http://www.virus.info/api/download/...view%202010.mp3

Direct audio download link ...

I'm guessing they're adding a guitar amp simulator w/ feedback. Maybe some sort of audio gate. A flanger. Some sort of glitch effect.

Whatever they're adding, though, this demo sounds awesome. To my ears this sounds like the best addition since the TI came out. This distortion especially is impressive. The formant/granular wavetables were really lame IMO and the tape delay sounded like ass compared to UA's RE-201. The addition of "Character" was nice but really only did a bit of EQing. The "glitchbox" or whatever they added was also lame since you had to have it in a specific mode -- made it seem only useful for live use.

Hey Cryo, how do you like your Polar? Do you think you could ever use it without the VSTi plugin? I'm thinking of getting a polar and using it like a traditional synth. I think I would like it more than my desktop hooked up through USB since it'll have the keys attached and I'll forbid myself from using the USB interface even for MIDI.

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Last edited by alanzo on Feb-20-2010 at 21:22

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo Whatever they're adding, though, this demo sounds awesome.

Oh yeah!

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo Hey Cryo, how do you like your Polar? Do you think you could ever use it without the VSTi plugin? I'm thinking of getting a polar and using it like a traditional synth. I think I would like it more than my desktop hooked up through USB since it'll have the keys attached and I'll forbid myself from using the USB interface even for MIDI.

I love my Polar (except, as I mentioned in other threads, I want the larger keyboard version). I actually really like the Virus Control when I'm working on a project, but I often bounce it down in real-time through the analog outputs once I get the Virus parts where I want them - there really is an audible difference in sound quality between the USB and analog outs.

Also, I use my Virus as a MIDI controller (via USB) for my soft synths, whereas my Alesis QS functions primarily as a weighted controller for my hardware (and sometimes software) synths. The Virus' Remote Templates are actually a very cool and under-appreciated feature - they're much less annoying to work with than my old Novation Remote AutoMap feature was.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Oh yeah! I love my Polar (except, as I mentioned in other threads, I want the larger keyboard version). I actually really like the Virus Control when I'm working on a project, but I often bounce it down in real-time through the analog outputs once I get the Virus parts where I want them - there really is an audible difference in sound quality between the USB and analog outs. Also, I use my Virus as a MIDI controller (via USB) for my soft synths, whereas my Alesis QS functions primarily as a weighted controller for my hardware (and sometimes software) synths. The Virus' Remote Templates are actually a very cool and under-appreciated feature - they're much less annoying to work with than my old Novation Remote AutoMap feature was.

Do you ever use the actual knobs on your Virus? I never did on my Desktop...

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo Do you ever use the actual knobs on your Virus?

All the time, especially with the Remote Templates. I think it's probably more convenient to use them on one of the keyboard versions if it's sitting right in front of you and functioning as your MIDI controller, as opposed to having a desktop version mounted in a rack.

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I'm guessing they're adding a guitar amp simulator w/ feedback. Maybe some sort of audio gate. A flanger. Some sort of glitch effect.

I wonder if they'll be adding some new filter types as well?

One improvement I'd love to see in a future OS is the ability to copy arp patterns from one slot to another to create different variations, and more user slots. Maybe they'll surprise me with this OS.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik All the time, especially with the Remote Templates. I think it's probably more convenient to use them on one of the keyboard versions if it's sitting right in front of you and functioning as your MIDI controller, as opposed to having a desktop version mounted in a rack.

I intend to use the Polar as my primary keyboard controller. I guess having only three octaves bugs you? I know when I had four octaves on the Nord Lead 3 it never bothered me.

quote:

I wonder if they'll be adding some new filter types as well?

I couldn't tell if there were new filter types but it mostly sounded like new FX.

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Great find. I'm so glad I sold mine now

I used to use my Ti 61 as a master controller and thought it worked great. Saying that i'm not one for over complex automap style stuff and just set up a few simple templates in Cubase

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I intend to use the Polar as my primary keyboard controller. I guess having only three octaves bugs you?

Yeah, I play a lot of my parts into my sequencer so I tend to use a wide range of the keyboard (especially with pads) and I also sit and play my soft synths a lot (e.g., when coming up with ideas) - 37 keys is very limiting for two-handed playing. The other time when it can be annoying is with sample-based instruments (e.g., Kontakt, EWQL Voices of Passion, RA, Symphonic Choirs, etc.) where the keyswitches are assigned to the lowest notes (e.g., C0-E0) - it's a PITA to try to play the actual voice (usually assigned to the middle/upper ranges), transpose down 2-3 octaves just to keyswitch to a new articulation, then transpose back up 2-3 octaves to continue playing - totally disrupts my workflow.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Yeah, I play a lot of my parts into my sequencer so I tend to use a wide range of the keyboard (especially with pads) and I also sit and play my soft synths a lot (e.g., when coming up with ideas) - 37 keys is very limiting for two-handed playing. The other time when it can be annoying is with sample-based instruments (e.g., Kontakt, EWQL Voices of Passion, RA, Symphonic Choirs, etc.) where the keyswitches are assigned to the lowest notes (e.g., C0-E0) - it's a PITA to try to play the actual voice (usually assigned to the middle/upper ranges), transpose down 2-3 octaves just to keyswitch to a new articulation, then transpose back up 2-3 octaves to continue playing - totally disrupts my workflow.

Hrmm. Maybe I'll get the full TI keys, then. The polar is just so shmexy.

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo The polar is just so shmexy.

Yeah it is - maybe Access will surprise us at NAMM and release a "Whiteout" version of the 61-key TI2, like they did with the desktop.

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quote:

Originally posted by tehlord I used to use my Ti 61 as a master controller and thought it worked great. Saying that i'm not one for over complex automap style stuff and just set up a few simple templates in Cubase

Yeah, that's why I hated the Novation AutoMap - it was just too much (and rarely worked correctly IME). The Virus Remotes can be as simple as you want them - I primarily just assign the most common parameters (e.g., filter, envelope, and LFO controls, performance/expression controls).

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