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Posted by Reno on Aug-03-2008 14:08:

Virus TI Automation in Cubase

Hi all,

I have a question re Virus automation in Cubase - it seems automating multiple channels is not possible. Ok I'll explain:

The Virus VST plugin has 16 channels so in theory provided you don't use all the voices, you can use 16 different patches or layers on your track. In practise as I've discovered this doesn't quite work since many of the really nice patches use many voices limiting the channels.

So thats ok, lets say I only want to use 3 channels, lead, pad & another effect. I create the layers via 3 midi channels now want to automate & tweak the softknobs for each channel individually. It seems in cubase that you can only automate from the instrument channel within cubase itself, not the midi channels. So if automate the filter cutoff for 1, it will do it for all.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Cheers
Reno

Posted by Ry Thomas on Aug-03-2008 16:46:

Did you open the TI in the instrument rack(F9), or via an instrument track?

Posted by Reno on Aug-03-2008 19:58:

I'm using Cubase SX3 so I reckon you mean F11 to load VST's? F9 just switches menu options.

Yes used F11. I'm a bit of a dork though because I discovered how to do it shortly after posting the thread. If under the the VST intruments and in Virus TI, the knobs are clearly marked for each channel e.g. softknob 1 1, softknob 1 2, softknob 1 8 etc.

I just had some weird thing happening where the filter seemed to affect all channels but seems to be sorted now.

cheers.

Posted by Ry Thomas on Aug-03-2008 20:04:

sorry, f11 yes

Posted by Raphie on Aug-03-2008 21:11:

Interesting question. I am using Cubase 4 and i am looking into the TI as well.

1. First of all does all audio run through the USB cable? If you don't choose the TI as primary ASIO driver is sound transfered through USB to your main interface (in my the MOTU 828 MK3) or do you need to make additional analoque / digital connections?

2. Is the TI Virus B/C compatible? i.e. can i use the Veangance Sound banks?

3. How does Cubase react to 2 ASIO drivers? i know only 1 can be active, but does it mess up things?

4. How does the TI compare to i.e the Gladiator VSTi? I've compared some MP3 demos and have played with my Gladiator copy for a few hours. From my perception it seems that the Virus still sounds a bit warmer and has a bit more depth in texture and filters. My goal would be to use the TI for leadsounds, backing things up with VSTi's.

Posted by Reno on Aug-03-2008 21:21:

answers below...

quote:
Originally posted by Raphie
Interesting question. I am using Cubase 4 and i am looking into the TI as well.

1. First of all does all audio run through the USB cable? If you don't choose the TI as primary ASIO driver is sound transfered through USB to your main interface (in my the MOTU 828 MK3) or do you need to make additional analoque / digital connections?

Nope all through USB if you want (which is how I have it setup). It's just another vsti basically which you want find in other hard synths today (yet i think). And yes you just use your normal onboard sound card as primary asio.

2. Is the TI Virus B/C compatible? i.e. can i use the Veangance Sound banks?

No - you wouldn't want to though. Virus has endless patches that will create any sound you looking for.

3. How does Cubase react to 2 ASIO drivers? i know only 1 can be active, but does it mess up things?

Only need 1 active asio driver, the sound card.

4. How does the TI compare to i.e the Gladiator VSTi? I've compared some MP3 demos and have played with my Gladiator copy for a few hours. From my perception it seems that the Virus still sounds a bit warmer and has a bit more depth in texture and filters. My goal would be to use the TI for leadsounds, backing things up with VSTi's.

For me virus is the ultimate synth. There are some pretty good vst's out there but the virus encourages you to want to play cause when you load the patches and start tweaking, it's awesome. You could get the same result with other instruments but nothing like having a Virus on your desk.

Posted by Raphie on Aug-03-2008 21:29:

Thanks for your quick reply. Regarding Cubase since you use SX3 you don't have instrument tracks, from my perspective you just need to do the following:

1. setup a midi track for each sound (each track needs to have it's own midi channel!!!)
2. assign an instance of the Virus VSTi to each track (this might be where your problem lies, i don't know if the VSTi allows you to load several instances.
3. Choose the midi controller nuber in the pianorol and start drawing (or corect your recorded knobs)

There should not be more to it. If things seem to change globally (meaning affecting all channels) then doublecheck if each patch has it's own channel AND if the Virus is in Multitimbral mode (most synths have a performance and multitimbral mode, where multitimbral is16 channels (ch 10 for drums) and performance mode s 1 global channel driving multilayers patches.

Since i don't have the TI (yet :-) ) there is not much more i can add.

Posted by Reno on Aug-03-2008 21:32:

dude read my second thread, I fixed my problem

anyhow you can't load the Virus VST more than once which is what makes it slightly different but you will need to get one to see what I mean. Basically 1 & 3 in your post are true but not 2.

Posted by mysticalninja on Aug-03-2008 21:46:

your using virus controll?

you have to right click on everything you want to automate in the vst and click "add to automation list"

it is kind of annoying. but only takes a second.

yes you can load virus b and c banks into t.i. all the vengeance sets work.