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U-He Freeware Synthesizers Updated With Fresh New GUIs

By 16 Comments3 Mins Read
Triple Cheese by U-He

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.

See also: Free Synthesizer VST Plugins

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 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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James is a musician and writer from Scotland. An avid synth fan, sound designer, and coffee drinker. Sometimes found wandering around Europe with an MPC in hand.

16 Comments

  1. Vignesh Anil

     on

    Hey! 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!

    Reply

    • Sebastian

       on

      It 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.

      Reply

    • Ryan S

       on

      Check 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.

      Reply

  2. Aaron

     on

    me encanta este blog , pero una pregunta , como puedo descargar estos vst? alguien me puede ayudar :( se los agradecería mucho.

    Reply

  3. Kim Christopher Neves

     on

    Zebra 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.

    Reply

    • Numanoid

       on

      Thinking 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.

      Reply

  4. Numanoid

     on

    The “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?

    Reply

    • Michal Ochedowski

       on

      Thanks 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.

      Reply

  8. Numanoid

     on

    Has 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.

    Reply
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