KVR Audio

giancarlos · Post by **giancarlos** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:24 pm

I think the problem is Zebra's not for trance.

erm, Z2 does have saw wave osc....thtas pretty much all you need for trance isnt it?

BTW, you should try the Virus 'conversion' banks some ppl did if you want all out trance sounds (tho creating your own prob takes 5 mins, even for a newbie)

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:26 pm

I'm still in the "didn't do much for me" camp myself. To be honest, that demo represented a bunch of sounds I wouldn't use personally, or at least not in the way they were presented. The kick was nice enough.

I'm not keen on Sylenth either, for whatever that's worth. I don't blame anyone for liking either of those synths but they just don't grab me.

mkastrup · Post by **mkastrup** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:36 pm

tehlord wrote:For the first time in my life i'm starting to doubt myself.

Nah dont, it all boils down to inspiration. I had Zebra on my HD for more than a year before i started using it.

So i guess i've grown with Zebra. I didnt like the early patches because they were too FM'ish overall. In theory Zebra can copy pretty much everything but it WILL leave its special mark on a sound. That mark is slightly less brightness on OSC's and a more polished overall frequency which gives it less bite than the typical VA. Think of it as a HiFi synth when compared to other VA clones.

There are tons of clones but only one like Zebra.

/Michael

marvotron · Post by **marvotron** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:09 pm

tehlord wrote:For the first time in my life i'm starting to doubt myself.

i've been through this with zebra over and over again, must be at least 5 times now i've tried to like it.

but i always end up with the same reaction you described, it feels like it has no 'soul' and i dont get inspired at all.

when people post the demo songs (like the gritty one, or Arksun's patch demos), they do absolutely zero for me. Even the gritty stuff sounds too nice.

then i'll read another thread where 99% of people are giving it the 'zebra is just so amazing, it does everything', and i think, maybe this time it'll be different. but it never is. its just one of those things.

Its particularly frustrating because i like everything about it except the sound.

thespecialist · Post by **thespecialist** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:26 pm

mkastrup wrote:In theory Zebra can copy pretty much everything but it WILL leave its special mark on a sound. That mark is slightly less brightness on OSC's and a more polished overall frequency which gives it less bite than the typical VA. Think of it as a HiFi synth when compared to other VA clones.
There are tons of clones but only one like Zebra.

Exactly my point, good post.

Waker · Post by **Waker** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:31 pm

Just a fun random patch from Howards, which just brought a smile on my face.... Crazy diamond... Spot on for that Rick Wright intro solo...Gotta love Zebra.

djanthonyw · Post by **djanthonyw** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:34 pm

marvotron wrote:
tehlord wrote:For the first time in my life i'm starting to doubt myself.

i've been through this with zebra over and over again, must be at least 5 times now i've tried to like it.

but i always end up with the same reaction you described, it feels like it has no 'soul' and i dont get inspired at all.

when people post the demo songs (like the gritty one, or Arksun's patch demos), they do absolutely zero for me. Even the gritty stuff sounds too nice.

then i'll read another thread where 99% of people are giving it the 'zebra is just so amazing, it does everything', and i think, maybe this time it'll be different. but it never is. its just one of those things.

Its particularly frustrating because i like everything about it except the sound.

My feelings as well.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:42 pm

mkastrup wrote:
tehlord wrote:For the first time in my life i'm starting to doubt myself.
Nah dont, it all boils down to inspiration. I had Zebra on my HD for more than a year before i started using it. So i guess i've grown with Zebra. I didnt like the early patches because they were too FM'ish overall. In theory Zebra can copy pretty much everything but it WILL leave its special mark on a sound. That mark is slightly less brightness on OSC's and a more polished overall frequency which gives it less bite than the typical VA. Think of it as a HiFi synth when compared to other VA clones.

There are tons of clones but only one like Zebra.

/Michael

I totally agree with the above and I'm glad that someone else wich a big experience and who spend a lot of time with Zebra can come to the same conclusion.

A year ago everybody was talking about Zebra2 sounding "sOOooo analoOOog" and that kind of superlatives and when I stated the same ( imho obvious ....) thing I was barely audible audible audible audible .....

In the marketing world almost every synth is described as "able of doing almost everything". In theory much are capable to make a "lot_of_things" indeed. In the real world most synths have a distinct sonic signature (wich is A GOOD thing btw imho) and are more or less versatile.

So, imho, Zebra has its own sound, a BIG depth in programmation, but not only it just can't do everything, it will also make everything he does with a unique signature ......

My 0.002

LtZ

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:19 pm

rob_lee wrote:Is this thread going anywhere? Either you like it or you don't Im gonna download the demo after iv'e installed cubase to see for myself..looks like it's gonna be good from what i see...plenty of modulation/lfo options..
rob

It is interesting to watch over time. Various such posts like this one by the OP have later been followed by 'oh wow, Zebra is great!'. Some people try Zebra a few times before it clicks for them. That is not to say it will click for everyone, but it has in numerous cases. So that is where such threads go.

rob_lee · Post by **rob_lee** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:21 pm

Well iv'e been playing with Zebra Demo for 2 hours now and in my opinion i like it alot..big respesct to the developer.
Shame i can't afford it right now but i may buy it at sometime...

Rob

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:40 pm

rob_lee wrote:Well iv'e been playing with Zebra Demo for 2 hours now and in my opinion i like it alot..big respesct to the developer.
Shame i can't afford it right now but i may buy it at sometime...
Rob

In the meanwhile, you can get started on your soundbank!

rob_lee · Post by **rob_lee** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:42 pm

In demo mode? hehe
rob

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:46 pm

rob_lee wrote:In demo mode? hehe
rob

sure!! just cause you cannot afford to buy it, why should I suffer????

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:53 pm

marvotron wrote:Its particularly frustrating because i like everything about it except the sound.

That would be what they call a "deal breaker"... or in some cultures a "show stopper".

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:02 pm

tehlord wrote:And yes, I can't believe the response to a small comment either!

What would you expect? Your singular, 9-word summary of Zebra 2 was: "I dont see what all the fuss is about."

No details given. No "it's too hard to program", or "the factory presets sound like cheese", or "I don't like the GUI", or...

So of course you're going to get a response. The fanboys will do their fanboy thing, those that agree with you will submit their opinions, those that disagree will do so, those that want more info will ask for more info...

And lo and behold, you do have specific reasons for not liking it after all... so I say: good thing you were asked.

I had a go on Zebra 2