ALL ACCESS: VIRUS Everything you need to know about Virus synths - all models, in-depth review

My morning coffee (which ended up being a glass of wine at night)......An overview and review of the different models of 'Virus' synths: what they have in common, how they differ, etc.
A comprehensive look at the Access Virus family of synths

0:00 introduction
5:52 the different Virus models
14:40 additional info

Disclaimer - in some of my comments about what Virus was doing in comparison to other companies, I have somewhat oversimplified what was happening, just to try and keep the video under an hour (LOL)

About 95% of this info is accurate, however I recognize that I may be slightly off on the odd detail.

[ultimateXsounds]

Great video man ! I have produced almost 10, 000 sounds on it. This is probably the only synthesizer that has kept surprising me for over 10 years. It is a solid hardware.

[rotarurazvan]

I have to be honest;you are great explaining everything so pure, natural about VIRUS, thank you

[RoadUser]

Great video! I have had my Virus TI2 for almost ten years, and it can still make me go "wow" as I create sounds on it. I don't know any other synth that can do as much and whose sound just doesn't get old. It's one of two synths that I would never sell, the other being my beloved Yamaha DX7II.

[TechMX]

You are *NOT* a grandpa (well maybe you really are but whatever), You are a MAN with experience of having toured, performed with some really great synths and I appreciate your vast experience in this realm of musical expertise.

Continue to stream on my friend.

[ixamusic]

I don’t know anyone that has a virus that doesn’t love it to pieces. Great video.

[repairerofreputationsmusic]

It is such a service to have a straightforward rundown. I was shocked when I first discovered how powerful the TI series was, especially because of the reputation of the virus as primarily a VA synth. Understand the snow in particular was useful because it was never clear to me how it related to the others. Also, great to hear about the rack mount 90 degree flip. Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to sell to get one.

[synthlab]

Lots of coincidences here .... i am sort of "grandpa" too, i have had (and still have) tons of synths too, and i am now enjoying the Virus line of synths (like you) after so many years of "skipping" them. To me, the Access Virus and the Novation Supernova are the top of the tops in VA synth design. Thank you for a great video.

[doubledog]

I saw an advert somewhere (maybe 20 plus years ago) for the Virus and I’ve been enamored with them ever since. I’ve always felt that the Virus is one of the most radical looking sound machines. I had a grad student/professor in one of my undergrad electronic music classes and he brought his Virus’ into class one day to demo synthesis and waveforms. I was completely smitten by that thing. That’s the only time I’ve seen or listened to the Virus in person and aside from adverts I haven’t seen or heard about them since then. So, this video is great because for me this particular synth really does have a hint of mystique and I’ve enjoyed learning about them. Thanks.

[Hlecktro]

What's funny is I saw a post of someone taking the Virus TI Keys apart and the sound module was just a tiny little palm sized PCB. Which is rich, because the Ti1 is the heaviest brick of a synth I have.

[markchristophersignal]

I had the A in 07 and I like it. I upgraded to TI2 later on and it is really synth /sound module because even the presets that come is I feel is complete. Has bread n butter sounds and tweakable presets. I really like the that the Virus doesn't come with a jillion wavetables .

[TheCrazyacedouble]

Thank you so much for taking the time doing this video Grandpa!!... I was needing this information on the Access Virus line to decide which one to buy and you made it possible..

[leisureb]

I once spontaneously kissed my TI2 Darkstar.

[Bigmojo]

Another cracking video Will. I always assumed Palm started Waldorf but you are 100% correct, I just learned it was the German PPG distributor Düren. I’ve been buying synths since 1983 and it’s a joy to see someone generating content that I know it true and in context. I’m just buying my 4th TI (a 2 keyboard) for live use on a UK tour. And you are 100% right, the snow was a master stroke for me because it meant I could tour Europe far more easily, with a lightweight controller in with my other and have a snow in hand luggage.

A joy to watch.

[dansalmon]

ive wanted a virus ever since i was 6 y/o, using my precious dial up internet time browsing vintage synth explorer, im about to pick up a used ti polar, cheers from alberta man!

[alexdiakov_ambient]

Filterbanks are amazing, you can form sound as a plasticine. That's make TI line unique. I've been virused for almost 20 years (С&TI) and it's really great. Thanks for a video!

[LeadingMotive]

Nice video! After owning a C Desktop and a C Rack, I finally settled for a TI2 Polar. A very handy all-in-one machine thanks to its built-in audio interface - that plus a laptop are all I need in the living room whenever my wife is occupying the work/music room.

One comment: Multi-timbrality was not really invented by Access - already my first sound modules in the 80ies had it. And my favorite synth, the Novation Supernova II, is also multi-timbral. But it's become a rare feature nowadays!

[ezequielsapir]

Great video, very clear! I have a TI and I love it, its programming possibilities are almost endless, really deep!

[thejollyjoker]

Thank you very much for this. I'm about to get a TI in a few days and it's gonna be my first Access gear ever so, your video was just what I needed right now.

[thomasduda]

Nicely done, thanks for the helpful overview ! As a german "Besserwisser" I have to comment on some facts though. The city of Berlin is often referred to when talking about electronic music. The "Berlin school" is a known term. But no of the companies you mention and bind to Berlin has actually its roots there. PPG is from Hamburg, Waldorf originates from Waldorf /now Remagen, Access is from Recklinghausen. The only obvious one that comes to my mind is MFB (Manfred Fricke Berlin). Other german synth manufacturers like Doepfer, the former Quasimidi / Radikal Technologies are not Berlin-based either.

[onel_ofc]

Got Virus C and Ti Polar.Sold them both. A company with the most famous synthesizer is not allowed to have no technical support and the whole system crashes when connected to the usb (tested with both Windows and Imac). I agree it has unsurpassed sound and color but maybe 2012 was more impressive. Nowdays Vst's doing everything and much easier. Thanks for the nice review and the video! 😊