Access Music Virus Indigo

4.51 (the double patches rom!)

Some of the presets are very good, but most of them are dedicated to dance/trance/techno stuff.

Editing patches is very easy, especially with the free Sounddiver that comes along.

The manual is good, easy to read.

Maybe a bit more polyphony for the next version, the unison mode really eats em up.

Built in effects are really cool.

And I really just LOVE the arp. And the fact that everything just automaticly syncs to midi.

The soundquality is just a KILLER

I bought the Indigo, because of the 3octave keyboard. Is it for a Studio buy the Keyboard version.

SIMPLY THE BEST SYNTH AT THE MOMENT

It's like my SYRINX Synthon with lot of voices, effects...
I'm not interresting by the presets (sorry !!!)
The manual is a dictionnary-like and i like it like that

allgood except the bad quality keyboard
(when I'm puttin' in a trance, the keyboard sounds like "dzoinng" "dzoinng" (too bad !!!)

my indigo is a versatile kinder surprise !!!

i don't anderstand...

"wanna kissed myself..."

never i'll swap my indigo....

Very easy to use and program. Presets sound good. Patch editing is easy, although there are a few menus. I have to disagree with a previous reviewer about the manual, it stinks, is poorly organized and includes very few instructions on how to find certain parameter pages, etc.

24 voice poly, the keyboard action is acceptable, but not great. Built in effects are good and easy to use. No expansion, although Access comes out with new OS features occasionally. MIDI implementation lacks aftertouch.

This is where the keyboard is really hit or miss. It sounds great, but the indigo I bought came with OS4.07 and the keyboard does not work properly. It seems the white keys will not transmit velocities above 95, the black keys, 85. This is simply unnaceptable for a 3-oct keyboard at this price. There is no velo sensitivity adjustment in the OS.

It is built very sturdily, but time will tell

This is also hit or miss. Access provides new features via OS updates from thier website. However, I email their support staff over a week ago about the velocity problem and have yet to recieve a response other than:

This is an automated response to your support request
Your request is stored in the database and will be processed as soon as possible
The tracking number for your request is: 1005418214
For any further comments about this case, please refer to the tracking number
Please do not send this request again
Regards
access-music support team

Over one week for an email response is unnaceptable. I returned the board and got a Nord Lead 3

I might buy one again once they fix the problems with the keys, but I'd probably be better off with a virus b. The support for this product was way below substandard. I put my reference number in the review in case someone from access cares to respond as to why I got NO support.

I just bought this synth yesterday and have spent about 10 hours with it, so here are some initial thoughts. It is a Virus Indigo, SW version 4.03, and serial number in the 600's.

The Indigo has the same editing interface as the Virus b/kb versions except for larger knobs and cosmetic changes (color). Quite complex patches can be built without diving into the menus, and the menu structure seems pretty straight forward once you take the time to familiarize with it. Using Soundiver allows for editing all parameters from a single surface which can help to provide a better visual overview of the synth settings. The manual is OK, it's just not in my style. I would prefer some simple diagrams especially a block diagram of the editing menu structure. There are 3 knob modes to choose from for synth reaction characteristics. Several of the knobs are multi-use either by themselves or in combination with other knobs. Among other things this allows for stepless transformation between waveforms, and filter balance.

The presets are very impressive for the most part with only a few fillers. Most are very useable and many are just stellar. A very simple example is patch a95 which is a dead-on emulation of the lead synth on Pink floyd's "Wish you were Here" album. Other more complex patches and multi-patches can get downright trippy.

The features of the Virus are well known, so I'll comment on a couple of things specific to the Indigo. First, the keyboard. As should be obvious, this keyboard is not intended to be used for playing Chopin or Mozart piano compositions standalone. I like the size and will use another keyboard for playing when appropriate. In my opinion, the action is fine for what it is intended. I actually like it quite a bit, but am not an accomplished keyboardist. I compared the action of this keyboard to several other similar sized VA's including the Nord II, Korg MS2000, and OB-12 and preferred the Indigo. I do wish it reacted to aftertouch, although it does remotely of course.

Another issue that has shown up in some magazines is the keyboard Transpose buttons. Contrary to those reviews, the transpose buttons do send midi and the Indigo works perfectly when controlling external hardware and software synths via the keyboard transpose buttons.

The Headphone Jack is another item that has received some negative press for being noisy, with the admission from Access that they were going to upgrade the components. Well I can state that my Indigo headphone outputs are completely noisefree at maximum volume with Sennheiser HD-600's. I guess that problem has been repaired -:)

Even after only 24 hours It is easy to state that for sound quality, expressiveness, and analog emulation, the Indigo is my favorite synths of the ones that I own. This includes a Nord Modular Rack, Waldorf Pulse, and softsynths Reaktor and Pro-52.

OK, I'm old enough to have lusted after an ARP-2600 when they first came out when I was a teenager, and if I were still that young now, I would have to say that the Indigo "rox da haus". The filters are so damn versatile and excellent sounding. There are so many combinations of filters possible ranging from a 12db to a 36db slope additional saturation options available between filter 1 and 2. The resonance and cutoff characteristics are somewhere between a Waldorf and a Sherman filterbank in my opinion.

One of the features that sets the new Virus range apart from other VA's is ACS (adaptive control smoothing). You can twiddle any knob at any frequency range with no zipper noise or other digital artifacts. As an example, try sweeping the delay range on other VA's in real-time while playing and then try a Virus. You would think you are using an old tape echo or something.

