The "Zebra2 plays Virus" challenge

[Tronam]

Unfortunately I no longer have the Virus B (or much else anymore), but I can definitely corroborate the "darkness" of it. The high frequencies always seemed attenuated somehow, even when the filter was wide open. The only truly raw example I ever recorded off of it without any effects is the filter test I had linked to earlier. I believe this begins with the filter completely open:

Virus B

Tronam there is something in the oscillator sound itself.
at the very beginning you can hear it easily.
The oscillators sound a bit "crushed", once the sound gets filtered more the sound gets better.
But I really think it has a very synthetic/digital/harsh sound.

Well, I think it's actually 3 slightly detuned oscillators, phase locked, if memory serves. But alas, it is all I have left of the Virus. I've done countless things with my NL2 in music projects, but the Virus for some reason never quite meshed with my musical sensibilities.

[bagginz]

By designating the Virus as the benchmark and Z2 as the competitor, Z2 will always produce the sound considered to be the pale imitation due to the limits of the framework in which it's being tested.

If we are to set Z2 as the benchmark and then emulate its sounds with a Virus, what then? We end up with a pale imitation of a Z2 sound, regardless of any qualities inherent to the sounds themselves.

Exactly what I have been observing.

It's very simple to create sounds in Zebra which the Virus wouldn't have a hope of re-creating as it just doesn't have the architecture.

Insofar as which of the posted clips sounds "better" well, what are the criteria for better?

As a producer, my criteria are usually functional i.e does the sound work in the track musically? Does it blend well with the other sounds in the mix?

Almost all synths are packed with presets designed show off the capabilities of the synth, many of which are useless in combination.

With some skill and a little bit of eq and compression tweaking, any of those posted versions of that Tarnce arpeggio could have worked a treat in a mix.

I do realize that this thread is essentially about splitting hairs, but phrases like "nothing comes close to the Virus" is just absurd. Some of the VST examples are maybe not identical, but pretty close.

And for what it's worth, in isolation I liked this one the best so far:

http://www.michaelkastrup.com/synthdemo ... nge_03.mp3

Even more attack than the Virus

Cheers,
bagginz

P.s.
I owned a Virus A when they first appeared and later upgraded it to a Virus Indigo and flogged them to death on at least three albums. It's a lovely synth, but the software these days surpasses it.

Loved the hardware interface though. Very well thought out with great quality knobs. It's what I miss most and I suspect what most of the fuss is really all about. Who honestly can get passionate about an onscreen image of a synthesizer? (i.e a VSTi)

[Howard]

I'd still love to hear that Moog filter thing from the C...

I'm a C owner. What would you like me to sample?

[OffTopic]

Well, depends. I own a Virus and I'm not all that excited. I wonder how many people bought a Virus because they've just *thought* that it sounds all that great - and were actually pretty disappointed.

To me it seems that all the "magical" examples are remarkable because of the production technique and not because of what makes the Virus special.

When listening to dry oscillators and filters, I always wonder what people are talking about...?

According to this thread it appears you own a 20th century Virus A which until very recently didn't boot anymore before you realised the problem was a broken cable. Nonetheless, throughout this thread, you've made strong negative statements about the Virus' bad filters, its easy-to-replicate-sound, its flaky OS etc and how superior your synth is in comparison to this. And now, as the evidence of this postulated sonical superiority of Z2 is still somewhat missing, you blame the >production technique<?! You must really hate the Virus!

[mkastrup]

How bout, lets say we meet in the middle. We got Zealots on both sides

No matter how this turn out and if it ever get solved or not, i have taken the information in this thread and used it to something, so in my case i have gained something by sticking around. So zealots, back into the ring and behave heh heh

/Michael

[spaceman]

Albino can do a decent job.. better than this old patch here but still.. not bad and no reverbs or compressors added

http://www.kaboegel.com/kvr/V_arp_albino.mp3

[Urs]

According to this thread it appears you own a 20th century Virus A which until very recently didn't boot anymore before you realised the problem was a broken cable. Nonetheless, throughout this thread, you've made strong negative statements about the Virus' bad filters, its easy-to-replicate-sound, its flaky OS etc and how superior your synth is in comparison to this. And now, as the evidence of this postulated sonical superiority of Z2 is still somewhat missing, you blame the >production technique<?! You must really hate the Virus!

?!?

