Snap, Crackle, Pop: When will this sh*t ever stop?

[hankpank]

I've had enough. Had this crap since VC was "beta". It's still beta, it's just that it's called 3.0x, 3.0x version of the beta that is. A couple years later and I still can't record a friggin 2 minute bit. F*ck you Access. :evil:

[djones]

I'm just having my Snow for some weeks, but already I'm losing faith in it.
I couldn't imagine how frustrating it would be, having issues for years, and still not solved!

I basically spent my Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night on getting my Snow up and running again!

[marc]

could you guys be a little bit more specific?

marc

[hdruxpin]

Double post LOL

[hdruxpin]

I've had enough. Had this crap since VC was "beta". It's still beta, it's just that it's called 3.0x, 3.0x version of the beta that is. A couple years later and I still can't record a friggin 2 minute bit. F*ck you Access. :evil:

I have a Snow, and too im experiencings issues with OS 3

However "F**k you Access" is not the right response regarding OS 3. Its in Beta, and they are damn quick to release updates to this Beta when the problems are logged.

If I had such problems that I couldn't write I would roll back to 2.7. Thats what you paid for, everything else is a Bonus. And I Love Access for it.

N.b I do have my share of screaming moments, as im sure people with other brands do too.

[justmcg]

I've had enough. Had this crap since VC was "beta". It's still beta, it's just that it's called 3.0x, 3.0x version of the beta that is. A couple years later and I still can't record a friggin 2 minute bit. F*ck you Access. :evil:

I'll just add in some problems I've had. I've owned every virus since version A and now have a TI Polar and a TI Snow. Both have had their share of wacky problems. To stay on topic though, my Snow, which I use only with a laptop and also use as an audio interface for that laptop, has some serious issue that any audio nearing the 0dB mark (in logic, quicktime, anything) i'll get crazy pops/clicks. Any louder and it's utter distortion. Even with a commercially released MP3 that's properly mastered and normalized will clip the virus outputs in the most annoying of ways.

Oddly, the bigger Polar does not do this, nor does any audio interface i've ever owned. Kind of a weird problem, I am also not sure if there is a solution or if other people are having this come up. Anyone?

[hdruxpin]

I'll just add in some problems I've had. I've owned every virus since version A and now have a TI Polar and a TI Snow. Both have had their share of wacky problems. To stay on topic though, my Snow, which I use only with a laptop and also use as an audio interface for that laptop, has some serious issue that any audio nearing the 0dB mark (in logic, quicktime, anything) i'll get crazy pops/clicks. Any louder and it's utter distortion. Even with a commercially released MP3 that's properly mastered and normalized will clip the virus outputs in the most annoying of ways.

Oddly, the bigger Polar does not do this, nor does any audio interface i've ever owned. Kind of a weird problem, I am also not sure if there is a solution or if other people are having this come up. Anyone?

I too have this problem. TBH all I have been able to do, is turn down whatever is playing the audio ( iTunes etc)

Within my daw i ALWAYS put a limiter on the master bus, specifcaly to stop this from happening.

[cl516]

I use my TI2 Desktop STANDALONE ONLY, and I also get pops and clicks on certain patches / multis. To be honest, I never anticipated this prior to purchase.

[lukas412]

I use my TI2 Desktop STANDALONE ONLY, and I also get pops and clicks on certain patches / multis. To be honest, I never anticipated this prior to purchase.

Yup same, I have had a total of 4 TI desktops now. Had mobo replaced in one and then had a brand new one to replace that, it had the LED hardware problem, got another brand new one and still I get occasional pops and clicks in stand alone and VC. It's usable, but I must admit it still annoys me. Based on the number of machines I have had trying to resolve the pops I have to believe that every TI out there does this under certain circumstances.

Luke

[marc]

To stay on topic though, my Snow, which I use only with a laptop and also use as an audio interface for that laptop, has some serious issue that any audio nearing the 0dB mark (in logic, quicktime, anything) i'll get crazy pops/clicks. Any louder and it's utter distortion.

did you ever write into access support? if so, please PM me with the issue #. i know that we had a similar problem some time ago with the rest of the TI family and we fixed it. i wasn't aware that it still happens with the snow.

thanks, marc

[Cantankerous]

I have had the hardware LED problem as well since I bought the unit last summer. My Tranpose +2 LED is constantly lid and was like this right out of the box, boo.

