u-he has introduced Zebra 3, a major update to the flagship software synthesizer for Linux, Mac & Windows.
They say that Zebra 3 has been “rebuilt from scratch with state-of-the-art technologies spanning analogue modelling, physical modelling and purely digital synthesis.”
Features:
- Adaptive interface: Modules only appear when added to the patch, organised via drag and drop
- Over 1,200 factory presets
- Unified spline editor for oscillator waveforms and MSEG curves with geometric morphing
- Two oscillator engines: Wavetable (up to 16× unison) or additive (up to 1024 partials, can be inharmonic)
- 20 oscillator effects including spectral decay, sync, phase remapping and more
- Filters with 13 models, both classic and original (Ladder, Cascade, SVF etc) each offering up to 12 responses (e.g. LP, HP, BP with 6/12/18/24 dB/Oct)
- FM oscillators with 2 operators plus an audio input as a third operator
- Modal resonators and comb filters with detailed control over feedback and damping for physical modelling synthesis
- Noise and Exciter modules for realistic transient and physical modelling sources
- Vector & Scan mixers: Blend 4 sources with XY pad (loopable) or scan through them sequentially
- Pitch, gate and trigger signals as first-class modulation — modular-style routing freedom
- Mod Math modules for combining and transforming modulation signals
- Mappers that act as step sequencers or as freely drawable transfer curves for other modulators
- Ring modulators, distortions, wavefolders, equalizers (as global effects and per voice)
- Delays, multitap delay, reverbs, compressors etc. in global FX grid with per voice send amounts
- Available as CLAP, VST3, AU and AAX on macOS, Windows and Linux
- Support for MPE, microtuning, MTS-ESP (realtime tuning)
Pricing and Availability:
Zebra 3 is available now for 249 €.
I tried the demo, some of the oscillator types are interesting. 1200 presets is simply idiotic in my opinion. Give me 64/128 useful presets and let me design the sounds I need. Most of them are useless. 250 our though, it’s a no for me.
I agree about the number of presets. They should properly assume that purchasers are people who WANT to create sounds and do not need 300 presets with 900 variations.
Your complaint about the number of presets included is simply moronic. Sorry for being so direct, but you used the word ‘idiotic’, so I think it’s justified.
Just don’t use them if you don’t like/need them.
Those presets you complain about could be useful as starting points, inspiration, playground, or even ways to learn how some sounds can be achieved.
Never thought I would see the day when a product being complete and comprehensive could be seen as something bad.
Spot on
I love the salty comment about the number of presets available. Really shows the level of the person behind the keyboard.
I find zebra 3 to be very interesting. U-he makes great synths, I will try the demo.
The more Presets the better of course who has time all day to spend on tweaking a sound
U-He make some great synths. Different enough from the “analogue” oscillator-filter-amplifier soft synth stereotype. Carefully balanced with not feeling over featured (while being able to be set up feature heavy). This looks very interesting.
The price is a bit toppy but it is the flagship product. To me this opens up the expectation of prices nowadays. €250 works if you compare it to prices some time ago. I’m not expecting €100 but under €200 would have worked better.
I’m not running the company and is €50 difference enough to worry about for such a complete synth – I’m thinking in terms of oscillator models etc
249 €.
A quarter of a thousand euros. I do not understand. Thats my limitation.
Just under $300 for us lucky Americans. Ridiculous.
A quarter of a thousand euros. I do not understand. That is my limitation.