diva vs. zebra2

[trance_lucent]

What I really would like to have in Zebra that Diva has (and TyrellN8 too) are analogue FM (or to be more precise harmonically rich carriers) and unison. Yes, Zebra needs unison, just oscillators multi-modes are not enough if you want to have detuned FM and detuned distortion sounds.

[V0RT3X]

I don't think they were meant to replace one or the other, but instead represent the best of both Digital & VA worlds that U-he can offer.

I imagine if a person needed a good VA and a good Digital synth they could easily rely on just those two for a very very long time!

[pdxindy]

My question though is, can Zebra, with a sufficient amount of programming, sound as rich, solid, present, warm, <pick your Diva adjective>, as Diva? Even for some "analog" types of sounds? Is it a matter or having to program in a lot of little oscillator variation and animation and so on, or is there something in Diva that can just *never* be heard from Zebra?

I suspect the latter, but I'd like some help identifying that "sound" or even "feel" (apart from when doing high-res filter sweeps). My ears aren't familiar enough to hear it yet, so if anyone has suggestions as to some way of hearing it, where I might direct my attention, that would be great.

If it's not the filters (again, I'm talking about Zebra HZ), are the oscillators that much more <adjective> by themselves? Do the mixer and so on model analog warmth that much better? Just curious.

FWIW, I am budgeted for *one* of these. I come from the Matrix-12 background, so do like loads of random lfo's modulating all kinds of destinations etc. Having to program is not an issue for me (I've played with the Zebra demo, it's fine). However, I've bought vsts in the past that sounded good but just took time for me to become aware of their sonic weaknesses. If I get something significant sound-quality-wise in Diva over Zebra (not just intuitiveness of programming), it may be worth sacrificing all that cool Zebra programmability, depending...

Thanks again...

Diva can go places Zebra doesn't. Zebra can go a lot more places that Diva doesn't.

And Zebra gets closer to Diva, than Diva can get to Zebra.

I like the new Digital Osc Module in Diva for supersaw sounds. Zebra comes close, but the Diva sound is just a bit better, smoother, prettier.

Diva also has Unison.
Diva has more beautiful noisy type sounds.
Diva's new Uhbie filter is a thing of beauty.
The MS20 filter in Diva has so much character.
Diva effortlessly sounds gorgeous.

But then with Zebra you have whole ranges of possibilities that Diva cannot touch.
You can do classic FM type sounds - EP's, Bells, Percussion etc
You can do additive sounds and wavetables
You can model real instruments
You can combine them all along with a world of modulation that Diva cannot touch...


In deciding, one might consider what other synths one has... If you need a workhorse synth that covers a huge range, then Zebra is unmatched for its mix of ease of use, sonic range and sound quality.

[deastman]

With a little work, Zebra can be used for all sorts of things, but for me it is primarily a tool for "spectral modulation" type sounds.

Personally, I would pick Diva any day. Nothing beats a nice warm classic analog polysynth, and Diva does a fantastic job of capturing that feel.

Then again, I bought both.

[V0RT3X]

well one HUGE thing that stands out between the two is the CPU usage..

[Urs]

We never said we'd make it easy

[pdxindy]

We never said we'd make it easy

It's very easy... just get both! (plus Bazille)

[papertiger]

We never said we'd make it easy

It's very easy... just get both! (plus Bazille)

but which one do i buy first? ()

this is becoming like pokemon...gotta catch them all!

[DHR53]

Er, one I can use 20 instances of - the other 1...

(computer "is" 5 years old though)...

[mcnoone]

We never said we'd make it easy

It's very easy... just get both! (plus Bazille)

but which one do i buy first? ()

this is becoming like pokemon...gotta catch them all!

I'd say get Zebra first if you're into the digital type synths, and enjoy programing synths with complex routing and lots of options.
If you're into the analogue type sounds, and more standard classic parameter settings, with easier programing, then get Diva.

[glittle]

I'd say get Zebra first if you're into the digital type synths, and enjoy programing synths with complex routing and lots of options.
If you're into the analogue type sounds, and more standard classic parameter settings, with easier programing, then get Diva.

