Cubase Mixer issues

[fallward]

Is there any way to assign different tracks from the Virus into separate mixer channels to Cubase? I'd like to be able to side chain, and EQ certain sounds differently. As of right now, the only way I can get them into new mixer channels is by adding a MIDI track but I can't add any of the FX I want when it's just a MIDI track.

Here's a screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/EARlWlL.png?1

Blue = Virus

[MBTC]

Have you looked at the Cubase Tutorial (available from the question mark on the plugin)? I believe it's covered there.

I have a Snow which only has two outputs and up to 4 parts, so I can't do the same things I might with a TI Desktop, but the way I use it is typically using one instrument track for the plugin and one for the audio output, and bouncing everything from that point on. I only expect good polyphony from one "epic" sound at a time out of the Snow.. maybe I could do more, but if I use multiple parts I tend to just use them to beef up the single sound. If I added a desktop I might aim for 3 sounds for the 3 analog outs, in which case I would set up a bus like stereo 1, stereo 2, stereo 3 and make sure the audio track is mapped to that bus, then a MIDI track to hold the notes/automation for each part.

At least I think you said you have a desktop or keyboard model? The plug in is a bit different between that and Snow.

[fallward]

Have you looked at the Cubase Tutorial (available from the question mark on the plugin)? I believe it's covered there.

I have a Snow which only has two outputs and up to 4 parts, so I can't do the same things I might with a TI Desktop, but the way I use it is typically using one instrument track for the plugin and one for the audio output, and bouncing everything from that point on. I only expect good polyphony from one "epic" sound at a time out of the Snow.. maybe I could do more, but if I use multiple parts I tend to just use them to beef up the single sound. If I added a desktop I might aim for 3 sounds for the 3 analog outs, in which case I would set up a bus like stereo 1, stereo 2, stereo 3 and make sure the audio track is mapped to that bus, then a MIDI track to hold the notes/automation for each part.

At least I think you said you have a desktop or keyboard model? The plug in is a bit different between that and Snow.

I do have the desktop model.
So you just bounce each part once your satisfied with it and move on? I was planning on just bouncing the tracks back into Cubase as an audio track and just automating everything from there with FX.

I selected the 3 outputs and saw that mixer channels had been created for them but I can't see where tracks are or how to create them. I only see the initial Virus instrument I created

[MBTC]

I do have the desktop model.
So you just bounce each part once your satisfied with it and move on? I was planning on just bouncing the tracks back into Cubase as an audio track and just automating everything from there with FX.

Yes and no. The Snow lets me have 4 parts, so I might have 4 patches loaded into the editor at once, but because the Snow only has 2 analog outs (remember I excluded USB from my world entirely for audio), that means only one stereo audio track at a time. If I wanted mono it could be two.

But with a desktop you have 6 audio outs so you could look at it like 3x the workflow flexibility if you were doing everything the same way I am. But keep in mind my way is not necessarily the right way or best way.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think the part you haven't learned yet is how Cubase maps busses to analog outs. I have a bus called Stereo 2 that refers to the two input ports on the audio interface that the only set of two analog outs on the Virus are feeding into to create one stereo signal. You have three times that on the desktop so you could have up to three stereo audio tracks with separate Cubase mixer settings on them without using USB for streaming.

As far as how the tracks get there, I just created them. It doesn't look like you have an audio track in that pic.

[MBTC]

Sorry I didn't fully address your question about bouncing and moving on. I do tend to do that -- bounce to a clip (but at that point I might move the clip elsewhere, so the tracks I use to create on aren't necessarily the tracks used for final mixing).

But, I leave the patch config for each part so I can go back and edit it if need be. I wouldn't just bounce then discard the edits I've made to patch and MIDI because I will most likely want to change something later.

If I were using a desktop I'd probably just do the same workflow, except with 3 times the stereo tracks depending on how much polyphony I could get out of it.

By the way how is the latency issue in Cubase vs FL?

[fallward]

Sorry I didn't fully address your question about bouncing and moving on. I do tend to do that -- bounce to a clip (but at that point I might move the clip elsewhere, so the tracks I use to create on aren't necessarily the tracks used for final mixing).

