Zebra3 Info

[Urs]

What will it be called? Maybe u-He Sexy Snake?

Or just S-Synth.

I came up with "Sympasizer" - pleases anyone and everyone!

seems like someone had a similar idea though... name is taken

[Elektronisch]

What will it be called? Maybe u-He Sexy Snake?

Or just S-Synth.

I came up with "Sympasizer" - pleases anyone and everyone!

seems like someone had a similar idea though... name is taken

U-He EDM Banger?

Wait wasnt Hive suppose to be S-Synth?

[bmrzycki]

I think because all that people want to have 1 allrounder, that can do it all instead of 20 other synths.

And that's exactly what Zebra is. You don't get all that flexibility without some sort of learning curve.

[bmrzycki]

People want templates within Zebra.

If Zebra's factory bank came with a "Template" preset folder I bet we'd find 90% of shared patches would start with one of those. The Z2 Transmission (and I believe Oldskool as well) came with starter templates. Some Howard pixie dust in the form of Init 2 OSC, Init Additive, Init FM, Init Comb would go a long way to answering this without a line of code changed in Z2/Z3.

I'm convinced the casual user of Z2 flips through presets, stops on one they like, and tries to change the sound by moving a few knobs. Because they have no idea what the modules do they can't change the sound in the way they want. So they get frustrated and call Z2 "too complicated". If these same users started with a simpler init preset with fewer modules (and didn't add additional ones) I have a feeling they'd soon see how clear the workflow and layout actually is.

[stutter]

Recently one of my younger employees who hasn't been familiar with Zebra did this, and each time he pointed out a feature that's great in Serum, I'm like "so...?". So we finally did an internal presentation about Zebra for the young ones, and now they're all hyped to do Z3.

That sounds like an interesting presentation...

[jc_vt]

Please, Urs, don't be concerned about all this chatter, and don't spoil a great product by trying to make it like others....

[Faza]

S-Synths are toyish tools, that may impress a child, but not a very serious person. Bazille, the u-he's products sound, flexibility and capabilities are beyond Srm synth, on unreachable for it level, and they are much more comfortable than it, even they have the most comfortable way, to do "complex" things, that seems too complicated to comprehend for some people (it's only their excuse), but they are not so and even the most demanding user will find the bottom.

[Stan Navi]

S-Synths are toyish tools, that may impress a child, but not a very serious person. Bazille, the u-he's products sound, flexibility and capabilities are beyond Srm synth, on unreachable for it level, and they are much more comfortable than it, even they have the most comfortable way, to do "complex" things, that seems too complicated to comprehend for some people (it's only their excuse), but they are not so and even the most demanding user will find the bottom.

And many great artists doing their popular albums with these toyish tools, like you are saying,
while very serious person just sublimating with Bazille.

[aumordia]

Consider a manual transmission vs an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is a much more complex piece of engineering, yet it provides a much simpler experience for the user.

S-synths are like 5-gear manual transmissions.(Some of them are practically fixed-gear.) Zebra 2 is like a 25-gear manual. So why not a 25-gear automatic?

Somebody is going to do it, and whoever does will clean up.

[pdxindy]

The key insight is that there's a lot of what I'll call "jargon" in Zebra, for lack of a better way to put it.

Spire filter types = perfecto, acido, infecto, scorpio, combo.

That is jargon. And the Comb module in Zebra (which you named) has none. Now I see nothing wrong with jargon so I am not doing any ranking based on it. Only pointing out that your claim is perhaps not accurate.

And of course, you are welcome to like whatever synth you like and prefer it over another.

[pdxindy]

Consider a manual transmission vs an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is a much more complex piece of engineering, yet it provides a much simpler experience for the user.

S-synths are like 5-gear manual transmissions.(Some of them are practically fixed-gear.) Zebra 2 is like a 25-gear manual. So why not a 25-gear automatic?

Somebody is going to do it, and whoever does will clean up.

Maybe someone will... and maybe they will clean up... but I want a manual transmission, not an automatic

[knowix]

This thread has gone in a very toxic direction. It's getting dangerously close to saying "only the following musicians may use this plugin", which is a branding disaster.

