Cubase 4.5.2 (OSX) and TIOS3 "Sidechaining" the Input WORKS!
 

Let's get this out of the way - I'm using Cubase 4.5.2 on an Intel Mac Pro (OSX 10.5.6, 8gb RAM), a TI Desktop with TIOS 3.0. So how do I go about routing the audio of my track through the TI to use the Virus as an effect?

The TI manual says:
1. In Virus Control, click on the Patch/Utility tab
2. Click in Input/Output Configuration and change USB AUDIO MODE to 3 Outs / 1 Input
3. Go to the Browser tab and in the Search field type "Input" The rest of this depends on your DAW of choice and this is where I stalled in Cubase.

I noticed there are two VST listings for the Virus TI in Cubase when selecting an instrument or effect now, and the first option is the only that will bring up something that has a sidechain option. I've tried a few things but I can't get sound out or route it. I need help.

EDIT: Here is how I got this to work:
OK, this is what I did. I'm going to try a few different methods but a brainstorm got this working for me, so don't tell me I'm making something simple complicated because I just got this working haha:

#1. I created a "group channel track" (project>add track>group channel)

#2. in configuration, make that a "quadro" group (this is the old method of creating a sidechain in cubase sx3)

#3. in that group channel track, click on the little "e" and in "inserts" add Virus TI /// (the VST3 effect version I guess)
------this will make the TI load up, but in mine I always got a blank plug graphic and didn't know what to do

#4. make sure you enable the sidechain button

#5. on the TI unit itself, navigate to the patch eROM-A 125 >>INPUT<<
#6. now hit F3 to go to the mixer. with whatever audio tracks you want to run through the TI, change "Stereo Out" to "Sidechains - Group 1: Ins 1 - Virus TI"

#7. HOORAY, play with the TI's effects to your heart's delight!!!!! (remember to use the TI itself to screw around with effects)

I make absolutely no guarantees this will work on any system but mine.

cubase 4 doesn't support side chaining of instruments. there is nothing we can do about that.

best, marc

Hi Marc, I appreciate that, but some of the wording in your documentation is still potentially misleading, for example when on your website you say:

Compatible sequencer versions
Please note that other versions/products might work as well but eventually do not support all functionality. We strongly recommend only using certified products.
Macintosh Apple Logic 7.2.3 or higher Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3.1 or higher Pro Tools 7.3 M-Powered, LE or TDM or higher Ableton Live 5.2.2 or higher
Windows Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3.1 or higher Pro Tools 7.3 M-Powered, LE or TDM or higher Cakewalk Sonar Producer 7 Ableton Live 5.2.2 or higher Image Line FL Studio 5 or higher

... this implies that 'do not support all functionality' could be the case with Cubase versions 'other' than 'SX/SL 3.1 or higher' - in other words with Cubase 4 one should expect all functionality.

Elsewhere in your recent documentation (forget where exactly, I'm too busy trying to get OS3 working properly ;)) I am sure I have just read 'Access recommends Cubase 4...'.

So perhaps you could think about some more careful wording of statements in documentation to avoid the situation where someone invests in apparently recommended software only to find that a much-asked-for feature (sidechaining) of their lovely new Virus doesn't work...?

Suzzy :)

Sidechaining doesnt work in Cubase 4!? that sucks so much!!!!!! this is the only feature i wanted from access. Is there no way or work around? there must be? :(

The workaround would be to wrap the Access control in a subhost plugin that does support audio inputs for instruments. For example Energy XT, Plogue Bidule, NI Kore 2 (OK that last one is expensive but worth it)

could Access/Virus users not request this in a update of cubase 4? I reckon if we all requested it they would/could consider it?

Well OS3 just came out like yesterday and is still in beta. Up till then every feature was still supported (and still is in the current full version). I guess they will have to update that information at some point but to say it's "misleading" is silly since no one is going to have been mislead into investing in anything on the basis of something unfinished that came out yesterday. It's not their fault Cubase is so inflexible (still).

Ok so if you check Steinberg's site they have released the all new Cubase 5, does anyone know if the sidechain input feature will be compatible with this version 5?

wait what ... ?

Cubase doesn't support side chaining , even though I've used side chaining in cubase for the last god knows how many months?

If it doesn't support instrument sidechaining , can't you just use the Virus USB input as an output for your audio track and route it that way ?

sorry , no audio pc to test theories on at mo..