But, I leave the patch config for each part so I can go back and edit it if need be. I wouldn't just bounce then discard the edits I've made to patch and MIDI because I will most likely want to change something later.

If I were using a desktop I'd probably just do the same workflow, except with 3 times the stereo tracks depending on how much polyphony I could get out of it.

By the way how is the latency issue in Cubase vs FL?

So far I'm not having any latency issues. But I haven't been able to record anything since I get a "CPU overload" error when I'm trying to bounce audio from the Virus. I don't know how many issues I'll run into once it's recorded. I don't really understand how I'm getting CPU overload. I run a 3.4gz processor with 12gigs of ram. It's just incredibly frustrating dealing with all these issues .. I haven't been able to properly work on a record in over a month because if it's not one issue it's another. I figure I'll run into the problems anyway in the future so it's not a biggy. If anything, I've learned a TON about audio lol but I'm still a noob when it comes to the terminology.

As for the audio track I thought you were supposed to add an instrument track? Aren't audio tracks for samples? I guess I just don't understand how the Virus works with audio tracks in Cubase. The integration of hardware and software is insane haha. Feels like the game has changed completely on a personal level.

[MBTC]

Ok bounce is one of those terms that I guess means different things to different people. For purposes of this thread, when I say bouncing a track I simply mean making an audio sample out of the MIDI track data. So yes, audio tracks are for samples... your MIDI data of notes and automation stays in one place, the audio output is on a different track entirely. This is something you're not used to doing if you have only worked with soft-synths, and because of the TI aspect of the Virus it's not completely necessary but it solves a lot of problems. But if you do anything with hardware synths (most of which won't have TI or USB streaming at all) or external instruments/voice of any kind it's just necessary.

Working with hardware definitely impacts your workflow so yes you may have some teething pains on your first hardware synth, but at some point you get everything set up the way you want it and you create some templates. Also you're learning a new DAW along the way so allow yourself time to adjust. I think you're not really as far away from getting the stuff figured out as you might think, sometimes you just take a break from it and come back to it when well rested or whatever and you see something you didn't see before.

The part about Cubase that I think you're still yet to arrive at is the notion of buses. At some point you will need to say "ok this output from synth, mic, electric guitar or whatever goes into input X on my audio interface. How do I capture that input into an audio track?" and in Cubase the answer is you must first create a bus and name it something you'll recognize, then you say that bus is the input for that audio track.

Check out this tutorial, it's an antiquated version of Cubase and Windows but the basics still apply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-YB-0pC1RE

Now, whatever you create in that process you will have as an option on the input for your audio tracks.

Pain in the ass alert -- Cubase won't let you save these fucking named bus configurations! Well it sort of does, you make templates. What I do is create one monster template that has 95% of everything I'm likely to use in a project, then I make smaller templates from that one that are subsets of the monster template for when I don't need everything. Trust me when I say templates will be important to you, you don't want to map those busses every time you start a new project. Most Virus users create templates in FLStudio for a similar reason, you don't want to manually set all that stuff up every time.

[MBTC]

Any luck with busses and audio tracks?

[fallward]

Any luck with busses and audio tracks?

Sorry I've been REALLY busy lately with finals and once I was able to sit in the studio I was having some ground loop issues that took me a day or so to solve.

I'm beginning to understand the mixer a lot more now and I understand how to send different tracks to different outputs. So basically I create a MIDI track and send that data to an audio track that allows me to mix down individual parts? Problem is I don't have any options to input the MIDI data on an audio track. Or does the different parts have to bounce into an audio track ?

By the way, I'm loving Cubase so far.. I should have made the switch LONNNNG ago.

[MBTC]

Sorry I've been REALLY busy lately with finals and once I was able to sit in the studio I was having some ground loop issues that took me a day or so to solve.

I'm beginning to understand the mixer a lot more now and I understand how to send different tracks to different outputs. So basically I create a MIDI track and send that data to an audio track that allows me to mix down individual parts? Problem is I don't have any options to input the MIDI data on an audio track. Or does the different parts have to bounce into an audio track ?

By the way, I'm loving Cubase so far.. I should have made the switch LONNNNG ago.

