Virus Ti Snow + Ableton 7 problem

[slowblow]

It`s me again.. I think the problem is too big now. I wrote to Access Support, they wrote me to reset Snow and connect again..
but reaction is the same... I wrote 3rd time and still no answer..
After checking new OS, Virus still working as audio interface only.
Anyone have sugestions ?
I`m discouraged

[leszczu]

Yep, I have same problem like you with my macbook and virus ti kb. Solution? I install Win XP Pro sp3 in Bootcamp and everything works perfect... I know there's something wrong with usb ports under leopard. Its not straight usb from controller. It's hub... I try uninstall isight camera and ir from one port but fuc*** leopardo still see connected devices to hub. In this weekend I will try install Tiger and see what wil happend.
Cheers

[psy604]

you could use a PCMCIA USB-Controller in order to have 2/4 native ports available ...
a different version of MAC OS won't change the hardware configuration of the ports, i guess

something like this: here (you just have to be sure, that there's drivers for MAC)

[leszczu]

MacBook don't have PCIMCIA. Maybe some adapter on FireWire? Maybe. For me it's temporary situation because now I upgrading my PC and I need to survive.
Cheers.

[psy604]

it got no PCMCIA?! just can't understand all that MAC hype ... if it not even got the most basic industry standard expansion slot.

you could modify it by soldering in 4 wires (just before the internal hub) to gain access to a native USB port (without any warranty).

this firewire-2-USB adapters are mainly designed for connecting DV equipment to an USB 2.0 port (there's PAL & NTSC versions).

only thing i could imagine would be some firewire audio-interface with MIDI I/O ... but you couldn't use the TI feature this way.

[slowblow]

Leszczu ? any news about Tiger ?
I checked on usb express card, the same result..

[leszczu]

I was like a Tiger during this weekend... Now I have little hangover.
Cheers

[thelike5]

Originally Posted by psy604

it got no PCMCIA?! just can't understand all that MAC hype ... if it not even got the most basic industry standard expansion slot.

you could modify it by soldering in 4 wires (just before the internal hub) to gain access to a native USB port (without any warranty).

this firewire-2-USB adapters are mainly designed for connecting DV equipment to an USB 2.0 port (there's PAL & NTSC versions).

only thing i could imagine would be some firewire audio-interface with MIDI I/O ... but you couldn't use the TI feature this way.

Maybe the PCMCIA card was the most basic industry standard expansion slot in 1996 but last I checked that was three Presidency terms away and an awful lot has changed. Back then, we didn't even use USB as a connection protocal for any type of midi controller, let alone full fledged synthesizers/hardware inside a sequencing program.

I have a macbook (Core Duo 2 1.87 ghz, 2 gigs of ram) and a Snow and have had zero connectivity issues after about 1 day of figuring out the device.

You need to use one of the two macbooks native USB ports. Update to the latest OS (2.7.3) immediatly. Make sure you have the USB cable connected when you go to update. You do not need to have Ableton Live booted up (nor the Snow plugged in yet). Download directly from the Access site. Once the update has downloaded save it to your desktop. THEN, plug in the Snow via USB to one of those aforementioned native ports and double click the update installer. The update should begin (look at the Snow display and you should see (update in progress.)

Once this is complete restart the macbook. Boot up Ableton Live 7. Select the Snow VSTI under VST plug ins and then wait for it to intialize. This should do it. If the unit won't work it may be a defective Snow.

I'd have to consider that an option.

[thelike5]

Here's how I setup...

No USB Hub with the Snow. It won't work. You need to use native USB ports.

I had an ok USB soundcard which I had to ditch in favor of a firewire card seeign that between my controller (Remote 25 which also requires native power) and my Snow I was out of ports.

Here's how I'm setup...

Macbook 1.87 ghz two gigs of ram

Ableton Live 7

Accesss Virus Snow (latest OS)

Novation Remote 25 Compact SL (I think I may still have beta software! Need to upgrade)

Mackie Onyx satellite soundcard

KRK monitors

Both the Novation controller and Access Snow are plugged directly into the macbook via USB. The Snow requires its own external power source (sadly) so that adaptor is plugged in too. The Mackie satellite is in via firewire. (At this point I am out of native USB and firewire ports.) KRK monitors are hooked in directly to the Mackies outs on the back side.

Once I power my system on, I turn my midi controller on and it lights up and is all set and ready to go. After, I cursor over to the left (where my dock is) and select Ableton Live 7. Once that boots up I go into Lives preferences and select "output source" as Mackie Satellite Onyx. This disables the macbooks crappy internal speakers and I have my decent KRK's as my main output. At this point auto map "automaps" the settings of Live 7 to the best of its abilites to the actual lcd of the Novation controller. Select any audio loop into a audio track and drop in a "filter vst effect" from Live. The Novation controller will change its settings and you can tweak knobs in real time and the filer goes from high to low pass. Sweep to your hearts desire.

From there, I go over to VST Instruments tab to the left of the Live 7 GUI. I select Snow Ti VST from the drop down and the Snow automatically appears in a midi track to the right of all of my audio tracks. (Make sure the Snow is powered up and not sleeping first!) The Snow then "initializes" and you will start off with the INIT pattern. From there, go into the browser of the Virus Control and select which ever patch you desire. The name of the patch magically jumps fromt he browser of the Virus Control onto the lovely Snow display. Play a chord on your midi controller and hear those luch Access Pads.

My problems with the Snow came about when I de-selected the Snow from its midi track. I could not re-start or re-selct the Snow without it freezing up halfway through the "initializing" screen. I would have to power off (not just reset) my macbook and redo every single step i mentioned above. i also experienced frequent hung or stuck feedback inducing midi notes which in itself would ruin a live set entirely. I could never just quit the Snow and restart it without having to power down.

The new OS fixes all of this. This setup is strictly for using the Access Virus Snow in ti mode within a software host. I purchased an external power supply for my Novation Controller which allows me to use my Snow in multi mode! Really cool way to work. I'm hoping a future update allows the following:

Use of Snow in multi-mode within a software host (like Live 7)

Snow able to be powered directly via usb. No need for the external power supply. (I doubt that will happen though...)

That's about it. I love my Snow!!

[psy604]

Originally Posted by thelike5

Maybe the PCMCIA card was the most basic industry standard expansion slot in 1996 ...

i still have an low latency PCMCIA audio interface (Echo Indigo I/O), which supports bus mastering.
PCMCIA is like PCI for portable computers and it's still actual (other eg: RME Hammerfall).

on USB or FW you will never get this low latency, since there's no direct access to the bus - and when i look at the USB architecture of the macBooks,
i can see clearly that there is no unshared port available ... nowaday PC notebooks all have 2-3 native (unshared) USB v2.0 ports
( ... and macBook Air even has unused buses without any connector)