Access Music User Forum

Quoted from "mattytraxx"

...My question for you is why do you use the Creative ASIO instead of the Virus USB ASIO driver? My understanding is that you cannot use two different ASIO drivers simultaneously--it's a limitation of ASIO implementation. I'm not implying that you are trying to use two drivers at the same time, I'm just noticing that because you have to choose a single driver, you chose to use the Creative ASIO driver. So if you are not using the Virus USB ASIO driver, then you are also not using the intended full feature set of the Virus TI. It's not really fair to say you have a 'golden setup' if you aren't utilizing the Virus USB ASIO driver.
It's great your setup works, though--thanks for sharing.

#1 You do not need to use the Virus ASIO driver to use the USB inputs from the Virus - the VST handles them.
#2 I use the Creative ASIO driver to get all the analogue inputs from that sound card,too.
#3 If you use ASIO4All you can, in effect, load multiple ASIO drivers held under one umbrella ASIO driver - But I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a very good reason to.

I am making full use of the Virus feature set whilst also using the Creative ASIO driver - I'm curious, who said you must use the Virus ASIO driver to do so?


Unless it's your only good sound card (e.g. laptop or something) I really wouldn't recommend using the Virus ASIO driver, as I hate to say it - it kind of sucks using the Virus whilst using it, use something else if you can.

Also, that is probably the first time I have seen Sonar (what a messy eye f@#k!)... Is Sonar a supported DAW?

How do you record the audio from your TI? Are you using the analog outputs from your Virus and routing them to analog inputs on your Creative sound card?

Technically, Sonar 7 Producer is supported. So I'm out on a limb when I assume that Sonar 8.5 Producer is also limited. Yes, the UI is a bit cluttered, but if you've used Sonar since the early Cakewalk days, you've gotten used to them adding and adding and adding buttons. The newest release of Sonar, Sonar X1 Producer, has a complete UI rework that is much slicker looking. Remember when you first started using your DAW? Well, to me, Cubase, Pro Tools, Logic, etc. all look confusing to us Sonar users. It's all what you're used to. I remember using Fruity Loops back in the day, but still decided on Cakewalk....every DAW has its pros and cons, man. What matters is that you learn one and get good at it.

OK, arguments about DAWs are scarcely relevant here (although the version support is kinda relevant) - but I liked FL Studio specifically for the streamlined GUI.

ANYWAY...

Days gone by I used the analogue outputs to record - mainly because I started with OS1 and using VC wasn't a viable option as the USB ins were glitchy and such (many retakes because of pops, etc.) - come to think of it, I'm not even sure if they were available at all back then...

Now I use the S/PDIF output and USB 1/2/3 to record - using the S/PDIF as a kind of monitor, too, especially if I'm not using VC when on a quick light project.

I can't tell you how to set up the USB outs on sonar having never used it before, but there should be a demo project included there for you...

Quoted from "AtonyB"

Now I use the S/PDIF output and USB 1/2/3 to record - using the S/PDIF as a kind of monitor, too, especially if I'm not using VC when on a quick light project.

I agree, DAW wars (and even OS wars) are really a matter of taste. I use Linux/Mac/Windows/BSD as OS's, and use/have used Sonar/FL/Cubase/Audacity/Audition as DAWs, and each has served its purpose. There seem to be so many people who hate this version of Windows, or they hate Apple, or they like this DAW but hate that DAW....I just love all software (when it works). I remember Fruity Loops being fun as heck...alas, I just don't have the time to keep up with it all. If I could afford it, I'd buy every DAW there was and run them under every OS. LOL!

The reason I asked if you use the Virus USB ASIO driver is because it is marketed as being "sample accurate." Is your setup sample accurate? So if I understand your setup, you use the Virus USB for MIDI input and record via the Virus USB digital audio? Or do you also record the SPDIF, in addition to monitoring the SPDIF? How is the latency with that setup? Do you have to adjust anything noticibly or is it adjusted automatically?

