Can Zebra/2 load wave files?

[Architeuthis]

JCS, get a dedicated sampler.

[twolegstoneworks]

one more wish for sample-based granular oscillator

I too see this as a natural step forward for Zebra. One doesn't rule out the other, and since Zebra is modular, users will have the option of not choosing the sample-based oscillator/features in Zebra and thus still have a "pure synth".

[Urs]

So okay, here's my take:

I do have sampling up in my schedule, but not mainly for Zebra2. Instead *we* (meaning a larger team than just the single person behind u-he) are already talking about new and *creative* ways of sampling. There's some concepts that you ain't ever seen before, which hopefully lead to really cool results. Call it "new ways of sample manipulation, done right from the beginning". Sorry, no import of sample libraries, use Kontakt for such instead.

Now. The big master plan of u-he is pretty much all about "interleaving" the different products. That means, the product range and the feature set of each new item has to be carefully thought out, so that for instance sample playback in Z2 gains comfort and compatibility with any sort of sample based device. Just like the scripting language that's now part of Z2 patches will also be integrated in Filterscape and every other new thing or update.

One such functionality could be - hold your breath - transforming a sample into a Z2 patch. This would actually work a bit like CA5000, where grains of the sample would probably go into wavetables and envelopes/filters would recreate the closest possible match to the original.

Or, Z2 might indeed get a playback module for patches created in the sampling device.

Stuff like that. Which also means that the sampling solution has to be made first, and then swapped over into Z2 (or Z2.5, whatever).

Thankfully 90% of the work after releasing the first Z2 preview went into the technology foundation of u-he stuff, which is an engine that provides for rapid development of complex stuff, while making it easy to set up comfortable user interfaces to the underlying technology.

The first approach of interleving things is an updated Zebralette (Zebra2 Edition), which was formerly only available as magware but will now be bundled with Z2:



Zebralette is much like an easy page for Z2 oscillators, and you get awesome cpu friendly patches out of it. These patches can be imported into Z2 for further treatments and you can save/load OSC settings and MSEGs that can be swapped between both plugs. Unfortunately, copy/paste of waveforms and MSEGs between Z2 and Zebralette is only available for Audio Units right now, but I might figure out ways to do this in VST in a subsequent update.

The plan here is to make it all like a toolbox where some plugs offer dedicated functionality that can be recycled in other plugs with a different focus, at least to some extent.

Later,

Urs

[jupiter8]

Anyone else but me that thinks Urs Heckman is the coolest guy on the planet ?

[Cinema Perdu]

i'm almost a shamed to ask....


but can you shine a light on when there will be a new release/version of Z2?

i understand you want to relese something good
but you also keep us waiting

within a week? a month? 2 month?

[Urs]

i'm almost a shamed to ask....


but can you shine a light on when there will be a new release/version of Z2?

i understand you want to relese something good
but you also keep us waiting

within a week? a month? 2 month?

Well, let's put it that way: I would have been able to shell out a release candidate since I have had that accident with my left hand. Latter panned out quite well, but I had to take two weeks off. I spent the time with someone special, and now that I'm back to work, I found that there's a lot of little things I want to do, such as the new graphics for Zebralette and the integration stuff. I hope to have the integration stuff done by tonite and then I'm gonna set up new projects and better workflow for the MacBook and the PC in order to make the last stage (beta testing and bugfixes of the final) more comfortable. And of course I hope the climate will stay between 22-28 degree Celsius rather than 35 or something.

So, it can be any day, but I want to make sure I havn't overlooked anything.

Cheers,

Urs

[CinningBao]

..functionality could be - hold your breath - transforming a sample into a Z2 patch. This would actually work a bit like CA5000, where grains of the sample would probably go into wavetables and envelopes/filters would recreate the closest possible match to the original.

uh-oh - that sounds incredible. are we stepping into the future here?

[Ben [Camel Audio]]

I have had that accident with my left hand. Latter panned out quite well, but I had to take two weeks off. I spent the time with someone special,

I hope the hand is recovering well. Also, congrats on the new special person in your life

This would actually work a bit like CA5000, where grains of the sample would probably go into wavetables and envelopes/filters would recreate the closest possible match to the original.

