The "Zebra2 plays Virus" challenge

[OffTopic]

Hi folks!

Any news on the "Zebra plays Virus" challenge? Does someone have something to hear?

Shogger

yes, let us hear some more examples about how the Virus A, released 1997/98, can be totally emulated - hm...at least sort of - by apolegetics of the we-can-do-every-synth-better followers, also known as the Z2 loge (of course not to be confused with the notorious P2 loge).

[Sascha Franck]

I can't begin to express how sick and tired I am, of people making posts about the Virus, as if it's the be-all-end-all synth of all time.

Usually, I don't even post in threads like this, but man, truer words have never been spoken.
It's really getting annoying. Virus here, Virus there - so what? As if there were no new, absolutely exciting sounds and options to explore.
It's really driving me as mad as some of my guitarist colleagues. Endless drooling about old Strats, Les Pauls, Fender Bassmans, Plexi Marshalls and what not. So yeah, they can spend a fortune on those celebrities while I'll be happily using whatever there is to get my jobs done. And, fwiw, so far I seem to manage doing so rather well. Ok, I *am* a bit on the analog/hardware side of things when it comes to guitar sounds from a "personal pleasure" point of view, but 99% of the jobs paying for my income during the last decade or so have been accomplished using merely digital equipment. And I rather prefer using some high-tech saddles and locking tuners that allow for not having to tune a guitar for an entire show instead of having to deal with some permanently out of tune thingy offering all that glory "vintage" sound.
For me, the only questions are:
- Does it get the job done?
- Does it inspire me?

When it comes to synths, Z2 certainly gets a *lot* of jobs done. And regarding inspiration, well, it seems to work for me.
And fwiw, sometimes I even hate the tools getting the job done. For example: My Pod XT - that I hate with a passion. It's just one of the worst things for a dynamic player. But I am right now using it on a regular base because it's the best compromise for what I need.

[mkastrup]

Hmm i was wondering, is there any famous raw arrangement tracks out there somewhere made with Virus alone ? Might be fun to try re-create it but on the Unison thing i give up. I cant fake a Virus unison on Zebra. I know you provided some single patches but i'd rather try for a full arrangement just to see if i should be able to re-produce the same kinda overall feel.

As an example i know that Clavia have some raw demo tracks of Modular G2, so something in that line of demos.

/Michael

[OffTopic]

I can't begin to express how sick and tired I am, of people making posts about the Virus, as if it's the be-all-end-all synth of all time.

FFS, pick up a Matrix 12 or Oberheim Xpander, and play with it, if you want to hear what a real synth sounds like.

I am tired of how some people notoriously say that their fantastic uber-soft-synth (perception) can do every sound: Oberheim, Virus whatever. It is ridicolous and unfortunately it needs a zillion threads to make this point.

[Tronam]

Hmm i was wondering, is there any famous raw arrangement tracks out there somewhere made with Virus alone ? Might be fun to try re-create it but on the Unison thing i give up. I cant fake a Virus unison on Zebra. I know you provided some single patches but i'd rather try for a full arrangement just to see if i should be able to re-produce the same kinda overall feel.

As an example i know that Clavia have some raw demo tracks of Modular G2, so something in that line of demos.

/Michael

Well, I don't know how famous they are, but here are a few:

This one I think will appeal to your sensibilities the most, though, sir Michael.
PerKristian - Equinoxe5 (raw output of a sequenced Virus KB in multi-mode)

The others are more along the lines of the dance variety. No post processing; just the Virus B in multi-mode:

Flux Compensator
V-Clipse2
Endorphins (Virus B factory demo)
Presets on Parade (A variety of factory presets from the Virus B. A number of them by Howard! )

Keep in mind, the Virus B does not have a built-in EQ (of course, we will never know if there is some undocumented equalization going on pre-outputs). The amount of low and midrange bass presence of the Virus is impressive for a VA, providing for a much "rounder" sound than I typically hear in most digital synths.

Anyways, these should help to provide a fairly decent impression of the traditional Virus' essential character.

~ Tronam

[mkastrup]

Hmm i was wondering, is there any famous raw arrangement tracks out there somewhere made with Virus alone ? Might be fun to try re-create it but on the Unison thing i give up. I cant fake a Virus unison on Zebra. I know you provided some single patches but i'd rather try for a full arrangement just to see if i should be able to re-produce the same kinda overall feel.

As an example i know that Clavia have some raw demo tracks of Modular G2, so something in that line of demos.

/Michael

Well, I don't know how famous they are, but here are a few:

This one I think will appeal to your sensibilities the most, though, sir Michael.
PerKristian - Equinoxe5 (raw output of a sequenced Virus KB in multi-mode)

The others are more along the lines of the dance variety. No post processing; just the Virus B in multi-mode:

Flux Compensator
V-Clipse2
Endorphins (Virus B factory demo)
Presets on Parade (A variety of factory presets from the Virus B. A number of them by Howard! )


These should help to provide a fairly good impression of the traditional Virus' essential character.

~ Tronam

Heh heh going straight for my soft spot you are. Like the music i do, this music you make ?

May the fur be with you dear Tronam (read you were about to quit music making on the market forum, eeeew)

I'll look up on the other demos and see if i get struck by lightning

EDIT: ok i have done the check up and its prolly going to be V-Clipse2 or Endorphins. Cant say when, but i WILL give it a try.

/Michael

[djsubject]

reading this thread i think Urs should make f**k loads of cash by making a version of Z2 with its settings capped the same as the virus

some of the Trekkie's here may find that funny but the fact that it would make home made patching simple would be well worth it to the buyer!

i have played with a virus T1 once, i liked it & liked the fact that it was hard to make it not sound good,

zebra has the power to go to some ugly places

but run at 96kz i beleave that Z2 can emulate the virus,

& i think Howard is a great patch creator & hope to see more from him soon

Subz

[Tronam]

Oh, no Michael, those songs are not by me. PerKristian composed the Equinoxe remake and Marc Schlaile (Babylonwaves Music) did the others.

Seems quite an endevour to attempt to recreate one of those songs. Surely it would simply be easier to mimic a few of the bolder preset examples in the "Presets on Parade". Of course, I'd love to hear what you come up with either way, sir maestro.

~ Tronam

[pepelogu]

Another challenge might be to recreate this song by Madonna:



Done almost entirely on a Virus B.

[fgimian]

I think that XMF filter with high amount of click gives a little more bite which resembles the Virus a little more.

Still, FM and distortion on both synths is vastly different.

Cheers
Fots

[poonna]

3: a = Littly Phatty, b = Zebra2
6: a = LP, b = Z2
8: a = Z2, b = LP
10: a = LP, b = Z2

Aww, how come all the clips I like more are from Little Phatty, and that was without seeing the answer...

Does that mean I need to shell out for one?

[psylevation]

yes! you have no choice!

[shogger]

... if you want to hear what a real synth sounds like.

Yes, the Virus is a soft synth. It's not real.

Shogger

[spaceman]

3: a = Littly Phatty, b = Zebra2
6: a = LP, b = Z2
8: a = Z2, b = LP
10: a = LP, b = Z2

you know what.. I could swear Z2 sounds warmer with the Transmission skin?!?!??

[Urs]

you know what.. I could swear Z2 sounds warmer with the Transmission skin?!?!??

No, it just sounds brighter because the original skin is much much darker.