Can Zebra/2 load wave files?

[Urs]

But a new filter type, a pack of presets, and multiple instances would sell me.

Hehehe, Zebralette doesn't have filters

Anyway... whatever comes out of these ideas, the least thing I want is having an obscure catalog of products in different flavours. Don't wanna get lost in license wars, and I would love to avoid hundreds of emails seeking for advice on which route to go. That said, I'm all for offering some top quality low-cost solutions (and freebees at some point), but only if they do not interfere with the main products.

Later,

Urs

[beej]

Beej, I think I would *never* step into that direction.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I was not suggesting that the options I mentioned are the only ones, or that Z2 should go in that direction, just giving some practical examples. I never thought in a million years that the example I gave would be how you may like it to operate, don't worry

I was more interested in the general question - ie, how the market would respond to licenses with instance limitations, given an "acceptable" (finger quotes) pricing policy.

I guess that free instance limited versions would probably go down well, but I'm not sure how it would translate into sales (although obviously, in your case it's more like a Zebra2 teaser, so the incentive to pony up some cash is much greater - ie, "you like Zebralette, well look at all this extra cool stuff you get in Zebra!").

I think in my case, I'd probably keep the one-instance version and not have much of an incentive to upgrade to a purely non-instance limited version, as I have plenty of other synths anyway - one instance is fine to get those sounds/features.

[spritex]

Well, Zebra will keep its synth abilities anyway. But since it's a modular synth, a little wav(sf2) playback comp would be nice. Just my opinion

I would also like this very much, maybe with simple keymapping for drumkits and such. Nothing too fancy.

The reason for this is simple: I would like to utilize the wonderful UI and modules for samples as well as the synthesized oscillators. They are already there, so why not use them for samples too? The greatness of Zebra 2 is that what you don't use doesn't clutter the workflow in any way, and all the modules are general purpose so you always know what you are doing once you learn them.

The plans for a specialized "future sampler" sound really intriguing, but I hope a sample OSC could be embedded in Zebra2 as well...

Or maybe you can make that "future sampler" on top of the Zebra 2 and call it Zebra 3, or something I would happily pay for such an upgrade. Or just make two different priced versions, one with sampling, one without. (With upgrade path of course.)

Other synths have the danger of becoming bloated with such upgrades, but not Zebra - because of the great way it is laid out.

[kuniklo]

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.

I don't know if you caught any of my earlier thread about my disappointments with today's software samplers but if you really do mean to revive the concept of a sampler as a creative sound design tool instead of a glorified wav player your position as my favorite plugin developer will be cemented forever (not that it isn't pretty safe already).

[spritex]

Hmm. The U-he "sampler" is proabably still quite far away in the horizon, right?

I think I need _something_ to make my beats and sample based sounds on. With multiple outputs for different drumsounds etc. And it would be nice to have some exotic stuff in there as well as a sensible UI. I am not going to need the ability to use gigalomanic sampled pianos and such since I'll make ambient/minimal/tech-house/experimental.

I have been studying a few programs now. Vemberaudio Shortcircuit seems quite promising, if a bit numerical in appearance. Any comments on that? I kinda feel that I'd like it more than Kontakt and Battery for example (and it's cheaper too).

Perhaps I could live with using two different main synth/samplers. Zebra2 and the sample based thing. Workflow is very important for me to get things done, so I really want to limit myself.

(I made an album with a Kurzweil K2000 and a Korg Wavestation years ago, and I got to know them pretty well.)

[Urs]

Hmm. The U-he "sampler" is proabably still quite far away in the horizon, right?

Yes. It probably won't happen before 2007.

There's so much stuff happening here, it's unbelievable. If plans work out, this year will see MFM2, 3-5 more modules for Z2, 2 more members of Filterscape and the breeding of at least two more plugins (out of 4 that exist on paper).

Well, if the improved engine turns out to work in the way I want it to, I can almost fully concentrate on research and design. Which would reduce development time dramatically.

However, the sample stuff will most likely not be developed just by me. It's rather gonna be a joint venture, so this could probably happen in a parallel fashion.

Hmmm... I also feel the need to make some music by myself, beyond just demo songs. It really itches me. Methinks it's important to get back into some practice. Many people request real-world-usage examples of Filterscape, while I don't have any experience with that. So it's probably about time to get some tracks done with vocals, guitars and whatever...