Seems to be built very solidly with the aluminium side panels and all. The weight is quite substantial and as heavy as many other full size keyboards. The power supply is a welcome autosensing dual voltage for those of us who are world travelers.

I don't know yet but seeing that I received a German manual I will find out as I try to get an English one.

I've been playing music since I was about 8 years old so I guess that's 32 years. I own lots a few other hardware synths (Nord Modular, Sherman Filterbank, Waldorf Pulse, Pulsar II) and record in LAW Platinum.

My initial impressions of this synth are very high indeed. I considered and tried many other VA's before buying this including the Waldorf Q, NL-3, and Supernova II. I chose the Indigo for it's sound, portability, features, and of course all of those beautiful flashing blue lights!!

Check this synth out and I am sure you will be interested. Give the keyboard a try and decide if YOU think it plays well for your style/capability. I think that it does the most realistic job of sounding analog of any VA out there. All else being equal, it sure is one damn fine looking piece of gear!

Layout fairly simple and easy to learn. The major functions are accessable from the front panel.
Using O.S. version 4.0.

24 voice polyphony. The keys are not the best but the rest of the synth
is very well made. Metal frame, not plastic. The effects are the best you'll
find on a VA synth. Lots of character in the sounds and effects. Plenty of memory
with 4 banks of 127 presents. Banks C & D are user writable. Excellent Midi
specs. Can do anything you ask it to do. No sequencer, but has an arpegiator.

No realistic sounds. All synth. Different sounding from the other VA boards
out there. A lot more character and wide sonic range.

I can depend on the unit I have. Very well built. New O.S. version on there
web site.

Excellent. Got back to me quickly and very helpful.

If lost or stolen I would buy it again. The best synth and my favorite
in my setup. I have a dozen different boards which includes a Juno106, Korg MS2000,
Quasimidi Sirius, MC505, Nord Lead, Prophet VS, Fizmo, a few Ensoniqs, and few other Boards.
The Indigo sounds unique. Very lush and fat sounding. I can't think of anything else this
synth could have and there is nothing I hate or dislike about it. Great for
any type of electronic music. The bad thing I just thought of is that because Access is such
a small company they are having problems keeping production up with the current demand. Hopefully
they will expand do to the great demand for this synth.

Os 4.02 operating. I found this synth not too difficoult in use, the presets are real killers, especially in my opinion pads and noises. The manual is in example for its clarity.

Keyboard is only three octave, non the best in action. Good midi implementations.

OSv4.01 is installed on the machine. The presets are fine, some are real killers. Try the demo button to check the best sounds. Tweaking sounds is no big deal with this fantastic layout. Nothing to moan about. Simply flawless and perfect.

Read the brochure for techy details. The keyboard feels a little bit cheap compared to the awesome design, unfortunately no aftertouch. The effect section sounds great. They have basic parameters. Everything is controllable via MIDI. There is no sequencer. The manual seems to be reference on the market - I have never seen a better one. Step by step introduction and easy understandable, even for rookies.

The sounds are very 'natural' analog. Warm sounds. AMAZING phat pads! Punchy and crispy distorted sounds. A must have for every techno and dance artist and it can also perfectly can add fancy sounds to rock arrangements. I do not like the thin drum sounds but that's a question of personal taste.

The housing looks very stable - pure aluminium. Perfect for live performance. Only the keyboard appears a little bit cheap (that's why I only gave "8") but anyway seem to be reliable.

I got just got it so I do not have experience. The internet site is OK but I would wish to find *more* presets/sounds offered there.

Would buy it again immediately. This says it all. The most beautiful synth with amazing sounds. Nothing to add. It may be a little bit expensive for some.

Got this baby a few days ago. Os v4.01 installed, lots of lovely presets (some REALLY phat), great manual (very thorough and well written with a great step by step introductory tutorial). The knobs are well laid out (even for those with chunky hands) and the keyboard is quite responsive. There are lots of parameters, effects and options and I was using most of them within minutes.

24 voice polyphony, 2 inputs, 3 outs, pedals, phones. Good reverb, very funky groove delay (great on a drum loop fed through), masses of lofi effects, analog boost, two filters per voice, up to 16 voices on multis, large modulation matrix, 4 oscillators per voice (incl. sub osc), inbuilt 32 band vocoder, fantastic parameter smoothing (no zipping), a couple of definiable knobs (and a modulation wheel of course) - you get the idea! All parameters are midi controllable (and it transmits everything) and its 3 lfos are all syncable to midi clock... and of course its probably the best looking synth out there (gotta love those blue leds and silver finish - stylin')

For a VA synth, its hard to beat... about 90% of the time you'll think you bought a moog, arp, etc. The pads are lush, the basses stomach wobbling and the lead synths absolutely cutting. If you're into techno, trance, house you'll be well chuffed with one of these babys. The effects are quite nice, perhaps a bit digital but perhaps you like that. The reverb is quite good (probably not excellent) as is the vocoder and groove delay... The keyboard reacts to velocity but alas no aftertouch. (I don't really care that much, as via midi it does)

Hehe, It seems stable enough (quite chunky and reasonably heavy) - but I've only had it a few days...

Haven't dealt with them yet - I think they're pretty swamped at the moment getting these babys out!

My god its great... I'd replace it in a second if it was stolen. Worth every cent. After comparing it with the nord lead 2, supernova 2 and the waldorf q it easily takes the cake for the best price / features ratio. Very musical and I haven't been put in the poor house.

It goes great with my a3000, rm1x, airbase99 and effects rack (great through the electrix filter factory). Couldn't ask for more.