Zebra 3.0 released

[tasmaniandevil]

Has anyone the problem that all the presets are missing? I'm on Windows 11 and there are no presets showing up. I have Zebra 2 and ZebraHZ and I didn't have that problem before.
I installed Zebra 3 via the installer and the \Program Files\u-he\Zebra3.data\Presets\Zebra3 is completely empty (only a folder "MIDI Programs" is there). Maybe someone can help.

You might have accidentally unchecked the presets option during installation.

Please do not install the Zebra3.data folder to the Program Files location. Windows won’t grant apps permission to edit or write files in the Program Files directory. Means Zebra will not be able to function properly.

Run the uninstaller to delete it from this location. Then run the installer once more, make sure to keep the presets option activated, and select the following location for the Zebra3.data folder:

C:\Users\*YOUR USERNAME*\Documents\u-he\Zebra3.data

[Eluwei]

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[Eluwei]

...

[sunbroker]

Has anyone the problem that all the presets are missing? I'm on Windows 11 and there are no presets showing up. I have Zebra 2 and ZebraHZ and I didn't have that problem before.
I installed Zebra 3 via the installer and the \Program Files\u-he\Zebra3.data\Presets\Zebra3 is completely empty (only a folder "MIDI Programs" is there). Maybe someone can help.

You might have accidentally unchecked the presets option during installation.

Please do not install the Zebra3.data folder to the Program Files location. Windows won’t grant apps permission to edit or write files in the Program Files directory. Means Zebra will not be able to function properly.

Run the uninstaller to delete it from this location. Then run the installer once more, make sure to keep the presets option activated, and select the following location for the Zebra3.data folder:

C:\Users\*YOUR USERNAME*\Documents\u-he\Zebra3.data

Oh my, yes, I thought about it, thanks! I unchecked it accidentally!
Now it works

[pdxindy]

Then FM'ing a 10 pole APF...

My goodness.

I love that AP Filter!

[Eluwei]

...

[pdxindy]

Then FM'ing a 10 pole APF...

My goodness.

I love that AP Filter!

Yes! Isn't it amazing?

Certainly spoiled for choice with all the new filter options. What a great place to be.

I've been a fan of the 9 Pole AP the past few days... the collection of filters put a big smile on my face!!

[MoiOchi]

Congratulations to Urs and the team! In terms of possibilities, there is nothing really comparable to Zebra3's sound engine. The only limitation I've found is the relatively small number of modulation sources for such a complex synth. By themselves, they are incredibly flexible and can certainly be used creatively. However, it often gets in the way when you want to add movement to a parameter, but find that all your envelopes and LFOs are already exhausted. Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there any technical reason not to add something like 16x separate LFOs and 16x separate envelopes?

[ksandvik]

Silly me, would not MSGs produce very complex modulation patterns?

[ThoughtExperiment]

Congratulations to Urs and the team! In terms of possibilities, there is nothing really comparable to Zebra3's sound engine. The only limitation I've found is the relatively small number of modulation sources for such a complex synth. By themselves, they are incredibly flexible and can certainly be used creatively. However, it often gets in the way when you want to add movement to a parameter, but find that all your envelopes and LFOs are already exhausted. Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there any technical reason not to add something like 16x separate LFOs and 16x separate envelopes?

Urs has already answered this, several times. You really need to read the manual if you think Z3 is limited in terms of modulation because it seriously isn't.

[pdxindy]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there any technical reason not to add something like 16x separate LFOs and 16x separate envelopes?

From a technical standpoint, any number could be added.

From a GUI perspective, it would become unwieldy. The bottom modulation bar would no longer be a workable concept. Seems unpleasant all the scrolling that would be required.

My impression over the years is that u-he approaches design from a sweet spot perspective. The company has never been about adding more of everything, but finding the sweet spot of capability vs ease of use.

From a practical perspective, I believe that approach leads to better sound design.

[exmatproton]

Congratulations to Urs and the team! In terms of possibilities, there is nothing really comparable to Zebra3's sound engine. The only limitation I've found is the relatively small number of modulation sources for such a complex synth. By themselves, they are incredibly flexible and can certainly be used creatively. However, it often gets in the way when you want to add movement to a parameter, but find that all your envelopes and LFOs are already exhausted. Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there any technical reason not to add something like 16x separate LFOs and 16x separate envelopes?

Urs has already answered this, several times. You really need to read the manual if you think Z3 is limited in terms of modulation because it seriously isn't.

Indeed..................................... ....or is it?

[aMUSEd]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there any technical reason not to add something like 16x separate LFOs and 16x separate envelopes?

From a technical standpoint, any number could be added.

From a GUI perspective, it would become unwieldy. The bottom modulation bar would no longer be a workable concept. Seems unpleasant all the scrolling that would be required.

My impression over the years is that u-he approaches design from a sweet spot perspective. The company has never been about adding more of everything, but finding the sweet spot of capability vs ease of use.

From a practical perspective, I believe that approach leads to better sound design.

Exactly - Zebralette 3 is the best answer to the more is more argument. Just one OSC and MSEG and yet even with such a minimalistic design it sounds far better than many far more complex synths.

[chaosmeister]

Glory glory halleluja! What a lot of improvements between the last beta and this version. Great job, great synth, happy camper here… Almost makes you forget how shitty the rest of the planet currently is.

I just ran into a minor niggle ('bug' if you wish) which threw me off for a second. Load e.g. the "Berliner Sequenz", and move the "Swirl" control just a hair (control C that is): big change in sound?! Apparently it's a biploar control (double arrow underneath), and the default sound when loading the patch is with the control in the middle (move control C back to 12 o'clock to get back to the original sound). However, the graphics draw the control in the leftmost position instead of the 12 o'clock position. Not a big deal if you understand what happens, but just a sloppy little detail.

[tasmaniandevil]

However, the graphics draw the control in the leftmost position instead of the 12 o'clock position. Not a big deal if you understand what happens, but just a sloppy little detail.

The switch from unipolar to bipolar on the Ctrl A-D knobs bugs me too. It would have been easy to implement for a regular parameter, but posed some challenges (don’t remember the details), since these four parameters are tied to a MIDI CC. We’ll surely look at this again for an update.