KVR Audio

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:44 pm

Despite the fact that I have been posting several forums asking about the synths, I think these 2 are on the final decision. Although these 2 synths are completely different (semi modular vs wavetable) the amount of creativity that you can put into is as good as it can be.
I can't afford for both, but I feel either alone can make a lot of sounds.

If anyone used these two, I'd appreciate if you could leave some feedback of it. It'll help me to decide.

I've been fiddling their demo for while, and here are impressions.

Serum: Really easy to control and follow. All of displays are modern looking and beautiful. It only took me about 15 minutes to figure out where everything is.
Its sound is really big and massive, however in my opinion it's bit too "bright" side no matter what I do. With limited shapes of EQs I will have some hard time trying to make mallow soft sound. The default patches are mostly CPU-heavy load sound, very "EDM" like sounds.
However, it is incredibly fun. None stop tweeking, weird discovery all over.

Zebra: Jesus, the sound. Holy smokes. It blasts into your ears. I thought Serum have amazing sound but man was I wrong. Zebra's "basic" saw sound is far clear to my ear. Not only that, I can go from square to saw, anywhere in between... its so flexible.
The only issue is that I got lost many times trying to find what I want. Where is the filter? I couldn't find it without reading all manuals and help from the internet... Of course, this isn't the most updated synth around, so the design and graphic won't be as crisp as others, which won't really matter... The default patches are very "generic" in opposition to Serum, I could say that many won't be in any use for me.
Again, though, its sound is amazing. It may be the best sounding soft synth so far.

Ridan · Post by **Ridan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:51 pm

It sounds like you've already made your decision judging by your comparison notes.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:54 pm

Maybe I missed it above, but what do you currently own and what style of music do you do?
rsp

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:57 pm

zvenx wrote:Maybe I missed it above, but what do you currently own and what style of music do you do?
rsp

Oh I didn't write that at all. Sorry.

I try to make a lot of classic house music, including disco and deep. At least that's what I meant when I had Reason.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:58 pm

Both are really great, but if I had to choose I'd go with Zebra. Maybe start with one and then save up for the other?

kelldammit · Post by **kelldammit** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:00 pm

Shiosan wrote: The only issue is that I got lost many times trying to find what I want. Where is the filter? I couldn't find it without reading all manuals and help from the internet...

you add it in the center panel, as you would an oscillator...they're called vcf's (voltage controlled filter)

See here (skip to around 3:30 if you're feeling impatient):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgQ99u34mns&index=3&list=PL9E1DE4B0F03C216E

i recommend his whole series...it's VERY helpful.

Cheers,
kell

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:02 pm

Ridan wrote:It sounds like you've already made your decision judging by your comparison notes.

Not quite. I haven't tried custom sample load, though I don't know if it'll outstand the sound quality of zebra.

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:04 pm

kelldammit wrote: you add it in the center panel, as you would an oscillator...they're called vcf's (voltage controlled filter)

See here (skip to around 3:30 if you're feeling impatient):

i recommend his whole series...it's VERY helpful.

Cheers,
kell

Thanks, I'll take a look.

A-Grade Audio · Post by **A-Grade Audio** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:05 pm

My vote goes to Zebra, overall. But I like Serum's way of creating custom wavetables better. Feels more intuitive and instant.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:11 pm

I own both, love both, have made sound libraries for both. But if I had to choose between the two, it would be Zebra. It is more versatile and as an all around synth, I feel it's better suited. I find Serum too harsh for certain things.

My 2 cents for whatever they're worth.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:12 pm

For what you want to use it for, Zebra would have my vote.. Although I personally love love the GUI of Serum and the digitalness cleanness and crispness of its sound, because I find Zebra uses much less cpu, is more versatile and the genres you mention don't traditional call for the cutting brightness and edge type of sounds. Not to mention Zebra sounds fantastic in a very different way as well

rsp

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:18 pm

wagtunes wrote:I own both, love both, have made sound libraries for both. But if I had to choose between the two, it would be Zebra. It is more versatile and as an all around synth, I feel it's better suited. I find Serum too harsh for certain things.

My 2 cents for whatever they're worth.

Haha! You again. You've been a great help to me. It's true that so far, or in instant I've been falling in love with Zebra... but I'm waiting bit more to see Serum's power.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:19 pm

I was a big fan of Serum earlier this year, but I'd already started getting tired of the flat-yet-weirdly-abrasive sound before I had my Zebra epiphany last month. And I'm guessing Zebra 3 is going to be phenomenal, so I highly recommend not getting Serum and buying both Zebra and Zebra HZ for a free upgrade in the future.

To me (and this is a wildly unpopular opinion), Serum is a flash in the pan compared to Zebra. But that doesn't mean the former won't endure, it's still an excellent synth and having both is far from a bad idea. I would just recommend Zebra first and foremost, the extra money spent toward both 2 and HZ is more than worth it.

Just my opinion, all respect to those who don't agree.

Shiosan · Post by **Shiosan** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:20 pm

zvenx wrote:For what you want to use it for, Zebra would have my vote.. Although I personally love love the GUI of Serum and the digitalness cleanness and crispness of its sound, because I find Zebra uses much less cpu, is more versatile and the genres you mention don't traditional call for the cutting brightness and edge type of sounds. Not to mention Zebra sounds fantastic in a very different way as well

rsp

yeah about the CPU, serum literally lagged my computer... Zebra made same or better sound with much less CPU usage. Maybe it's sample vs generated sound?

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:26 pm

Shiosan wrote:
zvenx wrote:For what you want to use it for, Zebra would have my vote.. Although I personally love love the GUI of Serum and the digitalness cleanness and crispness of its sound, because I find Zebra uses much less cpu, is more versatile and the genres you mention don't traditional call for the cutting brightness and edge type of sounds. Not to mention Zebra sounds fantastic in a very different way as well

rsp
yeah about the CPU, serum literally lagged my computer... Zebra made same or better sound with much less CPU usage. Maybe it's sample vs generated sound?

Neither really uses samples..and generally sampling/samples technology use much less cpu....I assume you mean wavetables which are in sense related, but not the same thing and zebra actually also can use wavetables although not as flexible as Serum. But yes it isn't just your computer that Serum kills the cpu.

rsp

Zebra vs Serum