Access Virus kb

Price Paid: US $1800

Ease of Use: 8
The front panel makes adjustment of the sound very simple and immediate. The layout of the knobs is intuitive and logical. However, some more advanced functions are hidden inside menus in a fairly small LCD screen. The presets sound very dance-oriented and many have arpeggiation built into the program in a way which could be obtrusive if this is not the way you want to use the sound. The manual is very easy to read and well-organized.

Features: 8
Polyphony is 16 voices (?) and the velocity and pressure-sensitive keyboard is a dream - somewhere between a plastic synth-action and a wooden piano-action feel. Not exactly weighted or even semi-weighted, but much more satisfying than the Yamaha "click" key action I'm used to. Although there are no built in effects, the sounds are quite useable right out of the box and are easily adjusted if you're not interested in hard dance synth textures in your music (which is how the presets tend to be programmed). Upgrades are simple and Access has upgraded the OS for this keyboard several times since its initial release. MIDI implementation is quite thorough. No sequencing other than the built in arpeggiator is included (which I have not used much).

Expressiveness/Sounds: 8
The sounds are very fat and warm but the attacks can be set to be very fast and sharp so it makes a good thick sound. The filters can be arranged in a variety of ways that gives the sound a lot of animation although some of the more advanced modulation routing parameters are hidden inside the small LCD menu. It's perfect for dance/techno/hip-hop/electro genres but I use it as a texture within my more traditional pop arrangements quite well. My setup includes some sampler and FM sounds and this synth balances them quite nicely. I sold my Nord Rack 2 because the sound was too static and hard for my tastes and the Virus kb is much better in this category and much easier to blend with other synths.

Reliability: 10
It's never had a problem once in three years.

Customer Support: 7
I've never had to contact Access, but since they are in Germany, I think this might be hard since I'm in the United States. However, their English website is very good and I have been able to find all of the technical documentation I need on the site including OS upgrades and alternative patch sets.

Overall Rating: 8
If I lost it I would probably buy the newer Virus models out there to replace it. I bought it at the peak of its popularity which means I probably overpaid a little for it. I've been playing for 20 years and I own gear from E-mu, Roland and Yamaha in addition to software synths / samplers from MOTU and Native Instruments. I love the way the keyboard feels and the way the sounds respond to my playing. I don't like the more techno patches that came with it since they are more limited in use. I wish more of the filter parameters were available on the front panel, but otherwise that's it! It is my main keyboard and one of my primary synthesizers so it plays a part in almost every song I write.

Submitted by Anonymous at 03/19/2005 21:55

Price Paid: 1500 (euro) used

Ease of Use: 9
I had a long experience of digital rom synths, such as the Korg M1, and I earlier had fiddled with the occasional Roland Juno...but that was the late 80's and early 90's: digital synths like the M1 or the T3 were the thing back then.

So, a few years pass and there's this Virtual Analog synth...rrright.

But...something's wrong, this thing is..hmm...there are no words to describe it. I'm not kidding.

The documentation is great, different language versions are available on the manufacturer's webpages as .pdf documents.

This beast deserves a 10/10, but I honestly have to drop it one notch because of the position of the global midi properties in the menu hierarchy. They should be available at the press of a single button.

Features: 10
I am sure everyone has said enough on this matter already. Nothing to complain about.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
This beast keeps surprising me. Punish it, and it will take you further.
The sounds are...spectacular.

Reliability: 9
German quality, and I'm not German. It's solid. The wood corners might be a problem in 20 years, but that's about it. :)

My only complaint is that it doesn't have a standard-type grounded power inlet. A 9/10 for that.

Customer Support: 10
As a previous owner of several Korg and Alesis synths...with the Virus I finally know what customer support really is. Constant OS upgrades, helpful answers to emails, patch-sets from dedicated users from around the world...on the official website.

Overall Rating: 9
I bought my Virus kb used about 1,5 years ago, and I would never sell it. If it were stolen, I would most certainly try to find a replacement, or even get the newer kc version.

Submitted by Harri Koskinen at 09/17/2003 18:05

Price Paid: US $2100

Ease of Use: 7
I'm somewhat a newbie about analogue synths, but when I hit the keys I often get the feeling that the sounds are just what I was looking for. The preset sounds are deep, spacey, and futuristic. Surely you find something to almost every taste in the bank of 1024 presets. You have a compare function when editing and saving presets, which is really practical.

