# ZEN AUDIO EMBER — User Manual

• Version: 1.0.0
• Developer: ZEN AUDIO
• Supported Formats: VST3 / AU (macOS only)
• Supported OS: Windows 10 or later / macOS 11 or later
• Architecture: x86_64 / Apple Silicon (Universal Binary)

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# Table of Contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1-1. About ZEN AUDIO EMBER
• 2. INSTALLATION & ACTIVATION
  • 2-1. Installation
  • 2-2. License Status
  • 2-3. Activation
  • 2-4. Deactivation
• 3. USING ZEN AUDIO EMBER
  • 3-1. Overview (FULL MODE)
  • 3-2. Knobs & Buttons
  • 3-3. Presets
  • 3-4. Utilities
  • 3-5. ZEN MODE
  • 3-6. Settings
    • 3-6-1. General
    • 3-6-2. Sound Settings
    • 3-6-3. Graphic Settings
    • 3-6-4. Misc
• 4. SUPPORT

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# 1. INTRODUCTION

# 1-1. About ZEN AUDIO EMBER

EMBER is a saturator/exciter plugin developed by ZEN AUDIO and released in 2026.
It combines characteristics inspired by industry-standard tonal qualities with uniquely designed modern behaviors, allowing users to shape sound easily while maintaining fine control for achieving the desired result.

# Main Features

• 12 Color Types
  Choose from 12 tonal characteristics categorized as Gentle, Massive, Enhance, Focus, and Vivid.

• Balance of Simplicity and Precision
  Carefully designed parameters — Curve, Bias, Flavor, Intensity, and Time — enable highly detailed shaping.

• Upward Compression
  Raises low-level signals to enhance detail and presence.

• AGC (Auto Gain Compensation)
  Automatically compensates for level differences when enabled, allowing you to focus purely on sound design.

• ZEN MODE
  Switch to a compact interface optimized for workflow efficiency depending on your working situation.

• Oversampling
  Up to 8× oversampling with selectable IIR/FIR filters to reduce aliasing.

• Preset System
  Includes presets created by Japanese artists active worldwide.

• 70+ Color Themes
  Choose from more than 70 GUI themes to customize the visual appearance.

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# 2. INSTALLATION & ACTIVATION

# 2-1. Installation

# Windows

1. Download the installer (.exe) from
   https://zen.audio/ember

2. Run the installer and select the language.

3. Accept the EULA.

4. Choose installation components:

   • VST3 Plugin → C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
   • Factory Presets

Installation path for VST3 can be customized.

5. Launch your DAW and scan plugin to load EMBER.

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# macOS

1. Download the installer (.pkg) from
   https://zen.audio/ember
2. Run the installer and select the language.
3. Accept the EULA.
4. Choose installation components.
5. Launch your DAW and scan plugin to load EMBER.

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# 2-2. License Status

EMBER operates differently depending on login and license status.

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# 2-3. Activation

1. Launch EMBER in your DAW.
2. Click the License icon (key icon) or open
   Settings → Account & License.
3. Click Sign In to open ZEN AUDIO login page.
4. Log in to your account.

• If you own a license, activation occurs automatically and the plugin switches to Licensed mode.
• If you do not own a license, Trial mode begins.
• If your trial has expired, the plugin enters Trial Expired mode.

Once activated, EMBER can be used offline indefinitely unless deactivated.

# Activation Limits

• One license can activate up to 2 devices simultaneously.
• To activate another device:
  • Purchase another license, or
  • Deactivate an existing device.

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# 2-4. Deactivation

Deactivation frees an activation slot so another device can be activated.

1. Open Settings → Account & License
2. Click Deactivate
3. Confirm by clicking Deactivate again

Once communication with the server is completed, the activation slot will be released.

# Limitations

• Deactivation is limited to 5 times per year per license.
• The count resets on January 1 (JST).

If the limit is reached, contact support:

https://zen.audio/support

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# Sign Out vs Deactivate

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# 3. USING ZEN AUDIO EMBER

# 3-1. Overview (FULL MODE)

The EMBER interface consists of the following areas:

• Top Panel (Presets)
  Load or save presets.

• Top Panel (Utilities)
  Access settings, tools, and status icons.

