Pulsar Modular's First Instrument Zorba Semi-Modular Synth

[enCiphered]

Charging $225 for a new synth right now is bold. Not smart, but bold. Please reconnect with reality. At $225, it better sound like hardware, behave like hardware, include lifetime updates, perfect presets and a personal apology from the developer.

[wagtunes]

The issue wasn’t about the cost, but the fact that you were comparing it with something vastly different.

Anyway, $225 for something that does a fraction of what Zebra 3 can do? No thanks.

But is Zebra 3 really "vastly different" ? It's got VA Oscs, Filters, is semi modular, etc so could it not be classified in the same niche as Zorba (while also begin capable of doing so much more)?

At $225 I won't even bother trying the Zorba demo. Way overpriced and underpowered on paper for my liking.

Certainly a developer has the right to set any price they wish for their product but then potential customers have a right to pass on that product because of the set price.

You could set the price of a Ford Focus the same as a Lamborghini Huracan but guess which will sell more units.

Anyway, don't mind me, I've got a doctor's appointment this morning so I'm just killing time before I have to leave.

Thank you. At least somebody gets it.

[zerocrossing]

The issue wasn’t about the cost, but the fact that you were comparing it with something vastly different.

Anyway, $225 for something that does a fraction of what Zebra 3 can do? No thanks.

But is Zebra 3 really "vastly different" ?

I think so. Zebra has some analog emulated components, but to me they sound like "lite" versions of what you'd find on a dedicated analog emulation, like even Repro. Close enough for many, but if you know, you know.

That's not even to say that it's important. I didn't have an analog synth between the years 1992 and 2008, and I got by just fine. Some jerk (jk) posted a track done with all analog synths, and I couldn't deny that it sounded amazing in a way that I wasn't getting with my hardware and software VA, so I purchased one of the synths (Studio Electronics ATC-1) that he used in that track, and I fell in love with that sound. Not that I abandoned my digital synths, but I do appreciate that vibe. I still have that synth, and a handful of others, though I probably could abandon my hardware considering how good some of the analog emulations are, these days. This one isn't one of them, but not due to the cost, which I'd pay if it was something special, but because it's not something special.

[zerocrossing]

Charging $225 for a new synth right now is bold. Not smart, but bold. Please reconnect with reality. At $225, it better sound like hardware, behave like hardware, include lifetime updates, perfect presets and a personal apology from the developer.

I'd put this synth in the $50-70 range. It's not bad sounding, though odd that simple self oscillating resonance aliases so badly. Easy enough to avoid if you don't use it on high notes, but it is indicative of a synth that's not polished enough to command top dollar. Even if they did fix that, I'd still put this one at $99.

[exmatproton]

225 yeah..no

[JerGoertz]

Charging $225 for a new synth right now is bold. Not smart, but bold. Please reconnect with reality. At $225, it better sound like hardware, behave like hardware, include lifetime updates, perfect presets and a personal apology from the developer.

Yeah, I was surprised at such a lackluster release for a synth with such a strong pedigree from the original Pulsar Modular. Charging $225 for such a thing seems a bit preposterous.

Hoping PM fixes the filter issues (aliasing, static quality, possible clipping, etc.), and possible other sonic issues that people are seeing, and gets a revamped and expanded factory library that can really show off the synth's (presumable) capabilities.

[wagtunes]

Charging $225 for a new synth right now is bold. Not smart, but bold. Please reconnect with reality. At $225, it better sound like hardware, behave like hardware, include lifetime updates, perfect presets and a personal apology from the developer.

Yeah, I was surprised at such a lackluster release for a synth with such a strong pedigree from the original Pulsar Modular. Charging $225 for such a thing seems a bit preposterous.

Hoping PM fixes the filter issues (aliasing, static quality, possible clipping, etc.), and possible other sonic issues that people are seeing, and gets a revamped and expanded factory library that can really show off the synth's (presumable) capabilities.

And hopefully drop the price as well. Because as you know, I buy everything. But this? I can't justify it. Not at that price.

[pekbro]

That’s just their thing, charging a lot for their “masterpieces” hardly surprising.

[Teksonik]

But is Zebra 3 really "vastly different" ?

I think so. Zebra has some analog emulated components, but to me they sound like "lite" versions of what you'd find on a dedicated analog emulation

Sacrilege. Go post that at the U-he forums but put your asbestos suit on first.