Just wanted to correct you on how Cameleon works - its rather like having 64 sine wave oscillators at once with their own amplitude and tuning ie. they don't have to be an integer multiple of the fundamental. The approach you're describing sounds much more similar to how Kjaerhaus Spectra works. Hope this doesn't come across as nit-picking - and don't get me wrong - what you're describing (and Zebra2 in general) sounds really cool!

Ben

[Urs]

Hope this doesn't come across as nit-picking

No prob

I don't want to create anything similar to either CA5000 or Spectra, but CA5000 came into my mind as probably the best example for recreating sample-like sounds by piling up snapshots of whatever harmonic content

Z2 of course features only 16 snapshots with 1024 harmonics each per oscillator, so that a lot of other stuff (filters etc.) has to be considered to approximate a sample-like patch. Which probably involves genetic algorithms that have to calculate a sample overnite (or over a weekend) to get close matches...

@CinningBao: Yeah, that's all future music. Don't expect this to come anytime soon...

Urs

[smart]

Urs,

Will Zebralette be available on it's own?

[Urs]

Will Zebralette be available on it's own?

Not yet sure about that.

There's still that option to put it on a British Mag's CD, but my head is currently full with other things... and there's also that idea of an inexpensive u-he MiniSynths bundle... dunno... will see...

Oh... I had an intrigueing idea... some kind of really cruel marketing... I mean, really *cruel*... like, the first instance of Zebralette will run without demo restrictions

We'll see...

Urs

[beej]

Oh... I had an intrigueing idea... some kind of really cruel marketing... I mean, really *cruel*... like, the first instance of Zebralette will run without demo restrictions

It's an interesting one that, I wonder how the market would take to that model (priced appropriately, of course).

The only "softsynth" I know of that had instance limits was the TDM Virus.

So, as an example, let's say a instance-unlimited version of Z2 stayed at $199 (or whatever) - if you offered Z2 for, let's say $99 but you could only run one instance, and basically had to bounce or do workarounds - would the market think "Cool, a way to get Z2 cheaper" or would it be more like "what a cynical marketing ploy to get users to buy into a crippled product and then upgrade to the full version?"

I'm not saying Z2 would be the right candidate for this, the price points are very sensitive (too high and the instance limitation is not worth the hassle, too low and "full" owners start wondering what exactly they paid for etc)...

[djsubject]

Oh... I had an intrigueing idea... some kind of really cruel marketing... I mean, really *cruel*... like, the first instance of Zebralette will run without demo restrictions

i knew there was a cruel heart behind that kind demo restriction on the Z2 demo


at first you think "wow thats a real easy going demo hardly any restrictions at all"


then you keep using the dam thing & it dose not piss you off with stupid hissing & your left with no good reason to not get it, (except being broke) then you get stuck in the stage where you have to have it, then you end up selling your old record collection & what ever else you think is less needed that the "said software" just to get a license

do you need any house work done or your car washed uhe?


hopeing to raise the funds before the price goes up

PS, glad to here your hands getting better





Subz

[smart]

I actually kinda like the idea and I would think "great a way to get my hands on the synth cheaper!" then maybe upgrade for a little more later if I could get:

1. Multiple instances
2. A couple other goodies - something like an extra filter mode (different type of character) and an extra pack of 128 presets.

Lets say Zebralette Limited Edition was $49 and the full Zebralette was $79.

I don't know what pricing you have but I think this is a pretty cool business model. But a new filter type, a pack of presets, and multiple instances would sell me.

[Urs]

Beej, I think I would *never* step into that direction. The only thing I'm considering is making one instance of a "bonus plug" available for free, which might lure more people into testing it, because testing isn't interrupted by any weird means of copy protection. One can spend hours just in Zebralette, even though it's only one oscillator. And going through the current number of almost 400 Zebralette patches is way more comfortable when it's not being crippled

I had previously considered to unbundle Filterscape, but this would honestly be a pita in terms of license management. But I think I'll add Podolski to it in the same way as Zebralette to Zebra2, if people think it's a cool addition. (One can already load Podolski patches in FilterscapeVA with minor changes in the sound)

We'll see, this is all but set in stone. I'm still fighting with troublesome issues at making Zebralette patches visible in Z2

Urs