Cakewalk Z3ta+ 2 v2.2
I was really fond of Z3ta+ when it was released roughly 10 years ago. I know I made a review of it which it seems I can’t find at the moment. The thing I loved most with the original version compared to other software synthesiser release at that time was it’s ability to morph between different waveforms using several different parameters and wave functions. None of them could be controlled using an envelope or an LFO, but you could control it using the automation lanes in the DAW. It was a tedious task to draw and fix and so on, but the life you could breathe into a patch was out of the world back then. I wrote a long post suggestion additions to it and even volunteered to do beta testing as well if they needed it.
By that time I was beta testing for Sonalksis, Sonic Charge and sporadically for Clavia DMI (now also known as Nord Keyboards) and proof-reading for Gforce Software, so I figured I could fit a software synthesiser to the schedule.
Then came Z3ta+ 2 for Windows leaving us OS X users in the dust. I’ve talked to Cakewalk requesting and nearly begging them to port it to OS X, and a year ago or so they released it for the OS X platform. I started to design some patches for it but ran into some problems. Every time I hit STOP in PreSonus StudioOne the Envelope (not the paper thing with a stamp on) or LFO (not the band, nor the film) would get stuck not triggering anymore. I wrote some feedback in their forum, but quickly found that others had the same issue and never heard for Cakewalk.
Update
But — behold! There is a v2.2.2.120 (!) update which I’m going to install right away.
When a new version has an icon like this (look to the left) attached to it, it ought to be good. I at least have the hopes rather high and that they’ve listened to me and a couple of more users who’ve been reporting findings along our adventurous with the instrument.
Installation when really smooth using the Cakewalk Command Center. Why every manufacturer must have their own “Command Center” puzzles me a bit. I think Native Instruments was first with their ServiceCenter and I know more have followed; like Arturia, Waves and others. It’s surely a nifty way to keep their zillion products up to date but every time you launch it, it wants to update itself first. Every single time! There’s more than one Twitter conversation about it too if you just search for “ServiceCenter”.
I’m always starting by initialising the settings; so I can start from scratch. I like that, but you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.
I’m not the person who’ll think less of someone else for using presets. Use whatever you like, and do whatever you do best as long as you’re having fun while composing music. Okay? Good! I’ve just initialised my settings, picked a sawtooth waveform for oscillator 1, picked a triangle waveform for the LFO 1 and assign the LFO1 to the Spectrum of oscillator 1 in the modulation matrix. I’ve started and stopped StudioOne while playing and it actually works!
I can write more about wave shaping if you like in a later blog post.
If you haven’t installed this update — please do so. Now. Right away. Yes, off you go!
THANK YOU, CAKEWALK! Thanks for listening and fixing everything I’ve reported.
Now I’m going to use the rest of the night being creative.
#blogg100 — post 7/100