Im not too clued up with this side of things although it been the most anticipated feature for me, I would love to know if anyone gets this working on cubase 4 or knows if it will work on 5 :) please post your suggestions/solutions

Does it work properly under SX3 and is it delay compensated with the rest of your track?

as far as i know Cubase does not support sidechaining with instruments, i know of the work arounds for "ducking" with compression and cubase 4 certain bundled VST3 plugins support it, but im not too sure if those methods apply here with the Virus's sidechain feature, Im busy installing 3.0 ill let you know if anything surfaces, i doubt it thou as i think this is a barrier steinberg needs to take down for us :) im so jelous of you Logic/protools b4$tards right now >:)

sigh, one of the most anticipated features in OS3 and doesn't work in the host I use. This is great.

Hi Snoozer. I made it plain I didn't consider this Cubase limitation in any sense Access's 'fault'. And I said the wording was potentially misleading, and not definitively so, because I know there are many of us musos out here who read through compatibility specs pretty quick, are ever eager to get the gear, crack open the shrink wrap and get going, and someone who's so keen may well not notice the fact that a product is an early release, etc etc. I certainly didn't intend this as any criticism of Access, since even my very short acquaintance with the firm so far has convinced me that they are an unusually customer-oriented enterprise; rather, I intended it as a helpful heads-up that might just help to obviate future problems.

Suzzy

what if Access made a VST3 version of virus control? or what if Steinberg added sidechain support? problems would be solved :)

in a way you're right. but since not everybody will use side chaining i think it would be questionable to declare cubase 4 to be incompatible. here's a list of host based limitations we found in regards of side chaining:

- cubase 4 doesn't support it for instruments (not a part of VST2.4)
- cubase 4.5 / 5 does support it but the VST3 implementation is buggy and other aspects of VC stop working unless steinberg fixes somethings (which they hopefully will)
- logic works but the input is not delay compensated

on the other hand:

- live seems totally fine, even with VST 2.4

best, marc

Thank you again Marc, having such personal attention from Access is why I'll always use Access synths.

That's a dealbreaker for me with Cubase then, time to finally start listening to my friends that all make fun of me and get Ableton.

I got it to work in Cubase 4.5.2! I'll post an update with screen caps to the inital post but I figured it out; it's very similar to the fix that got sidechaining working in SX3 with "group channels".

oh please do share :D

OK, this is what I did. I'm going to try a few different methods but a brainstorm got this working for me, so don't tell me I'm making something simple complicated because I just got this working haha:

#1. I created a "group channel track" (project>add track>group channel)
#2. in configuration, make that a "quadro" group (this is the old method of creating a sidechain in cubase sx3)
#3. in that group channel track, click on the little "e" and in "inserts" add Virus TI /// (the VST3 effect version I guess)
------this will make the TI load up, but in mine I always got a blank plug graphic and didn't know what to do
#4. make sure you enable the sidechain button
#5. on the TI unit itself, navigate to the patch eROM-A 125 >>INPUT<<
#6. now hit F3 to go to the mixer. with whatever audio tracks you want to run through the TI, change "Stereo Out" to "Sidechains - Group 1: Ins 1 - Virus TI"
#7. HOORAY, play with the TI's effects to your heart's delight!!!!! (remember to use the TI itself to screw around with effects)

Ok i dont know what im missing here, i got OS v3.0 from the access site, I installed it and it loads as a VSTi and it works, how ever i cant seem to find the side chain option on the plug in and i dont see Virus TI in my list of VST fx plugs? - (I have enabled 3out/input) I'm using Windows XP, Cubase 4.5.2, Intel Core2Quad 4 gb RAM - if that has any relevance lol

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy with this new feature. I was up and pumping a slick groove in 5 minutes with this new feature using Live 7. I love Access.

This of course is the welcome mat for the Access Virus Compressor. The algorithm is their, masked as a side chain only compressor. It would be an easier algorithm to use the same signal as the key input.... I love dis' shit.

Nice one dude!! ok after reinstalling OS 3.0 for my Virus TI 1 Desktop i still dont have the virus as an effect plug in, all i have is the VSTi(virus control) option (with the option of the snow too) in the instruments menu there is also no side chain input selection on the virus control itself......prehaps Access
only made this available to mac users?? :confused:

I seriously doubt this would work on Mac Cubase, but not PC.

