Need some recommendations from Z2 users...

[disturb]

hey folks,

I've been fiddling with the demo on and off for sometimes, and it really is the best thing i've ever tried.
I'm saving for it right now, and meanwhile trying to explore some of the possibilities of the synth, but that arp is driving me mad after 5 minutes, so i'm nowhere close to being familiar with Z2's soundscape yet

Anyway, what i've been meaning to ask you guys, is that now that you own it, which synths don't get much use anymore, and on the other hand, which ones complement it well ?
Cause there is something about Z2's sound (not even talking about all the sound design capabilities) that fits perfectly what i've been looking for, and I'm not quite sure that i own anything that I'd use over Z2 (not trying to be toady here...).

This thread not quite directly related to Z2, so i hope Uhe won't mind me posting it.

Cheers

[beej]

Fo me, it complements the simpler architecture synths and the analog sounding stuff well. If I want to play with a simple architecture, I'll reach for something like impOSCar, but if I want more options and something a bit more complex, I'll reach for the Zeb.

I like the fact that I can add modules as I need too (another oscillator? No problem. Bung that lot through another filter? Easy. Rythmically modulate that FX parameter, sorted.)

In that way it's more like a synth toolbox, where you can easily add extra stuff, without the complexity of something like Reaktor.

[pdxindy]

hey folks,

I've been fiddling with the demo on and off for sometimes, and it really is the best thing i've ever tried.
I'm saving for it right now, and meanwhile trying to explore some of the possibilities of the synth, but that arp is driving me mad after 5 minutes, so i'm nowhere close to being familiar with Z2's soundscape yet

Anyway, what i've been meaning to ask you guys, is that now that you own it, which synths don't get much use anymore, and on the other hand, which ones complement it well ?

Cheers

I have had Zebra2 for a few months now. This past 10 days I have been using it rather intensely creating ambient soundscapes for a radio show I will be doing and also some video soundtrack work.

I have Tassman and String Studio along with Kontakt 2.

I spent months looking at various synths cause I wanted one more to add to my short list that was allround solid, good for soundscapes and rythmic pads. I went through demos of everything available on the Mac. Tera, Cube, Absynth, Reaktor, Cameleon 5000, Albino, Blue and the list goes on. Since I don't own any of them, I cannot say that Zebra2 replaced them, but I can say that Zebra2 was what I was looking for and that I would not be interested even if you offered one of those other synths for free. Zebra2 is that good.

Tassman is great for natural sounding percussion (plus alot else). String Studio is great for stringed instruments... Koto, Guitar, Harp, Sitar, etc. Kontakt I use for playing sample libraries when I need it, piano, and vocal mangling. I'm just set. The only thing that would entice me at this point would be if AAS (or other developer) shipped a 'Wind Studio' a physical modeled wind instrument.

I also have an Oasys PCI (which is an amazing synth) but I am going to sell it cause I don't want to keep the extra computer for it (space issues). Oasys PCI has a physical model called the glottal pulse and it makes the best synth choirs and vocal ahh's and ohh's I have heard. Very easy to modulate and play in realtime for expressive vocal sounds. If some developer made a modeled vocal synth that was as good as the Oasys PCI I would get it too.

[disturb]

Fo me, it complements the simpler architecture synths and the analog sounding stuff well. If I want to play with a simple architecture, I'll reach for something like impOSCar, but if I want more options and something a bit more complex, I'll reach for the Zeb.

I like the fact that I can add modules as I need too (another oscillator? No problem. Bung that lot through another filter? Easy. Rythmically modulate that FX parameter, sorted.)

In that way it's more like a synth toolbox, where you can easily add extra stuff, without the complexity of something like Reaktor.

I have Imposcar too, but i'm getting bored of it a bit, and it seemed to me that Z2 is quite capable of creating the same kind of timbres, but with the added flexibility. Am i mistaken ?

[disturb]

hey folks,

I've been fiddling with the demo on and off for sometimes, and it really is the best thing i've ever tried.
I'm saving for it right now, and meanwhile trying to explore some of the possibilities of the synth, but that arp is driving me mad after 5 minutes, so i'm nowhere close to being familiar with Z2's soundscape yet

Anyway, what i've been meaning to ask you guys, is that now that you own it, which synths don't get much use anymore, and on the other hand, which ones complement it well ?

Cheers

I have had Zebra2 for a few months now. This past 10 days I have been using it rather intensely creating ambient soundscapes for a radio show I will be doing and also some video soundtrack work.

I have Tassman and String Studio along with Kontakt 2.

I spent months looking at various synths cause I wanted one more to add to my short list that was allround solid, good for soundscapes and rythmic pads. I went through demos of everything available on the Mac. Tera, Cube, Absynth, Reaktor, Cameleon 5000, Albino, Blue and the list goes on. Since I don't own any of them, I cannot say that Zebra2 replaced them, but I can say that Zebra2 was what I was looking for and that I would not be interested even if you offered one of those other synths for free. Zebra2 is that good.

Tassman is great for natural sounding percussion (plus alot else). String Studio is great for stringed instruments... Koto, Guitar, Harp, Sitar, etc. Kontakt I use for playing sample libraries when I need it, piano, and vocal mangling. I'm just set. The only thing that would entice me at this point would be if AAS (or other developer) shipped a 'Wind Studio' a physical modeled wind instrument.

