Today, Cre8Audio introduces PROGRAMM, a step sequencer for Eurorack modular systems.
PROGRAMM supports MIDI and CV/Gate sequencing:
Via MIDI – 12 dedicated sequencers to be used with pitched or percussion instruments.
Via CV/gate – 2 dedicated sequencers for pitched instruments & 8 more for percussion/drum triggers.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
“It’s a creative playground that bridges the gap between human performance and algorithmic generation. Whether you’re meticulously stepping in/playing a melody or using real-time randomization to find new textures, PROGRAMM keeps up with your brain.
And for those moments where you accidentally forgot to hit record before playing the best sequence you’ve ever written? We built an always-ready recall function to save your soul (and your track)”.
The PROGRAMM is available now, with an estimated street price of $349.99 USD.
After more than a decade in development and several months in beta, U-he has announced the official release of Zebra 3.
The say that the next generation of its beloved semi-modular soft synth, Zebra 3 has been “rebuilt from scratch” and brings together analogue modelling, physical modelling, wavetable and additive synthesis with an updated “adaptive” user interface designed to streamline its workflow and make the synth more user-friendly.
Zebra 3’s oscillator system has been completely overhauled, and is now based around a vector-based spline editor that U-he has described as “Photoshop for synthesis”, allowing custom waveforms to be sculpted from multiple hand-drawn Bézier curves arranged along a timeline that Zebra’s four oscillators can morph between.
Curves can then be rendered in the form of a classic wavetable or using Zebra 3’s updated additive engine with up to 1024 partials, and each oscillator is equipped with two oscillator effects slots capable of dramatic sound alterations, drawing on spectral, warping, windowing and animation effects.
Zebra 3’s filter collection has been expanded to include 13 distinct filter models, spanning everything from SVF and ladder emulations to all-pass and phaser models, with low-pass, band-pass and high-pass modes and multiple slopes on offer, adding up to a total of 105 potential responses accessible via a handy matrix interface.
Along with its wavetable and additive engines, Zebra 3 features updated FM oscillators with various FM modes and feedback options, including through-zero FM, and a new Vector mixing module allows you to morph between four sound sources on an XY grid. Also new in Zebra 3 are several physical modelling tools: new modal resonator and comb filter modules work in tandem with an exciter module to emulate the acoustic properties of physical objects.
The synth’s modulation system has also been significantly expanded, offering up a whole world of possibilities for creative sound design: four ADSR envelopes and four LFOs are joined by four MSEGs (Multi-Stage Envelope Generators) that can be shaped using eight morphable curves in the same spline editor as the oscillators. These are joined by four Mappers and Mod Math modules that can shape and combine modulation sources before they hit their destination.
Also onboard in Zebra 3 is a comprehensive arsenal of effects, accessible via a modular grid with three per-voice sends, that features multiple flavours of reverb, delay, distortion, compression, chorus, phaser, flanger and more – including a new granular TextureVerb effect that can produce “shimmering, abstract ambiences”.
“It’s been a very long time in the making, and we at u-he are beyond proud of what Zebra 3 has become: a deep workhorse synth with many powerful new modules wrapped in a sleek, modern interface,” reads a statement on U-he’s website. “Although it builds on decades of experience gained through several generations of Zebra2, Zebra 3 is an entirely new development.”
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)
Priced at €249, U-he’s Zebra 3 is available now in VST3/AU/AAX/CLAP formats for macOS, Windows and Linux. Zebra 2 owners can pick up the plugin for only €30, and if you own Zebra 2 and The Dark Zebra, you can have it for free.
The video, via Kronofonika, offers an overview and demo of the Zlosynth Instruments Arplus, a quantized arpeggiated Karplus-Strong Eurorack module.
Arplus combines a quantizer, arpeggiator, and string synthesizer into one module. You can select from a variety of scales, including Western diatonic scales, microtonal Arabic maqam, Indian melakarta, Japanese pentatonics, or quarter, semi, and whole tone scales. Use the arpeggiator to create note patterns based on a selected chord and scale.
The module lets you control other modules using 1V/oct output, and also offers 6 channels of string synthesis, letting you create anything from subtle plucks and staccatos to ensemble-like pads and resonating soundscapes.
Topics covered:
00:00 – Intro
02:15 – Karplus-Strong History and What is it?
03:28 – Polyphonic Spree
04:03 – Sound Parameters
07:16 – External Input
09:25 – Pure Ambient Bliss
09:56 – Quantiser
12:52 – Arpeggiator
16:04 – Swap 2 Infomercial
16:33 – Spicing things up
The Zlosynth Instruments Arplus is available now, with a street price of about $400 USD.
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