[marc]

I'll just add in some problems I've had. I've owned every virus since version A and now have a TI Polar and a TI Snow. Both have had their share of wacky problems. To stay on topic though, my Snow, which I use only with a laptop and also use as an audio interface for that laptop, has some serious issue that any audio nearing the 0dB mark (in logic, quicktime, anything) i'll get crazy pops/clicks. Any louder and it's utter distortion. Even with a commercially released MP3 that's properly mastered and normalized will clip the virus outputs in the most annoying of ways.

Oddly, the bigger Polar does not do this, nor does any audio interface i've ever owned. Kind of a weird problem, I am also not sure if there is a solution or if other people are having this come up. Anyone?

i've checked a snow against a polar and they behave exactly the same. if you clip the buss in logic, you hear distortion. nothing special IMO. as for "nearing the 0dB mark" i cannot say that i had a problem with anything that doesn't clip the buss.

if you believe that there is a difference in between the polar and the snow, please show me how i can see this difference for myself.

best, marc

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

I would not go as far as to say '$*%& you Access'....they make lovely sounding synths....however...

I have experienced the following in all the Virus's I've owned (KC, TI & TI2):

1) Play the internal (TIiiiiiiiii) demo song via the front panel on the synth and compare it to the MP3 on the access website. You will notice that not all the sounds get played....as if there are parts missing - let the demo song loop a few times and it almost becomes unrecogniseable. The polyphony voice allocation has always been bad on the Virus. Even with the 100 voices of the TI2 some patches cannot be played polyphonically (yep, they're not in mono mode....I did check 100 times). It just baffles the mind that this has not been addressed after 11 years.

2) With all versions of the virus - I get intermittent LOUD pops, snaps and SPARKS when cycling through random patches. Sometimes I can go for a few hours with no problems at all....then I will stop playing, select a new patch...and then hit a key....and get a wonderful LOUD shitty blast through the speakers for a split second. This sound can either resemble a massive pop/spark or split second detune or some wierd artifact in the delay effect parameter. I swear one day it will give me a heart attack.

This occurs in standalone mode...even when the synth is not hooked up to the computer. I'm convinced its the effects section of the virus which is causing this. Maybe a conflict between delay parameters between differing patches?

I have to admit...I really hoped this would have been rectified in the TI2 but it is not. All of the above have been observed in the TI2 with the same frequency as earlier versions. This particular problem is the most problematic for me - occasional midi timing/syncing issues (god knows why this happens?) do not bother me so much....its the LOUD, random weirdness that spews from my speakers from time to time that deminishes my confidence. I like to play my gear loud to get into the vibe - the Virus puts lovely sounds....but is ruined by this random weirdness. I have to resort to auditioning the virus on VERY low volume settings for fear of damaging my speakers/health. I can only comfortably play it back loud when the Virus channel is muted on my mixer and I am playing back recorded audio via cubase.

On a positive note - I can confirm that the TI2 keyboard is a beautiful looking synth with gorgeous build quality. The quality of sounds is world class. It is ultimately let down by the persistent uncontrollable/random loud shittyness.

Just as a side note - I have never experienced these pop/sparks/spits from other VA synths. I am CONVINCED it is related to the effects section on the Virus. I would be very grateful if Access could release a beta OS which turns off ALL internal effects so that we could cycle through random factory presets to determin whether the problems persists. This would once and for all help us to identify what is causing it.....

I still rate the TI2 9/10 - I want to rate it 10/10....which is what I feel it deserves. Keep up the good work Access.....we'll get there in the end im sure.

Cheers

DS

[lukas412]

I still rate the TI2 9/10 - I want to rate it 10/10....which is what I feel it deserves. Keep up the good work Access.....we'll get there in the end im sure.

Cheers

DS

Nice post DS. In contrast to some of my other posts on this board and the problems I have with clicks/pops with my TI desktop, there still isn't another VA on the market, now or in the past that I would even consider trading my TI in for. Nothing even close. It's the best sounding VA ever in my opinion and I absolutely love the synth. Nothing is perfect, but I must say the TI is getting closer and closer. As DS has already said Thank you Access and keep up the good work!