Features: N/A
Theres lots that I haven't bothered totally comprehending, I just play on it, trying to make music...but when you buy a synth at this price it is a good idea to use it for all it is worth:)

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
The keys are great, you can have some sensitive playing if its needed. I've sometimes thought that I maybe just should have bought the Virus B, so the keys aren't that important for me. The synth works well for music like Rammstein, Underworld, and trance music. Thats my opinion. I could have mentioned more styles also but as a potencial buyer you should download the audio demos at the manufacturers site.

Reliability: N/A
Truly dependaple - I think. Feels rock solid. But I've ONLY used it at home so... I guess you could say I'm not in a position to really judge it in this category.

Customer Support: N/A
Asked for an english user manual, they said that they couldn't give it to me. The only way I could get one was maybe through the retailer which I bought it? I don't totally remember what they mailed me, but I remember it was no use in trying. I live in Norway, and bought it from Germany. Software upgrades have been issued quite a few times, the best was when they upgraded it o use the demosound memory as additional soundbanks. Which led to a doubling of bank presets from 512 till 1024 available sounds. Upgrading is easy, and I've done it many times.

Overall Rating: 9
If lost, I think I would have bought an indigo or a rack version.

Submitted by Harry Viking at 12/03/2002 06:06

Price Paid: US $1200.00 used

Ease of Use: 7
I am using OS V4.52...presets are great, but tend to be very techno oriented. Some are overdrenched in effects, but most are very effective (no pun intended). It came with SoundDiver software, but my computer won't load it up. Editing is more difficult than my Nord Lead 3 because many of the parameters on the Virus are hidden behind various Edit buttons (deep, but somewhat tricky to find what you want to edit sometimes), wheras all of the Nord parameters are accessable instantly from a ton of front knobs. The Nord has me spoiled !!

Features: 10
I believe the polyphony is 24 note...dropping to 16 if you use all 4 oscillators. The keyboard is to die for...the best of any non-piano action...fast, great feeling, quiet, and smooth. It is expandable thru the Access website with tons of patches and software updates available for free. MIDI transmits note, velocity, and aftertouch parameters. There are no sequencers here, but 16 arpegiators.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
As far as imitating acoustic instruments, FORGET IT !! Thats not what VA's are about...they are meant to sound like analog synthesizers, not sample playback machines...and this the Virus does very well. The effects are many and very good. This machine responds very well to my touch with both velocity and aftertouch.

Reliability: 10
So far, it has been extremely reliable. I don't think that a backup would ever be necessary.

Customer Support: 10
I have only emailed them twice, and both times I received a timely response (very friendly responses at that).

Overall Rating: 10
I love it, although it is my second favorite VA (I have to be honest, my favorite is the Nord Lead 3..even with no effects, it ROCKS). Maybe I just don't the Virus as well yet (I've only had it for a couple of weeks). If it was lost or stolen, I would probably try to replace it with another(although the kb has been discontinued). The Virus is a killer board, and having both the Virus and the NL3, I feel that I have two of the best synths on the planet (believe it or not, the Waldorf Q did not impress me).

Submitted by Alan at 10/09/2002 23:23

Price Paid: N/A

Ease of Use: 7
Ths synth is deep, considerably deeper than its predecessor the Virus A. Unfortunately, the interface is leftover from the Virus A. Because of that, many of the functions are burried in menus, although the most important functions have their own knob. Also, some functions share a knob, which can be confusing at times. However, most of the functions are simple to use. I have the most recent version at this time (I forget what number it is). It works quite well.

