Zebra 3 Public Beta 3 Revision 20977

[pdxindy]

That's great news. Did you guys do anything on the LFOs? I wish it followed Hive with the big visualized curve (doesnt need to be animated when being modulated). Since we got Slew, Symmetry, and the Spice modes. It would be real nice if we could see what they're doing instead of just hearing.

You can use the Scope to see an animated visual.

[jtsterays]

That's great news. Did you guys do anything on the LFOs? I wish it followed Hive with the big visualized curve (doesnt need to be animated when being modulated). Since we got Slew, Symmetry, and the Spice modes. It would be real nice if we could see what they're doing instead of just hearing.

You can use the Scope to see an animated visual.

You're right. But it's more for when you're learning a new preset, you can instantly see what is doing what.

[Urs]

Should we expect the next beta either tomorrow or next week?

Probably more like next week. Easter is a cascade of public holidays here, and we'll probably have a few more internal test runs throughout them.

[jasperdunn]

It would be real nice if we could see what they're doing instead of just hearing.

You can see what they're doing using the scope. Buttons at the top of the UI.
[edit] Oh someone beat me to it.

[Flogs]

Can we expect a new theme next beta? Not a huge fan of this dark & alien green combo.

The UI was completely redesigned after all the feedback we got. The parameter layout is now consistent across modules (tune always left, volume always right, stuff like that), the green was dropped for a darker grey that brings contrasts out, modulation is colour coded, readability is maximised.

But most of all the new design is more tweakable for us and for theme designers. We know it's going to be too dark and too bland for many, so we'll probably create alternative colour concepts for it.

Whilst I agree the current theme is fairly garish, its colour combinations are perfect for me and my eyesight. It's a big part of the reason I purchased. Please keep the current theme available to select.
I fear a darker grey theme will be too difficult for me to see (Examples Nexus 5, Falcon, Halion 7 amongst others have been a complete waste of time and money as I just cannot use them anymore and will most likely sell as too dark for me).

[Grizzellda]

but if we have anything, it's a good track record on improving our software over time.

And that is really appreciated, actually! You know, when I invest in some u-he stuff, this is part of it...not just getting a quality product, but a sense that they are there, and will be there for ongoing support and development. I think that for folks who say their stuff is expensive, well consider all that is included, as I just said.

Also wanna say that I am totally digging the vector graphics approach to those oscillators...

"The cat's pajamas", as I like to say!

[Urs]

Whilst I agree the current theme is fairly garish, its colour combinations are perfect for me and my eyesight. It's a big part of the reason I purchased. Please keep the current theme available to select.
I fear a darker grey theme will be too difficult for me to see (Examples Nexus 5, Falcon, Halion 7 amongst others have been a complete waste of time and money as I just cannot use them anymore and will most likely sell as too dark for me).

First of all, I looked at the examples you mentioned and I do not think the new UI of Zebra is anywhere this dark. I reckon it's in-between Pigments and Phase Plant, but with a stronger contrast, warmer feel and less washed out look - there are darker spots in Zebra's new UI as well as brighter spot.

The point about the redesign is the new layout within the modules and the colour coded nodulation system. This requires a full set of reworked vector graphics. These graphics are customised in colour on the fly in our UI, based on a script. So they are completely adjustable, for us and for theme designers, without further change of graphics files.

The problem with keeping the old theme is that many graphics assets would need to exist twice, and some may be conflicting due to naming conventions.

The solution is that it is relatively easy to customise the look with a new theme, and I have a hunch someone will recreate the old colour scheme within a few days after the release.

Thing is, we have a decent theming community, and our software allows switching between themes on the fly. In Zebra 3 we are even improving on this because they way the UI is set up invites to adjust "styles" within our script file. There are dozens if not hundreds of those, so it's not something done within an hour, but it is doable and experience tells us we'll have themes/skins for all sorts of needs available soon.

[leclebau]

First, I never tried Zebra or Zebralette before, my favorite synth was Pigments.

Thanks to the beta I had the opportunity to try Zebra and I quickly felt in love with it and I finally bought it.
I can't explain why but it feels more organic, more subtle and I can't stop to experiment with it.
I like the interface a lot despite some particularities like the display of the value of the parameters on top the screen.

To be able to control the buttons with the mouse wheel is a big plus. But then, I often don't understand where I have to put the cursor of the mouse to act on the potentiometer and not on the modulation. Do I miss something ?

[Urs]

To be able to control the buttons with the mouse wheel is a big plus. But then, I often don't understand where I have to put the cursor of the mouse to act on the potentiometer and not on the modulation. Do I miss something ?

If you talk about the modulation dot in the center of the knobs, we are moving this outside the knob in a clearly defined and visible position.

[leclebau]

To be able to control the buttons with the mouse wheel is a big plus. But then, I often don't understand where I have to put the cursor of the mouse to act on the potentiometer and not on the modulation. Do I miss something ?

If you talk about the modulation dot in the center of the knobs, we are moving this outside the knob in a clearly defined and visible position.

Yes, it's exactly that ! Great news then

[Harmes]

With the new UI will the resolution 1300x950 stay at 100%, so the window size itself won’t change with the modified UI?

[Urs]

Afaik it was made thinner (1300 x 910) to fit a standard laptop screen.

[exmatproton]

Afaik it was made thinner (1300 x 910) to fit a standard laptop screen.

care to post a little teaser of the new UI? So we have an even happier easter weekend

[Urs]

Afaik it was made thinner (1300 x 910) to fit a standard laptop screen.

care to post a little teaser of the new UI? So we have an even happier easter weekend

If we post it now, I'll be explaining over a hundred pages about why it doesn't look anything like the earlier UI. People get very used to these things and many don't like change, and it's way better to try this up front instead of just looking at a screenshot.

I need to be focused and support my team until it's ready.

[JimJimJim]

When I installed the current version, the preset count went from 300-something to 900-something. That's outstanding! But, I lost all the Favourites I had tagged previously. I suppose that's unavoidable. I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I've prepaid for the official release, and delighted to see the great number of presets, with excellent examples of the sounds this new approach can deliver.

I've had no crashes attributable to Z3, but I'm not pushing it very hard - I mostly use presets and edit them to taste.

I think you've done a great job with the contrast on the GUI. It's neither too dark or too bright for me.