Later,

Urs

[Karmacomposer]

Urs,

Ever consider a "group buy" or a "special release price for a limited time" concept? I want to buy Z2, and $199 is not over the top, but with all the other synths and sample collections I have purchased (and lots of people are like me - they see a group buy and cannot resist), I just cannot spring for Z2 although I desperately want it.

Mike

[Urs]

Urs,

Ever consider a "group buy" or a "special release price for a limited time" concept? I want to buy Z2, and $199 is not over the top, but with all the other synths and sample collections I have purchased (and lots of people are like me - they see a group buy and cannot resist), I just cannot spring for Z2 although I desperately want it.

Mike

Hey Mike,

there *was* indeed a GroupBuy for Zebra quite some time ago. It's basically been the one that started a whole series of GroupBuys when Camel Audio did theirs right thereafter.

However, even though it was a very profitable thing to do, I've become very reluctant about GroupBuys. First off, I do not want to offend people who bought stuff for the full price. Early adopters are the poeple who help me survive, and as such they are the ones I care for the most. Even more important, I want to avoid "impulse buys", where people buy stuff because of the good occasion or hype rather than because they really want/need a product.

I would merely go other directions, for instance offering some special things for good customers. Or maybe there's gonna be some stuff like "u-he complete" bundle offers one day, I don't know.

And of course, there's still the Dinosaur Crossgrade. It involves a little work on your side, and I wouldn't mind if you just borrow a JX3P or something to make the photo (How should I know, anyway?!?). It currently brings the price for Z2 down to 119$, which is as good as a GB, innit?

Cheers,

Urs

[pdxindy]

Urs,

Ever consider a "group buy" or a "special release price for a limited time" concept? I want to buy Z2, and $199 is not over the top, but with all the other synths and sample collections I have purchased (and lots of people are like me - they see a group buy and cannot resist), I just cannot spring for Z2 although I desperately want it.

Mike

Hey Mike,

there *was* indeed a GroupBuy for Zebra quite some time ago. It's basically been the one that started a whole series of GroupBuys when Camel Audio did theirs right thereafter.

However, even though it was a very profitable thing to do, I've become very reluctant about GroupBuys. First off, I do not want to offend people who bought stuff for the full price. Early adopters are the poeple who help me survive, and as such they are the ones I care for the most. Even more important, I want to avoid "impulse buys", where people buy stuff because of the good occasion or hype rather than because they really want/need a product.

I would merely go other directions, for instance offering some special things for good customers. Or maybe there's gonna be some stuff like "u-he complete" bundle offers one day, I don't know.

And of course, there's still the Dinosaur Crossgrade. It involves a little work on your side, and I wouldn't mind if you just borrow a JX3P or something to make the photo (How should I know, anyway?!?). It currently brings the price for Z2 down to 119$, which is as good as a GB, innit?

Cheers,

Urs

I appreciate your attitude on not wanting to foster impulse buys... That is admirable.

I would also point out that the current straight price is $169 not $199...

[Jeremy_NSL]

Z2 is one of the few plugins worth every penny of the asking price. If Steinberg or AAS was selling this thing it would be $300+, guaranteed.

[Urs]

I appreciate your attitude on not wanting to foster impulse buys... That is admirable.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'd love to take their money, if they weren't aware of my email address

Seriously, someone who buys stuff upon a friend's recommendation will direct his questions to that friend. He'd get a walk-through and he's gonna be a happy user. That's the ideal customer.

Someone who buys stuff without ever having tried the demo version will start with a request to guide him through the installation process, send a couple of obscure questions (and probably some complaints, that message number 7 wasn't answered thoroughly) until he quits the relationship by sending the contact details of the guy he wants the license transferred to. That's developer's hell.

Now, I'm all for happy users -> satisfied customers. That simply makes me feel better and keeps away a lot of hassle.

Urs

[djsubject]

i just wanted to add that wave table support or sample import that works similar would be great


as it stands Z2 rocks if it had a sample/wave comp as well as the osc's it would be even better

Subz (a proud Z2 license owner)

[Karmacomposer]

Urs,

So how old does a keyboard have to be to be considered a "dinosaur"?

I have a Korg karma and that is NOT very old. I guess I can go find something ancient in a pawn shop - but that will probably be more money than what I save.

Unfortunately, no one I know has old keyboards.

But you are right, $119 is a great price and I would buy it for that.

Mike

[Urs]

I have a Korg karma and that is NOT very old.

Just try

[Uncle E]

Well, sampling is one of the next big points on my list, but I'm not sure if it will fit into the concept of Zebra2.

This was a post from 2006.