The mighty Zebra just got better! With a few new modules, a much clearer and larger new GUI ; it is now a vast improvement on the original and looks just excellent!!
Zebra2 is our wireless modular synthesizer, combining a powerful modulation engine with many different types of synthesis: additive, freehand or spline-based waves, oscillator spectral effects, FM oscillators, classic synth and comb filters. The entire signal path is stereo.
Zebra 2.8 beta - changelog (revision 6849)
Please backup your presets before installing.
We unified the preset organization between Mac and Win.
On Mac, there were separate local and user folders for OSC and MSEG module presets and Microtuning files.
The user location won't be used anymore. During installation, any presets from this location will be moved to a 'user' folder in the local location.
New skin "Dark8" for fans of strong "the other way round" contrasts:
Captures the classic warm analogue sounds of yesteryear brilliantly. Interesting arpeggio/sequencer section with the step edit record feature. Fantastic bass sequential sounds.
Repro-1 dives into the past for analogue inspiration, reverently modelling a classic synth. Every detail of the original was captured using component-level modelling technology to create the most authentic model possible. All the subtle characteristics and quirks found in the original are present in Repro-1.
Repro-1 is a fierce synth: hard working, raw sounding and immensely playable.
Key Features
authentic raw analogue soundComponent-level modelling of a classic monophonic synth2 oscillators: saw/pulse and saw/triangle/pulse, including combinations and pulse width modulation.White noise generatorMixer for the audio generators with feedback path for extra bass boostFilter: 4-pole lowpass, capable of self-oscillation. Cutoff, Resonance, dedicated envelope and key tracking controlsAmplifier: ADSR envelope with curve trimmerModulation true to the original, plus an extra 2-slot matrixLFO: saw/triangle/pulse, including combinationsExtra modulation sources: AR/ASR envelope adopted from the wavefolder effect, plus Trigger and GateArpeggiator: up or up/down, latch modeSequencer: Two-patterns, step recording: Editable pitch/velocity, note/tie/pause status per step, max. 32-notes each pattern (or 64 notes when chained). Copy/paste and rotate functions, save/load presets5 built-in effects: wavefolder/distortion, delay/chorus, EQ/resonator, reverb, sonic conditioner/dynamics processor500 factory presets
Another brilliant sounding synth from UH-E with exceptional sounding pads. Only real drawback is the over intensive CPU power and no arpeggiator. You will be really pushing it to have two instances of this plug in open at once.
DIVA - Dinosaur Impersonating Virtual Analogue Synthesizer
The
oscillators, filters and envelopes closely model components found in
some of the great monophonic and polyphonic synthesizers of yesteryear.
Modules can be mixed and matched so you can build hybrids, but what sets
DIVA apart is the sheer authenticity of the analogue sound. This comes
at the cost of quite a high CPU-hit, but we think it was worth it: Diva
is the first native software synth that applies methods from industrial
circuit simulators (e.g. PSpice) in realtime. The behaviour of
zero-delay-feedback filters when pushed to the limit clearly
demonstrates the advantages of this groundbreaking approach.
authentic, unrivaled analogue sound
up to 40% less CPU-hit than version 1.0
multithreading support for modern CPUs - more polyphony, less overload
even bigger library of gorgeously organic presets
resizable editor window, alternative skins available shortly
the essence of 7 or 8 vintage synths for about 1% of the cost
...and so much more!
Probably my go to synth for almost everything. Exceptional sound quality, layout and routing. Zebra can be simple or extremely deep , with endless possibilities. One of my favourite features are the 4 customizable x y pads and the comb filters.
Some synthesizers are household names (relatively speaking). You'll find them piled high on retailers' shelves, and their developers spend loads of cash on marketing.
Others, however, have a much lower profile and have to be actively sought out. Initially favoured only by those in the know, their popularity gradually widens via word of mouth. You won't find these products in your local music store – they exist slightly beneath the radar.
Zebra is a perfect case in point. Urs Heckmann (the main man at u-he) began by developing products for discerning Mac users, but such was the buzz surrounding the first version of Zebra that a PC version was all but inevitable.
Overview
And now it's here: Zebra 2 is cross-platform and supports the AU and VST formats. Furthermore, MacIntel owners will be glad to know that it's a Universal Binary, too.
For those who missed it first time around, Zebra is a 'wireless' modular synthesizer that combines a variety of synthesis techniques under one roof.
Though it's primarily fueled by subtractive analogue synthesis features, intrepid explorers will also discover FM and additive elements hiding beneath the user interface.
Its flexibility means that it's capable of producing richer, more complex sounds than you'll get from a standard subtractive analogue emulation.
Installation is as easy as it gets – it's simply a matter of copying the plug-in files into the appropriate folders on your hard drive.
It sould be noted that the main Zebra synth is but one of three plug-ins that comprise the package, the other two being the nifty Zebralette and the ZRev reverb plug-in (see the Bringing up baby boxout for more).
These might be free bonuses, but they're still of the quality we've come to expect from u-he. When you open Zebra 2 for the first time, you have to enter your name and a series of numbers.
That's all there is to the copy protection, but don't even think about using an unauthorised copy: u-he have devised something rather special for the bootleggers – if you install a dodgy copy of Zebra 2, the software's interface will eventually start to melt away in front of you!
Tecnically speaking, Zebra 2 is semi-modular. Although the included modules can be installed and patched as you like, there is a limit to how many of each you can use.
However, when you consider that you can load up to four oscillators and four FM oscillators, four of each style of envelope generator and four LFOs, there's plenty of sonic power on offer. The oscillators offer full waveshaping and up to 16 user-definable waves.
Additionally, there's a Spectral Editor that throws additive synthesis (with an unlimited number of waveforms) into the works. Once you've shaped your waves to taste, you can drop in up to four different filters with which to chip away at them.
There are 19 filter types to be had, and all of the usual suspects are included. In fact, there are nine different low-pass filters, not to mention comb filtering, ring modulation and more. We should also mention that Zebra 2 sports no less than 28 modulation sources.
These include the LFOs, obviously, but more importantly, multistage envelope generators that can be synced to the host sequencer's tempo. If you feel more inclined to use traditional ADSR-style envelopes, there's a quartet of those too.
Other key features include flexible effects processors and a modulation matrix. Predictably, one of the Play Modes is an arpeggiator, and there are also legato, polyphonic and step sequencer modes.
Sounds
We simply don't have the space to describe all of Zebra 2's many magnificent tools, but we have to give a special mention to the supplied preset patches.
There are hundreds of them in the package and most of them are a cut above what we're used to finding in a factory bank.
Some of the patches are of the 'song on a key' variety, while others are more utilitarian. Most importantly, a significant number of them inspired lengthy jam sessions during the review process.
In fait, we were having so much fun that we almost missed our print deadline! Put bluntly, Zebra 2 kicks some serious stripey ass – we were hard-pressed to find anything wrong with the thing at all.
The sound is superb – it easily matches (and usually exceeds) almost any other synth you could name. Whether you're looking for punchy, analogue basses or swirling, evolving pads, this is a powerful yet intuitive solution that's as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
Our only minor grumble concerns the lack of a dedicated manual; we like u-he's ever-expanding instructional blog, but it isn't much good for people who keep their DAWs offline.
This slight reservation aside, Zebra 2 is a masterpiece, and at just under two hundred bucks, it's thoroughly deserving of full marks. Review from Musicradar