• Main Area
  Main parameter knobs and controls.

• Shaping Curve
  Visual representation of the shaping curve.

• Bottom Panel
  Horizontal layout of main parameters.

• Resizable Window
  Drag the bottom-right corner to resize.

• Level Meters
  Left: input level
  Right: output level

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# 3-2. Knobs & Buttons

# Knobs

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# Color Type

Select one of 12 filter characteristics.

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# Toggle Buttons

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# 3-3. Presets

The following controls are available in the upper-left.

• Preset Name — Displays the name of the current preset.
  If the selected preset has been modified from its original values, a dirty indicator (*) appears at the beginning of the preset name to indicate that the preset has unsaved changes.
• PRESET BROWSER — Opens the preset browser.
• SAVE PRESET — Saves the current parameters as a preset (.zep file).
• ◀ / ▶ (PREVIOUS / NEXT) — Switches to the previous/next preset.

PRESET BROWSER

Displays a list of all presets (factory + user).
Presets are displayed in a list format and can be filtered or sorted by name, author, and favorites.
The available functions are as follows.

SAVE PRESET

Saves the current parameter state as a preset.
You can save a preset by clicking SAVE PRESET in the top panel, or by selecting any preset in the preset browser and clicking Save Preset.

• Preset name: — Enter the name of the preset to save. If the same name as an existing preset is used, it will overwrite that preset.
• Author: — Enter the name of the preset author.

# 3-4. Utilities

The following controls are available in the upper-right.

# 3-5. ZEN MODE

ZEN MODE is a compact UI display mode.
Use it when you want to save screen space or simplify operations to improve workflow efficiency.

The values of parameters that are hidden are not reset and remain unchanged.
Click the ZEN MODE button in the utilities again to return to the FULL MODE screen.

• Depth — Same as DEPTH in FULL MODE
• Drive — Same as DRIVE in FULL MODE
• Out — Same as OUT in FULL MODE
• Shaping Curve — Same as the shaping curve in FULL MODE
• SETTINGS, BYPASS, ZEN MODE ON/OFF — Same as in FULL MODE
• Presets — Same as presets in FULL MODE
• Mini Level Meter — The left meter shows input level and the right meter shows output level, displayed in a simplified form compared to FULL MODE

# 3-6. SETTINGS

Clicking SETTINGS displays four pull-down menus.

# Account & License

You can check the current license status and username, as well as perform login/logout and activation/deactivation.

# Settings

Allows you to change various settings related to EMBER.
For details of each item, please refer to the sections starting from 3-6-1. General.

# Theme

You can change the theme of EMBER. Click any theme from the list displayed on the left side of the screen to apply it.
You can roughly sort themes by category by selecting or deselecting the tags at the top of the screen, or click Shuffle to switch to a randomly selected theme.

# Online Manual

Opens the EMBER online manual. (launches your browser)

# 3-6-1. General

You can check the current version of EMBER and whether a new update is available.
Click Check for updates to check for the latest update. If an update is available, a download link will be displayed.

# 3-6-2. Sound Settings

# Oversampling

Allows you to configure oversampling settings.

# 3-6-3. Graphic Settings

Allows you to change GUI-related settings.

# GUI Scale

Adjusts the display scale of the entire GUI.
You can select from 75 / 100 / 125 / 150 / 175 / 200%, or resize the window freely by dragging the bottom-right corner of the screen.

# Effect Quality

Allows you to change the settings related to effects (particles and glow) that appear during GUI operations.

# Panels Opacity

Allows you to adjust the opacity of the top panel and bottom panel individually.
There are three levels, where 1 is the most transparent and 3 is the least transparent.

# Level Meter

Allows you to change settings related to the level meter.

# 3-6-4. Misc

Allows you to change auxiliary settings.

# Language

# Help Text

Displays explanatory text at the top of the screen when the mouse cursor is placed over each control.

# Input

# Knob Wheel

Allows you to change the direction in which parameters increase or decrease when operating knobs with the mouse wheel.

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# 4. SUPPORT

If you have any questions or inquiries, please contact us using the following links.

• Support: https://zen.audio/support
• Product Page: https://zen.audio/ember
• Account Portal: https://zen.audio/my-account

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