Is Hans Zimmer going to use Zebra for ModernWarfare2?

[Urs]

That said, I think there are definately people out there who would buy something simply because their favourate artists either use it or say how incredible it is etc etc...

That's certainly true. I'm always acreful though not to trigger too many impulse buys. I've often seen people buying stuff because it's on special or because it's hip for a moment ending up frustrated. My stuff bears no exception to this, as most of it has a steep learning curve, and sometimes it's on the verge of becoming vapourware (such as Uhbik-X) because it simply takes me longer to finish things than I'd ever imagined.

Word of mouth is the ideal thing though. If a friend tells one about it, one can see it in action and one can ask him for how-do-you-do-this-or-that's. That's perfect for me, because it's an informed buy, keeping a low support effort.

[Urs]

Another useful form of publicity is Computer Music magazine's latest special issue, Make Synth Music, which has tutorials that feature ZebraCM - as well as simpler synths for numpties like me.

Absolutely!

[Kyran]

A lot of people still buy physical boxed products in a shop.
Of course setting that up is a distribution nightmare.

I like your attitude, though. If you can support yourself and live the way you want, why aim for more. It's the rule I've always lived by.

[xybre]

This is something I call "preserving the potential".

Ah, my friends and I call that "taking the long view". Yeah, I think that's a good model. It's not as "give it to me now" greedy and its relaxed in comparison to what most people and companies do.

In most markets you have to worry about "first to market" and competing products, I could be wrong, but it seems less intense in this market, at least for what you're doing (too many uses of that "m" word, Bill Hicks would be giving me the evil eye). For other synths in the price range, there's only a handfull that I'm aware of with the same sort of appeal as Zebra (but you'd probably know that better than I), and many people around KVR at least own two or more of them.

Your claim that you have a fairly small customer base paradoxically makes me want Zebra more for some reason. I've been meaning to mess around with my copy of ZebraCM (I really dig that patches are transferable), but you know I have a long list of things I need to do, and I feel like Zebra is going to eat my soul if I buy it and get into it lol.

Oh, and I might've said it before, but just in case I haven't: I'm really enjoying the Uhbiks. Runciter is a nasty-awesome plugin and I've used it on tracks that I've released (people hear this music and listen to it! much to my surprise..), I think Runciter was worth the price of admission alone to be honest. I've also used the Phaser, Delay, and Reverb in a few tracks, not sure if they're on anything released though. Anyway, thanks, it's hard finding plugins that I really like and use.

[Urs]

Thanks guys! Yes, living is decent, can't complain. The only thing that worries me is that I started out late. My first really comfy year was when I was 35 or 36. By then other people have saved something up for a place or for old age pension.

Well, I guess next year will be a turning point. I think I'll have Uhbik where I want it to be, and Zebra will have reached a state that can be settled for a year or so. So then come things like A.C.E. and Berlin Modular, and I hope tick MFM & Filterscape off to the next level. Once Zebra is "out of the way" as a high-maintenance product, I can probably move from bedroom work to office space and hire some freelancers. That would be awesome!

[Rock Hardbuns]

The only thing that worries me is that I started out late. My first really comfy year was when I was 35 or 36. By then other people have saved something up for a place or for old age pension.

Stable career path, savings and investments. Then boom, housing market crashes, banks go belly up, inflation, deflation, yada, yada. Then *everyone* is up shit creek without a paddle. Or you get fired, outsourced to India or replaced by a 20 year old.

I guess my point is that the risk is constant. There are no safe choices. And those who try to play it safe get very bitter when it turns out that doing boring stuff for someone else actually got them nothing.

Savings and pension funds can evaporate in a heartbeat, and great fortune and prosperity can show up equally fast.

If you go your own way, at least you always have that, even when everything else turns to crap.

And if you strike gold, you know it's all your own doing.

[Urs]

True!

[alexfalcao]

The only thing that worries me is that I started out late. My first really comfy year was when I was 35 or 36. By then other people have saved something up for a place or for old age pension.

Stable career path, savings and investments. Then boom, housing market crashes, banks go belly up, inflation, deflation, yada, yada. Then *everyone* is up shit creek without a paddle. Or you get fired, outsourced to India or replaced by a 20 year old.

I guess my point is that the risk is constant. There are no safe choices. And those who try to play it safe get very bitter when it turns out that doing boring stuff for someone else actually got them nothing.

Savings and pension funds can evaporate in a heartbeat, and great fortune and prosperity can show up equally fast.

If you go your own way, at least you always have that, even when everything else turns to crap.

And if you strike gold, you know it's all your own doing.

+1, Urs, and you do what you love to do, that's why you make great stuff.

I don't know if you worked on an big corporation full of Hypocrite people, back stabbers, ass kissers Etc... and all thinking in their retirement, etc.. specially now with this economy, most corporations are making their employees lives a hell, working at home (beside their regular 8 hours a day) and weekends, beside lots of humiliation. That's what most people go to college for.

[bmrzycki]

...and I feel like Zebra is going to eat my soul if I buy it and get into it.

Oh yes!I can attest to sacrificing more free time to this program than any other tool to create music (other Synths, DAWs, Reason, even other u-he products, etc). This isn't just because of the initial learning curve. Nowadays it's all about discovering the subtle interaction of modules as well as learning the new tweaks Urs seems to add every other release. For example, the updated 2.5 XMFs alone have opened up new arenas of fun and surprise for me.

For the cost of DJ Hero/Guitar Hero plus a console you can have a full-fledged professional synth and a chea[ 24/49 key midi keyboard. And you can learn how to actually make music instead of following along. It really is a great time for electronic music.

A big thanks to Urs for making this so fun (and affordable!)

[symplectiq]

WTF is A.C.E?

[Urs]

WTF is A.C.E?

http://www.acesynth.com

No questions please... I'm too busy with everything, I simply can't work on it until Uhbik/Zebra are final.

[Vectorman]

seems like people think that Zebra sold a magnitude higher than it actually did... it's still in the lower thousands, somewhere between two and three, really...

That's almost surprising, with Zebra being one of the most highly-regarded and talked-about synths on KVR (though still not unrespectable numbers for such a specialized piece of software that is not sold at retail outlets all over the internet). Kind of cool in another way, though...almost makes one, as a Zebra user, feel sort of like a member of a small club who have a "secret weapon" of sorts that isn't plastered all over popular music as much as the big name synths.

Somebody still needs to design up some really slick-looking Zebra/Uhbik/etc. shirts.

[symplectiq]

[almost makes one, as a Zebra user, feel sort of like a member of a small club who have a "secret weapon"

You mean like a cult? Illuminati perhaps?

[ozmoz2008]

Thanks guys! Yes, living is decent, can't complain. The only thing that worries me is that I started out late. My first really comfy year was when I was 35 or 36. By then other people have saved something up for a place or for old age pension.

Welcome to the music biz I know! I mean most of the people I know in music on demand is experiencing the very same fact. Things start to be good later on. It takes so much effort and personal development to get your own thing going on. It's easier to follow than lead I guess.

I also put a big X on any pension hope, I'll work until I am six feet under. I do take more time for me though than I use to, since I can afford it now.

I love your stuff BTW. Do you have any dates for 2.5 official release?

All the best!

[Howard]

WTF is A.C.E?

http://www.acesynth.com
No questions please... I'm too busy with everything, I simply can't work on it until Uhbik/Zebra are final.

It's smiling!