Pulsar Modular's First Instrument Zorba Semi-Modular Synth

[dark water]

Excellent company with excellent audio effects.

However, currently this instrument of theirs has substantial question marks over it due to the character of its filter, as mentioned by zerocrossing previously here and as explained more fully by highvoltage at GS:
https://gearspace.com/board/new-product ... lugin.html


TBF, Pulsar Modular respond well to feedback and frequently update their plugins, so I would not be surprised if this filter problem gets addressed soon.
Until then, it's a 'no' from me as at this price point, you're expecting first class features across the board.

[aMUSEd]

Seems to be semi-modular the way that DIVA is semi-modular. You can swap in different oscillators and filters.

If that is the case - how? This is alluded to but not explained anywhere. Arrow keys just take me to a different part of the plug-in (although weirdly they always jump over noise)

[aMUSEd]

Nice to finally get my hands on Zorba - was a very early adopter

I'd love to hear your take on it - your "Gossamer" patches for Tela are brilliant!

Thankyou, Tela is a very inspiring plugin. I have to say so far I'm not feeling this one the same way.

Also I'm not sure if there is a mistake with the patch banks but many of the preset names or bank names do not correspond to what I'm hearing - the voices do not sound remotely choir like, the first couple of bowed strings are weak stabs, the Rhodes nothing like any EP, and many of the factory bank drum patches nothing like what they say they are (The ones by Pim Schilperoort are much better though). And while the filter does self resonate I can't get it to ping, there seems to be an envelope applied even when it looks otherwise.

[aMUSEd]

OK so Pim Schilperoort's patches are really good - my favourites are 'Random Sparkles' and 'Eno would love this' - they show off what this can do much much better than the factory patches

[aMUSEd]

Second, no polyphonic aftertouch support, a dealbreaker for me.

It is responding to Poly Aftertouch from my Kontrol S63 - but it seems to be treating it as if it is mono aftertouch (so pressure is applied to all notes not just the one pressed) - pity! (at least it doesn't just ignore it completely like Massive X does)

[aMUSEd]

I have made a NKS controller template so I can get control over this https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vmurfpzs ... wl376&dl=0

Also made a Bitwig remote control template https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zjdqd8xa ... ogr6s&dl=0

[Vortifex]

Seems to be semi-modular the way that DIVA is semi-modular. You can swap in different oscillators and filters.

If that is the case - how? This is alluded to but not explained anywhere. Arrow keys just take me to a different part of the plug-in (although weirdly they always jump over noise)

Yeah I'm not sure what they're talking about. This synth is nothing like Diva. You can't 'swap in' different oscillators or filters on this synth.

[HcDoom]

Very far away from Diva in all territories.

[Uncle E]

Sorry, you guys are right. I deleted it before fully understanding it. I thought the oscillators and filters were different, now I see that the differences are only in their functionality, not in how they sound.

[Old Norse]

A real downer if they've managed to lose the p900 mojo along the way.

[Matt67]

Way too expensive, in my opinion.

[wagtunes]

Way too expensive, in my opinion.

It's funny. This is pretty much what I said and a certain person jumped all over my case. You and other people have said the same thing and its crickets.

I guess I'm just an easy target.

It's okay. I'm used to it.

[Seafire Mk2]

Way too expensive, in my opinion.

It's funny. This is pretty much what I said and a certain person jumped all over my case. You and other people have said the same thing and its crickets.

I guess I'm just an easy target.

It's okay. I'm used to it.

Don't sweat it. Seems like the general consensus is that it doesn't deliver for that price point.

It's a tough market, and must be very hard for any dev. Ppl have to make a living, but everyone wants the best for less, so you can't win.

Glad I'm in a diff trade.

[P900]

Please delete your plugin v1.0 and re-install the version in this shared drive folder. It takes you one day before v1.0 (v0.9.9.x)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... drive_link

On a Mac, you might need to manually uninstall, as it might not delete a version higher than the one being installed.

Make sure you install the presets in the installer package, as they are not compatible.

Backstory: A day before release, I wanted to add M. TUNE (Master Tune) to the routing matrix. The idea was to get vibrato; instead of routing LFO to each individual VCO, connect the LFO to the M. TUNE and then the mod wheel to the LFO AM.

[JerGoertz]

Got some time last night to give this a play, and unfortunately I gotta say I was pretty disappointed. The presets often didn't sound like their names (as aMUSEd noted), and were in general pretty same-y and bland. I made my own preset and was underwhelmed by the sound, although maybe further exploration would yield something more usable.

I did like the way the oscs seem to be able to "play nicely together" without obvious beating. Aside from the YouTube demo, however, much of what I've heard from Zorba seems pretty generic. As a leaper who waited ~4 years for some authentic P900 heritage, I expected more.