Improvements!

[Urs]

Well, I'm not sure where to go with this. But seeing how Zebrify pans out, I don't like to do things the ordinary way. I would love to do some sort of graintable thing. But only if that's an option within the scheme. Just like transient samples, wavetables, loops and what not. Or maybe something completely different.

But for now I'm still knee deep in gui design. Can't even really think about sample playback...

Urs

[Howard]

I take it you aren't a fan of the prophet VS or DSI Evolver then, which is the sort of stuff I had in mind.

I'm not really a fan of those two, tbh. Anyway, the "digital grunge" I hate has to do with aliasing.

[tinkerpixel]

Regarding sample import, then I'd suggest a proper multisample support (sfz)

I'm a bit worried about samples in Zebra. I'm afraid that once samples hit the Zebriverse, this is what people will concentrate on. Rather than making more well thought out and dynamic synthesize sounds.

I'm thus more thinking along the lines of a "rompler module" that's pre-equipped with a cleverly designed set of transient samples, cycles and stuff. This could be extended by additional "rom packs" which could be created by anyone with a sample packing tool. Latter sample packing tool could naturally transform sfz files, but the result might be compressed in a specific ways to save memory.

After all it isn't about the most naturally sounding sample playback ever, it is about an extension of the existing synthesis engine. As such there will have to be compromises, but there will also be massively great features (think proper graintable synthesis). I can't for my life get out of my head that sample playback in Zebra should have manipulations tools similar to Osc FX.

Urs

I also fear samples in zebra. For one, I like the preset sharing as it is cross platform/ lightweight. Once users start importing samples, then those must be shared as well, which brings about copyright issues/ file dependancy issues. If you figured out a way the sample could be saved inside the h2p then I'm all for it.
Sample manipulation similar to osc fx would indeed be interesting.

Side note...is there a way to move my u he preset library Zebra/Uhbik/MFM2 to another location. Just the presets(h2p) not the skins etc..... I'd like to move them to another location. Is there a global text file I could edit? maybe registry (I'm not sure if zebra even writes to the registry) or could I use shortcuts?

[thelizard]

If anything, I love the way samples can be used in Absynth, with the choice between regular or granular. Then again, that's what Absynth (or Alchemy) is for.

[Urs]

Side note...is there a way to move my u he preset library Zebra/Uhbik/MFM2 to another location. Just the presets(h2p) not the skins etc..... I'd like to move them to another location. Is there a global text file I could edit? maybe registry (I'm not sure if zebra even writes to the registry) or could I use shortcuts?

Not yet... gotta ask my external dev who does the file handling if he ever managed to get the shortcut/alias/symlink follow baked...

[Urs]

Then again, that's what Absynth (or Alchemy) is for.

That's what I mean... the option of sample import tends to make itself the main feature of a synth.

[MitchK1989]

Then again, that's what Absynth (or Alchemy) is for.

That's what I mean... the option of sample import tends to make itself the main feature of a synth.

Yeah... It would probably make more sense to develop a brand new u-he sample-mangler synth than shoehorn those features into zebra. Especially since I can't imagine trying to fit sample editing and such into one of those little "MORE ____" tabs at the bottom of the GUI.

[rectus_dominus]

Well, I'm not sure where to go with this. But seeing how Zebrify pans out, I don't like to do things the ordinary way. I would love to do some sort of graintable thing. But only if that's an option within the scheme. Just like transient samples, wavetables, loops and what not. Or maybe something completely different.

But for now I'm still knee deep in gui design. Can't even really think about sample playback...

Urs

What kind of gui design are you doing?

[Vectorman]

I kind of have mixed feelings about the sample-based oscillator thing. It's something that I've found myself wishing would come along a few times, but I can also see how it could really complicate things.

