NAMM 2025: U-he has unveiled Zebra 3, the long-awaited third generation of its modular Synthesizer plugin; it’s now in alpha.
NAMM booths with software on them attract fewer visitors. But it is certainly different here. Urs Heckmann from U-he has been working on the new Zebra synthesizer for many years.
Last year, we got the Zebralette 3, a phenomenal free Synthesizer plugin featuring the new Zebra 3 oscillator. At NAMM 2025, U-he will showcase Zebra 3 in the alpha version for the first time.
U-he Zebra 3 Alpha Version
The picture is not a Fata Morgana. It is U-he Zebra 3. Urs Heckmann is showing off his new flagship Synthesizer plugin without making a big announcement.
In the pictures, we see a completely redesigned UI for Zebra 3. It is much more modern and colorful than that of Zebra 2. It even reminds me a bit of the design of Plugmon, the designer who creates gorgeous alternative skins for U-he plugins.
According to Urs, Zebra 3 is a complete rewrite. Nothing is carried over from the previous version. This is also why Zebra 2 patches will not be compatible with Zebra 3. This is also due to the consolidation of various Zebra 2 modules.
New Oscillators
The big highlight of Zebra 3 will be the all-new additive/wavetable oscillator that we have known since Zebralette 3. It uses the same super-powerful spline-based oscillator technology with guide curves, oscillator effects, and more than 150 tools.
An exciting sound source will be the modal synthesis oscillator (mallet, resonator, etc.), which introduces physical modeling synthesis in the U-he modular synth. There will also be plenty of filters. Urs answered in this article:
Some filter models of Zebra 2 are updated to more modern technology, but none of the Diva filters in ZebraHZ will make it into Zebra 3. Instead, some new models with similar characteristics are planned.
Then, you can find a new way to interact with the oscillators’ pitches. Urs Heckmann has designed a dedicated page where you can customize the settings for up to four pitches down to the last detail. Each source can have a custom modulation, quantizer, and more.
This allows you to create patches where two keys can trigger different events. Also new is a fascinating 4-in-1 mixer module that will enable you to sum signals. That’s not all that it can do. You can also work with vector synthesis and arrange the signals like in a vector synth.
Version 3 will also include new features for the famous modulation mappers. Another lovely addition will be the texture module in the multi-FX section. According to Urs, its ambient texture generator loosely inspired Mutable Instruments Clouds.
U-he Zebra 3 is now in early alpha, and they estimate it will be released at the end of the year.
More information will follow here: U-he
Looking forward to this. u-he is a great company and I love their plugins.
“For example, the Zebra 3 filter module will include all the Zebra 2 and HZ filter models.” is actually not true. Some filter models of Zebra 2 are updated to more modern technology, but none of the Diva filters in ZebraHZ will make it into Zebra 3. Instead, some new models with similar characteristics are planned.
thanks Urs! 🙂
Great work. Looks really good so far!