Glad you're liking Cubase. I think you're definitely better off with it if your primary interest is synths and moving toward hardware. FLS does some things really well, but is weird and non-standard in other ways.

I'm not quite sure what you mean "Problem is I don't have any options to input the MIDI data on an audio track". MIDI data and audio are two very different things. Coming from a soft synth background you might think of them as one in the same and therefore be expecting them to live in the same space in the DAW. Maybe I have an advantage because I'm old enough to remember when the MIDI standard was actually created (and was into hardware synths BEFORE then! :). Learn to separate them in your mind and you'll be in better shape. Part of your perspective might be as is because of how FLS decided to separate patterns and arrangements from the mixer. In Cubase, the mixer is more like an actual hardware mixer than it is in FLS.

You are sending MIDI data to the Virus, but you're receiving the audio output into your Cubase track. Sorry if that's too basic and I mis-understood your question, but it helps in creating your templates to think of it like that, and it is not the same as the Virus plug-in behaves by default.

[fallward]

Glad you're liking Cubase. I think you're definitely better off with it if your primary interest is synths and moving toward hardware. FLS does some things really well, but is weird and non-standard in other ways.

I'm not quite sure what you mean "Problem is I don't have any options to input the MIDI data on an audio track". MIDI data and audio are two very different things. Coming from a soft synth background you might think of them as one in the same and therefore be expecting them to live in the same space in the DAW. Maybe I have an advantage because I'm old enough to remember when the MIDI standard was actually created (and was into hardware synths BEFORE then! :). Learn to separate them in your mind and you'll be in better shape. Part of your perspective might be as is because of how FLS decided to separate patterns and arrangements from the mixer. In Cubase, the mixer is more like an actual hardware mixer than it is in FLS.

You are sending MIDI data to the Virus, but you're receiving the audio output into your Cubase track. Sorry if that's too basic and I mis-understood your question, but it helps in creating your templates to think of it like that, and it is not the same as the Virus plug-in behaves by default.

Yes, I think FL Studio sent me into a very very narrow way of thinking that I noticed was not a standard.

Let me rephrase my question:
Although I'm beginning to understand the mixer a lot more now, I still can't figure out how to send different parts of the Virus' multi-timbral feature to different channels in the mixer of Cubase. If I create a new Stereo input channel in the mixer how do I let it receive data from the 2nd part of the virus? Basically how do I output different parts of the virus to different inputs of the Cubase mixer?

[MBTC]

I've covered that here -- busses are the key. Did you watch the tutorial on busses I posted a link to and have a good grasp of that? The bus is what is taking it from the out on the Virus to the in of the mixer.

[fallward]

I've covered that here -- busses are the key. Did you watch the tutorial on busses I posted a link to and have a good grasp of that? The bus is what is taking it from the out on the Virus to the in of the mixer.

It's still not clicking with me I don't know why it doesn't seem that difficult. I've watched the video and read through this thread about 4 times. Maybe it's because when I open the Cubase Tutorial track and look at the setup there's only one Stereo In + one Stereo Out. One of the tracks also says "Dub Pad on Out 3+4", but I see neither.

Also, in the tutorial track it doesn't make sense to me how there is a VTI 1, VTI 2 on the sequencer and mixer. When I go to add a third Virus output a mixer track and sequencer track is created but when I do this on a new project only mixer tracks are created. I can't seem to get any audio to come out of the third mixer track in the tutorial song either..

[MBTC]

It's still not clicking with me I don't know why it doesn't seem that difficult. I've watched the video and read through this thread about 4 times. Maybe it's because when I open the Cubase Tutorial track and look at the setup there's only one Stereo In + one Stereo Out. One of the tracks also says "Dub Pad on Out 3+4", but I see neither.

Also, in the tutorial track it doesn't make sense to me how there is a VTI 1, VTI 2 on the sequencer and mixer. When I go to add a third Virus output a mixer track and sequencer track is created but when I do this on a new project only mixer tracks are created. I can't seem to get any audio to come out of the third mixer track in the tutorial song either..

It's important to learn by doing, not just reading. Try actually creating a bus. I don't know where the Dub Pad entry is coming from (maybe Traktor or something else you have).

