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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
 Posted - 01/31/2010 : 00:34:21
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Hi Guys
I know a few of us here have keyboards & other synth gear.
Well no pun intended, I have access to an
Access Virus C (VA) synthesizer, the desktop module, with out the keyboard.
I was wondering if you guys would give me the nitty gritty on it.
S/H average prices in your country?
Overall opinions?
Is it a waste of valuable resources ($$), that I could spend otherwise
on better gear?
Is it the best thing since sliced bread & cheese.
Just by it anyway, don't worry about paying bills & feeding the family 
Anything else that might come to mind.
The Virus C, is in reasonable condition, it's the all deep grey chassis version.
Not the version with wooden side panels.
I don't know which version of the OS it's running , but I know
you can download the updates from their web site.
It's missing the 12VDC 500mA original power supply & has no manuals or box.
Yes I have VST's and VSTi's that would cover most of the territory that the Virus C would.
But I'm a Hardware guy,
VST's are Ok but there is nothing like real hands on, with real hardware.
For all you guys that know what this synth is, can you feel the GAS pains with me?
This would be my most modern piece of synth gear, all the rest id from the 70's & mid to late 80's.
The tones that these produce is just mind boggling, & it makes the GAS all the worse.
Regards Dr. Bob  |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 01/31/2010 00:37:53 |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 07:36:29
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Yo Dr. Bob, synths rock!!! My bro kicks it with the analogs, Moog, Arp, Sequential circuits. Buy it ! Have fun! |
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The_Doc
Gold Member
United Kingdom
509 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 10:19:04
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Hi Dr. Bob
I don't have one myself. However, I do have monthly sub to a mag here in the UK called 'Future Music' which deals with all things synthy and stuff and they've regularly praised the various Access Virus variants. The bias is probably with dance music but I do recall comments around the analogue fatness of the sound and tweakability. It's also often refered to and seen in many of the articles they've done on various studios. If the emulations are anything like the Roland JP8000, which I have, it should be fine.
Also, here's a particularly extensive and well written review from the 'Sound on Sound' mag...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Aug02/articles/accessvirus.asp
Hope this helps you to decide - I know what I would do but my GAS is now out of control and I know that you will be far more sensible |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 10:40:16
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Any real hardware synth, for me, is better than a VST.
Hands on knobs rather than mouse on knobs is somehow more appealing
Financially though I'll have to stick to my Korg Triton and a load of VST's on the computer... |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 11:54:57
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Hi Guys
Thanks for your replies so far.
One of the things that I wanted to know, was pricing for S/H units in your respective countries.
I found one on evilbay USA going for around $899US, but not many more hits.
I know the unit has been superseded.
The reviews on Harmony-Central seem to be very positive.
& some even consider it has better tone/s than the newer revisions from that company.
I have downloaded the manuals, & I'm quietly reading through them.
I spent all day today, while at the local Music festival open day,
fighting with the little voice that controls my GAS.
I currently feel that if I Pass up the opertunity to buy this unit,
I will have some serious long term regrets.
The Latest Virus Ti retails for about $3.5Kau, as the keyboard version.
And a MOOG Little Fatty is out of the question, under Oz pricing.
I could buy a small car for my daughter for the OZ cost of one of those.
I did consider a Triton for a while as well.
I have been attempting to put my Guitar Synth gear back into the studio, & the Virus C would make an outstanding tonal addition,
when connected via MIDI to the Guitar Synth Controller.
And the other MIDI-USB keyboard controllers
Some of you have already heard my SoundScape track/s like "Lynbrook" & "Temporal Storm".
I was keen to peruse some more musical ideas along these lines.
I'm rambling a bit now, so I finish off here.
Any other comments & input would be greatly appreciated.
And Thanks to The_Doc for the Sound on Sound review link.
Regards Dr. Bob
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 12:48:03
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quote:
Originally posted by The_Doc
Hi Dr. Bob
Edited
Also, here's a particularly extensive and well written review from the 'Sound on Sound' mag...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Aug02/articles/accessvirus.asp
Hope this helps you to decide - I know what I would do but my GAS is now out of control and I know that you will be far more sensible
Hi The_Doc
Reading the review just complicated matters Ten-fold.
And what makes you think I'm any more sensible than you are,
just ask Laurie about Dr. Bob's sudden, & growing outbreak of GAS.
Regards Dr. Bob |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 01/31/2010 12:51:37 |
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nathanscribe
Silver Member
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 22:53:36
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My advice with things like this is simple:
Buy it, try it - and if you don't like it, sell it.
A friend has a Virus TI, and it sounds very good indeed. I have an irrational attachment to old synths, analogue and digital, and have only had a couple of these upstart VAs (Virtual Analogues) - a microKorg (hated it) and a Nord 2X (loved it). Interface is as important as sound, and though many of these VAs don't capture entirely what it is to be analogue, they do an excellent job and are good alternatives... the TI covers a lot of ground from what I heard, and if the C is anything like it in terms of quality, it should be worth having.
Whether it'll be useful within the context of a collection of old synths, I don't know. I found the Nord useful as it was 4-part multitimbral and I'd knock together demos and rough ideas on it, without having to switch on anything else and wait for them to warm up. In the end, I sold it because I'd got my Junos, etc., back from storage and the Nord seemed obsolete faced with them - but looking back, it wasn't, and I still hanker after it a little.
One advantage with a modern VA is the reliability issue. I keep having to fix various bits of old kit, and some of them spend as much time on the bench as they do being played... |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2010 : 02:59:20
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I've been told they're among the best of the current synths... also been told that the designer died right after he finished the Virus - maybe it's just a little infused with his spirit..
From the few virus products I've tried, they all seem very well built and pretty intuitive. I say.. give in to the GAS! |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2010 : 08:56:04
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Hi verivorax
Any feeling-idea what they Virus C sells for?
Thanks for the moving story about the designer passing away.
perhaps this is another reason they may become highly sought after.
The Access Music web site seems like a nice place.
You get the feeling that they care about their customers, both new &
the one with older & even vintage gear.
Verivorax have you played with the Virus C, or the newer Virus Ti (TI).
I have noticed that you can access the effects signal path from sockets on the rear, & use the Virus C as an effects processor.
It even has a reasonable muilti-band Vocorder.
You can even use the external Audio-in as a modulation source.
The PDF manual/s I downloaded are initially overwhelming, but it's one hell of a beast with a sh!tload of features
The decision is getting easier by the minute.
There are some pretty good user demos on youtube.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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The_Doc
Gold Member
United Kingdom
509 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2010 : 21:09:43
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quote:
Hi The_Doc
Reading the review just complicated matters Ten-fold.
And what makes you think I'm any more sensible than you are,
just ask Laurie about Dr. Bob's sudden, & growing outbreak of GAS.
Regards Dr. Bob
I thought it would - it's 10 times worse when they describe what each of the presets sounds like
You are a star Dr. Bob may the GAS be with both of us!!! |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 03:01:16
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Hi Dr. Bob - most recently, I've played a TI Polar (which is about 3k Canadian), but have noodled with an older C before - I recall it being about $2500 when it was new, but I can imagine it being more like $1500 on the used market - unless they've become popular and scarce, that is.
Really classy products, well made and fun to use.
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Topic |
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Access Virus C - Desktop Synth Module
