Octatrack soo good with Virus

jim5 · 2015-05-26T01:40:40.000Z

I have a Virus B and it’s still my workhorse synth. I thought after getting the A4, I would not need it and can sell it but some of the sounds on the Virus just can’t be replaced.

A4 is great but I haven’t been able to get the grittier sounds that I can get on my Virus. It just cuts through in any mix.

The multimode with 3 stereo output is also great. That is one of my biggest beef I have with the A4. Only having 1 stereo out, I’m constantly playing with the filters to get the right mix for all the sounds.

Like the posts above, it’s a great piece using it with the Octatrack sequencer.

polite_society · 2015-05-26T02:11:11.000Z

Yeah, I also love the combination of a virus and OT (I have virus A and TI ) They just compliment each other so well.

I’ve used both multi and seq modes for various reasons, but seq is my go-to mode for OT.

Having said that though, for setting up a live patch where different sounds are spread over various octaves of a keyboard, multi is the go. It’s a shame that access never created a multi mode editor for the TI.

high fives all round!

AdamJay · 2015-06-11T21:54:36.000Z

[quote=“” buzz""]
Going off track here a bit, but it was interesting listening to how the Virus came about. Hard to think it is software behind that sound.

Christoph Kemper (Access Virus founder/designer) - NAMM interview

“find the box in the code”
[/quote]

Wow, and it’s all built on the same, original base code for the same processor.
Now I understand why the series is called “Virus”

DeckardTrinity · 2015-06-29T04:18:27.000Z

I’m curious - with the TI + OT, are you step-recording the notes or using live record mode? (and are you recording individual notes or chords)?

buzz · 2015-06-29T05:15:45.000Z

""DeckardTrinity"":

I’m curious - with the TI + OT, are you step-recording the notes or using live record mode? (and are you recording individual notes or chords)?

you can do either step-recording (single notes or chords) or you can just jam away and record i.e. live mode.
in all cases you can record single notes or chords.

remember you also have micro timing which is really cool. I prefer to live record without quantization and then adjust the micro timing if off.

I think it is a great sequencer, the only problem I see is; not being a linear sequencer you have to sort of think in 64 step chucks.

DeckardTrinity · 2015-06-29T13:37:39.000Z

The reason I ask is because I have issues recording chords with realtime record from my TI2 into the OT. Half of the time it fails to record one or more notes in the chord, but single notes are fine (no issues with my Sub 37 or Voyager). My workflow works best when I can live record then tweak later - maybe I’ll try turning off the quantization - I like the idea of micro shifting after the fact.

Elastic_Membrane · 2015-06-29T14:32:21.000Z

""Merlin"":

Out of curioisty, how do you have your audio routing set up?

Virus ti audio out → ot audio c/d in.

Ot cue out → virus ti audio in.

On the virus ( in multimode) I have set up a patch that uses the virus audio input. This patch bypasses the virus oscillators but wrenches everything that comes in through the filters and effects.

The result is that anything that gets cue’d on the ot can now be put through the ti’s filters, distortion models, phaser, flanger, reverb, eq, etc.

Midi:

The virus in multimode allows for playing 16 tracks all at once. So assigning two (or more) virus tracks to the same midi channel allows for easy layering of sounds.
For example: put a pad sound on one track and arpeggiated one on the other…program a chord on the ot and set up a couple of cc’s for individual control of filters on the virus.

Midi cc’s:

In the modulation matrix of the virus you can setup a midi cc as source…so:

For example setup midi cc12 as a modulation source and assign a knob on the ot to send out on cc12. Now in the virus modulation matrix you can set any parameter on the virus as it’ s destination.
In the most extreme case this allows to change up to 18 parameters on the virus with the turn of one ot knob only. This effectively turns a knob on the ot into a macro for the virus.

Well, there goes another $2000… After reading the above I’ve got to get an OT again, and a Virus!
Seriously though, great setup examples.
I am in the market for an OT soon… and do want to try to hook up some multi-timbral synth that does MIDI CC. Any other (cheaper) suggestions other than Virus? Some of the older Roland romplers can be had on the cheap, though not sure how well some of them comply with MIDI cc…

PeterHanes · 2015-06-29T14:51:00.000Z

[quote=““Elastic Membrane””]

…

I am in the market for an OT soon… and do want to try to hook up some multi-timbral synth that does MIDI CC. Any other (cheaper) suggestions other than Virus? Some of the older Roland romplers can be had on the cheap, though not sure how well some of them comply with MIDI cc…
[/quote]

Most multi-timbral synths will be good partners for the OT, including any old Roland, Korg, Emu etc rompler, or Waldorf or Clavia etc synth. (You’re welcome to buy my Clavia synth or Korg module , both still for sale!)

