Zebra2 Latest Version: 2.1 - Jan 19 2007

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soundpalace wrote:I'll prepare a little tutorial now.
I'd like to add that to the online manual:

http://www.u-he.com/zebra/manual (work in progress, some text and a lot of graphics missing)

It's blog-based so any user will be able to contribute 8)

Cheers,

;) Urs
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Urs wrote:
soundpalace wrote:CPU is definitely more stable but it still jumps around more than other synths
Okay... so I guess the solution I found works on the right cause, but it doesn't fully cure the sympthom... I'll optimize this a bit more when I have time to...

btw. you're comparison to convolution reverbs is pretty accurate... it's almost the same thing going on here...
cool mate, it is more apparent when there are more oscs activated. I'd be happy to test further :D
soundpalace wrote:When I change locator position in my project, effect tails are cut off.
D'oh... oh...

Hmm, the whole logic was added for only one host (I think it was ACID, not sure). I'll check if I can make it so intelligent that it uses whatever playback start/stop detection suits the host best...
Damn ACID ! :hihi: I'm using Cubase SL 3.11 for the record. It's so silly that you have to specialise for crappy host beahviour.
soundpalace wrote:When using quad mode on say, 4 oscs added together, if I close and reopen the project, the first few notes sound like a flanger (something to do with phase not being set to a random position on plugin initialisation ?)
Oh... :oops:

It's fixed in the Mac version, but not on Win. God, I hate to maintain different source versions only because the MS compiler can't cope with simple SSE tricks... will add the fix to Win shortly...
Can't wait, cheers :D
soundpalace wrote:FR: Really would like to see FM using any carrier, rather than just a sine wave. Other waveforms are much more powerful in some circumstances.
Probably the most requested feature for FMOs... I'll do something about it...

What waveforms do you wanna see in there? - Sawtooth and Pulse are no-go because of instant aliasing... is there a chart (with pictures) of the TX81Z waveforms? Would these be what you are looking for?
Hmm, I actually tend to use stuff like Square and Sawtooth for modulating FM lol ... it gives a different sound which is quite useful when you want harsh leads. I can post some exmaples if you want. Are you sure it'll alias straight away ? Discovery, Subtractor and Synth1 allow this and it seems to work ok.
soundpalace wrote:I'm currently in the process of grabbing an old Roland synth to see if I can qualify for the crossgrade thingy.
It probably will ;)

Cheers,

;) Urs
I better hurry up then ! It's got cigarette stains and all, quite a sexy piece of gear really ... :hihi:

Cheers
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Urs wrote:
soundpalace wrote:I'll prepare a little tutorial now.
I'd like to add that to the online manual:

http://www.u-he.com/zebra/manual (work in progress, some text and a lot of graphics missing)

It's blog-based so any user will be able to contribute 8)

Cheers,

;) Urs
Cool man, I'll create a topic for now and provide you some sound samples you can post for examples and maybe some screenshots.

I'll be sure to at least prepare 1 - 2 sample fxp files too, I don't want to be selfish, I just dislike giving away my presets if I plan to use the sound :oops: Hope that's not too unreasonable :D

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Sounds cool!

(cigarette strains... they simply belong on ancient synths, just like spilled coffee belongs on Mellotrons)

;) Urs
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You can get the TX81Z manual here:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi ... TX81ZE.pdf
Waveforms on page 18 - not sure how useful this is.
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Urs wrote: What waveforms do you wanna see in there? - Sawtooth and Pulse are no-go because of instant aliasing... is there a chart (with pictures) of the TX81Z waveforms? Would these be what you are looking for?
Urs
forgive my ignorance, but why can we not just direct two waveforms of our choice into an FM module? perhaps the first module attached would be the carrier and the second would be the modulator.
then we could frequency modulate anything against anything! (hooray for the non-existant-but-definitely-previously-mentioned-audio-input)

nice work Urs!
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CinningBao wrote:forgive my ignorance, but why can we not just direct two waveforms of our choice into an FM module?
Errrm... because FM (carrier) has to happen where the waveform is generated... if it's already put in a stream of samples (like an audio file, so to say) when it enters the FM module, it cannot be FMed anymore...