Features: 9
Very nice polyphony, great onboard effects, beautiful keyboard, mahogany endbells... The previous reviewers have gone over the details. To sum up: the Virus KB is classy and powerful. I use it as the centerpice of my studio. It functions as a controller, and its sounds appear in all of my compositions. It can be used as a giant effects box, but I tend not to do that, as my music would sound too Virus-y.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 8
Ah, to the fun part!!! The Virus sounds great. Does it sound analog? Well, sorta kinda... When I first got my Virus, I was used to romplers and had never played a REAL ANALOG synth, the closest I had was a Korg Prophecy (which is a great synth that I wish I still had, but alas). So anyway, when I first got it, I was completely blown away by the Virus' power. Now I have more experience and have owned three different Real Analog synths, so I have some more frame of reference. My conclusion is that the Virus kicks major ass, but it doesn't sound exactly analog. Now this is not a bad thing. The Virus has regular saw/pulse/tri analog style oscs, but it also has screwed up digital waveforms (like an ESQ-1) that can make strange digital sounds. It also has limited FM. In that way, it can do a few things that many real analogs cannot. That is not to say that the Virus cannot sound analog-like. It is very capable. However, in order to get the most from this synth, one should think of it as a digital subtractive synth, rather than a Virtual Analog. The Virus is capable of thick, beautiful pads, ripping leads, crazy blips, sweeps, digital clangs and clinks, and many other sounds that I lack the vocabulary to describe. The only real drawbacks are that it doesn't have the punch of a real analog. I does good bass and leads, but these are the areas where an analog synth would put the Virus to shame. In my current setup, I generally use an Akai Ax-60 for leads, a Waldorf Pulse for bass, an Emu Esi-2000 for drums and the Virus everything else (plus teh odd bass or lead, where it fits the song). The Virus is great in the midrange. It falls a little in the low end bass area, and in the high end lead area. Nobody is perfect.

Reliability: 7
I had some issues with it when I first got it, but after I updated the OS, it healed itself.

Customer Support: 6
They seem nice and replied to my questions quickly, even though they didn't give me a straight answer.

Overall Rating: 8
I really like this synth. When I got it, I was amazed. Then I got bitten by the Real Analog bug, and I wanted to sell it, but now I'm glad I didn't. The Virus has a wonderful keyboard, loads of poly, and is great in the mids. As long as my other synths are string where the Virus is weak, I am all set. When I want to write a song, I turn to the Virus. When I flesh the song out, I turn to the rest of my studio. I wouldn't want to use the Virus exclusively, but as part of the team it really shines.

Submitted by Robert M. Molinaro at 06/03/2002 10:28

Price Paid: 1990 (€)

Ease of Use: 10
Came with OS4.01 but I upgraded it to OS4.5.2 right away. The upgrade process went trough without problems. Just loaded the .mid in my sequencer and voila.
The presets were nice (1024 singles where 256 user patches) but still the rule of thumb is "The presets are made to be overwritten.".
The patch editing can't get easier. Most frequently needed controls are on the panel and the rest are in the menus. The amount of menus is kept minimum and the menus are logical and clear. Even I got Sound Driver for Virus software in the package I prefer manual editing.
Manual is ok. No complaints. Editing can't get easier than this.

Features: 10
I believe no one uses this machine for orchestra imitation so the polyphony is enough unless you use unison on every track.
Effects are excellent. Reverb and phaser are superb! The editing is done via menus and it's easy.
The arpeggiator is great. Loads of patterns and settings but I don't use the arp very much though.
The most excellent thing in Virus is the internal audio routings. You can process the internal sounds or external audio through the Virus many times and you can use the surround cabapility to create a fx loop for external fx processors and loads of more!

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
Sounds very good and thick. Virus is capable to create all kind of synthetic sounds from soft pads to nice leads but Virus is really a king of the hill when you want distorted and gritty stuff. Saturation stage on filters and another saturation stage on the effects does make wonders. But as I mentioned earlier Virus can also produce soft and lush sounds.

Reliability: N/A
This is the point where the problems start. I could depend on this thing if my unit would work correctly. When I got it it had a manufacturing fault. Loud beeb noises and other funny stuff. I sent it for repair to Germany and it had been there over a month now. The keyboard is exceleent and is a true enjoyment to play.

I have to give two ratings for this category:

1 for the broken unit.
10 if my Virus would be working properly.

Customer Support: 10
I've dealt with the company when I noticed that my unit was broken. I sent e-mail for them and I got friendly and helpful answer right away.
As I said earlier my unit is in repair right now. Access doesn't repair their units by themselves so the delay isn't their fault.

Overall Rating: 10
If it would be lost or stolen I would buy KC instead.
I've been playing few years. Besides Virus I own Alesis QS7.
I wouldn't never sell my Virus... Except if I would get KC for it.