OP, can you post a screenshot?

Group channels are like mixer channels. You can't load instruments into them. And the VirusTI.dll is an instrument plug in only (Cubase itself will tell you this, as will Access i think.)

Hey Mono, I am going to be testing this out this weekend with Live 7. Haven't had a chance to go through any of the documentation from Access - pretty straightforward to setup in Live?

Digitalgeist242 has it working on Cubase 4.5.2 on OSX which is what im using but on Windows, he has it as a VST insert on a group channel as a effect and he has the side chain input option on his Virus control, i dont have any of these i just have the VirusTI.dll and VirusTI Snow.dll, so thats
why its got me thinking only mac? :confused: - Digitalgeist242 can you post a screenshot please?

you already tried to implement it in VST3? so if steinberg fixes some bugs we can expect a VST3 plugin? :D would be awesome!

I posted screenshots of the step-by-step system I got to work on Mac as an edit to the original post. That I'm afraid is all the help I can be as I use a Mac and that's how I got it to work. If it doesn't work for you and you're using a different system, you'll just have to try trial and error, if it even does work on your setup. Sorry, but as Access says, this is "beta" and I just got lucky after 12 hours of testing.

lol. i just plugged a physical output in to the virus. it works fine :D
(its best if that voice uses a physical output as well, otherwise the timings a bit slow) you cans till control it from the virus control (mind you, you could do this before to :D )

its probably better with the new virus TI2 if it uses USB2, i dint notice anything about that. surely it must?

Thanks, Nice work, I definately dont have a VirusTI fx Insert option, so it must only be mac, any one got the option for virus TI as a fx insert in cubase on PC(windows)?

we would be done with a VST3 version but unfortunately steinberg broke things we need so we all have to wait.

m

that's great :D i guess you had the VST 3.0.2 SDK preliminary which was released yesterday. or is it a bug in the cubase host implementation?

Don't feel alone. I just registered on this board for the sole purpose of letting you know that I am in the same boat as you. I too have no /// Virus TI/Virus TI FX available to use as insert in the Quadro created Group channel. Now that I think about it, I have never had that option in any Ti OS version in either SX 3.1.1 or Cubase 4.5.2 which I am using now. I have other VSTi that do however have an FX version available as an insert effect, such as Rob Papens Predator etc. I didn't want to think it was a MAC only thing, but since I am als on PC I am starting to wonder if this is a file included in the MAC installer but not the PC. I am a little anxious to be able to use the side chaining in Cubase 4.5.2 thanks to the original posters finding, so am also sorely disappointed that I can't do so at the moment.

Marc, can you shed some light on perhaps why the MAC version contains this insert effect, but the PC doesn 't? Is there a techincal reason, or perhaps it is just accidentally left out of the PC installer? Like I said above, I have never had this option in any OS installer for the Ti on PC. Any shedding light would be much appreciated.

BTW, hi guys! New to the forum as you can tell!

Andrew

Andrew, thank you :)

You're very welcome. I know it feels good to be reassured. I just hope we can get a definite answer on this.

Is it broken in Cubase 5, assuming you have access to the beta version?

Hi Marc,

have you guys at Access let Steinberg know of the issue that needs to be fixed, and have requested that a fix indeed be implemented? I am not calling you guys stupid, but I wouldn't hand it to Steinberg to just fix things on their own. They are not the most flexible company when it comes to implementing fixes and listening to user requests. I hope something will come of this for us Cubase 4 users. I would be extremely disappointed if they fixed whatever was need only in Cubase 5 as it is their newest product, leaving us 4 users in the dust.

just a quick bump to see if anyone has gotten this to work Via Cubase on PC?

hey guys

I've got the same problem.

I'm hoping cubase 5 will fix our problems, cuz I'm gonna bet there will never be another v.4 update.

I don't know why I don't switch to ableton. :mad:

I just switched to Ableton Live a week ago, despite figuring out how to do this in Cubase it's an absurd workaround, and Steinberg's usual response is "well, sorry it doesn't work but we have a new version out for $299!" I'll keep Cubase 4.5.2 and use it for final touches, but I think I'm done with Steinberg. Between the problems with this and other instruments, lack of really helpful support and being told to pay up every 2 years...

/offtopic rant