is it possible to load .tfx patches in the virus B

[Stern]

Hello everybody, I hope this question isn't to dumb. I am quite fresh to the synth world and even fresher to the virus. I have a virus B and I was trying to get the grasp of its more complex functions so i thought of practicing with this manual http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/HowardScarr-VirusTutorial-ProgrammingAnalogueSynths.pdf. However the manual mentions a lot a set of patches (I have downloaded them and they are in the .tfx format) are they made just for the virus C or I can load them in the the virus B? if yes how could I do that ?

[Timo]

Hi Stern, welcome to the forum.

Virus patches are usually of the .mid (Standard Midi File) or .syx (SysEx) formats, or sometimes .lib (SoundDiver Library) format for those using Virus A/B/C with SoundDiver.

I think .tfx or .txf files are more obscure Pro-Tools/TDM or TC Electronic Powercore preset files, so I don't believe you can use them without ProTools and/or Powercore.

As you have a Virus B, stick to using mid, syx or lib formats instead. The patches for that tutorial can be found via Howard Scarr's website: http://www.zorchmusic.com/hscarr/html/downloads.html

Click on the link toward the bottom labelled "PDF version of the Virus tutorial in english", and the zip file will contain the patches in a choice of formats for you.

[Timo]

Just a few more links that may help you:

I haven't seen any comprehensive introduction video tutorials on how to use the B or C - other than those making specific patches or similar on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Access+Virus+tutorial) - but I've put together some documentation you might find useful:

• Virus B - OS v4.5 manual.pdf (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/VirusB-OSv4.5-Manual.pdf)
• Howard Scarr - Programming Analogue Synths - Virus Tutorial.pdf (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/HowardScarr-VirusTutorial-ProgrammingAnalogueSynths.pdf) (Additional tutorial patches in Mid (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/HowardScarrTutorialPatches-midi.mid) / SoundDiver (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/HowardScarrTutorialPatches-sounddiver.lib) formats)
• Virus B Midi CC knob diagram (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/AccessVirusB-MIDI-CC.jpg)
• Virus C Signal Flow Diagram (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/VirusC-SignalFlowDiagram.pdf) (although shows Virus C, it applies largely to Virus B too)
• Graphic illustration of Virus PCM waveshapes (http://www.waf80.de/virus/viruwaves/) (the ones in addition to the standard Sin/Saw/Pulse)

Regards the software, if you have a PC (rather than a Mac) you may wish to try Emagic SoundDiver that was bundled (free) with the Virus B and C synths. It's not an integral VST host, as it's fairly old and long since been discontinued (see bottom of this post for more modern commercial products), but it is a decent basic standalone GUI editor and librarian (I use it mainly as a librarian to import and save patch sets to and from the Virus via PC over MIDI).

• Emagic SoundDiver Virus v3.02 (http://www.infekted.org/virus/files/Emagic-SoundDiver-Virus-v3.02.zip)

... unfortunately the above version can be a little hit and miss. I found only the full version of SoundDiver (rather than the one bundled with the Virus) could successfully connect with my Indigo over MIDI. But try the above first, and if you have any problems let me know.

Other commercial alternatives with more up-to-date VST specifications and features are, in no particular order, Solar3D (http://www.solar3d-software.com/features/), RekonAudio (http://www.rekonaudio.com/access-music), MysteryIslands (http://www.mysteryislands-music.com/?product=access-virushc-audiounit-vsti-editor-librarian-plug-in) and SoundQuest (http://www.squest.com/). I cannot endorse them, though, as I haven't personally tried or tested them.