Access Virus C Questions

[Harha]

Well I've just bought an Access Virus C synth and now I'm having some minor problems with it.

1.) I'm currently using the Analogic Output 1 connected to my soundcard RCA inputs. Sometimes it just somehow mutes the left channel and I dont know why, to fix this i need to replug the wires or restart virus. The wires are new. Also theres that L/PHONES - R/MONO text on the output1 so should I use some other output instead? Haven't figured out yet that how I could change the output.

2.) I dont know if it's supposed to be like this since its an analogic synth, however I've set the FL Studio to send the master tempo/other midi info to the virus so my DAW should be synced with it. But when I play something with the virus in my DAW using the FL Studio's MIDI Out plugin it has a short delay before it begins to play the notes and because of that it sounds badly out of sync when played together as example with a kick. Any way to perfect the sync? I have ofc plugged the midi out and midi in wires from my soundcard to the virus.

Here's an MP3 sample of the virus itself, playing a patch I've made just. Quality is good I guess?

And finally what soundcard settings I should use with the Virus?



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Help/Information appreciated!

[Adrenalize]

dont know what the problem is :/
btw, where did you buy it?
cause i dont see anywhere where they sell a Virus C only TI and the new ones ?
and nice quality !

[Harha]

Well I found mine from Ebay and the seller was from UK. Just keep searching and eventually you'll find one. There's 1 Virus C in ebay atm but it's in USA...

Anyways I've just discovered a new problem: Rarely there's some random noise/crackling/popping in the Virus's audio output...

[Marcotjuh]

The sync could be fixed by setting posting delay (little part in the mixer right corner) on a certain amount. Its different for every soundcard so experiment with that. Cubase does that automatically.
(randommly guessing you are using FL)

You can also just sample your virus sound and cut it right so it would be automatically synced.

The audio output shouldnt care cuz you can set the output 1 2 or 3 in the ctrl menu of your virus. Prolly you just got the wrong settings.

Random noise/crackling/popping can be caused by bad cables, other cables going through the virus sound cables (mostly those who supply power) or just using software distortion on the channel you are routing your virus in.
(also can be caused by a damaged AD converter in your soundcard, so what soundcard are you using??)

If it still remains you prolly have a damaged DA converter or the contacts are fucked.

The soundcard settings shouldnt care but that big latency you are talking about is coming from that 2048 samples you selected. Try to pick the smallest latency possible, if you are starting to lag consider buying a new soundcard.

[Roby31]

1) It's not really normal that it mutes the outputs. Does your Delta have a breakout cable? If so, check out it's connected in a firm way, my 1010's cables tend to move a lot and disconnect if the screws are not tight enough. If not, I'd suggest you reinstall the Virus's OS (OS 6.6 beta has been out since Feb 2010 IIRC and it improves MIDI sync with arps above all). Your manual explains what you have to do in order to update the OS, but you'll need a tool different than FL because it doesn't handle sysex. If this doesn't fix it, you'll probably need to have a tech look at it - contact Access support via e-mail and they'll have their say.
You can try to change the output used, there should be such an option when in Multi Mode, I think it's in each patch's Multi Edit menu, scroll until you find the menu to select the output. If that's the case you will need to do that for each patch you load. Again, if that's not the case it's probably written in the manual.

2. This is not easy for me to explain. There's a couple of factors that add up to cause that delay. One is inevitable: DA/AD conversions to bring the sound from your synth engine to your DAW (very little delay in the DAC, delay depending on buffer in the ADC, delay during processing the sound and sending it to the DAW). This can't be removed altogether. The other part (which is actually a factor I've just said ) is the buffer size you set up to give a bit of time to your CPU in order not to hear crackles. The highest it is, the more time will pass between actual playing and hearing the result. You're using an insanely high buffer (2048 samples at 44.1kHz), suitable only if you're all ITB and your computer is very slow. It would be more reasonable to use a buffer size of max 512 samples unless you get too much crackles.
Once you've dealt with it and your system sounds stable, you can proceed to compensate for the remaining latency using the apposite function in FL's mixer.

(Quality sounds ok, a little too much metallic imho...)


@xhardstyle123: you can only buy it used. It's been OOP since 2004/2005. It's hard to say "discontinued", because it still got a recent upgrade to the operating system, after years it wasn't being sold anymore. Nice of Access.

[Harha]

Thank you both, cleared things alot for me.

The crackling/popping seems to happen only on high master volume, I'm not exactly sure yet what would be the perfect amount to achieve the best quality but it's working nicely on 75 atm. My soundcard is Audiophile 2496 so the viru's RCA plugs are connected directly to the soundcard, not via breakout cable. I took the soundcard off, put it back in, replugged the cables and made sure everything was correct and now it has worked perfectly for about 1 hour, left and right channel on output1 have worked nicely.

The delay was fixed by setting the posting delay as marco suggested. Ofc I will sample the virus in the end but it's nice to be able to play it live with other sounds in the project. And the high buffer size was only there because I was working on a very heavy project when I took the pic, normally I use a buffer size around 256-512 samples. The OS is 6.6 from 2009 so I'll definitely update it to the 2010 beta.

Thank you both again!

[okirob]

I know this is a 15-year-old post, but I wonder if you might have found a solution to the crackling/popping sounds at higher volumes?

My Virus C/Indigo II has bad crackling sounds when I have the master volume up past the 2 o'clock position. Single notes are fine, but after 4 or so notes of polyphony, the sound starts crackling badly. If I turn the volume down, the crackling goes away and I can play as many notes as I want. Very strange... I've been able to work around it by boosting gain on my mixer, but if anyone knows of the cause or has a potential fix, I'd love to hear about them. Thank you!