Access Music Virus C

Newest OS with 1024. I've owned for 1 and half years. I dreamt about this synth for years before I finally got one. When I first got the synth, I actually felt intimidated by its cababilities. I wasn't fond of the presets, though I thought many did a good job of emulating other synths. I never used a librarian to edit although I do own super virus and when it does work(my comp is buggy) it is very straightforward. I remember the awesome feeling I got when I made my first real usable sound, I still love it. It's a synth that you can create an insane amount of character with and carry you away into la-la-land for hours and hours. I disliked the frumpyness of the manual. Took me some months but I feel pro with it now to make sounds that inspire. It constantly impresses me.

Keyboard is very cool, durable, hard plastic.
Took me awhile to get into the effects and get more out of them, but it was worth it, also capable of wierd stuff. I love the Rate Reducer and the Dual Filter is badass. I've had problems with MIDI, some of which may be my own problem. I owned an MPC500 for a year, and could not get these two units to communicate, looked into the problem found no solutions. I can't seem to get MIDI to work in Multi-Mode. The arpegiator has some usefull rhythms and can easily help you create atmospheres.

At times I can go on a rampage, totally ballistic, making sounds I only hear in my dreams. I love the range of the sounds possible-endless. I've used mainly it for EBM/teckno stuff.

I've had some other issues with it: I've had a few random crashes, maybe caused by adding too much balls too a sound, hasnt happend lately. Sometimes my screen goes crazy, flashes all kinds of numbers and letters in chaotic patterns. Can be very annoying, but happens less now. Use to happen when sequencing from DAWs.

They never responded to my email.

I've owned a few VAs and by far the Virus is my favorite. It has the polyphony I want and the creative expression I crave. I love to emulate FM and LA digital sounds and create all kinds of timbres! fun stuff, totally usable stuff too!!! I wish the multimode wasn't so 'unstable'. I've only used it for percussion really, that seems ok, but is insanely time consuming, if i could only get the Midi to work with it...It's too bad the TI didn't get an upgrade here, maybe one day Access will will release a new model and focus on making the Virus a better user friendly multi-timbral synth. The Virus C opened me up and helped me train extensively for synth programing,I've learned alot with it. It is the most self-gratifying, intuitive and fun synth I've ever used.

Quite easy do use. Over 30 knobs allow immediate access to most parameters, but there are lots of them still hidden in the sub-menus.
That sometimes sucks.

Polyphony 32 voices does not kill, especially when you go multitimbral. EFX really great. What was written before is true. I only wonder why didnt they provide it with a digital output (only analog). Very nice "random" function changing sound parametres in smaller or bigger steps (as you adjust it).

Sounds really amazing. Some factory sounds need a little tweaking, cause they seem dull, lack brilliance. I do dance music mostly. The synth is perfect for it. Now I understand why it is the king of dance/club/trance music. Way better than my old Yamaha an1x. Sits perfectly in every mix, no problem to connect it with VST synths sounds (wchich I also use). Great filters.

OK.

Haven't tried.

As a VA it's got a lot of great hands on control, very gratifying sounds within that realm or context. However, sonically it can't compete with a real analog in terms of depth. I own a Virus C as well as many true analog synths. I also own a Creamware ASB Minimax, and it is in the same boat as the Virus C in that respect. It sounds great on it's won but lacks the depth of the real thing. So, forget trying to think in terms of comparing these VA's to classic analog synths, you can't. But in the case of the Virus C, appreciate it for it's unique attributes and sound. it can go to some places other synths cannot. It is capable of some distinct sounds that are unique. That is it's power. Look for those un charted noises. Personally, I wouldn't be devastated if I were to lose it. I couldn't say the same about my Sh5.

I also own a Indigo 2 which shares the same features and OS. May seem easy to operate due to the many knobs but there is way much more under the hood and it is not so complicated to operate.

Presets are ...well presets. Some impressive some useless (to me)

Manual are hum...not conventional and for most people not very logically laid out.