I didn't realize you could record digital audio via USB from the Virus without using the Virus USB ASIO driver. I'd like to give that a shot, but I don't understand how you can get digital audio from the Virus USB without using the Virus USB ASIO drivers while using the Creative ASIO drivers...can you explain that one? Do you use that "umbrella" software so you can use two ASIO drivers simultaneously? Oddly enough, there's no demo for Sonar.

The Virus Control plug-in will take care of that
You can use your own sound-card/audio interface as main card - with its own drivers. As long as you use VC the audio will still be streamed flawlessly via USB. I think THAT is marketed as "sample accurate", not the ASIO drivers which still depend on the CPU you're using.

If you don't have a good sound-card it's good to use the Virus as such. If you do have one, there's very little need to change it.

In other words - it works in exactly the same way as any other multi-out VST...

I don't know if my setup is 'sample accurate' as I don't really care...

Quoted from "Jesper"

When I use the TI the Virus seems to get more and more unstable. I experience clicks, arpeggiators running out of sync and when it gets worse stuck or missing notes and flickering lights. The TI plugin doesn't show any errors.

For two weeks I had the same problems with clicks, pops and arp-out of sync-problems. I checked everything from sound card options, Asio drivers, USB ports to DAW options, but nothing helped.
Suddenly I've solved this problem and it was so easy (for me):
I realized that in Virus Control the Live-Mode was switched on. If you start the sequencer now, you can't switch the Live mode off, and the button goes grey, to show you that you can not switch the Live mode off. What I thought was, that the Live mode is deactivated when the sequncer is running, but that's probably not true.
So, I stopped the seq, turned off the Live mode and finally started again the seq and voila, no sound and arp-out of sync-problems anymore. I cant' promise you that this procedure helps you, but what I can say is, that I've solved the problems on this way. Perhaps you have switched on the Live mode in your VC?

Please give it a try and let me know!
Greets,
Marcel (Düsseldorf)

Quoted from "hvyen"

Quoted from "Jesper"

When I use the TI the Virus seems to get more and more unstable. I experience clicks, arpeggiators running out of sync and when it gets worse stuck or missing notes and flickering lights. The TI plugin doesn't show any errors.

For two weeks I had the same problems with clicks, pops and arp-out of sync-problems. I checked everything from sound card options, Asio drivers, USB ports to DAW options, but nothing helped.
Suddenly I've solved this problem and it was so easy (for me):
I realized that in Virus Control the Live-Mode was switched on. If you start the sequencer now, you can't switch the Live mode off, and the button goes grey, to show you that you can not switch the Live mode off. What I thought was, that the Live mode is deactivated when the sequncer is running, but that's probably not true.
So, I stopped the seq, turned off the Live mode and finally started again the seq and voila, no sound and arp-out of sync-problems anymore. I cant' promise you that this procedure helps you, but what I can say is, that I've solved the problems on this way. Perhaps you have switched on the Live mode in your VC?

Please give it a try and let me know!
Greets,
Marcel (Düsseldorf)

Could you post about this in my "Get your Virus TI running smoothly on your setup" thread in tips and tricks? Useful one to add - mentioning that live mode gets you a SHORTER but VARIABLE delay wheras live mode off gives you a LONGER but FIXED delay...

Hi!
It's a pity that I could not help you with the Live mode tip.
Perhaps I should mention my system, DAW and settings:

I use Win XP 32-bit. I wanna use WIN 7 64-bit, but my Emagic AMT8 Midi Intercface is not supported by this.
The DAW is Ableton Live 8.13 - Be sure to have the latency compensation turned on.
Sometimes I use Cubase 5. No problems here, too.
As audio interface mostly I use a Korg Zero 8, because of the ability to record 8 stereo parts simultaneously, but the latency is not good (33ms, in and out together)
Using a M-Audio Firewire 1814 Audio Interface works also great as well as using the integrated Virus TI sound card.
The sample buffer is 512, everything lesser causes pops, clicks and out of sync probs if I use a lot of audio channels.

@AtonyB
Yes, of course! I'll post the hint in your thread.

Greets,
Marcel