Prior to the hotfix, I experienced the satan saw crash numerous times, but only while stepping through patches in sequencer or multi mode, while also playing notes via the keyboard and/or MIDI. Since installing the hotfix my Polar has been much more stable, although I have been traveling a great deal and unable to experiment with it for long periods of time. I have experienced a couple of post-hotfix lockups, with the Polar spewing out digital noise (but not the satan saw sound), but these occurrences have fortunately been few and far between.
I mainly do multitimbral sequencing, and this has always been where problems surfaced. I have spent many hours playing the Polar in single mode, however, and it has always performed 100% perfectly in that regard.
I know from reading other posts that many Virus owners use single mode most of the time. I suspect that these people are very happy with their TIs.
I should also mention that I only use my Polar as a hardware synth, with MIDI cables and the analog outs. I use Digital Performer, which is allegedly unsupported by the TI at this time, but Virus Control indeed works when I load the TI as an Audio Unit, but the persistent latency issues have kept me from that approach.
I don't know if my Polar is of early vintage or not. I purchased it new at a Guitar Center a couple of months ago. If there's a serial number on the unit I can't find it.
|