Both model are 32 voice engine. Good quality FX especially the rythmic delays. FX are also easier to access that the the previous Virus (KB - Indigo 1 and Rack) which I also own. No Virus synths provides any kind of hardware storage , memory cards or expansion boards. Kind of pointless anyway on any analog emulation synth containing 256 ram presets, 768 rom presets and 128 user performances. Ever heard a MiniMoog user complaining about this kind of stuff?

No on-board sequencer but more has more than decent appergiator (non-programmble patterns, unfortunately).

Can play back 16 parts at once each with their own FX and Arp.

Let's make one thing clear: This is not a SAMPLE PLAYBACK machine. It is made to create analogish sound, not to emulate real instruments. That said, whatever electronic devices are used to digitally render analog sounds in ALL Virus, are plain superb. Filters are great. Unfortunately, this kind of synth is mainly associated with the techno/dance scene which is stupid because analogish sounds can be used in any situation, (Tomita-classical, Emerson-rock, Corea-jazz to name a few. Your imagination and good taste are the only limits.

I don't gig but I often jam with other folks which mean travelling around and none of them has ever let me down at home or outside. My only reservation is that the potentiometers are not bolted to the chassis but just hanging from the circuit boards. Even if the feel is solid enough, I would nevertheless, avoid being brutal while twitching.

Never dealth with the company to report a problem. I had multiple OS update done at my local store and everything always went fine on all occasions. (I do not use or own a computer)

3 months ago I decided to do a major clean up. I sold two Roland SH-32, three Waldorf's: Q , XTK & Q Rack, three Korg's: MS2000 & Microkorg & Wavestation, 6 E-MU's, two Clavia :Nord 2x, Nord rack3, Two Alesis Micron, one Rss Elevata, three Novation's: Nova, KS rack & K-Station, one Yamaha FS1r.

I kept a Alesis Ion, A Waldorf XT, two E-mu's: Vintage pro and Mo'Phatt and I also kept all the Access Virus synths I ever bought: C desktop - Rack - Kb 61 note - Indigo 1 and Indigo 2. That should answer the "overall rating Category"

Pretty straight forwards and easy to use.

Does what it does and handles it well. Not the be all end all synth as some have suggested. But non the less good.

Giving it a 7 as to be honest this synth has been somewhat usurped by a piece of software that in all honesty surpasses the virus for sound quality, though I shant name the software as it's my secret !!! Suffice to say it's not that expensive and it's also coded in Germany. It's a bastard to e.q. as well, the virus that is, and in my opinion offers nothing that cannot be done in software.

Built like a tank.

Superb.

O.k. Then... I guess my review differs from many here on this site. This synth is a lovely piece of design it most certainly looks the part sitting in my studio. However it is now dusty and unused and purely there for appearances sake as people coming into the studio seem to like to see lot's of gear. My advice to you would be to learn to program software wise as this is most definately the future of electronic music, hardware in my opinion is on a suspended sentence. Think about all the other gear you could purchase with the money you would save by not buying this... Maybe start to look at gear to record "REAL" musician's, quality mic's, compressors, pre-amps ect... so as to give that final polish to you all digital mix. Or just spend it all on TOP NOTCH software and mastering hardware. There is not a single thing this can do that I cannot achieve with software. But as I said earlier it does look the part... While I'm at it BUY A DECENT SOUND CARD !!!!! it continues to surprise me how people spend so much money on synth and often neglect the essentials. Ho hum. Oh yeah... and monitors.

I've owned a few synths in my time. My version is 5.5. I rate myself close to novice in terms of programming but this machine is begging me to tweak it! Oh boy, and i love what I can make it do.
The huge number of presets are mostly great. Hook it up to a good controller keyboard (I use my triton le) and use its knobs too to flick through the virus sounds. Some are quite symply stunning! My new age roots are quivering in the sun of it's sounds! i'd better take a breath. no manual with mine but the 'Analogue programming article on the virus website is all i need.

