Access Virus Rack XL, User Manual

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138
CHAPTER 11
The Virus and Sequencers
NOTES ON ADAPTIVE
PARAMETER SMOOTHING
We developed a feature called Adaptive Param-
eter Smoothing for the Virus that assures auto-
mated knob movements are carried out so that
parameter changes are not audible in steps
commonly called zipper noise.
This means that the Virus responds just as
smoothly to your sound-shaping actions as a
vintage analog synthesizer. To this end, the re-
sponse of the Virus is manipulated so that it
smoothes changes in parameter value. Conven-
iently, this feature is dynamic, meaning that it
takes into account the way these values
change. However, smoothing is many cases un-
desirable. For example, left to its own devices,
this feature would smooth deliberate, more rad-
ical knob movements where one value ”jumps”
to the next, thus creating unintentional ”glitch-
es”. For example, this type of response would
defeat the purpose of effects generated by a
step sequencer’s controller messages as well
as gater effects that you programmed in your
sequencer.
You can adjust Adaptive Parameter Smoothing
via a function called Control Smooth mode (in
the EDIT menu; COMMON: SmoothMode) to
accommodate different sonic situations:
- OFF Adaptive Control Smoothing (parameter
smoothing) is disabled.
Application: Parameter jumps are carried out
without glitches. This option is ideal when you
want to create gating and similar effects (e.g.
via a step sequencer) where parameter values
change abruptly.
Side effect: Continuous parameter changes –
be it movements controlled via automated
knobs or via MIDI - are incremental, which
means you’ll have to take zipper noise into
account.
- ON Adaptive Control Smoothing is enabled.
Application: Parameter changes are carried
out continuously and smoothly.
Side effect: Parameter jumps are also carried
out continuously, meaning that glitches may
be generated inadvertently.
- AUTO Adaptive Control Smoothing analyz-
es the nature of incoming parameter changes
and carries these out continuously or abrupt-
ly, as the case may be.
Application: Both continuous as well as sud-
den parameter changes may be implemented
in the same sound.
Side effect: This analysis of radical parameter
changes can’t cope with jumps that occur in
rapid succession.
- NOTE Adaptive Control Smoothing works
continuously, but jumps when a new note is
played.
Application: Both continuous as well as sud-
den parameter changes may be implement-
ed, whereby the jumps are always inserted at
the beginning of a new note. Consequently,
this option is well-suited when you want to
control sounds via a step sequencer.
Side effect: When you’re playing polyphoni-
cally, parameter jumps also affect notes that
were played previously and are still sounding
when a new note is played.
The Control Smooth mode parameter setting is
considered a component part of a SINGLE
sound and is thus stored with it.