Zebra Gravastar For U-HE ZEBRA2

FANTASTiC | 10 June 2016 | 2 MB

Zebra Gravastar is a collection of 180 sounds for u-he’s Zebra2 synthesizer, aimed at cinematic scoring with a dark, organic edge. The bulk of this soundset was originally designed for composer Jason Graves to use for his amazing score for Ubisoft’s Far Cry: Primal. Jason’s brief for the project was hilariously simple: “Imagine synthesizers as played by cavemen.” So, Gravastar focuses on non-traditional synth sounds, inspired by more natural sonic character: wood, glass, rock, dirt, noise, distortion, resonance, light and fire. The soundset is full of deep rhythms, shadowy pulses and ethnic loops, as well as ghostly textures, tectonic bass and luminescent pads. These sounds are alive and breathing; growing and evolving.

This collection particularly takes advantage of Zebra’s FM/noise oscillators, its comb filters and its advanced waveform options. Though devised through software and synthesis, Gravastar’s heart lies in the natural, the tribal, the environmental, the elemental.

Each sound has dynamic movement and options programmed into the modwheel and the X/Y pads, for further sonic exploration.

“I can’t think of anyone that brings all my favorite soft synths to life more than Matt. So when I needed organic, original soundscapes for Far Cry: Primal he was the first person I rang. And he didn’t disappoint. Most of my “use” of these sounds involved holding down a single key for 30 seconds with my mouth gaping open – he had nailed exactly what I needed. And, more importantly, Ubisoft loved it all as well.

Jason Graves (Tomb Raider, Dead Space, Until Dawn)