Virus B not working, please help!

[captainsmelly]

Hi, I have just bought a virus b from ebay but have a slight snag, it doesn't quite work. Want to see if I can fix it before going back to the seller (who seems to be a really nice guy)

Problems are as follows..

- Won't receive a midi input from pcr 500 keyboard. No note or symbol is displayed on the screen which I gather should be.

- No values can be changed, let me clarify, I turn I knob, any knob but for example LFO1 rate. The screen displays the current value for the selected patch, but won't go up or down. NONE of the knobs have any effect.

- I have no output from any output. Pressing edit and sync as the manual says to get a tone, does not make any noise. I connect the external inputs to a source and get nothing through.

- Although I can scroll through the menus cleanly, and patches, I cannot alter anything with either the value button or knob.

On the positive side, the lfo lights do work, they change rate as different patches are selected, when I connect the midi out to my DAW (FL10) via the keyboard, FL does see a midi signal, and the virus does look very pretty.

So is it broken? I mostly think it's locked somehow, I've done the reset a couple of times with LFO1 and LFO2 whilst turning it on, and it loads up nicely loading all the patches etc. But no change!



?

[Timo]

Hi Capt. Smelly, don't worry it's not broken, seems the former owner has 'customised' (aka messed up) all the system settings.

Press CTRL, then use the cursor buttons to find the menu option MIDI > Panel, and set this option to "Int+Midi". You should now be able to turn the knobs and alter values via the Virus' front panel.

Not sure about the PCR 500 MIDI thing, but it sounds he has customised a lot of system settings, so here are mine (navigated via CTRL menu) that might at least get you in the right ballpark:

Keyboard > Local = On
MIDI > GlobalChan = 1
MIDI > Panel = Int+Midi (as already mentioned)
MIDI > SoftThru = Off
MIDI > ClockRx = Auto
MIDI > MidiVolume = Ena
MIDI > ProgChange = Ena
MIDI > MultiPrgChg = Ena
MIDI > DeviceId = 1
MIDI CONTROL > LoPage = SysEx
MIDI CONTROL > HiPage = SysEx (not totally sure about these though, but it works)

[captainsmelly]

Hi mate, thanks for the reply. There's a good chance it was me rather than the vendor who cocked up!

I phoned him earlier today and he talked me through the midi panel setting, I reckon I changed that when I was trying to get the keyboard to work. That half is sorted now, so the virus responds to knob tweakery.

But..

I've put in (almost) all the settings you listed, except 'Keyboard > Local = On' I don't have that option?!

[Timo]

I've put in (almost) all the settings you listed, except 'Keyboard > Local = On' I don't have that option?!

My bad, you have a Virus B (desktop version) without a keyboard, so this option wouldn't be available to you.

Hope you've got it all up 'n runnin now and can accept MIDI from your PCR (set the PCR 500 so it outputs MIDI on channel 1)?

Sound wise the Virus B is a beast of a synth. :)

[captainsmelly]

My bad, you have a Virus B (desktop version) without a keyboard, so this option wouldn't be available to you.

Yes I do, sorry should have clarified

Hope you've got it all up 'n runnin now and can accept MIDI from your PCR (set the PCR 500 so it outputs MIDI on channel 1)?

Nope, still not working :( but yes the pcr is set that way, with the midi lead in the right socket even!

Sound wise the Virus B is a beast of a synth. :)

Yeah it's sick! Been messing around with the test sound (edit and sync buttons) making crazy noises