One possible approach, if you have a microphone (the type that plug into your audio interface, not a USB one that connects to your computer) might be to take the Virus out of the equation for a moment, the make it your goal to just create a simple bus that represents the input the mic is connected to and route that to an audio track so that you can hear the mic in the mixer.
The process is the same for any hardware (assuming you're discarding the USB aspect of the Virus).

[fallward]

Oh shoot! I think I was mixing up the common tab with the patch utility tab which is why the last step wasn't working.

Okay thanks for all the help again! I'll probably back soon with more trouble haha

[MBTC]

I'm still not sure where you are with busses, so let's be sure to take one issue at a time and get conclusion to this first.

[mitchiemasha]

So, So far you can make multiple midi tracks and have them play multiple virus parts?

I'm not sure about that version of cubase (i use 5) but when you load the virus as a vst instrument, in the VST instrument rack NOT the create VST track where you have the ability to make midi, audio, group tracks etc. (it looks like you're doing this bit right so far)... In the VST instrument rack there is a lil box with an arrow pointing outwards, next to an e. You need to click this lil box and activate the other 2 outputs. This will create the other 2 busses for your Virus automatically. Then in VC you can just select which USB output you want the midi part to go out. I forget off the top of my head which pull down menu it is but I will have a look. I know where it is when I use it.

I remember the first bit as a few years back I totally forget how to do it and asked the same question.

You can have a total of three stereo busses that will have the ability to run different sounds from the Virus through, adding different effects to each, with out the need to bounce. Some may say "why only 3" but 3 is enough as you never really get more than 3 sounds out the virus anyways.

[MBTC]

So, So far you can make multiple midi tracks and have them play multiple virus parts?

I'm not sure about that version of cubase (i use 5) but when you load the virus as a vst instrument, in the VST instrument rack NOT the create VST track where you have the ability to make midi, audio, group tracks etc. (it looks like you're doing this bit right so far)... In the VST instrument rack there is a lil box with an arrow pointing outwards, next to an e. You need to click this lil box and activate the other 2 outputs. This will create the other 2 busses for your Virus automatically. Then in VC you can just select which USB output you want the midi part to go out. I forget off the top of my head which pull down menu it is but I will have a look. I know where it is when I use it.

I remember the first bit as a few years back I totally forget how to do it and asked the same question.

You can have a total of three stereo busses that will have the ability to run different sounds from the Virus through, adding different effects to each, with out the need to bounce. Some may say "why only 3" but 3 is enough as you never really get more than 3 sounds out the virus anyways.

I may be wrong but I think he got off of USB entirely for audio streaming and went to analog outs. At least that's where I steered him in another thread (to get around the latency issues he was having). Not sure if that's where he is now, but I've been assuming no USB throughout all this. lol.. Underscores the importance of feedback I guess.

If USB works for you then great -- it seems to work for some. Switching to analog outs solved most of my woes.

The automatic enabling of outs I think will only work with USB -- in that case I'm not sure you need busses but I recommend learning them anyway for future hardware connectivity.

[fallward]

I'm able to view only the USB outs in the mixer. Audio does come out of "output1" but not "output2" or "output3".

So far I'm able to work with it pretty freely with USB but analog just sounds better to me and I'd like to be able to use on the main parts of my tracks (bass, lead, strings, etc)

[MBTC]

I'm able to view only the USB outs in the mixer. Audio does come out of "output1" but not "output2" or "output3".

So far I'm able to work with it pretty freely with USB but analog just sounds better to me and I'd like to be able to use on the main parts of my tracks (bass, lead, strings, etc)

So you have audio cables running from all the analog outs of Virus to inputs of the audio interface, and have mapped the busses?

You may need to enable outputs 1 and 2 using the method mitchiemasha described (its the same in Cubase 8 as it is in 5), I'm not sure because the Snow doesn't have that many outs so I cannot confirm. You definitely need to be sure each part is going to the respective out on the VC plugin.

Yes everyone says analog sounds better, and also mm is probably right that you'll never get more than 3 sounds over USB streaming, that's because Virus USB is limited to 1.1 speeds. Once you're using analog outs your limit is the audio interface to the PC, which for yours may be USB 2.0 and for me is Firewire 800 so you tend to get better results across the board (with regard to latency, stuttering, etc.). It probably will never get you close to all 16 parts with any reasonable polyphony but results should be better overall.

