Some Questions about the Virus PowerCore? Help!

[keano]

My questions about the Powercore version is:

1. How many arpeggation patterns does the PC virus have compared to the Virus C?
2. Can I use all the program sounds that are available to hardware users?
3. My main interest/concern in the PC virus is that if I use 4 different PCV patches in a song and save it and back it up on CDROM. Then later open that song and will it remember all the sounds I used and patterns etc?
Right now I have the Virus KB and I have to always write down what sound I used on a song etc. I am trying to avoid that.
4. Is there any difference in sound quality between the hardware and software versinos playing the same patch?
5. Lastly and most importantly is there any latency when recording or on playback? Or will it play as well as my other VST dynths like Atmosphere, and Aturia Moog V?
Thank you

[Tomer=Trance]

with the poco its digital all the way, no convertion so you dont lose any data.

[ten]

1) 64 like the virusb/indigo (the virus powercore is based on the virusb/indigo so all the specs are pretty much the same apart from poly/output count)

2) yes u can use all the hardware patches, even ones created on the c version, although the virus powercore will ignore virus c specific params like eq and moog filter.

3) yes it has instant recall like any other vsti

4) some retards say they can hear a difference but ive a/bed and you cannot and if they can its REALLY minimal, you wouldnt be able to tell in a mix. Some say the a/d makes a big difference, I think not.....probably the same people that say the hardware b has magic the c version does not lol

5) depends on sequencer, all dsp card plugins (uad/powercore) etc add latency. if your host seq has global pdc then you dont have to worry, if it does you can use a latency controller plug that comes with the poco to counter it.

ten

[marc]

4) some retards say they can hear a difference but ive a/bed and you cannot and if they can its REALLY minimal, you wouldnt be able to tell in a mix. Some say the a/d makes a big difference, I think not.....probably the same people that say the hardware b has magic the c version does not lol

5) depends on sequencer, all dsp card plugins (uad/powercore) etc add latency. if your host seq has global pdc then you dont have to worry, if it does you can use a latency controller plug that comes with the poco to counter it.

ten

let me just add my 0.2%:

4) you don't need to be a retard to hear differences in between D/A converters. but you're right in assuming that it doesn't really matter in the mix (where you change the sound in a much more drastic fashion using EQ and compression). these days it's hard to find bad sounding D/A converters so i wouldn't worry to much

5) the latency introduced by the powercore is small in comparision to the latency of some instrument calculated on the host. in fact, the virus powercore is pretty much as snappy as the hardware version. on top of that, there is latency compensation - so once you've recorded a track the timing is perfect anyway. the thumb rule is: the lower the buffer size, the smaller the latency and the higher the load on the host CPU. i can play my virus powercore live with my powerbook as long as i use small buffers (128 or lower) with without feeling the delay to an extend where it feels unconfortable

- marc

[keano]

Thanks guys Marc you also answered my question about live playing.
On the access site comparison it says that for Simultaneous FX it has 0 compared to the others. What exactly does that mean? The others show 98 and 82. also I use Cubase SX2 which has supposed no latency problems.
also does anyone know the cost of multi lisecne?
Thanks

[marc]

Thanks guys Marc you also answered my question about live playing.
On the access site comparison it says that for Simultaneous FX it has 0 compared to the others. What exactly does that mean? The others show 98 and 82. also I use Cubase SX2 which has supposed no latency problems.
also does anyone know the cost of multi lisecne?
Thanks

on the access site, the cell within the table is empty. it doesn't say zero. the count depends on the amounts of powercore cards in the system, for 4 parts/1 powercore it would be 21 or so.

the multi licence will be around ?299 + VAT

-marc

[keano]

Is that $299 per dsp chip? Or for all?

[marc]

Is that $299 per dsp chip? Or for all?

for all DSPs (on every card installed) of course

marc

[keano]

Just double checking.... polyphony means voices right? And multitimbral means number of parts played back at once?

So regarding the PCVirus base model it's multitimbral = 4. That means that I can have 4 tracks of the virus max with different sounds. And when I am using all 4 tracks I only have 16 voices to share between them right?

So if I was hitting some heavy noted pads I could run out of polyphony right?

Am I understand this?

[Hollowcell]

That means that I can have 4 tracks of the virus max with different sounds. And when I am using all 4 tracks I only have 16 voices to share between them right?


Yep, that's right.

Also, if you are running sounds with lot's of unison, you will run out of voices even quicker.

[keano]

How much is the multi lisence to use the whole card for 64 voices?
I am thinking seriously about selling my KC. I love the point of saving a project and and having all the virus tracks open up with the patch in place ready to go.

Also will the arpegiator on the powercore virus and delay effects lock into the BPM of my DAW(Cubase SX2)?

[jasedee]

I am thinking seriously about selling my KC. I love the point of saving a project and and having all the virus tracks open up with the patch in place ready to go.
I dont get it.........

When I start a new project in SX, I set up a new multi on my Virus, and choose all sounds from within SX, and all information is stored (including patchs) within my project.

Sounds like you are doing something wrong?

I wouldnt swap a KC for poco virus.......no damn way. They are far too sexy!

[Hollowcell]

How much is the multi lisence to use the whole card for 64 voices?
I am thinking seriously about selling my KC. I love the point of saving a project and and having all the virus tracks open up with the patch in place ready to go.

Also will the arpegiator on the powercore virus and delay effects lock into the BPM of my DAW(Cubase SX2)?

I think you should look into setting everything up a little better Keano. Specially before selling the KC!

If you do want to sell, then I'm pretty sure the Appeg and delays of the powercore will lock to BPM clock. You do have the SX-BPM locked properly to your KC though don't you? Just seems like an odd question is all.

Good luck with the choice. :)

[keano]

First off thanks guys and sorry for the lame questions. I honestly have one question left.

You know how when using the hardware version of the Virus if you use more then 1 patch you have to use a mutli.

If using the Powercore version can I just use a single on track 1, another single on track 2 and so on instead of multi's?

[Tomer=Trance]

what do you mean?
its multis aswell but each multi has only 4 midi parts per dsp.

[keano]

What I mean is if your using a hardware version and plan on using 3 sounds on 3 different tracks in your DAW you would create a multi-set with those sounds.

I am asking can I avoid that altogether using the software version. In other words open up PC Virus in a track choose my patch - done.
Do the same on another track without creating multi-sets.

[Hollowcell]

When I'm using more than one sound on the VC, I use multi-single mode.

I use Cubase by the way. All I do is select what sounds I want for each midi part in the VC. Then when I record or play midi channel 1 on cubase, the sound that's on part 1 in the Virus plays.

Basicly the VC (or KC, like you have I beleive) will let you have 16 parts all playing different sounds. Once in multi-single/multi mode selecting sounds for each part isn't much more difficult than secting a single sound.

[jasedee]

You are acting like using a multi is some really hard, pain in the arse thing to do, when really, it is literally "Pushing a button!!!!"

You push 'Multi'......

Set up your MIDI channels in Cubase, lets say 16 of them, and then each channel is assigned a Different MIDI channel (1-16), then, because you have been a good boy and stored the Virus C patch list within Cubase, you call up whatever sounds you want within cubase.

The questions you are asking really lead me to believe you are doing things the hard way. Dont take it as an attack, Because all of us have been there......

Lets get your system runnning properly (Before you ditch the Hardware Virus).......we are here to help :)

Good luck!