Things to bear in mind:

Wasn't Zebra meant to be in competition with synths like Reaktor. Isn't its raison d'etre to question whether people are genuinely looking for a fully modular synth? In it's own way, it's also about convenience over endless flexibility.

It's not just the presets and ease of use that attract people to Serum, Sylenth and Spire. It's also because they're used by famous musicians. And not just in a paid endorsement sort of way. Professional musicians are genuinely using these synths and are good at using them, and it encourages other less talented people to purchase them. Don't assume these influential people have no sound designing talent. How many surprise sales of FM8 were made due to Skrillex's very geeky use of it? Similarly, keep in mind that some people don't perceive much difference in the talent levels of Deadmau5 and Zimmer.

In hindsight, if there was a mistake with Hive, perhaps it was due to a misperception of what it was in competition with. Maybe Sylenth was really being used as a substitute for a Virus TI, and Spire and Serum have finally scratched that itch. The idea that Zebra should be in competition with these synths is odd, and may come from some irrational perception that Zebra should be worshipped by all. Sort of like those Star Wars fanboys who are offended Annie Hall won best film at the Oscars.

[Elektronisch]

As far as i remember Zebra was inspired by Virus? correct me if im wrong Urs.

[nordickvr]

Consider a manual transmission vs an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is a much more complex piece of engineering, yet it provides a much simpler experience for the user...

So boring to drive.

[pdxindy]

This thread has gone in a very toxic direction. It's getting dangerously close to saying "only the following musicians may use this plugin", which is a branding disaster.

Things to bear in mind:

Wasn't Zebra meant to be in competition with synths like Reaktor. Isn't its raison d'etre to question whether people are genuinely looking for a fully modular synth? In it's own way, it's also about convenience over endless flexibility.

It's not just the presets and ease of use that attract people to Serum, Sylenth and Spire. It's also because they're used by famous musicians. And not just in a paid endorsement sort of way. Professional musicians are genuinely using these synths and are good at using them, and it encourages other less talented people to purchase them. Don't assume these influential people have no sound designing talent. How many surprise sales of FM8 were made due to Skrillex's very geeky use of it? Similarly, keep in mind that some people don't perceive much difference in the talent levels of Deadmau5 and Zimmer.

In hindsight, if there was a mistake with Hive, perhaps it was due to a misperception of what it was in competition with. Maybe Sylenth was really being used as a substitute for a Virus TI, and Spire and Serum have finally scratched that itch. The idea that Zebra should be in competition with these synths is odd, and may come from some irrational perception that Zebra should be worshipped by all. Sort of like those Star Wars fanboys who are offended Annie Hall won best film at the Oscars.

huh? This thread has not become toxic... one or two people said something along the lines of what you are talking about... the rest not. Please do not start lumping everyone together and then offering a prescription for everyone based on the post from 1 or at most 2 people (and they are fine expressing what they want to as well).

My thoughts on popularity are that it is far more random than generally talked about. There is always an assumption that there is some reason or rationality for it. Humans in large part just aren't rational (that is not a value judgement, merely an observation). The reason or rational explanation are what is usually painted on after the fact.

I'm not against popularity, but neither is it something I value in and of itself. I don't care how popular Zebra is... I do want it to sell well enough that Urs and crew are motivated and supported to keep developing it and in general, making cool shit. Cause I like what they make and find it both useful and a pleasure to work with.

I recently bought a Linnstrument. I love it. Been wanting something like it for 20 years! None of those 3 S-synths support note per midi channel controllers. Bazille, ACE, Hive and Diva all do (plus RePro-5 when it ships), and Zebra 3 will as well. I'm not gonna buy any synth at this point that does not support MPE. Likewise, I'm not thrilled by the GUI's of Serum or Spire. Both have too many tabs... especially considering the simple architecture. Sound-wise, GUI-wise, character-wise, I think Bazille is a far better synth than either Serum or Spire. Someone else is welcome to think the opposite.

I appreciate that Urs and u-he develop synths that cater to my interests and aesthetic sense. It is good to have a diverse range of synths for different people.