[mitchiemasha]

If there is no output on output 2 and 3 but they are showing as busses in cubase, you simply haven't selected the right outputs for that specific Virus channel in VC.

If you want to use the multiple hardware audio outs of your Virus and to not send audio via USB, you'll have to reroute the audio back into cubase using wires and a soundcard.

Imagine it like this, cubase makes a midi note trigger and other controller information. That goes down the USB cable to the VIRUS. The Virus then generates the sound and sends it out the master output. In VC you can control different Virus part to go out either of the sockets on the back. Doing it this way you can't add any VST effects to the Virus unless you route it back in Via a sound card.

HOWEVER. This is TI. Cubase makes the midi note trigger etc that goes down the USB to the VIRUS. The Virus generates the sound (edit: the digital sound not actual audio) and sends it back up the USB cable into cubase (there's 3 of these channels available via the USB). You can now stick any number of VST effects your PC will allow, manipulating the Virus sound. Cubase then sends it's master out back down the USB and out the master output. Using the Virus as a Synth and a soundcard, this might be what's confused you, imagine it as 2 different things but via 1 cable, at the same time.

It really is a lot simpler than it sounds though. It does everything automatically for you when you click the right option. Much easier than how things used to be, routing synths through soundcards and figuring out controller messages, correcting latency etc!!!

I don't use my Virus as a Soundcard, there's no connection on any of the audio outs.

[mitchiemasha]

Just had a look, it's Common tab in VC, a section called Main Out. Here you have the ability to select which ever output you want the sound to go via. If you select USB 1, 2 or 3, the sound will still go out the Virus Master Out (if the Virus is set as your soundcard) but will travel back through Cubase first, as explained above. Select USB 1 L+R, for 1 sound, USB 2 L+R for another and USB 3 L+R for the third. Make sure you've activated the outputs, as explained in another post, VST Instrument Rack, lil box with out arrow.

If the 3rd USB isn't selectable, click the Patch Utility tab next to Common and make sure the USB Audio Mode in the Config tab is set to 3 outputs.

Now you have 3 busses in cubase which you can apply different levels of sidechain ducking, EQ, delays, reverbs etc.

[MBTC]

If you want to use the multiple hardware audio outs of your Virus and to not send audio via USB, you'll have to reroute the audio back into cubase using wires and a soundcard.


I think this is what he is attempting to do here -- route the audio from the analog outs to Traktor (some of this was captured in another thread though, which is why it may not be clear here).

It's good to have both methods in the toolbox, but if the USB is working well for you then it can certainly make things simpler (not to mention frees up audio inputs on the audio interface).

But I just wanted to clarify to him that what you are telling him about the USB setup and what I'm suggesting is two different things. Clicking the box with the arrow on the VST Rack will not create the audio busses for you automatically in Cubase 8 Pro.

So for reference, fallward if you're looking at MM's approach, you're dealing with USB1 L+R, USB2 L+R and so forth. If going with the bus approach I've mentioned you want to stay away from those altogether and use Out1 L+R, Out2 L+R etc. My approach uses USB only for the MIDI data (notes/automation/patch changes etc.).

Advantage of analog outs is tends to sound better, latency is all but non-existent, and USB 1.1 streaming between the Virus and the PC is removed from the equation. The disadvantage of analog outs for 3 stereo connections you need a total of six quarter inch cables running to your audio interface, you have to create and deal with busses.

Advantage of USB is that it is that if it works well for you, it is much less fiddly, requires less cables, and generally feels more integrated like working with soft-synth instruments in any given DAW. Also with the Snow you have 3 USB outs and only one set of analog which gives mixing versatility if you're working with simple enough sounds to actually get 3 at a time out of it. Disadvantage of USB is that it just doesn't work well for some folks.

My personal experience was that I got things working well enough with USB but there was still some detectable latency, all of which went away when I went analog outs. Since I have to use analog outs for other hardware it wasn't a problem for me. It might be for others.

