Characters - The Unofficial Access Virus & Virus TI Forum

Joey · #1 17.01.2009, 04:02 PM

Ok so does anyone here actually use the 'characters' features on their virus?

I haven't really had a chance to delve into it since upgrading to OS3, but analog boost was something I never really used either.

So has anyone here made any great use of the characters yet?

Any findings as to how they can enhance the sound, besides working as simple EQs?

What vintage synths are access trying to emulate with the characters?

I assume minimoog has to be one of them, but what are the others? Arp? Jupiters? Oberheims?

brambos · #2 17.01.2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey

Ok so does anyone here actually use the 'characters' features on their virus?

I haven't really had a chance to delve into it since upgrading to OS3, but analog boost was something I never really used either.

So has anyone here made any great use of the characters yet?

There's not much to delve into. You just switch them on or off.

I think they sound great though. Definitely a nice addition to the feature set.

Cantankerous · #3 17.01.2009, 04:26 PM

Character 1 Is The Moog, Character 2 Is The Ms-20, Character 3 Is The Juno.

Joey · #4 17.01.2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cantankerous

Character 1 Is The Moog, Character 2 Is The Ms-20, Character 3 Is The Juno.

where did you find this out?

and which moog? I'm assuming the minimoog, but character 3 definitely does not sound like a juno, I own a 106.

IamEvil · #5 17.01.2009, 04:42 PM

they just sound like EQ settings to me

what do they actually change ?

sawtooth · #6 17.01.2009, 05:38 PM

I never really understood what analog boost was. I assume it's basically an eq with a little distortion. It's pretty subtle, but I use the bass one on bass patches and it boosts the low end.

Joey · #7 17.01.2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawtooth

I never really understood what analog boost was. I assume it's basically an eq with a little distortion. It's pretty subtle, but I use the bass one on bass patches and it boosts the low end.

see thats what I don't get about them if I want to EQ a patch, I will either use EQ in logic or use the EQ's in the virus.

the characters stuff seems kind of pointless overall.

someone please tell me what its good for?

all of the other effects have pretty obvious functions

I'm not trying to knock access, I mean its a great idea, and obviously we are on the Virus forum here, I fucking love my polar.

I'm just trying to get the most out of it

Talos · #8 18.01.2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey

the characters stuff seems kind of pointless overall.

someone please tell me what its good for?

I fucking love my polar.
I'm just trying to get the most out of it

To me it seemed pretty self explanatory, but I registered here just to clarify for you guys.
If you didnt read the documentation, shame on you, how can you be so in love with your instrument and not bother reading the supplied info?

Quote:

Quote from Addendum - Characters
"Use the Characters section to apply subtle changes to the sound of the Filters, Oscillators and the character of the nonlinearities and distortions throughout the instrument"

I believe the old analogue boost did more than just EQ warmth, it added some instability to the machine as in an Analogue instrument, these new algorithms certainly do.

It's subtle but I have already gone through a lot of my patches applying the fitting characters, and it really adds.. well.. Character.

I dont know, but it sounds like some of the algorithms (bass and lead) seem to shift the spectra slightly, to accentuate the sound.

soundsubs · #9 18.01.2009, 03:06 PM

i am curious about it too, and i wonder if it changes things like:
-tuning of oscillators
-responsiveness of envelopes (minimoogs have a ms peak hold that makes them punchy)
-stability of "vca"... older synths never make the same sound twice.

if not, well, i just gave access some ideas!

Joey · #10 18.01.2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talos

To me it seemed pretty self explanatory, but I registered here just to clarify for you guys.
If you didnt read the documentation, shame on you, how can you be so in love with your instrument and not bother reading the supplied info?

I believe the old analogue boost did more than just EQ warmth, it added some instability to the machine as in an Analogue instrument, these new algorithms certainly do.

It's subtle but I have already gone through a lot of my patches applying the fitting characters, and it really adds.. well.. Character.

I dont know, but it sounds like some of the algorithms (bass and lead) seem to shift the spectra slightly, to accentuate the sound.

Theres a difference between making the oscillator pitch slightly unstable by introducing slop, such as on the DSI synths, and changing the overall character of a patch.

I can make pitch unstable by applying a slow pitch lfo and achieve the same effect.

Shifting the spectra, what exactly do you mean, how does it work?

I'm asking for a clear description of how these work, rather than some vagueness.

The manual's description is vague as hell.

'use the characters to apply subtle changes to the sound of the filters, oscillators, and the character of the nonlinearities and distortions throughout the instrument'

If it said "this makes oscillator pitch slightly unstable, changes filter resonance to sound more like a moog, and overdrives the VCA", then I would have some idea what it does, but all it describes there is some kind of glorified EQ