Submitted by Juho Lepistö at 05/12/2002 09:31

Price Paid: US $1780

Ease of Use: 9
Currently using version 4.5.1. Despite my limited experience with programming synths, I found the virus to be relatively easy to use (though the waldorf q is easier). The presets are very useable and can serve as a great starting point for some incredible sounds. I found the manual to be straight forward. Though, the best way to figure this machine out is to smoke the manual and just spend some one-on-one time with the virus.

Features: 10
Great effects! Has the best keyboard action I've ever played on a synth. At 24, the polyphony is enough to create some seriously intricate sounds

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
This is where the virus shines. I also ordered a Waldorf Q at the same time so I could do some side-by-side comparisons. I found the virus to be a lot warmer, more fluid, more musical than the Q. I love the LFO's on this beast

Reliability: 9
At first, the virus occasionally made some odd, random sounds - almost like a chirp. But somehow it just stopped doing it and has since performed flawlessly. I would have no problem using this on stage wihtout a backup.

Customer Support: 10
I e-mailed access with a question and they responded within 24 hours with an informative answer. Awesome comapny!!!!

Overall Rating: 10
If this were lost or stolen I think I would slip into a severe depression. I have looked long and hard for a synth - currently have waldorf microwave xtk; auditioned Q, micro Q, Nord lead 2 & 3, Novation. This synth has a personality, a soul like no other. Plus, the full-sized keys (waldorf's as well as other synths are shorter, more stubby)make playing so much fun and just add to the musical potential. Not to mention it is about $500 cheaper than th Q.

Submitted by Anonymous at 04/19/2002 18:33

Price Paid: US $1414.00

Ease of Use: 7
This synth is fairly easy to program. Most of the functions have a knob, although some knobs control on thing from the 12 o'clock to 5 o'clock, and something else from 12 o'clock to 7 o'clock. I'm still not sure when I'm seleting digital waves or analog waves on it. Some editing is done with menues, but there are plent of knobs for realtime tweaking. Kicks the hell out of editing a JV synth.

Features: 8
Two things really stand out with the Virus, the aggression (due to filter saturation and distortion effects) and build quality. The keyboard feels great on this synth. After the Super Nova II, this is the best feeling synth action keyboard I've ever felt. It has pretty good polyphony, but using the 3rd osc reduces it (not counting the sub, the sub is free). Also, unison mode reduces polyphony as well.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 8
This is a virtual analog synth, so don't look for pianos and guitars, unless you want messed up synth versions (which can be cool.) It has the standard issue analog waveforms (sine, sawtooth, square), as well as many digital spectral waves. This allows for (very) limited wavetable synthesis, but is more suitable for hybrid, digalog sounds.

The Virus has 2 multimode filters with nice resonance (no self oscillation), and a saturation stage placed inbetween them in the signal path. This lets you distort (in many different ways, including analog, digital, waveshaping, rectifier, and bit/rate reduction distortion) a filtered sound, and then filter it again. Then, you can apply effects (including more distortion!!!) after filter 2. Good stuff. As I said, the Virus excells at aggressive sounds. Look out, though, because it is becoming the standard for EBM/Industrial music. Of course, that is because its so good, but @ the same time, it might be a tad over exposed. Oh, btw, this synth sounds great when its not all distorted, in fact it can be very pretty.

My only gripe with this synth, and it is a gripe that has gotten progressively more annoying, is the lack of clear high frequency sounds from the oscs. The sounds are great from the deep lows to the middle mid range, but one you hit the upper mids, the sound changes. Aliasing developes, and the sounds lose their balls, and become shrill. Not shrill as in "hey, how did you get that cool metal sound?", but more like "where's the Tylenol?" shrill.

Reliability: 7
Hmm...I got this one on the grey market, imported from Belgium to he US. It had the wrong power ord, but I replaced it with a $3.00 cord from Radio Shack. It had some issues when I got it, as it would just decide to not make any sound sometimes. After I upgraded the OS, it was fine. I don't gig right now, but if I did, I would want to have some sort of backup just in case, although the Virus KB has been rock solid for many months now.

Customer Support: 8
They were helpful when I told them my problem, and suggested getting the OS upgrade. If I needed repairs or something, I don't know that they would honor the warranty due to the grey market nature of my purchase.