It looks and feels beautiful with plenty of red lights and good firm controls. It's midi capabilities are very good. the modulation matrix is quite complex but don't you want a synth thats this expensive to have hidden depths!? Access to its internal effects for say, modulating a guitar are at this point untried. My wife wont leave me alone with it long enough!

if you want a sample based synth like the triton, then get a triton. the virus exists to make old style synthesis new and relevant and to this end, it does the job perfectly well. it has that certain feel and sound that gives music life and texture.

it seems very dependable and very well built. if you use it live keep a close eye on it because it would be easy to steal and would probably be top of the list for a knowledgable evil muso- thief! You have been warned!

access are a helpful friendly company and i think they have the customers point of view catered for. Why they dont have all the manuals available to simply read plus more for each os upgrade is an irritation but ,oh welll!
i'm just lucky that i got this thing ridiculously cheap in a shop that didnt really know what it was!

this is a wonderful machine and will be featuring large on my new album soon!

A synth with as much programming depth as this is never going to be a cakewalk. However, all of the most commonly used parameters can be instantly accessed. The mod. matrix takes a little time to get your head round and the distinction between multi-single, multi, and single programmes never made complete sense to me. A bigger LCD might improve the ease of use.

The manual didn't do it for me. It looks as though they never got around to translating it properly, as there are sections still in the original German. It also meanders around repeating some points, and yet failing fully to explain others. There is a supplemental book 'programming analogue synths' which is excellent.

A very powerful synth engine. Loads of knobs. 6 audio outputs, 2 audio in (you can use it as an FX module). Vocoder, osc. sync, FM, ring modulation. Multi mode filters. Adequate polyphony (for me any way).

There is, however, only one global instance of reverb/delay (i.e. you can't send different voices to different reverb/delay algorithms at the same time). But you can, ofcourse, route some voices to different audio outs and use outboard FX instead.

No digital in/out.

The Virus has an expansive sound - a bit like the audio equivalent of a wide screen TV. It has a distinctive tone that can be quite lovely. It can sound dark and aggresive, yet precise and impeccably well behaved. The filters are probably what makes this synth stand out, managing to sound both vintage (esp. the modelled Moog filters) but still retaining their own character.

All the above I liked. I do, though, have two major caveats that prevent me from fully endorsing this synth.

Perhaps the biggest problem, especially for a 'simulated analogue' synth is that the character of the oscillators is somewhat lacking. They are thin and weak, and don't sound very analogue; and this leads to thiness in the whole sound, which can't be disguised through unison stacking and detuning. You just don't get that monumental analogue sound, there's no real doof, clonk, or fizz. Although the sound is wide and the surface beautiful, it doesn't have the depth of analogue. There's no meat in the sandwhich, or if there is its a thin slice of processed ham. The other problem is one of noticeable aliasing in the upper registers, which adds a harsh quality to high pitched sounds.

I have a Korg Oasys DSP card with onboard VA synths which sounds far thicker and far more analogue (I also own a Waldorf Pulse and an Oberheim Matrix - so I know what real analogue sounds like). The Oasys doesn't exhibit aliasing to anywhere near the same degree.

Whereas the Oasys can sound nearly utterly convincing as analogue, the Virus isn't quite there it has a sharper, edgier and perhaps more modern sound. This, ofcourse, isn't neccessarily a bad thing, its a question of taste. Just don't buy one, as I did, and expect it to be able to bellow and spit like a real analogue.

Access now have some real competition in the VA market with the Alesis Ion/Micron, the new Korg VST synth(I can't remember its name; the one with the USB keyboard), and manufactures of native VST's like Arturia. All of which sound much closer to real analogue.

Anyway suffice to say I was a little dissapointed with the Virus' analogue impressions and it was for that reason that we have parted company.

My advice is try before you buy and compare it to what else is out there now and don't be carried away with the almost histerical praise with which this synth has been greeted.

Rock solid, built like a tank. Never had any OS problems with it.

Very good customer support. New OS's with new features were regularly released. Loads of new soundbanks available on their website.