Ha... I'm into warm lively analog sounds, and enjoy programming with complex routing and lots of options. Sorry, couldn't resist!

But in fact there's a lot of truth to that. I don't need the level of intuitive streamlined programming that Diva offers. In fact, I found the demo a little frustrating because I kept thinking I'd like another LFO, or pan an oscillator, or to be able to modulate some non-modulatable parameter.

On the other hand, I've paid my dues buying feature-full softsynths that sounded good at first, but only after extended experience with them (and finding contexts in which they were just disappointing on a subtle sonic level) did I realize that deep down in their soul they just didn't clear some amorphous sonic bar and weren't usable in some mixes when push came to shove. None of their programming features or modulation options (or my skill) could get them to come to life at that intrinsic level.

So while I'd dearly love the programmability that Zebra offers over Diva even for programming "analog-feeling" sounds, the raves given to the warmth and presence and life of Diva give me pause that maybe I will miss it in Zebra after some time working with it. All the programmability in the world does no good if there's an "essence" lacking. So I wanted to see if I could hear that for myself -- that intrinsic sonic Diva-ness that may be findable in Zebra, maybe not -- this time *before* I bought for a change.

[michkhol]

My way of looking at it, Zebra is an original synth, Diva always tries to be something else (by definition).

[pdxindy]

So while I'd dearly love the programmability that Zebra offers over Diva even for programming "analog-feeling" sounds, the raves given to the warmth and presence and life of Diva give me pause that maybe I will miss it in Zebra after some time working with it. All the programmability in the world does no good if there's an "essence" lacking. So I wanted to see if I could hear that for myself -- that intrinsic sonic Diva-ness that may be findable in Zebra, maybe not -- this time *before* I bought for a change.

There is no 'essence' lacking in Zebra... If you want the sort of sounds you get from an analog poly, then get Diva. FM synths for example, don't lack 'essence' just because they are not emulating the analog subtractive sound.

Zebra has a different aesthetic than Diva, but it is beautiful in its own right... Zebra has a clear concise sound that has an organic and expressive quality.

When it comes to emulating classic analog synths then Diva does a better job. That does not mean it sounds better than Zebra though. It just sounds better than Zebra for that type of sound. If you want to model acoustic instruments, then Zebra sounds better.

Here are some of my audio demos. The first one is a struck bell. You could never do that in Diva for example and especially not to control the natural beating sound of the 'body' resonance. Then there are a few plucked sounds. Zebra can do a wide range of organic sounds that have a lot of expressive variability. Zebra is great with percussion too.


http://draigathar.org/zebra/sharp-bell.mp3
http://draigathar.org/sounds/evoltring.mp3

http://draigathar.org/sounds/Zebra55.mp3
http://draigathar.org/sounds/Zebra75.mp3

http://draigathar.org/sounds/Pluckde2.mp3
http://draigathar.org/sounds/repsun.mp3

http://draigathar.org/sounds/Solardrop.mp3
http://draigathar.org/sounds/ZTrain.mp3

[mcnoone]

So while I'd dearly love the programmability that Zebra offers over Diva even for programming "analog-feeling" sounds, the raves given to the warmth and presence and life of Diva give me pause that maybe I will miss it in Zebra after some time working with it. All the programmability in the world does no good if there's an "essence" lacking. So I wanted to see if I could hear that for myself -- that intrinsic sonic Diva-ness that may be findable in Zebra, maybe not -- this time *before* I bought for a change.

Actually there is more to Diva's modulation matrix tricks that extend the possibilities beyond the basic modulation sources. Which can go unnoticed by just going through the typical demo trials.
So the deeper mod routings you seek, may be found in learning to use the mod matrix section in there.

[core]

If I had to choose, I'd get Zebra first. Diva sounds better than any other virtual instrument I have, but Zebra is so versatile. And then there's the beautiful patches by Joseph Hollo... http://rekkerd.org/tag/reviews+arte-nuo ... und-banks/
But then again, Luftrum's set for Diva is also amazing http://rekkerd.org/review-luftrum-9-sou ... u-he-diva/
It's a hard choice, but ultimately I don't think you can go wrong