[fallward]

I guess I should've clarified that I swtiched back to using the Virus as a main sound card since the Traktor Kontrol is just really unstable. So far what I'm getting out of this is I need a sound card that can handle all 3 of my outputs so it can be sent into 3 buses in Cubase's mixer. I'm wondering if there are any sound cards that are specifically good with handling the Virus?

As for USB I think I've got a handle on how to use it which is great in case I decide not to go with Analog in the future.

[MBTC]

I guess I should've clarified that I swtiched back to using the Virus as a main sound card since the Traktor Kontrol is just really unstable. So far what I'm getting out of this is I need a sound card that can handle all 3 of my outputs so it can be sent into 3 buses in Cubase's mixer. I'm wondering if there are any sound cards that are specifically good with handling the Virus?

As for USB I think I've got a handle on how to use it which is great in case I decide not to go with Analog in the future.

I can't help with using the Virus' built-in audio interface, maybe someone else can help there. I don't do that with my Ultranova either (which is similar in that it has its own interface and USB).

As far as buying a new audio interface/sound card.... I think of a "sound card" as an actual card that goes inside the computer. Many people use that term interchangeably with "audio interface" but when I say an audio interface I am referring to an external box with lots of ports, and its own power supply.

Compatibility between a given audio interface and the Virus is not really an issue. Once you are using analog outs, the audio interface doesn't know the difference between a Virus an any other audio signal source.

[fallward]

I can't help with using the Virus' built-in audio interface, maybe someone else can help there. I don't do that with my Ultranova either (which is similar in that it has its own interface and USB).

As far as buying a new audio interface/sound card.... I think of a "sound card" as an actual card that goes inside the computer. Many people use that term interchangeably with "audio interface" but when I say an audio interface I am referring to an external box with lots of ports, and its own power supply.

Compatibility between a given audio interface and the Virus is not really an issue. Once you are using analog outs, the audio interface doesn't know the difference between a Virus an any other audio signal source.

Are there any specific details I should be looking for when searching for an Audio interface for the virus? I know you mentioned I'll have lots of cables running so I want to make sure I have the right amount of ports, features, etc.

Edit: After doing some research I'm hearing the Komplete Audio 6 is working really well for a lot of people. I would need 3 TRS to Dual cables for this audio interface correct?
http://www.amazon.com/Native-Instruments-Komplete-Audio-6/dp/B004YPRPJ6/ref=sr_1_15?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1432874707&sr=1-15&keywords=audio+interface

[MBTC]

Are there any specific details I should be looking for when searching for an Audio interface for the virus? I know you mentioned I'll have lots of cables running so I want to make sure I have the right amount of ports, features, etc.

Edit: After doing some research I'm hearing the Komplete Audio 6 is working really well for a lot of people. I would need 3 TRS to Dual cables for this audio interface correct?
http://www.amazon.com/Native-Instruments-Komplete-Audio-6/dp/B004YPRPJ6/ref=sr_1_15?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1432874707&sr=1-15&keywords=audio+interface

I'm hesitant to get into recommending specific audio interface models, kind of getting beyond Cubase and Virus related mixer issues with that one. One thing to remember is that my Snow doesn't even have the capabilities you're embarking on using here, so you're going to be a bit of a pioneer in your research. Others on the forum here might be able to answer targeted questions about audio interface selection. You might look into the availability and quality of tech support with any interface you buy, even to the point of seeing if they will answer your questions pre-sale. Do you live in a big enough city to have a major music store? If so it might be a good opportunity to visit and ask questions, the sales guys get this sort of question all day long and if you have limited hands on exposure to hardware it might be nice to walk around, see some of the stuff in person. If it were me and the first time I were buying an audio interface, I would start with the forum of the vendor to see how helpful the community is, because they will be where most of your questions will need to go.

The model I have is Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 and I can tell you I already wish I had more physical ports on it, may want to upgrade one day. Its connected to a dedicated Firewire card that I installed. If I were buying another one today I'd probably get a Saffire Pro 40 or maybe something else but that's not to say Firewire is for everyone.

