Access Virus TI Desktop

Price Paid: US $2,000.00

Ease of Use: 8
Generally speaking, The Virus TI is fairly well balanced between simplicity and complexity when it comes to programming. The folks at Access did a pretty decent job of keeping things orderly and well thought out, which makes it easy for a novice user to dive in but supplying enough features to keep advanced users happy.

I'm using o.s. 1.0.9 with the Hotfix Update. Since I've only recently bought this synth, I can't compare this latest o.s. with previous versions, but it seems stable enough. There are a few bugs that still need to be hammered out, such as problems with synch issues, but these are mainly problems I've experienced using the Virus Control interface when it is plugged in to my sequencer as a vst. When used as a standalone synth, I havent run into any problems.

The manual is straight forward but can be a little cryptic at times.

Features: 10
It has 80+ stereo voice polyphony under average load, which is probably more than any one would ever really need. The effects section comes with delay, reverb, eq, chorus, phaser, distortion, and analog boost. Effects arent handled globally so youre free to assign them individually per voice. This is something that is really nice because, you can switch voices without any audible glitches. Midi capabilities are pretty standard if youre using the TI in standalone mode. If youre using it as a vst instrument however, midi is handled through usb.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
This is my favorite part. The Virus has a distinct sound.. its a very rich and full sounding synth. I would say it compliments electronic genres best although I see no reason why it couldnt be used as a complimentary instrument for other types of music. Both the audio and onboard effects sound excellent and sit well in a mix. Out of all the synths I have owned, this is one of if not my favorite.

Reliability: N/A
Its built pretty solidly and time will tell if I can vouche for its dependability.

Customer Support: N/A
Have not dealt with customer service yet, but it looks like Access makes an effort to keep users updated with upcoming o.s. revisions, so I guess thats a good sign.

Overall Rating: 10
For as new as this synth is, I give it high marks, even with the semi-shaky o.s. quirks. The sound and features more than make up for this and as a standalone synth it is one of the best Ive ever owned. Assuming Access gets the o.s bugs hammered out, this thing should be rock solid moving forward.

Submitted by JDawg at 05/28/2006 20:06

Price Paid: 1200 Quid (sterling)

Ease of Use: 9
I'm using OS 1.09 and it seems really stable. My Ti hasn't crashed once and I get the feeling the bugs are beings ironed out generally. I for one do not have any gripes and it doesn't impede my work in any way whatsoever. Using the Ti is a revelation, I had a Virus C last year which in itself was very easy to use but the menu and layout on the Ti is greatly improved - everything is so easy to get to. I've never needed to use the manual but from flicking through, it looks a bit fragmented.

Features: 9
Tonnes of features on the Ti and it feels like a workstation together with the software. I've got soft-synths and other hardware modules but everything seems to revolve around the Ti. The effects are excellent. I rate the delay and reverb very highly but the distortion could maybe do with a bit more work. The phaser is excellent also. The Ti has loads of expansion capabilities because Access are very big on putting out updates on a regular basis.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
Now this is the real reason I wanted to write this review. I'm sick of hearing the nay-sayers and jobs-worths harping on about the Ti not sounding "truly analog", shut up and get real analogs so we don't have to listen to your whining. The Ti sound glitters and sparkles but it has plenty of body too. I think the Ti takes the Access line of synths further into the digital realm and that's fine by me because the range of sounds and purity is outrageous. In three words I could describe this synth as being expansive, moody and inspiring. I've owned a Microwave XT and whilst the wavetables on this are dirty, harsh and steppy, the wavetables on the Ti are smooth and sophisticated. This is a superb synth for film scoring and I use mine for deep house and techie stuff, at which it excels. 10 MARKS &^%$#!!!

Reliability: 9
Yeah, I can rely on it. I haven't had any problems and it seems pretty stable (touch wood). The build quality is very good and is heavy and solid. The LCD display is gorgeous as are all the winking lights.

Customer Support: 9
Access customer support is really good IMO. I've used them a couple of times and they've always got back to me in a day or two. They're always making new OS improvements / enhancements which are easy to install.

Overall Rating: 10
I've had a number of other hardware synths and a load of softsynths but this one is central to the sounds I make. So easy to use and great sounds seem to spill out of it every time I go on. You find yourself saving patch after patch of inspiring, never-heard-before magic. If I lost this I would hang myself from the rafters. If it were stolen I would hang the perpetrator from the rafters.

Submitted by David at 02/24/2006 11:58

Price Paid: US $2650

Ease of Use: 7
I'm using version 1.0.7 of the firmware, and am now able to fully integrate seemlessly with Ableton Live 5.0.2 on OSX.
My studio is now greatly simplified and highly mobile thanks to the Ti. Genelecs 8020a's, The Ti Polar, and a 15" powerbook.
It is so easy to use and intuitive that I haven't had to consult the manual yet! The onboard LCD is much improved over Indigo and older viruses, and there's 3 soft knobs now that make tweaking REALLY nice, especially when using the Virus Control VSTi plugin in your DAW sequencer app.
Still some bugs, but by the time you read this, they will be fixed. And none of them are show stoppers.