On the one hand, it would be interesting to have sample playback oscillators with a broad preset selection of attack transients and interesting sustained waves a la the Korg Wavestation; at that point, you could add a simple user-definable, tempo-synced playback list for those oscillators and have wave sequencing added to Zebra's toolkit (which in a way would almost be the Wavestation MKII that I've long wished Korg would roll out).

On the other hand, though, once you add that, it's inevitable that some users will also start asking to be able to import their own waveforms too, which might be the point where you'd have to draw the line (at least until further down the road). I'd think that could really begin to over-complicate things.

It's potentially a blessing and a curse. Could be very cool, IMO, but I realize Urs has to draw the line at some things, because if you start implementing every type of synthesis known to man in one plugin, the beast can quickly become unruly, LOL.

[Urs]

What kind of gui design are you doing?

Something really, really nice. I'm very excited about the new design.

I must not tease though. Otherwise I'm spending too much time online and will never get finished!

Urs

[pdxindy]

Then again, that's what Absynth (or Alchemy) is for.

That's what I mean... the option of sample import tends to make itself the main feature of a synth.

A while back I thought sample import would be cool... now I kinda like Zebra being 'pure' synthesis. I would rather the synthesis keep being developed rather than add sample import. (of course I have since purchased Alchemy which takes care of that area)

For example, would be nice over time to have improvements to the MSEG's like a step sequencer kinda mode, also some improved distortion, develop some interesting new comb module types, etc etc... I'd much rather those sort of things than sample import.

One thing with sample import - it can be lazy, presets start to depend upon it too much and sample based synthesis has a certain sound to it.

So rather than using samples, maybe the current osc wave import can be improved upon, made easier to use, more powerful, put something like the wave converter as a built-in utility or a more full feature utility included with Zebra. Seems like this capability has hardly been exploited to its capacity.

[rectus_dominus]

What kind of gui design are you doing?

Something really, really nice. I'm very excited about the new design.

I must not tease though. Otherwise I'm spending too much time online and will never get finished!

Urs

Hmm, if it's for Zebra then I'll be a little excited... Just like Stewie Cruise
Just curious if it's a major redesign, or "just" a skin... ? (Hey, I'm curious, okay? )

[billstei]

I would rather see the oscillators improved, rather than bring in samples per se. By improved, I mean... just brainstorming... right now in GeoBlend I can right click and there is blur, sharpen, maximize. Now imagine a Zebra inside the Zebra, so that I can pre-process the oscillator waveform. It could be just more right-click menu choices, but it could also be a set of modular blocks (Zebrify internally plugged into Zebra as a host?) and then a Pre-Process button to send the wave through and keep the result. The main point being that this is not a runtime process.

Anyway, some of the previous comments about Zebra being "pure"... I totally agree I like it pure.

[Urs]

Just curious if it's a major redesign, or "just" a skin... ?

Somewhere inbetween these things. Let's just say, the current "original" skin was designed at a time when Zebra 2.0 was still in alpha stage. I had to bother with loads of things and I got too caught up in that goo to do some final steps. Thus one could say, while the actual handling works well, the looks of Zebra have always been a bit, hmmm, unfinished. Which is quite embarrassing because I'm a graduate industrial designer. But then, designers tend to furnish their homes in a quite provisional fashion. I have recently become serious about a nicely designed home, and that reflects a bit in Uhbik's looks. Thus I feel it's time to become serious with Zebra too. The technical foundation was layed out over the past few years (screen resize, themes, many other cool features from geekland), now it's about time to properly use them!

Nevertheless, many people won't like the new looks, so I'm updating the original theme in parallel and I'm also offering access to gui design tools for 3rd party skin developers. As I said... serious stuff!

Urs

[zvenx]

I will be burnt at the stake for this..... but not being a sound designer I am quite happy with where zebra is audiowise and sound design wise. and I wo uld prefer you to spend time with the weakest chain ,which for me, has been the browser and the arp, if the new gui makes these so much better, I think all my kids from now on will have Urs as a middle name (ok dont' hold me to the above )

rsp