The problem herein is, neither the normal oscs nor the comb modules can do FM without being cpu hogs. That's why we have dedicated FMOs for this.

I'll give it a try with a couple of different waveforms, maybe for a 2.1 update...

;) Urs
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spritex wrote:You can get the TX81Z manual here:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi ... TX81ZE.pdf
Waveforms on page 18 - not sure how useful this is.
That's interesting! Thanks!

There's even a partial overview on page 50 8)

;) Urs
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Urs, I have created a demo using Reason's subtractor to give you an idea what FM with other waveforms produces. In this example there are 4 synths used and some drums (not generated by synths). All 4 synths use a sawtooth wave fm modulated by a sawtooth wave.

I have included 2 recordings, 1 is just the raw sound with FM being raised slowly, you'll notice that it sounds unmusical, be a little light on the volume since it sounds quite harsh.

In the little track I've produced here, all 4 synths use this FM technique, things to note...

- The main lead is sharp and cuts through very nicely
- The bass sound has a slight percussive sound to it, cool
- The backing chords don't sound as boring as a plain sawtooth wave.
- The distorted highly resonant lead has a robotic type sound to it, nothing like a 303 sweep due to the FM. Without FM this sounds totally like a 303 :D

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?a ... 621281740b

Don't get me wrong, there is a possibility that you can generate similar sounds using all the fantastic osc options available in Zebra2, but just thought I'd show you what I mean.

I used a similar style for the bass sound that kicks in at the start of the track "Isolation" on the following site...

http://www.myspace.com/soundpalace

When you back this sound with a huge bass, it sounds totally awesome.

Cheers
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Sounds cool mayt!

Actually... the "Scrambler" Osc FX used with a sawtooth... is just... a sawtooth FMing itself at same pitch... well, Scrambler actually FMs the osc waveform by itself, without producing any aliasing... but: it's not done continuously, it's done in a granular fashion... thus you get those nasty sounds when modulating the amount and/or the waveform, like Zebralette / biomechanikal / [bio] Sustained Attack

Cheers,

;) Urs
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Nice !! I'll be sure to give it a try :D

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Just make sure to fiddly a bit with the oscillator's Resolution parameter ;)

Btw. great pad sounds! - Just listened to them and they're awesome!

;) Urs

P.S.: Now add me (ZebraGuy) to your friend's list 8)
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Urs wrote:Just make sure to fiddly a bit with the oscillator's Resolution parameter ;)

Btw. great pad sounds! - Just listened to them and they're awesome!

;) Urs

P.S.: Now add me (ZebraGuy) to your friend's list 8)
I'll definitely play around with Resolution. Thanks a lot for the comments on the pads ! It's your beautiful synth that is capable of producing them, and I only spent 15 minutes on those ! :D

:-o Urs has a myspace ?? I've just added you and am listening to your music and having a laugh at ur pics, they are awesome ! lol

Ambient 8 has a GREAT fat ass bass line, beautifully mixed may i add :D Actually I really love all your music !!! Production quality is top end !

I think the most powerful feature of Zebra that I don't think i've seen in many other synths (except Absynth but WAY less powerful) is the comb filtering. Those things can work magic for ambient stuff ! :D

Keep up the great work and huge thanks for adding me !
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P.S.: sorry for hijacking your thread :hihi:
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soundpalace wrote:Ambient 8 has a GREAT fat ass bass line
That... is... a... V... i... r... u... s... :oops:

(but don't tell anyone, I don't mind if people think it's a Zebra, LOL)

;) Urs
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Urs wrote:
soundpalace wrote:Ambient 8 has a GREAT fat ass bass line
That... is... a... V... i... r... u... s... :oops:

(but don't tell anyone, I don't mind if people think it's a Zebra, LOL)

;) Urs
:o :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

I think we could reproduce that with a zebra :D I'll try prove this tomorrow ! :)

Cheers
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