any access virus TI/DP users able to share their experience

jgest · Post by **jgest** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:20 am

dix wrote:Continued reports on the TI functionality are greatly appreciated. I work very tight deadlines and have zero time for betas, but I really want this synth! I have a B and love it, but it's the TI aspect that makes this Virus attractive (w/o it I'll stick w the B).

Is the TI just as ready for prime-time, plug-and-play as any other VI?

Is it DP compatible? The original 1.1 press release said DP compatiblity'd come some time later. Where we at?

thanks

according to the virus forum, the os 1.1.1 beta has not solved most of the problems affecting current TI users. In my humble opinion, the TI is not ready for the big time. Your virus B is still quite relevant!

http://s160469372.websitehome.co.uk/Sit ... 02cf5d4535

dix · Post by **dix** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:30 pm

Yes, I've been following the Access Forum threads, but they're polluted with Logic, Cubase and, worse, PC users. Their sh*t never works anyway. This more DP specific thread is more useful. ...but still, you're right. Since 1.1 is still a beta it's probably best to wait.

Of all the threads I've seen it looks like simo is the one and only person whose actually tried TI 1.1 and DP. And his post-count of 1 makes his observation suspect. That's too bleeding edge for me.

Who'll be number two? - no pun intended.

jgest · Post by **jgest** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:16 pm

dix wrote:Yes, I've been following the Access Forum threads, but they're polluted with Logic, Cubase and, worse, PC users. Their sh*t never works anyway. This more DP specific thread is more useful. ...but still, you're right. Since 1.1 is still a beta it's probably best to wait.

Of all the threads I've seen it looks like simo is the one and only person whose actually tried TI 1.1 and DP. And his post-count of 1 makes his observation suspect. That's too bleeding edge for me.

Who'll be number two? - no pun intended.

they are quite animated over there. Although, I have been schooled on many of topics. There are a few synthesis guy's who realy know their stuff.

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:20 pm

I'm on there too...

"Can someone from access please release 1.1 now!"

I STILL have not tested it, too busy writing software at the moment, but I will! There is a guy on there who has DP, I think his name was Ron, he apparently lives near me. He's been quite, maybe it's working.

But I bet most people are just too busy.

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:36 am

Question for those using Virus Control as mine is not in a state to rehookup to USB yet.

A person over on the Access list says he is having LARGE amounts of latency for the MIDI messages in DP.

Anyone else seeing this?

I believe he is using the Virus as his audio out and sending MIDI to it through usb.

Thoughts?

(PS And I know that DP is not fully supported yet with VC by access)

dix · Post by **dix** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:45 am

grimepoch wrote:Question for those using Virus Control as mine is not in a state to rehookup to USB yet.

(PS And I know that DP is not fully supported yet with VC by access)

DP is not supported? I know Access said that when they announced 1.1 was on the way in January. Since I can't find that on the 1.1.1 notes I was hoping it was DP ready.

...I think you're on your own grimepoch. I believe it's just you and that feller on the Access list so far that have been brave enough to venture into these waters. So go brave guinea pig into the bold new future and report back often.

nailgun · Post by **nailgun** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:52 pm

It's glitchy buggy and sounds so great you that you can't send it back

Here are some tracks I produced with a DP 4.6 and a virus TI polar

www.myspace.com/coqnoir

cheers, Nailgun

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:48 am

Right now, this thing is one of the most powerful and best sounding synths money can buy. Yes it IS true, there are some bugs and glitches. I wish there weren't because I have had (2) separate returns based on the fact there are issues right now. However, that doesn't change that this thing really sounds killer! While I have had (2) returned, many more have kept them. IMHO, the bugs aren't minor and they are things that will go away. But no matter what, everyone that plays one agrees the sound and power is pretty amazing. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver, but that is a completely different animal.

