OS3 - Characters

[wildbill]

I've got an email in to Access about this, and am going to put it in the 'trouble' area too, but I thought it might get more visibility here.

My Virus TI desktop with OS3 - the first and last characters 'analog boost' and 'stereo width' (or somesuch), show up and have working controls and parameters. All the other 'characters' are greyed out and don't do anything.
On the desktop unit itself, the characters are listed under knob 1, but there's nothing showing on knobs 2 and 3. Is anyone else getting this problem?

[Cantankerous]

Same here. I thought it was suppose to be that way for those two characters?

[wildbill]

I'm using Cubase 3.1 with Windows XP, with all updated service packs. How about you?
I think any information we can give them will be useful.

[Talos]

They are not meant to have dials AFAIK, and they do make a difference to the sound it is just subtle.

Try turning the volume up higher before switching character presets.

[IamEvil]

errr maybe there isn't any editable parameters on those character models ?

[wildbill]

Maybe you're right and I was just expecting more from them. On most of the characters, the 'amount' and 'tune' knobs are greyed out. You can select the characters, but the whole thing is highlighted in very light grey, like they aren't implemented yet.

I sent screen shots to Access and tried to post them here, but I can't reduce them down to the 19.5 kb or so required here.

When I turn up the volume and cycle thru them, the only thing I can notice is that most of them sound a little quiter than analog boost, except for bass enhancer, which sounds just a touch louder. (Unless it's just my imagination - the difference is very subtle.)

Not too big of a deal for me though, because I like all the other features of OS3 so much, especially the ring mod and frequency shifter.

[Talos]

If you notice the Bass enhancer you should notice the others, maybe you were using a bass heavy preset. Try using the Characters on different types of sounds.

To me they have a subtle but obvious effect on the way the synth sounds.
But I have been using Access synths Since Virus A (1998), So I do know the sound well.

[wildbill]

Access is taking a look at the screenshots I sent them.



One quick question for you guys using VC - when you select the characters, can you change the 'amount' knob on the left side. Or is it greyed out?

[Kingmon]

Hey, WB,

I'm having the exact same problem you are reporting - I'm using Virus Desktop TI with OS3 with Ableton Live 7(latest version), same deal - when I select any of the characters except Analog Boost and Stereo Width, the knobs are greyed out - they are definitely not enabled - did you hear anything from Access tech support?

[Talos]

Again, those are not meant to have any user dials.

[wildbill]

... did you hear anything from Access tech support?



Yes - a couple things. They said it was normal to have the knobs greyed out, nothing to worry about. They also said that the version they were using has functional knobs, so I'd maybe expect to see that in some future OS update:

(sorry Access, if I wasn't supposed to say that).

They also asked if I had tried it with another DAW besides Cubase, which I haven't. But it appears you have tried it with Live and it's the same.

All of the dsp functions that Access uses usually have an effect that can be pushed to very drastic limits to produce great changes in sounds.
This led me to believe that there might be something wrong with the current implementation of the characters.

[cl516]

well i've only had my TI for about a day, but I've looked into this on my OS3.

under character, I do get all three knobs. the character type, the intensity, and the frequency.

but intensity and frequency are extremely subtle - to the point where sometimes i'm not sure if it's actually doing anything...

[wildbill]

Hey cl: yep, it's me. Liking your TI so far?

There's a bunch of different 'characters' to select. They all have visible knobs, but only the first and last characters have knobs that are highlighted dark and functioning.
The rest of the characters have knobs that are visible, but greyed out and non-functioning.

[djones]

well i've only had my TI for about a day, but I've looked into this on my OS3.

under character, I do get all three knobs. the character type, the intensity, and the frequency.

but intensity and frequency are extremely subtle - to the point where sometimes i'm not sure if it's actually doing anything...

That's weird!
Everything is greyed out here as well.

[feedingear]

Those knobs tend to change the quality of the sound just slightly. It's like a last minute touch up to your patch if required to get some subtle changes. Crank your speakers and dial through them, you should notice a difference pretty easily.