The examples are rather fewer if you also want the synth to process external audio:
[ul]
[li]Alesis Ion/Micron[/li]
[li]DSI PolyEvolver[/li]
[li]Waldorf Microwave[/li]
[li]Roland V-Synth[/li]
[li]maybe some Novation stuff?[/li]
[/ul]

michalronin · 2015-06-29T14:55:14.000Z

Also probably the cheapest VA synth out there, the Blofeld… This thing shines driven by the OT.

Elastic_Membrane · 2015-07-02T13:47:24.000Z

""PeterHanes"":

Elastic Membrane:

…

I am in the market for an OT soon… and do want to try to hook up some multi-timbral synth that does MIDI CC. Any other (cheaper) suggestions other than Virus? Some of the older Roland romplers can be had on the cheap, though not sure how well some of them comply with MIDI cc…

Most multi-timbral synths will be good partners for the OT, including any old Roland, Korg, Emu etc rompler, or Waldorf or Clavia etc synth. (You’re welcome to buy my Clavia synth or Korg module , both still for sale!)

Which models? didn’t see them listed
Was thinking of the Roland JD990 but I can’t find if it fully supports MIDI CC. (The OT only does CC values, right?)
Blofeld looks intriguing too

vasculator · 2015-07-02T15:23:14.000Z

the virus ti2 is probably my favorite synth all said and done. if i could only have one that would surely be it. the virus A is also ridiculously capable. the filter code he developed in 1995 still stands tall.

the blofeld is really amazing as well and a great value, albeit with some bugs that may or may not matter to you. i sometimes miss it.

noisemaker · 2015-08-08T06:54:42.000Z

You could get a second hand Integra 7 if you like roland stuff.

onliner · 2021-08-25T15:08:42.409Z

Hi!

I have Virus TI Snow and Digitakt.

In the Multi mode, the instruments work well, only sometimes, for some reason, some patches on the Virus are not immediately installed on the necessary midi channels.

But I didn’t manage to set up the Sequencer mode, I don’t understand what configuration should be set on the Digitakt’s midi-channels.

Can you help me deal with this problem?

SKull · 2021-08-26T08:38:13.846Z

Christoph Kemper is a genius to me.

buzz · 2021-08-26T10:20:38.632Z

yeah, I like his comment “find the box in the code” and what a box that is

Jacob · 2021-08-26T12:11:50.225Z

Not in front of my Virus right now but that’s the main difference between sequencer and multimode; i.e. in sequencer mode midi channels are ordered per part 1-16 and multimode gives you the flexibility to assign whatever channel you want (have to menu dive). Multimode therefore allows you to layer sounds (by assigning the same midi channel) and disable channels that you have reserved for other instruments. For example my SE-02 is triggered by midi channel 9 on my Digitakt. If my Virus was set to sequencer mode channel 9 is enabled by default and will also trigger, multimode solves this problem.

Jacob · 2021-08-26T12:20:13.428Z

One more thing to add… I think sequencer mode was designed for DAW integration and Virus Control while multimode has been the traditional hardware mode throughout the Virus series. In sequencer mode you’re expected to control volumes and shutoff parts within your DAW (all 16 channels remain active and locked). In multimode you can actually disable unused parts/channels.

onliner · 2021-08-26T13:02:02.226Z

Global midi channel 16 (Virus). Data from three channels (16, 15 and 14) are transmitted from Digitakt - all parts are received in multi-mode.

When I switch the virus to sequencer mode, the notes that Digitakt sends to the Virus do not sound. That is, notes do not sound at all on the Virus. Do not understand why. Any special settings?

Jacob · 2021-08-26T16:18:01.177Z

Hmmm, you mean the sounds assigned to channels 14-16 do not sound? Not positive but the global midi channel might be overridden in sequencer mode as each part is automatically assigned a midi channel. Have you scrolled over to parts 14-16 to make sure the volumes are turned up? I’ll fiddle with my Virus after work to see if I have the same issue.

onliner · 2021-08-26T16:44:40.151Z

In the Sequencer mode on the Digitakt midi channels, parameter 16 was set (like on Virus).
It is interesting to know the settings that allow you to transfer midi-notes from Digitakt to Virus.

I would be very grateful for your answer.