I also have an Oasys PCI (which is an amazing synth) but I am going to sell it cause I don't want to keep the extra computer for it (space issues). Oasys PCI has a physical model called the glottal pulse and it makes the best synth choirs and vocal ahh's and ohh's I have heard. Very easy to modulate and play in realtime for expressive vocal sounds. If some developer made a modeled vocal synth that was as good as the Oasys PCI I would get it too.

It's good to know that Z2 can be that good at ambient stuff, even when compared to synths that were primarily intended to make such sounds...
I'm not much of a soundscape enthusiast myself, and never really got into stuff like chameleon cause it's no good at anything else IMO. Albino and Blue are cool, but i couldn't see myself buying them after Z2 though, they seem to have a lot of similarities, but i didn't click with either of them...

[Jeremy_NSL]

Stuff that goes well with Z2: sample-based plugs like Wusikstation and Cronox3; old-school stuff like QuadraSid...

I still like ZeroVector alot, although most everything it does can probably be accomplished in Z2.

[Urs]

My intention for Zebra in the first place was getting rid of the Virus. Zebra 1.0 pretty much resembled the Virus' architecture, but didn't have that aggressiveness that I really found annoying after some years. You know, I always had problems to line up the Virus in a mix with my sampler and the Wavestation. It always wanted to be the most prominent instrument.

Still, I wouldn't say that Zebra does the aggressive stuff out of the box. So, as I guess it plays well with a lot of different instruments (including accoustic and vocals), if you need a quickly delivering aggressor, keep an eye open for one of these.

(Though, I'm gonna experiment with a couple of wavesets for the Scrambler OSC FX. This can sound soooo aggressive in a different way: www.u-he.com/music/BioScramble.mp3 - one osc only crunch guitar by Biomechanoid)

Later,

Urs

[gbles]

The only other synth that I still use is Wusikstation. Z2 covers what all of my other stuff can do for the most part.

For quite a while, I've wanted to narrow down how much stuff I use so that I don't get lost in just playing around with too many things. The problem was always trying to find something that could cover a lot of ground without being so open that it created new problems. An example of 'being so open' might be Reaktor, which I'd end up getting lost in and never writing music. I guess I have no discipline Anyway, needless to say, Z2 ended up fitting what I was looking for. Perfectly.

The reason I'm still using Wusikstation is for sample playback. I don't do anything too complex with it though, which is why even a basic sample playback module in Z2 (no layering, keyzones etc.) would be great at some point.

(EDIT: I also just started using Chimera simply because its so unique and I'm not sure how to replicate its sounds in Z2).

[kodama]

I second samples synths and also drum synths, like Microtonic!

[AnalogGuy1]

U-he's concerned with the playability of Z2, not just its raw capability (like gbles mentioned with Reaktor, or I think Kontakt is to samplers: it's not enough that it can do anything, but it has to be conducive to making music!). How about a sample module that's so simple it would just take a short bit of a sound from a recording and play it back at different frequencies with an ADSR? That would be useable and useful!

[pdxindy]

It's good to know that Z2 can be that good at ambient stuff, even when compared to synths that were primarily intended to make such sounds...
I'm not much of a soundscape enthusiast myself, and never really got into stuff like chameleon cause it's no good at anything else IMO. Albino and Blue are cool, but i couldn't see myself buying them after Z2 though, they seem to have a lot of similarities, but i didn't click with either of them...

I find Zebra2 better at the ambient stuff than the ambient synths. I like it way better than absynth or cameleon 5000 for example. But it is much more than an ambient synth.

Short of a physical modeled flute, Zebra2 has as good a flute sound as any vst I've tried. You can get nice oboe and clarinet type sounds too. It's capable of nice bells, pianos and really nice organ sounds, funky clavinet type sounds, basses, bowed strings, some percussion. It can also do some impressive rythmic presets

So sample playback and physical modeled emulations and a drum machine. Other than that, I just don't see needing other synths besides Zebra2. And of course it is close to getting significantly better when the official shipping version arrives.


There is a big advantage to getting good at editing 1 or a couple synths rather than only exploring the surface of many. Easier on the wallet too!

[spritex]

Hehe, Zebra2 really is like a rehab for lost synth addicts.

I recently bought it and can't see why I should use any other synth except for sample-based or physical modelling material. Of course there are different sounding filters on other synths and more complex FM on some synths etc. but as you said it's probably better to concentrate.

Also, Zebra2 just feels so good to work with that fiddling with different systems is often annoying.

[disturb]

Seems like Z2 = digital crack

[spritex]

And nicely low key non-hype at that! But still it wil be nice when it will be properly launched. I really hope you Urs can live with the money from the synth. Your work is more important than of the run-of-the-mill standard musical band. You breed music.

Ha ha. And congratulations for the bronze!

[Urs]

I really hope you Urs can live with the money from the synth.

Seriously, I can't complain. Not getting rich, but keeping relaxed enough to postpone releases until it's really finished instead of shelling out stuff too hastily...

(On the other hand, grrrl took me out for shopping twice in the last two days... I better get finished soon... fortunately shops are closed in Germany on Sunday...)

Later,

Urs