As to the software version of Virus, I own that for my ProToolsHD rig and YES it is very good but it does NOT sound the same. It's still a good option, but it takes up your whole Powercore. LOL I have to tell you though, if you EVER get a chance to play with the plugin mapped out on a D-Control, it's pretty cool. I have a session with Virus in it and had it mapped out on our 32-fader D-Control and my goodness I never knew there were SO MANY parameters in that software!!!!!!!!

dix · Post by **dix** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:29 am

Has ANYONE that uses DP tried the the TI software yet? They just released 1.2.1. No mention of DP compatibility.

...from what I can see there's only one person on the Virus forum has tried the TI (1.1) plugin in DP. Seems weird that NOONE here has tried either version yet.

[...BradLyons please, please respond off-list, and not to the thread, if you have any thoughts. Thanks]

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:04 pm

I installed 1.2.1 but I don't use VC. I was having a bit of tempo drift after it had been on for awhile with the older version of the OS. This seems to have gone away.

At some point I might use VC again, but in all honesty, I'd rather not use the USB bandwidth. Since the recording overhead is so low for me through firewire I just run in a stereo pair from it and record it with the rest of my synths.

I've not done a lot of DEEP editing yet, so when that time comes, I know I'll want to use VC.

dix · Post by **dix** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:12 pm

Just received this from Access:

Thank you for your mail. I'm sorry but no. The versions for Digital Performer and ProTools are in the works. We can't tell an estimated release date yet. I'm sorry.

fyi

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:27 am

Thanks for the heads up on that. Honestly, I still enjoy using mine through the front of it. The HUI (Hardware User Interface) is such an improvement over the VirusB (which I also own and use on a regular basis), that I could care less. It's so easy to work with, so easy to program.

I think the VirusB is a very relavent synth ( the reason I kept mine ), but that said, the VirusTI just does things that the B cannot. One of the things I love the most is the search functional. Given the HUGE patch library it has, I use it to kind of find what I am looking for after I write a quick MIDI loop. Sometimes, I might not even use the TI for that sound, but it helps to find things really quick.

I also like the exit button

For me, I don't want to use the USB bandwidth, I already have enough going on with my system as it is! As far as using it stand-alone, it works well, I have *no* problems with it at the moment.

dix · Post by **dix** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:04 am

Curious rick:

What else is on your USB buss that needs so much bandwidth? ...i'm not sure i've ever noticed usb bandwidth issues on my system.

So you only use VC to program the Virus and then use the Virus's audio outs (and record it via a fw i/o)?

Why is the B still relevant? Doesn't the TI do everything it does and more?

thx

grimepoch · Post by **grimepoch** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:00 am

For one, I have my MidiExpressXT and I don't want ANY competing devices for bandwidth. But beyond that, I have found that the fewer devices you hav e trying to communicate with the processor, the more processor bandwidth you retain. If I ran audio out of the VC, and then have audio coming in on my two 896s, there is going to be some latency hits with everything trying to communicate with DP. I first realized the issue with aggregate audio and trying to add USB or even the onboard audio with the 896s. All of a sudden, my CPU usage would jump up for all I can imagine is CoreAudio waiting on audio from each device to keep them in time. Unaggregate them and the problem went away.

My system is touchy. Given I have two 896s handing off a Firewire card, a Firewire800 drive off of the internal FW port and an additional FW drive on the FW400 port. I have the XpressXT, Pad Control and a Shuttle Xpress on the USB. I even removed my Radium and Oxygen 8 from the USB port because I was seeing noticable CPU overhead for some reason.

Of course, this could just be from something in my setup, but for now, I'll keep all the audio coming in on firewire together since it's better synced that way timewise.

I plan on using the VC in the future to control the virus and send the audio like I am now.

As for the relavence of the B, polyphony. I write by keeping all the parts active until bouncing at the end (hardware and software synths). So for me, I can push something over on the B that it can do, and keep the TI open for things using a LOT of polyphony (long sustained patches).

dix · Post by **dix** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:55 am

Even though people seem to be getting use out of the Virus TI w/o the "TI" software, I can't see buying one until it supports DP.

Access has told me for months that a compatible version is "in the works". I urge any DP users interested in a Virus TI to let Access aware of your interest. As the official small-DAWg (sorry) we need to bark louder to get our needs met.