I thought that my Virus was dead because it wouldn't take note off messages. My bad

The source of the infamous arpeggio became aware and despite other notice, the examples are obviously heavily compressed. This has not been a pure Virus C, as some people tried to make us believe. Thus, the lesson of this thread is, take those damn nice sounding demos with a grain of salt.

What has changed from 20th century Virus to Virus C, sonically? -> Moog filter, 1 additional oscillator, a phaser (learned that today). I've been asking for examples of the Moog filter, I pretty much know the rest inside out.

I never said the Virus filters sound bad. I never said the Virus sounds bad. I just say the stuff doesn't sound as special as some people obviously want it to.

So what?

[Urs]

Anyone mind to post an example of all 9 HypeSaws at, say, C6 (really high tone), with detune sweeping from max to min?

http://www.summasounds.de/files/HypersawC6.mp3

Thanks mate!

That sounds pretty good. Will analyse thoroughly!

The deep tone... is that also in the uncompressed version?

Urs

[frequency_algorithm]

By designating the Virus as the benchmark and Z2 as the competitor, Z2 will always produce the sound considered to be the pale imitation due to the limits of the framework in which it's being tested.

If we are to set Z2 as the benchmark and then emulate its sounds with a Virus, what then? We end up with a pale imitation of a Z2 sound, regardless of any qualities inherent to the sounds themselves.

Exactly what I have been observing.

It's very simple to create sounds in Zebra which the Virus wouldn't have a hope of re-creating as it just doesn't have the architecture.

Insofar as which of the posted clips sounds "better" well, what are the criteria for better?

As a producer, my criteria are usually functional i.e does the sound work in the track musically? Does it blend well with the other sounds in the mix?

Almost all synths are packed with presets designed show off the capabilities of the synth, many of which are useless in combination.

With some skill and a little bit of eq and compression tweaking, any of those posted versions of that Tarnce arpeggio could have worked a treat in a mix.

I do realize that this thread is essentially about splitting hairs, but phrases like "nothing comes close to the Virus" is just absurd. Some of the VST examples are maybe not identical, but pretty close.

And for what it's worth, in isolation I liked this one the best so far:

http://www.michaelkastrup.com/synthdemo ... nge_03.mp3

Even more attack than the Virus

Cheers,
bagginz

P.s.
I owned a Virus A when they first appeared and later upgraded it to a Virus Indigo and flogged them to death on at least three albums. It's a lovely synth, but the software these days surpasses it.

Loved the hardware interface though. Very well thought out with great quality knobs. It's what I miss most and I suspect what most of the fuss is really all about. Who honestly can get passionate about an onscreen image of a synthesizer? (i.e a VSTi)

Hey buddy you talk about "floggint he virus to death on three albums" I wanns know which albums these are and could you post them so we can hear them. I understand there is a lot of hype for your favorite softsynths out there, but let's hear how shitty your music is. Then we'll see how good your ear really is. (laughs)

[spaceman]

My try with the extremely underrated vst Komplexer:
http://www.maxfrank.se/dump/tmp/Virus_ARP-Komplexer.mp3 <--- boosted the highs just a tad for some sparkle and also some external reverb.

a bit TOO much highs in there it's a bit too much high pitch squeaking. I don't think it needs it to sound good

[nuffink]

By designating the Virus as the benchmark and Z2 as the competitor, Z2 will always produce the sound considered to be the pale imitation due to the limits of the framework in which it's being tested.

If we are to set Z2 as the benchmark and then emulate its sounds with a Virus, what then? We end up with a pale imitation of a Z2 sound, regardless of any qualities inherent to the sounds themselves.

Exactly what I have been observing.

It's very simple to create sounds in Zebra which the Virus wouldn't have a hope of re-creating as it just doesn't have the architecture.

Insofar as which of the posted clips sounds "better" well, what are the criteria for better?

As a producer, my criteria are usually functional i.e does the sound work in the track musically? Does it blend well with the other sounds in the mix?

Almost all synths are packed with presets designed show off the capabilities of the synth, many of which are useless in combination.

With some skill and a little bit of eq and compression tweaking, any of those posted versions of that Tarnce arpeggio could have worked a treat in a mix.

I do realize that this thread is essentially about splitting hairs, but phrases like "nothing comes close to the Virus" is just absurd. Some of the VST examples are maybe not identical, but pretty close.