My comment was not about the sound of one compared to the other but the feature set. Zorba is "semi-modular" as noted in the thread title. "Zebra 3’s Generator Rack is a modular synthesis playground" as noted on the U-he product page.

Both have VA Oscs and analog style filters so in my opinion they are not vastly different. Maybe if the comparison was between Zorba and say Icarus 3 or FM8 for example "vastly different" would apply.

At any rate I think it's natural for a potential customer to compare what they could buy in the same price range and that goes for pretty much any product.

I'm doing the same thing in my head: "what else could I buy for $225?" I'd probably buy back my DIVA license in that price range if I were looking for analog flavor or maybe some other offer even if the products weren't 100% like the sounds Zorba can make.

I think some developers fail to realize that they don't operate in isolation. Every plugin has some competition so price point and feature set along with sound quality of course determine if they earn people's business. Doesn't sound like they're earning much business so far.....

[Funky40]

That’s just their thing, charging a lot for their “masterpieces” hardly surprising.

yeah.
just vote with your wallet !

this thing, the state, the price, just shows where this guy "lives". Could be taken as a pointer for future releases. He is literally spitting out the warning by himself. ( and yes, i am/have been a pulsar modular customer.......)


in SW land, the money lies -today- "by selling in numbers". The mass of mere mortals is MUCH bigger than the mass of studio pros.

[EvilDragon]

but to me they sound like "lite" versions of what you'd find on a dedicated analog emulation, like even Repro

This is absolutely not the case for the Yellow filter, which is 16x oversampled. It's a beast.

But yes, DSP in Zebra needed to be tightly optimized because it's a stereo path synth, as opposed to Repro or Diva.

[pekbro]

That’s just their thing, charging a lot for their “masterpieces” hardly surprising.

yeah.
just vote with your wallet !

this thing, the state, the price, just shows where this guy "lives". Could be taken as a pointer for future releases. He is literally spitting out the warning by himself. ( and yes, i am/have been a pulsar modular customer.......)


in SW land, the money lies -today- "by selling in numbers". The mass of mere mortals is MUCH bigger than the mass of studio pros.

I agree, tho I think we are going to have to start paying for the quality devs. What with all the AI stuff these days, designed and programmed by an actual person is going to become a feature.

Not saying that’s the case here.

In any event, anyone can argue with them til theyre blue in the face, it won’t work. That much has been very clear. Heh

It’s possible to save money with them through their loyalty program I guess.
Once you are invested.

[zerocrossing]

But is Zebra 3 really "vastly different" ?

I think so. Zebra has some analog emulated components, but to me they sound like "lite" versions of what you'd find on a dedicated analog emulation

Sacrilege. Go post that at the U-he forums but put your asbestos suit on first.

My comment was not about the sound of one compared to the other but the feature set. Zorba is "semi-modular" as noted in the thread title. "Zebra 3’s Generator Rack is a modular synthesis playground" as noted on the U-he product page.

Both have VA Oscs and analog style filters so in my opinion they are not vastly different. Maybe if the comparison was between Zorba and say Icarus 3 or FM8 for example "vastly different" would apply.

At any rate I think it's natural for a potential customer to compare what they could buy in the same price range and that goes for pretty much any product.

I'm doing the same thing in my head: "what else could I buy for $225?" I'd probably buy back my DIVA license in that price range if I were looking for analog flavor or maybe some other offer even if the products weren't 100% like the sounds Zorba can make.

I think some developers fail to realize that they don't operate in isolation. Every plugin has some competition so price point and feature set along with sound quality of course determine if they earn people's business. Doesn't sound like they're earning much business so far.....

Yeah, I think they probably don't have a good idea of the lay of the land, so to speak. There are so many great instruments of every type, it's tough to break through. Not only do they not know how to price it, but they are really throwing around the "semi modular" term, when it's really just a simple VA with a small mod matrix It's no more a semi modular than Repro is. When I think semi modular, I think of something like the ARP 2600, Zebra or ACE. Something that lets me try weird stuff, like patching the oscillators to anything. Zorba does't even have filter FM. Lame. It's really quite basic, which I'd be OK with if it was less expensive and didn't have aliasing at self oscillating resonance. That's something you'd find on a plugin in 2006, not 2026.

[legendCNCD]

Is this a joke? in 2026?

[noahrbc]

Slowly going the way of Acustica with the crazy prices and pretentiousness.