Overall Rating: 8
This synth has been my main axe since I got it, and it occupies the place of honor in my studio. If it were stolen, I would be really pissed, but I don't know if I would replace it. It's a great synth, limitations an all, but its really expensive for what it does. I got one cheap, but the average Amerian pays about $1,800 for a new one. For $1,800, you could buy (used, of course)an Oberheim Matrix-6 as a controller ($300), an Ensoniq ESQ-M ($150), a Roland JV-1010 ($300), an Electrix Filter Fatory ($150), a Sherman Filter Bank ($500), a Sequential Circuits Six Track ($250), and still have $150 left over for a multi effects box. I guarantee that the latter course would provide a wider sonic pallatte, with many different types of osc's, samples and filters (the Virus has a distinct sound due to its crappy osc's and nice filters), and yield much more polyphony. I don't think I'd buy one again, but maybe I'd get the cheaper Virus Rack instead of the Sixtrack and Filter Factory.

Submitted by Robert at 01/24/2002 14:03

Price Paid: 1,300 (UK pounds)

Ease of Use: 8
Manual probably does need a complete rewrite.
Editing is pretty staightforward although some new hardware would be nice for the 3rd oscillator, and the third LFO.
Presets are very good, but perhaps understandably have a dance edge to them.
(OS 4.06T)

Features: 10
Polyphony is generous (18 notes even with 4 oscillators!)
FX are of very high quality (in particular the phaser)
Hardware is of exceptionally high standard - keyboard is infinitely better than the Indigo (have owned one of these also)

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
Probably the most expressive VA synth I've used.
Black keys need to be struck slightly harder than white keys to achieve same velocity.

Reliability: 1
This is where I have a problem! Originally I had an Indigo but this was returned to the dealer as the keyboard went mute (this usually happened when playing processor-intensive sounds, eg 3rd oscillator active and unison set to 16 voices, with reverb). I decided to pay the difference for the kb version but have since found this to have an identical fault! My third may be my last...

Customer Support: 9
E-support (so far) has been very efficient.

Overall Rating: 8
I'd love this synth (if it worked). E-mail me if you've had similar problems!

Submitted by Andy at 12/29/2001 06:19

Price Paid: US $1850.00

Ease of Use: 8
I updated to vesion 4.50. The extra memory space is great! So far, no bugs (touch wood). WHat can I say about the manual. Better than most, but not the best I've ever seen. Prior experience with synths definitely helps. Patch editing is fairly easy. A more direct access (no pun intended) to the arpeggiator would be useful.

Features: 9
The keyboard action is awesome, which is why this is my master keyboard controller. It feels GOOD!!!!! On-board effects are fine. Nice added feature, but it still sounds good without them IMHO. Since I've been doing this awhile now, and have been lucky enough to either play or own almost every major synth since the end of the 70's, one of the features I judge a synth on, is how long will it take me to get bored with it. I expect that my Virus and I will be together for many years to come.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
ME LIKEY!!!!!!! It's a blast to play with and I think the sounds are killer!!! It's very easy to create an inspiring vibe on this synth. In perusing the net, it seems people either love this machine or hate it for some reason. For comparison, I have a Roland JP-8080, Yamaha FS1R, and Nord Lead 2, plus some software synths. Obviously, each one has its own unique sound (which is why we all try buy more than 1 synth when we can) and special little cool features. I think the Virus has its own sound which I would describe as fatter and closer to the Nord, but smoother and not as harsh as the Nord can sometimes get. The Virus sounds fuller and warmer to me, so for me, the Nord and Virus are balanced nicely by the JP-8080 and FS1R. These are all very capable and full featured synths which can sound very similar with careful programming, but if you listen closely, their individual personalities shine through.

Reliability: 10
Not failed me yet, but it stays home with the rest under a nice dust cover when not in use, so I haven't really ambused it.

Customer Support: 10
Free upgrades, sounds, and quick response and help when you e-mail them even though they're an ocean away!?!??! What is Access trying to do?? Actually build a customer base or something? All other manufacturers, please take a lesson (Yes, Roland I'm talking to you!).

Overall Rating: 9
It was relatively expensive (thus I'm not giving it a 10), and I had to wait 2 months for it, but it was definitely worth it! I would sell a kidney to replace it if I had to.

Submitted by Fred at 12/09/2001 11:05