does the TI sound more dynamic and lush when in single mode, non usb?

[wavesinspace]

for instance, listening to RAM-A 116 WarmWavesBC I clearly hear a difference...

[7G]

I have to agree...
Analog outs are much more warmer
USB outs scratching my ears...

[kcinsu]

well, correct me if I am wrong, but the usb audio is max 44.1lKhz 16 bit, where as the analog outs are 192KHz 24-bit.

And S/PDIF is 44.1Khz 16, sometimes 24 bit... right?

I

[7G]

Originally Posted by kcinsu

well, correct me if I am wrong, but the usb audio is max 44.1lKhz 16 bit, where as the analog outs are 192KHz 24-bit.

And S/PDIF is 44.1Khz 16, sometimes 24 bit... right?

I

Exactly...
To be 100% correct S/PDIF can reach up to 24bit/48KHz but it's all about that analog circuitry that gives this warmth.I can hear it especially in the higher spectrum where the USB outs sound more harsh...

[synthfiend]

When you use the TI as your sound card you are using the USB outs, however the audio is coming out the TIs own analogue outs. Does this mean the signal from the analogue outs will be only 16 bit instead of 24 bit.

[luddy]

Is there any hard evidence about any of this stuff? For example, has Access ever commented on any of this? As far as I know, they haven't. Or maybe I've missed it ...

You can't conclude much from looking at the number of bits available via at the D/A converters. They obviously are not clocking those converters at 192KHz, so who knows what relevance that figure has to anyone. As for 24 bits, it strikes me as odd that they would send more bits into the D/A converters than they would over the digital connections.

SP/DIF is designed to handle up to 20 bits in an audio stream. I haven't seen any hard evidence about how many of these bits are actually in use -- changing value in a meaningful way -- in the case of the Virus.

I operate on the assumption that the Virus is a 16-bit synth from top to bottom, inside and out. I don't know that to be the case, but I tend to think that if there were really a bunch more bits of precision feeding the converters than are going over the USB or SP/DIF connection, then you would hear a much greater difference in sound for certain patches. There are lots of long tails and other opportunities to pick out 16bits vs 20 or 24bits among the Virus sounds and effects.

I've taken to tracking my Virus digitally -- through SP/DIF -- and then using other D/A converters if I want to bounce the tracks through outboard analog. That's mostly a workflow thing. I have some converters with very low noise floor that I like a little better than the converters on the Virus anyhow.

-Luddy

[Timo]

Originally Posted by sdrr00

here are the ASUS XONAR D2X sound card converters:

24-bit D-A Converter of Digital Sources: TI Burr-Brown PCM1796 *4 (123dB SNR, Max. 192kHz/24bit).

24-bit A-D Converter for Analog Inputs: Cirrus-Logic CS5381* 1 (120dB SNR, Max. 192kHz/24bit).

from what i read, these are VERY good, so i dont think i will be sacrificing quality. as you can see, the support 192khz/24bit, which is the same as the virus, right? the problem is now whether the unbalanced 1/4" to 1/8" will change or distort the signal in anyway, or will it act as a regular 1/4" to 1/4" balanced input?

You wont be able to run balanced analogue audio from the TI to your soundcard's stereo 3.5mm line-input jack. It'd have to be of the domestic unbalanced type.

To use the analogue outputs of the Virus in this case, you'd need a cable that has two standard 1/4" mono jacks at one end (to make up a L and R pair of channels from your Virus) and a 3.5mm stereo jack at the other end (to put into your soundcard's line-input socket). You shouldn't have too much signal degradation if cable lengths are kept relatively short. The longer the cable, the more noise it stands to pick up.

the first one is the Digital to Analog convertor.. that would apply to the SDPIF correct?

No. That D-A figure applies to your line-out (from the soundcard to your speakers), not your SPDIF input.

You SPDIF input will be at either 44.1KHz or 48KHz at 16-bits. The signal doesn't vary or degrade from those figures. It's locked at that quality. If you pipe audio down your SPDIF, it comes out the other end of the cable exactly the same (44.1/48KHz at 16-bits). Whereas analogue stands to degrade/change.
But the SPDIF uses the same frequency and bit-depth as the USB output, so you may as well use that, unless you want to take a punt at the analogue outputs. However, as you only have 1x stereo analogue input on your soundcard, you will only be able to use a pair of outputs from the Virus's analogue outputs, and they will be unbalanced.
With the USB you have 3 stereo outputs from the Virus.

[sdrr00]

Originally Posted by Timo

You wont be able to run balanced analogue audio from the TI to your soundcard's stereo 3.5mm line-input jack. It'd have to be of the domestic unbalanced type.

To use the analogue outputs of the Virus in this case, you'd need a cable that has two standard 1/4" mono jacks at one end (to make up a L and R pair of channels from your Virus) and a 3.5mm stereo jack at the other end (to put into your soundcard's line-input socket). You shouldn't have too much signal degradation if cable lengths are kept relatively short. The longer the cable, the more noise it stands to pick up.

since my soundcard runs at 192khz/24-bit, i want to take full advantage of both the Virus and the soundcard by using the TIs analog connection to my soundcards Line-In, using this cable: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-IP200-...8639323&sr=1-3

however, my only concern is the loss of quality when using non-balanced analog cables. how much quality could i potentially lose by using this cable? since my soundcard can capture the TI at its 100%, i dont want to have to use SPDIF or USB (which both run at 48khz/16-bit max, correct?) if analog is possible. how can i get the maximum out of my Virus?

[wavesinspace]

Just want to bump this thread and continue this discussion... Im very suprised at the poll results being near 50/50 on this...


Just to clarify the poll a little better, we should be doing 3 comparisons,

1. the sound of the virus in single mode, without using virus control at all.

2. the sound of the virus in virus control mode, 1 patch loaded.

3. the same as #2 but with direct output engaged.