshot 2026-03-24 143543.jpg

Right-click Zebra3 in Live's browser and uncheck "Auto-Scale Plug-In Window".

Then delete from the track and insert a new instance of Zebra3.

[Urs]

Right-click Zebra3 in Live's browser and uncheck "Auto-Scale Plug-In Window".

Then delete from the track and insert a new instance of Zebra3.

Damn... the things one has to know these days...

[JoeLowery215]

Also to the shopping list, Chorus/ Flanger Noise parameter should be visible for analogue mode, really annoying when I've got to use a math module to get rid of it.

What does this mean?

[benmason]

Noise function is hidden from the front view when you're using chorus or flanger on analogue mode. It would be really helpful if it wasn't hidden and it was a tweakable setting on the front panel. At the moment you have to go into the mod matrix select a math and find OSC-FX Noise as a modulation source then use 'Selected X' I believe in the math module to get rid of it. Just too many steps for a parameter that would be used quite often in chorus for getting that 'analogue sound' without a noise floor.

[tasmaniandevil]

At the moment you have to go into the mod matrix select a math and find OSC-FX Noise as a modulation source then use 'Selected X' I believe in the math module to get rid of it.

You don’t need a Math module. Use the Constant modulation source to set the level of the noise.

[benmason]

Thank you that worked! Maybe update that for the next user guide

[wurzelrudi]

Problem with piano patches - using the sustain pedal:

When I play a fast trill of 2 notes with sustained pedal, very soon the trill stops sounding, because Z3 uses a new voice for EVERY finger strike - and I run out of the maximum 16 Voices of Zebra 3.
But in real life I would need only 2 voices (or maybe 4 voices, 2 of them for a short fading out of the preceding note)
So "real" (or classical) piano playing seems to be impossible with this behaviour.

Is there a way to tell Z3 to reuse the SAME voice, if the SAME MIDI note is triggered again? I have seen the Option "Reallocate" in the PERFORM section, but it has a different function.

btw: Zebra 3 sounds great!

EDIT: This happend with a patch created by myself. But now I noticed, that with factory presets a different behaviour happens:
I play a chord with the left hand and the trill with the right hand + sustain pedal. In my case the chord stays but the trill stops. With the factory presets, the trill continues but the chord stops.
I cannot find the settings for the "note stealing".

[wheelD]

Regarding my opinion on zebra 3 yes the spline based oscs are dope ,but i dont understand the design decisions of limiting yourself to the fixed semi modular architecture.
I am blown away with vps avenger sound design ,but this is just stuff that i heard or done years ago ,some of UI's decisions are bezar to me ,when compared to modern staples such as phase plant 2.
Some elements of z3 ui are dynamic ,some aren't for some reason
it's apparent to me that some of z3 ui decisions were made 10 years ago and aren't modern.

[Urs]

Problem with piano patches - using the sustain pedal:

When I play a fast trill of 2 notes with sustained pedal, very soon the trill stops sounding, because Z3 uses a new voice for EVERY finger strike - and I run out of the maximum 16 Voices of Zebra 3.
But in real life I would need only 2 voices (or maybe 4 voices, 2 of them for a short fading out of the preceding note)
So "real" (or classical) piano playing seems to be impossible with this behaviour.

Is there a way to tell Z3 to reuse the SAME voice, if the SAME MIDI note is triggered again? I have seen the Option "Reallocate" in the PERFORM section, but it has a different function.

btw: Zebra 3 sounds great!

EDIT: This happend with a patch created by myself. But now I noticed, that with factory presets a different behaviour happens:
I play a chord with the left hand and the trill with the right hand + sustain pedal. In my case the chord stays but the trill stops. With the factory presets, the trill continues but the chord stops.
I cannot find the settings for the "note stealing".

We have worked on this a lot, will be in the next version.

[wurzelrudi]

Oh great - thank you very much for the quick answer. So I look forward to the next version

[Urs]

it's apparent to me that some of z3 ui decisions were made 10 years ago and aren't modern.

The concept is tried and tested, Zebra 2 is one of the most successful synth plug-in's ever. Only because nobody has even attempted to seriously copy it, does not mean it is flawed or dated whatsoever.

Most synth that allow "unlimited number of things" are very limited in the choices of those, or have a pita of a workflow. Most synths often mentioned don't even offer half the number of modules that Zebra offers, but they offer a plethora of same same. That has its place, but it is not what Zebra is.

The concept of Zebra is an sweetspot between variety of modules and possible complexity.

To quote myself:

Newbie question: is there a reason to place a hard limit on the number of geneators one can use in a single Zebra 3 instance?

It’s mainly a technical/design decision, not an arbitrary creative restriction. Zebra 3 uses a fixed set of pre-created generators/modules so DAW automation and parameter IDs stay stable, old projects remain compatible as the synth evolves, and we avoid the headaches of creating modules dynamically in real time. It also makes the instrument much easier to maintain and debug. So the limit is mostly about reliability and compatibility.

I am sure with the 4 osc/4 fmo/2 noise modular design people can do wonders, but I personally don't think it would hurt anything if we can get more.

I do believe that sound design quality does not get significantly better once there are "more of each", simply because it will be harder to trace down what's doing what. "More of everything" works well for layer-based synths which have a smaller base set of modules. But in Zebra's concept, I think it's neither necessary nor desirable. Besides, many modules can take over tasks of others, if needed (e.g. there are 16 LFOs).

If that is not acceptable to you, please look elsewhere.

[mgeni]

some of UI's decisions are bezar to me ,when compared to modern staples such as phase plant 2.
Some elements of z3 ui are dynamic ,some aren't for some reason
it's apparent to me that some of z3 ui decisions were made 10 years ago and aren't modern.

I fully agree with you (if by bezar you mean bizzare). Actually, many UI decisions are from v2 which is closer to 20 years old and that explains why it feels dated today. IMHO, PhasePlant's UI/UX is incomparably better and has contemporary feeling. Soundwise it is debatable what are the true limits of Zebra3, but since current presets are so underwhelming (FOR ME) it was an easy choice not buying it. Personally, I don't think the main problem is with limited number of elements/modules, it's more fundamental than that. What it is "truly" capable of is better left for fans to speculate or wait few years so that sound designers can wrap their heads around it like it's hadron collider, not a soft synth. We, the unimpressed ones, will be called trolls that should be ignored, asked to add "FOR ME" after negative opinion (while the hype can be written as objective, universal truth), told to make our own F****** presets, treated as noobs who don't know how to use modwheel to hear the synth in all its beauty... When Urs writes "does not mean it is flawed or dated whatsoever" or that "Zebra is a sweetspot", nobody will ask him to add "FOR ME", even if he as a developer is most biased person to make those claims. Zebra 2 being one of the most succesful synths is a fact, but times have changed and some of the competition has evolved beyond it, just don't expect to hear that from developers or fans who have waited for so long.