New GUIs and M1 chip support for classic U-He freeware synths, Triple Cheese and ZebraCM.
To many users’ delight, U-He has overhauled two of its much-loved freeware synths. The overhaul includes an Apple Silicon release and updates for both macOS and Windows.
When developers release free and paid products, it’s fair to say the hope is that freeware users become paying customers. Sometimes, freeware plugins won’t do much more than help you decide if you want to buy a paid version or not.
What I like about U-He freeware is that it’s designed to stand on its own and be extremely useable without spending a penny.
Triple Cheese is the 2006 KVR Developer Challenge winner. We know the KVR DC brings out some awesome creative plugins, and it’s no surprise Triple Cheese was a winner with its unorthodox approach.
The heart of that unorthodox approach is that it utilizes three comb filters (rather than traditional oscillators) for sound generation.
Triple Cheese has four play modes, Polyphonic (sixteen voices), monophonic, duophonic, and legato.
It comes with two ADSR Envelopes with Fall/Rise sustain, a custom Vibrato effect, a VCA with amplitude modulation, and an Effects Processor.
There are 254 factory presets to play with, some of which are epic.
The new GUI delivers a tidier and more professional workspace. Triple Cheese is certainly a little different, but the sounds have so much life in them; it’s pretty great.
Triple Cheese is available for macOS and Windows via the U-He website.
ZebraCM is the free version of U-He’s Zebra 2.
ZebraCM also comes with a fresh new GUI.
ZebraCM doesn’t have the same modular design as Zebra 2, which means you lose some of that custom-built feel. But, ZebraCM has plenty to offer; it just does it with a more classic setup.
It comes with two Wavetable Oscillators with integrated sync and spectral filter. Also, on the first row of the GUI, you’ll find a Noise Generator.
Moving down the GUI, there are two ADSR Envelopes with Fall/Rise sustain, as well as three LFOs.
ZebraCM is polyphonic with up to sixteen voices and includes Mono, Duophonic, and Legato modes. The new GUI is skinnable and resizable from 70% to 200%.
There are 221 factory presets with a nice preset browser and onboard Delay, Reverb, and Chorus effects. Perhaps not the sound design monster that Zebra 2 is, but ZebraCM still packs a big punch.
ZebraCM is available for macOS and Windows from the Computer Music website.
There’s no good reason not to have both of these awesome freebies.
More info: ZebraCM / Triple Cheese
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16 Comments
Vignesh Anil
onHey! Can someone tell me whether you can still get ZebraCM actually for free? (without a computer music mag subscription). I had claimed their freeware pack back when it was offered for everyone but sadly I only saved the PC ones and since then I’ve shifted to mac. Thanks in advance!
Sebastian
onIt suffices to buy a single issue. But beware: the downloads for the october-issue (CM299) were already online, before u-he could supply the updates. Better wait for the november-issue, I guess…
BazilleCM has also been updated according to u-he, so this should be good.
Aaron
onamigo entonces como puedo descargar estos vst? debo esperar otra versión de la revista ?
Ryan S
onCheck if your local library uses a service like Overdrive or something similar to allow digital checkout of magazines. I know I can get Beat and Computer Music issues going back years at a moment’s notice. Then you just use the issue you checked out to unlock the downloads from their FileSilo website and you have them permanently.
Aaron
onme encanta este blog , pero una pregunta , como puedo descargar estos vst? alguien me puede ayudar :( se los agradecería mucho.
Kim Christopher Neves
onZebra CM is not available on the computer music website. Most likely they will release in the next edition and you will need to purchase it to get the update.
Aaron
ongracias pero como puedo saber o estar al tanto de la nueva edicion?
Numanoid
onThinking about it, the next issue of Computer Music is issue number 300. I guess they want to save the “new” Zebra CM to use it to promote their anniversary when that issue is published? I doubt there will be a commercial freebie like z3ta+ was given away with their their issue number 200.
Numanoid
onThe “only” thing that is updated with Zebra CM is the GUI and layout? Anything else under the hood is just like it what was before ? I am eager to get the new version for easier hands on access, but I am asking that soundwise it is just like it was before?
Illford
onYes, it’s the same sound but with a far superior interface
Synthiemental
onNo, also much better preset browser now. People underestimate how important this can be!
Sebastian
onI think Protoverb is also updated.
Michal Ochedowski
onThanks for this message. I just checked Protoverb and there is update available. It’s good to see that after 5.5 years it’s still being taken care of. I especially like the added preset browser.
Kobie Berkhout
onWill it be possible to use the presets I’ve made with the old version?
Eric Bogan
onI see no way to download ZebraCM! You end up at https://www.musicradar.com/computermusic and still no ZebraCM!
Numanoid
onHas anybody been able to get the new Zebra CM ?
I just bought Computer Music issue 300 that was published this week, and still it is the old version that is included
It is now 4 weeks after u-he published the performance update.