I've sold it and am replacing it with a Creamware Noah (mainly for the Minimax). I would advise looking at and comparing to the Alesis Ion?Micron (very good reviews, more analogue character) or the Noah, which is being sold off cheap - end of line, or the many native synths which are really catching up in terms of sound quality as PC's get faster.

I purchased the VC updated with the latest OS version. It adds a moog-emulation filter to the already powerful virus engine. Editing patches are simple as everything is logically laid out - oscillator, modulator, effects, filters and amplifier sections. Patch editor will help when you want to make 'accurate' envelopes for patches for professional CD production. But for all live purposes, everything is in the box then and there. The manual is good.

32 note polyphony is plenty for a VA synth. Except for atmospheric pads/chords, you will be using only one note at a time for modulated/arpeggiated sounds. Has enough effects to keep you going. Its vocoder is excellent. Its only drawback I would say is lack of programmable arpeggiator (that you can create from scratch). But I use this in conjunction with triton extreme so no problems there

Excellent range of sounds can be created. Its like the alphabet: with 26 alphabets you can create thousands of millions of words. Likewise, with several dozen parameters, you can tweak thousands and thousands of sounds. Some of the most powerful oscillators give it the absolute rawness and power. Trance superstars like Yahel use it: check out his tracks like DNA, intelligent life remix, going up (trance mix), voyage (the track that made 'tiesto' famous, because tiesto played it in his live sets), tribal maker, waves of sound.

Extremely reliable. Built like a mercedes, BMW, Audi or porsche

Excellent customer support. They email you in 24 hours.

I will never allow anyone to steal it, because if somebody dares to, it will be the end of his life. I use the virus C with triton extreme, and they complement each other well. Triton's advanced sequencer, arpeggiators, sampler, effects and drum samples combined with Virus's high quality analog sounds really make quite a team!

Pretty easy, but lots of functions are burried in menus. no wonder though, this is a very complex synth and offer far more option for sound sculpturing than its any other competitor. Presets are so-so, all are very alike. Not many instant-trance sounds, really. Most of the presets are designed for... I don't know what for. Most of the time I find myself tweaking hell out of them to get usefull sound. Manual explains what do every function means but doesn't tell you how to access it (what button to press).

HUGE features. Virus is way ahead of competition. Too many UNIQUE features can be found on this synth, that you won't find anywhere else. The only three things that are a minor minus are - 1) it have is probably separate delay and reverb, but then again, you rarely need them both simultaneously, so no problem; 2) arp is weak. 3) only 256 user patches. Otherwise everything is very well thought-out. Most important thing about the Virus is that it has TWO filters per voices. It also has funky "random patch" generator. Extremely flexible architecture.

The only problem is that it has lots of character - dark character, which is not always desirable. I have problems getting clean bright sounds out of it. Despite dozens of waveforms, the sound is always dark and somewhat muddy (due to the extreme fatness). Otherwise simply luxurious sound. The best for huge trance sounds (massive pads, ripping leads). Sounds very different to JP, Nord or Supernova.
I'd give it 10 if it hadn't always sounded that dark.

I have other VAs (JP8080, Nord Rack 2x, SupernovaII) but if I had to keep only one of them it would be Virus. Despite its character it's still far the most versatile synth, capable of the widest spectrum of ultra-hi-quality sounds. I wish presets were rewritable, cause most of them are not that usefull, imho.

OS 6.5 w/1024 sounds
Presets are good, but liven up when you start tweeking!
Editing is easy and the manual works you through programming a basic sound

Everything you could ask for in a synth

It's mainly for Electronic music(Teisto, Van Dyk, Crystal Method all use it,) but I saw the keyboardist for a nu metal group using a Virus KB.
Gets really expressive when start tweaking it live.

Seems very sturdy.
Has never crashed on me.

I e-mailed a question to Access and they responded that day and answered my question.

If it was stolen I would definitely buy another one.
I've been playing since '90( I started in an industrial band in SoCal.)
I have a ton of gear and I always like playing with the Virus.