Access Announces Virus Keyboard

(Click for a close-up)

March 3, 1999 -- Access Electronics announced a new bigger brother to their Virus desktop unit - the Virus kb, which will include version 2.5 of the Virus operating system.

The Virus kb features 61 keys with a faster DSP engine than the first Virus. This gives it 16 voices, rather than just 12. For the most part however, it is just like the original Virus with 32 knobs, running the same operating system.

The list price for the Virus kb is 3690 DM.

Specifications

512 Singles, 128 Multi Patches
16 voices
16-way multimode
2 oscillators, sub oscillator, ring modulator, noise generator per voice
Sawtooth, variable pulse, sing, triangle wave, plus 62 additional spectral waves, sync, FM
2 independent filters; serial, parallel; lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandstop; up to 6 poles (36dB) per voice
Saturation unit per voice with multiple distortion/shaper characteristics and variable gain
2 ADSTR envelopes
3 LFOs per voice with 68 waveforms, envelope operating mode, and real tempo-sync to MIDI clock
Modulation matrix with 27 sources and 90 destinations
Independent chorus/flanger for each of the 16 multi parts with stereo processing
Stereo delay effect with individual effect sends and synth to MIDI clock
Innovative 32-band vocoder with macro controlling
6 individual outputs (3 stereo composites), 2 audio inputs (mono and stereo processing)

24-Bit processing; 24-bit D/A converters, 18-bit A/D converters
Flexible internal routing for processing external and internal signals and effects via the filters, amplifiers, and effects of other voices
16 independent arpeggiators
Unison mode
Global master clock that drives all arpeggiators, LFOs, and delay; automatic sync to MIDI clock
Complete parameter control via MIDI with adaptive control smoothing for soft parameter changes
32 knobs, 30 buttons, 62 LEDs
7 edit buttons for parameter acccess
2 freely definable panel controllers
System update via MIDI for added features in the future
61-key light weighted keyboard, note-on/off velocity, aftertouch, pitch bend, modwheel, 2 switch/control pedals
Weight: 13 kg, Dimensions: 993 x 352 x 102 mm