And for what it's worth, in isolation I liked this one the best so far:

http://www.michaelkastrup.com/synthdemo ... nge_03.mp3

Even more attack than the Virus

Cheers,
bagginz

P.s.
I owned a Virus A when they first appeared and later upgraded it to a Virus Indigo and flogged them to death on at least three albums. It's a lovely synth, but the software these days surpasses it.

Loved the hardware interface though. Very well thought out with great quality knobs. It's what I miss most and I suspect what most of the fuss is really all about. Who honestly can get passionate about an onscreen image of a synthesizer? (i.e a VSTi)

Hey buddy you talk about "floggint he virus to death on three albums" I wanns know which albums these are and could you post them so we can hear them. I understand there is a lot of hype for your favorite softsynths out there, but let's hear how shitty your music is. Then we'll see how good your ear really is. (laughs)

He's got a link to his music in his sig. How about you?

[spaceman]

[frequency_algorithm]

The only reason I posted this is because it seems ever since the internet and music software exploded, there seems to be a lot of lamers out there sitting in there bedroom DJing for their posters on the wall in their underwear calling themselves "producers." I guess I could put a band aid on my scrapped knee, and say I am a "doctor who has treated at least one patient." But seriously, how much good music have you made? Keep it real. Internet breeds liars!

[nuffink]

The only reason I posted this is because it seems ever since the internet and music software exploded, there seems to be a lot of lamers out there sitting in there bedroom DJing for their posters on the wall in their underwear calling themselves "producers." I guess I could put a band aid on my scrapped knee, and say I am a "doctor who has treated at least one patient." But seriously, how much good music have you made? Keep it real. Internet breeds liars!

Shut the f**k up and post some music if you're going to write shite like this...

Hey buddy you talk about "floggint he virus to death on three albums" I wanns know which albums these are and could you post them so we can hear them. I understand there is a lot of hype for your favorite softsynths out there, but let's hear how shitty your music is. Then we'll see how good your ear really is. (laughs)

[frequency_algorithm]

By designating the Virus as the benchmark and Z2 as the competitor, Z2 will always produce the sound considered to be the pale imitation due to the limits of the framework in which it's being tested.

If we are to set Z2 as the benchmark and then emulate its sounds with a Virus, what then? We end up with a pale imitation of a Z2 sound, regardless of any qualities inherent to the sounds themselves.

Exactly what I have been observing.

It's very simple to create sounds in Zebra which the Virus wouldn't have a hope of re-creating as it just doesn't have the architecture.

Insofar as which of the posted clips sounds "better" well, what are the criteria for better?

As a producer, my criteria are usually functional i.e does the sound work in the track musically? Does it blend well with the other sounds in the mix?

Almost all synths are packed with presets designed show off the capabilities of the synth, many of which are useless in combination.

With some skill and a little bit of eq and compression tweaking, any of those posted versions of that Tarnce arpeggio could have worked a treat in a mix.

I do realize that this thread is essentially about splitting hairs, but phrases like "nothing comes close to the Virus" is just absurd. Some of the VST examples are maybe not identical, but pretty close.

And for what it's worth, in isolation I liked this one the best so far:

http://www.michaelkastrup.com/synthdemo ... nge_03.mp3

Even more attack than the Virus

Cheers,
bagginz

P.s.
I owned a Virus A when they first appeared and later upgraded it to a Virus Indigo and flogged them to death on at least three albums. It's a lovely synth, but the software these days surpasses it.

Loved the hardware interface though. Very well thought out with great quality knobs. It's what I miss most and I suspect what most of the fuss is really all about. Who honestly can get passionate about an onscreen image of a synthesizer? (i.e a VSTi)

Hey buddy you talk about "floggint he virus to death on three albums" I wanns know which albums these are and could you post them so we can hear them. I understand there is a lot of hype for your favorite softsynths out there, but let's hear how shitty your music is. Then we'll see how good your ear really is. (laughs)

He's got a link to his music in his sig. How about you?

OMG! I CHECKED THE LINK WHAT SHITTY MUSIC WITH HARDLY ANY SALES! NO WONDER PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF YOU AND YOU ARE HERE POSTING INTERNET OPINIONS! IF MY MUSIC WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE ME POPULAR I WOULD TRY HARD TO LET PEOPLE KNOW I AM POPULAR ON THIS FORUM AS WELL!