To put that all into context, the Focusrite stuff has its own software that goes on the PC that you could think of as a mixer console that sits between the interface and the DAW, so if the interface you buy is the same way in that regard, you'll probably need some way of seeking answers to how to troubleshoot that as well. Sometimes you may be going "ok why is there no sound coming out of this" and there will be some simple setting you overlooked on the middleware or whatever. The Focusrite software can be fiddly and honestly I doubt I could help much with it, because I just tweaked it until it worked and left it there, lol.. I didn't really retain how I got there in memory I just tweak things as needed as I go. I have no idea if the Native Instruments interfaces are simpler in that regard or not.

Anyway hopefully that last paragraph underscores what I mean by you'll want to be sure you have helpful vendor tech support and or a good community of users for that audio interface, only because it's your first one.

You might start over on the Cubase forums and ask Cubase users which one they use. Steinberg does make audio interfaces but I don't know how common they are. I will say the Cubase DAW controllers I have from them are very high quality Yamaha-made gear, love them and recommend them.

Personally more pre-amp gain knobs on the front the better, they are damn handy. Just remember when you see XLR mic inputs, those are always mono to the best of my knowledge. If you're doing Output1, 2 and 3 from the Virus, you will most likely want to take advantage of independent stereo channels L+R. You can route them to a mono input and then split it in software but of course that's not the same. So more input options = better.

[fallward]

I'm hesitant to get into recommending specific audio interface models, kind of getting beyond Cubase and Virus related mixer issues with that one. One thing to remember is that my Snow doesn't even have the capabilities you're embarking on using here, so you're going to be a bit of a pioneer in your research. Others on the forum here might be able to answer targeted questions about audio interface selection. You might look into the availability and quality of tech support with any interface you buy, even to the point of seeing if they will answer your questions pre-sale. Do you live in a big enough city to have a major music store? If so it might be a good opportunity to visit and ask questions, the sales guys get this sort of question all day long and if you have limited hands on exposure to hardware it might be nice to walk around, see some of the stuff in person. If it were me and the first time I were buying an audio interface, I would start with the forum of the vendor to see how helpful the community is, because they will be where most of your questions will need to go.

The model I have is Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 and I can tell you I already wish I had more physical ports on it, may want to upgrade one day. Its connected to a dedicated Firewire card that I installed. If I were buying another one today I'd probably get a Saffire Pro 40 or maybe something else but that's not to say Firewire is for everyone.

To put that all into context, the Focusrite stuff has its own software that goes on the PC that you could think of as a mixer console that sits between the interface and the DAW, so if the interface you buy is the same way in that regard, you'll probably need some way of seeking answers to how to troubleshoot that as well. Sometimes you may be going "ok why is there no sound coming out of this" and there will be some simple setting you overlooked on the middleware or whatever. The Focusrite software can be fiddly and honestly I doubt I could help much with it, because I just tweaked it until it worked and left it there, lol.. I didn't really retain how I got there in memory I just tweak things as needed as I go. I have no idea if the Native Instruments interfaces are simpler in that regard or not.

Anyway hopefully that last paragraph underscores what I mean by you'll want to be sure you have helpful vendor tech support and or a good community of users for that audio interface, only because it's your first one.

You might start over on the Cubase forums and ask Cubase users which one they use. Steinberg does make audio interfaces but I don't know how common they are. I will say the Cubase DAW controllers I have from them are very high quality Yamaha-made gear, love them and recommend them.

Personally more pre-amp gain knobs on the front the better, they are damn handy. Just remember when you see XLR mic inputs, those are always mono to the best of my knowledge. If you're doing Output1, 2 and 3 from the Virus, you will most likely want to take advantage of independent stereo channels L+R. You can route them to a mono input and then split it in software but of course that's not the same. So more input options = better.

Awesome, thanks again for all the help. I do appreciate it!

[MBTC]

Also just remembered the TI KB and desktop models have S/PDIF where the Snow does not. This is another potential connectivity option for you from the Virus to whatever audio interface you may want to research, because it may give you an extra option for precious input ports.

Mercifully, my Ultranova does have S/PDIF Out (which is an RCA jack) and I do use it, with a cable that runs that signal to a TosLink jack on the Saffire Pro 24.

If you search around a bit on this forum and gearslutz, it seems the consensus is that getting the right cable is the key for successful S/PDIF on the Virus (coincidentally that seems true of folks using USB as well), so you'll definitely want to research that one.