Features: 10
Quite simply, there is nothing out there that is even close to the Ti's VSTi implementation. I won't repeat what you already know about here.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
This is a TRUE instrument. If there were no VSTi, no sound card, and no USB connection, etc., the synth is worth the money just for the sound, and for the keyboard action alone.
The keys I believe of the latest Fatar variety (not sure about this). The aftertouch is perfect....requires decent enough pressure to engauge it so as not to accidently do so, but VERY natural feeling still. The mod pitch wheel are classic Virus perfection, and the soft knobs and effects knobs make this synth a totally orgasmic experience. Let ALONE, the ability to play 16 parts simultaneously, each with their OWN effects settings, etc.!!! It's like having 16 Virus C's, only way better still, b/c you can use it so seemlessly with your DAW. It's what you've always wanted... total expression while laying down studio tracks. Best of both worlds.

Live....the the Virus Ti just using audio outs and my genelec's....well., it's mind blowing the sounds and textures you can get going. Good enough for a solo gig. Combine it with MicroTonic drums, SupaTrigga, and you are set.

Reliability: 10
Incredible hard case. Nice wooden trim (I have the Polar) under the keyboard. Very sturdy.
Early firmware had some reliability issues when in Ti mode......but those are all gone now.
Rock Solid, comes to mind.

Customer Support: 10
Access are simply the best so far. They are responsive to bugs even on 'unofficial' mailing lists, and come out with firmware rervisions almost monthly, if not sooner.

Only thing that really sucked was that I had this thing on order for an entire year after it's announced arrival, before I got it. Worth the wait, however, and the guys at Access are muscians and synth-gurus to be sure.

Overall Rating: 10
If I had to go to a desert island with one piece of my studio, it would be the Ti.
Even over my entire DAW on the 15" PB. Even over the Genelec's. Even over the Motu Traveller.
As an instrument, I find as much expression and overall joy and childlike "WOW" playing the Polar, as I do the other instruments in my life, the Trumpet and the Piano. I even do the 'look back', like when you have a new car, every time I leave the studio.

And did I mention the pulsing Virus Logo on the back of the Polar can even be configured in the config menu? And I've had this thing for awhile now! I should be used to it, but instead, I feel that newly-wed in love feeling I've not felt for a piece of kit since getting my first Trumpet in 5th grade. Not to mention, my overall productivity in the studio just shot up by at least 30%. And the tracks......the sound incredible.

So go ahead, ask me how I really feel. :)

Submitted by Shagghie at 12/08/2005 14:15

Price Paid: 2000 (euro)

Ease of Use: 9
Well it's been a long wait for this. Is it any good then. Oh yes. It's the new star on the Virtual analog synth heaven. New smooth 24 bit converters give it the edge against all it's old siblings. It's supplied with 16 banks a 256 patches so everybody should find something. It will accept old soundsets from former models of which at least 25 are avaible for download from the access web site.
For the time being you should as soon as possible check the web site for latest OS since mine was shipped with a beta. Lots of troubles.
The OS is not in its finished state at this moment, there are still issues but mostly in respect to the TI features

Features: 10
16 part multi timbrale and it works. The TI feature is not there quite yet, it will also present you with the problems other USB soundcards has due to the bandwith. It will though work and I have for time being disabled my PCI based soundcard and are using the TI as my soundsorce. Midi interface and the VST plugin works but as soon as you push it glitches shows up, but that is not a problem because this i why I have my EMU PCI emulator card anyway.
The fun starts in the VST plugin that gives you acces(s) to all parameters. It's a real joy to use the arpegiattor in this mode, much like xphraze. This is really good.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
The sound, that's really good. It's much more polished than f.ex. waldorf synth. E.g. the simulation of analog sounds are up with the best, but you can still get it to scream if you like.
Rompler wise it has some organ sound and keyboard stuff in it as well as some flute sound that's okay, but it not in that genre you expect it to shine.
Effects are up with the best on any other synths, but i still prefer external ( Have a T.C. 4000 reverb unit ), and you can expect it to compete with unit that cost even more than the synth.
Since the desktop needs a mother keyboard it's fair to say that it react to all controllers as expected.
In it's area it simply great.

Reliability: 9
It seems well built. Only issue is that the OS in not finished but as a hardware synth the only glitch i've encountered so far is that voices from one preset, from time to time hangs, into the next.
I've encountered the same on Alesis Andromeda 6, but it's no big deal in a studio enviroment and the OS is updateted regulary so I expect this to be solved.

Customer Support: 8
So far no problems. They react to emails

Overall Rating: 10
This is good synth. It has a great future. If you have not had a chance to try it out go and do so, but be aware that this might soon set your cashflow back.
I would consider it against the Roland V-synth XT which in some respect has an edge. It has sampler capabilities, though limited, it has variphrase and the 2 VC card in it.
But sound wise the access filters i.m.h.o. gives the virus the edge and the TI feature is totally integrated into your host enviroment as well as the ability to act as soundcard.
Well I could not make up my mind so I have both. :-)
If you need a really good synth this one will not disapoint you.

Submitted by lni55 at 12/05/2005 08:59