Luke

[justmcg]

i've checked a snow against a polar and they behave exactly the same. if you clip the buss in logic, you hear distortion. nothing special IMO. as for "nearing the 0dB mark" i cannot say that i had a problem with anything that doesn't clip the buss.

if you believe that there is a difference in between the polar and the snow, please show me how i can see this difference for myself.

best, marc


Hey Marc,

To answer your first question, I did go through support about this problem and the only answer I got was that my email was sent to the development team. i'll try to find the # and PM you. I am pretty sure you've helped me before with a problem, you're in Chicago right?

I'll have to test out my polar as an interface again to double check between the two. Basically though, I've never had an audio interface behave this way and I find it to be on the slightly unprofessional side, I figured the audio interface in something that costs this much would be at least as good as something from m-audio, and it's not.

Besides logic, if you're listening to music on a website or in quicktime, whatever, that stuff will clip unless you turn down the software volume. Maybe the output of quicktime is slightly higher then it should be if normalized tracks are making the virus clip.

[Dusk]

Access could release a beta OS which turns off ALL internal effects so that we could cycle through random factory presets

Turn all effects off, then Section Lock them. Voila.

[treysmith]

Within my daw i ALWAYS put a limiter on the master bus, specifcaly to stop this from happening.

Dude, what a great idea ... can't believe I haven't thought about that.

You just saved my ears some serious frustration.. thanks :)

[jdez101]

I bought my Virus T1 2 desktop about three weeks ago and I've been getting Pops and clicks as soon as i installed the Virus OS on my computer Apple G5. Its been driving me nutts. I contacted Access and they told me to make sure that i have all the correct setting in Logic which i do from watching the Logic Video. The weird thing about it is I could unplug the Virus and still get the pops and clicks. I have a Motu HD192 sound card and contacted them via phone and we tryed everything and still get them. They Told me it seems like some kind of clocking problem. Very Very frustrating. By the way everything works fine when i switch sound through Built in audio and use my headphones. Any idea's?

Logic pro 8
Motu HD 192
Apple G5

[Chicago]

I bought my Virus T1 2 desktop about three weeks ago and I've been getting Pops and clicks as soon as i installed the Virus OS on my computer Apple G5. Its been driving me nutts. I contacted Access and they told me to make sure that i have all the correct setting in Logic which i do from watching the Logic Video. The weird thing about it is I could unplug the Virus and still get the pops and clicks. I have a Motu HD192 sound card and contacted them via phone and we tryed everything and still get them. They Told me it seems like some kind of clocking problem. Very Very frustrating. By the way everything works fine when i switch sound through Built in audio and use my headphones. Any idea's?

Logic pro 8
Motu HD 192
Apple G5

Are you using 192k? or 44.1

[Ronkaz]

Turn all effects off, then Section Lock them. Voila.
even easier: press CONFIG and go to SYSTEM 1/5 and just switch them off globally...

r

[Chicago]

even easier: press CONFIG and go to SYSTEM 1/5 and just switch them off globally...

r

I always do this - I use so many delay and reverb plugins that I would rather save the horsepower on the TI for cool oscillators and modulations rather than delays and reverbs. I usually never print any sound with reverb or delay anyway, so it is fine.

[feedingear]

I must admit the pops and crackles are really putting a a downer on my ability to enjoy and use the TI... I bought it primarily for live use, but I can't imagine what its going to sound like gigging with constant pops and crackles and unexpected stuff coming through a PA. To be quite honest, I don't think a single mode patch should encounter these sorts of issues, from a synth that in Australia retails for nearly $5000 aussie dollars.

Anyone do much live work with the TI (I own a Polar) and got any opinions on this?

[marc]

I must admit the pops and crackles are really putting a a downer on my ability to enjoy and use the TI... I bought it primarily for live use, but I can't imagine what its going to sound like gigging with constant pops and crackles and unexpected stuff coming through a PA. To be quite honest, I don't think a single mode patch should encounter these sorts of issues, from a synth that in Australia retails for nearly $5000 aussie dollars.

Anyone do much live work with the TI (I own a Polar) and got any opinions on this?

if you have a single patch that crackles, let us know which one and what needs to be done in order to make it crackle. this way we can work on it.

thanks, marc

[mitchiemasha]

I've never had asingle patch what crackles unless it was too loud.

