Access Virus TI2

Access Virus TI2 | Reviews
97
effects section, which has now been
split in into FX1 and FX2 pages within
Virus Control. The new effects are a
wider set of Tape Delays, significant
revisions to the Distortion plug-in (see
the Distort Me Good box) and an all-new
Frequency Shifter. The Tape Delay
revisions provide three new variants –
alongside the original tape delay (now
re-branded ‘classic’), you’ll find Tape
Free, Tape Clocked and Tape Doppler.
These are self-explanatory but none the
worse for that.
What’s great is that even with high
send levels and regenerating feedback,
the delays don’t over-saturate, so it’s
possible to take any part and keep it
echoing for ages, while tweaking the
filter settings to the delay’s right, to
keep the part moving timbrally. Also
new is the Frequency Shifter, which
allows Ring Modulation or Frequency
Shifting to be added to your sound.
These are welcome and open new
worlds of sound design possibility, from
heavy industrial clangs, to vibrant,
bell-like overtones. Also new is the
‘Character’ option, which allows the
signature sound of several classic
synths to be ‘applied’ to your Virus
patch, by shaping the output tone of the
sound you’re building. Alongside the
original mode ‘Analog Boost’, three
‘Vintage’ settings recall classic synths
from yesteryear, while other settings like
‘Lead Enhancer’ or ‘Stereo Widener’
speak for themselves. Each setting
features a range of tweakable controls
and good things can happen even when
you choose an ‘inappropriate’ setting for
the sounds you build.
For instance, I got some great
results on lead sounds while using the
‘Pad Opener’ setting. I’m always a bit
twitchy when I see that a new operating
system is at Vx.0.0 but in fairness to
Access, OS3 is still at the public beta
stage and they have a proud tradition of
presenting the Virus user base with
regular updates. I’m reliably informed
there will have been at least a couple by
the time you’re reading this. While
Snow users won’t benefit from the
hardware ‘upgrade’
to the TI, OS3 is
fully compatible
with the Snow, so
the new effects are
all yours.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of
the Virus concept to the extent that
you’ve already bought one of the TI
modules, I can officially announce that
Christmas has come late for you this
year. Get to the website, download OS3
and upon installation, you’ll discover
that your unit has suddenly spawned
some very tasty new effects. For those
who have admired the Virus from afar
but haven’t quite summoned the
enthusiasm and/or wedge to commit to
a purchase, the arguments for not doing
so have grown even fainter.
SPECS
> Polyphony 25 to 110
voices depending on
complexity of patch
> 61 semi-weighted keys
> Use with VIRUS Control
Sofware or standalone
> Refined Multi Mode
> 16 delays
> 16 reverbs
> 6 slot bigger modulation
matrix
> Pure semitones
> Knob quantise
> Programmable
arpeggiator
> Dual DSP System
> Digital I/O and USB 2.0
> SP/DIF (44.1kHz/48kHz)
digital I/O
> Liquid crystal display
(128x32 pixels)
> 512 RAM patches and
2048 ROM Sounds
> 192kHz studio grade D/A
Converters (+4dB balanced
output)
> 24-Bit A/D converters
> Quicker mod
matrix navigation
> Simplified user interface
> Sample-accuracy timing
with a delay-compensated
audio/MIDI connection
Dimensions:
995 x 115 x 370 mm
Weight:
13.8kg
Even with high send levels and
regenerating feedback, the delays
don’t over-saturate
ALTERNATIVES
Waldorf Blofeld Keys
£699
Reviewed last month, the
FM team has been really
impressed by the keyboard
incarnation of one of our
favourite sound modules.
Not as versatile but
substantially cheaper.
waldorfmusic.de
Clavia Nord Wave
£1,395
The original Nord Lead was
a classic and this is a Lead
plus tons more. A bit
unsung in the hero stakes
and yet a great-sounding
instrument.
nordkeyboards.com
Access Virus Snow
£775
Featuring more limited
polyphony and less
hands-on knobbery-pokery,
the Snow is nevertheless a
Virus under-the-hood. A
much cheaper alternative to
the full TI range but still a
pretty penny…
access-music.de
VERDICT
BUILD
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VALUE
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EASE OF USE
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VERSATILITY
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RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
More addictive and deadlier than
ever – one Virus that you won’t
mind catching.
The new FX interface in the Virus Control software
FMU212.rev_virus 97 3/3/09 6:41:5 pm