[jdez101]

using 44 hz

[luddy]

Anyone do much live work with the TI (I own a Polar) and got any opinions on this?

I play live with a Polar quite a bit, and I don't run into problems with popping and crackling. When I first had the keyboard (i.e., on an early rev of the O.S.) I ran into much more of this, but not much any more.

I've grown more and more comfortable over time using it on stage. I do get the odd stuck note and some other instability from time to time, but these have become rare. I'm going to use it live tomorrow night, and I've got 3.0.12 loaded up. Zero problems with it during rehearsals.

-Luddy

[cl516]

2) With all versions of the virus - I get intermittent LOUD pops, snaps and SPARKS when cycling through random patches. Sometimes I can go for a few hours with no problems at all....then I will stop playing, select a new patch...and then hit a key....and get a wonderful LOUD shitty blast through the speakers for a split second. This sound can either resemble a massive pop/spark or split second detune or some wierd artifact in the delay effect parameter. I swear one day it will give me a heart attack.

This occurs in standalone mode...even when the synth is not hooked up to the computer. I'm convinced its the effects section of the virus which is causing this. Maybe a conflict between delay parameters between differing patches?

I have to admit...I really hoped this would have been rectified in the TI2 but it is not. All of the above have been observed in the TI2 with the same frequency as earlier versions. This particular problem is the most problematic for me - occasional midi timing/syncing issues (god knows why this happens?) do not bother me so much....its the LOUD, random weirdness that spews from my speakers from time to time that deminishes my confidence. I like to play my gear loud to get into the vibe - the Virus puts lovely sounds....but is ruined by this random weirdness. I have to resort to auditioning the virus on VERY low volume settings for fear of damaging my speakers/health. I can only comfortably play it back loud when the Virus channel is muted on my mixer and I am playing back recorded audio via cubase.

On a positive note - I can confirm that the TI2 keyboard is a beautiful looking synth with gorgeous build quality. The quality of sounds is world class. It is ultimately let down by the persistent uncontrollable/random loud shittyness.

Just as a side note - I have never experienced these pop/sparks/spits from other VA synths. I am CONVINCED it is related to the effects section on the Virus. I would be very grateful if Access could release a beta OS which turns off ALL internal effects so that we could cycle through random factory presets to determin whether the problems persists. This would once and for all help us to identify what is causing it.....

I still rate the TI2 9/10 - I want to rate it 10/10....which is what I feel it deserves. Keep up the good work Access.....we'll get there in the end im sure.

Cheers

DS

Oh my gosh, 100% agreed.

I've never had asingle patch what crackles unless it was too loud.

There's a difference between the crackling that occurs if say the oscillators before the filters are too loud VS the completely random soon-to-give-me-and-DS-a-heartattack type of unrepeatable sharp burst of noise.

And I know it wasn't a 'patch-too-loud' because along with the noise, ALL the lights dimmed as if the DSP wanted to crash.

[feedingear]

Thank you for your replies.

I will have to have a play with the patch and see if the patch/oscillator volumes are whats causing the slight crackling sounds, I wasn't aware it could actually be a factor in causing that type of wavery, slightly crackly and random sound. So it could quite easily be my fault, as this is my first foray into actual synthesis, having mostly used workstations/presets. Any tips or things I should look for in the patches to help stop a level overload/issue?

All those issues aside, this is the first instrument I have owned that I can switch on and say every time I play it, I get exhilarated and amazed by the depth of the sounds.

[cl516]

I'm gonna approach this from a different angle:

I'm wondering if there's something I can do as a user that will make the TI2 less prone to these weird glitches?

-Perhaps, should I turn volume down before changing patches?

-Always press PANIC at the start of every patch?

-Give it some time when switching from Multi to Single?

Cuz when the unit is fine, which is like 95% of the time, it sounds so damn good.

[Definity]

what firewire card u guy using becuase i had problem emailed access and they said use a specific firewire card

[marc]

what firewire card u guy using becuase i had problem emailed access and they said use a specific firewire card

the virus has a USB interface, no firewire interface. access doesn't recommend a specific card/chipset or revision - in other words, there are no compatibility issues as long as the USB specs are fulfilled.

best, marc