Access Virus TI Keyboard Integrated Modeling Synth
Totally integrated synthesizer. 80 voice polyphony. 61 semi weighted keys. WaveTable and HyperSaw. Emulated Mini Moog Filter.
Overall User Ratings (based on 47 ratings)
Submitted December 26, 2005 by a customer from aol.com
"The present benchmark.."
Not quite perfect, but then near enough for me.
Sound
Whichever synth you buy, it will at some point be compared to this by someone. Not just useful for uptempo dance music, capable of the full palette of sounds. Subtractive, aftertouch, 2 filters, 4 oscs, wavetable, FM, PWM, effects, envelopes. The full featureset except..
Features
...except a sequencer. But marry this to any computer, DAW ready or not, and any sequencer [lets face it, if you're buying one of these, you probably already own a sequencer of some sort]and it integrates perfectly. Drops a point for the lack of sequencer, regains a point for the presently unique computer integration.
Quality
Made of stone. Substantial, feels like an item of quality.
Value
You get your money's worth. If you can afford the high asking price, then it's probably the best example of its type available today. No other synth offers the TI integration or the amazing polyphony.
Manufacturer Support
Frequent updates [monthly at the moment!] each with improving featuresets and resolved bug issues. Historically, a company with good support and very active forum members.
The Wow Factor
If I had a dollar for every time a forum post mentioned wanting a Virus, then I could afford .. a Virus!
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Electronica
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Submitted April 13, 2007 by a customer from Hotmail.com
"One of the best Synth Keyboards EVER !"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I see no need to continually upgrade this board. It will last a long time.
Very PC friendly, which is what you want now days.
Sound
Awesome sounds! If someone says soft synths can mimic the Ti - they are flat out wrong. Very very unique... even the presets sound great before tweaking.
As for acoustic sounds I don't need super "authentic" acoustics. I make Industrial, Gabber, Progressive music, Trip Hop, downtempo, and Leftfield. If I need acoustic sounds I can get them from Reason, Cubase or other sequencing software.
Features
I was looking at all the big screens on the other new synths on the market and yes the Ti has a small screen but it has all the information you need. PLUS I use a 19" widescreen in my studio anyways with virus control. Who is actually going to squence a full project on a 7" screen?
Ease of Use
You've got to read the owners manual... especially if you don't know syths. If not, your just twisting knobs hoping for a good sound. Even so the layout is good enough that a neophyte can get a good sound from it. But if you're going to lay down this much cash read the book. I don't care who makes it no synth is plug and play they all have their own style.
Quality
Very rich looking and sounding. I love the wood... has that retro cool look. I have the Ti 61 Keyboard. The keys play very well.
Value
It's expensive but it sounds rich. Small boutique keyboard dealers tend to have lower prices for some reason.
Manufacturer Support
If you send these guys an email they get back to you within a day or less. YES initially they had some issues with the OS but they've made updates and killed all the minor issues. ACCESS MAKES RUNNING CHANGES WITH FREE DOWNLOADABLE UPDATES... YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.
The Wow Factor
Has a hi quality look. Very cool pulsating logo on the back plate. If you're ugly it's not going to get you a date... you're just ugly with a cool synth. A lot of people do want a Virus or the Virus sound. Voted one of the best 20 synths ever. I said ever, on sonicstate.com
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Industrial, Gabber, Trip Hop, DownTemp, & LeftField
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Submitted April 18, 2006 by a customer from platinumrecruitingl.com
"Blows away the best softsynth on it's worst day."
I'll keep this until Virus releases their new synth in about 4 years. Then I'll buy that. Or I'll keep this. Who knows. For now this is the king of making acid/techno/trance music. If you combine it with let's say, a Evolver and a A6 and perhaps a Jomox drum machine, it's all you need.
Other stuff I like or own.
Elektron Machine Drum
PEK
Andromeda A6
Future Retro Revolution
Jomox (anything from them is top notch)
Radikal Technologies Spectralis
Waldorf Q/Q+
Sound
IMO it's the best sounding VA out there. I own one as well as a Poly Evolver and the compliment each other well. The TI sounds are are big and lush and it's highly programmable. The arp is poweful. It's great for pads, acid (techn/trance), bass and leads. It has good routing and it's very tweekable. Compared to softsynths ... well on bad day it blows away the best soft synth.... there is aboslutely no question about it... I know, I own just about every soft-synth. Turn it up loud and feel the power. Spdif output sounds veyr clear and thick. I don't even use my softsynths anymore (accept for samples).
Features
Endless. It has so many features. With Total integration and the controller as well as the modulation matrix, the combo mode, Hypersaw. Great for Acid sounds (techno/trance)... deep lush pads, searing leads. Can use for pop, trance, industrial, mood music.. it's got it all. Not for Rock'n Roll, get a PEK for that.
Ease of Use
VA synth so you need to know MUSIC and you need to know sound. Instruments like that require a person to play the knobs as much as the keys. It' easy if you understand music and sound. And if you don't, it's great instrument to learn on.
Quality
Top notch. German made. Like a bimmer. One note, the OS is not complete, so they are still working on it. Virus will not go out of business. This is one of the hottest selling synths around. Everybody wants this and the PEK. They make an awsome combo.. Also great combo is A6, TI and Evolver Mono. It would be a wicked combo for around $6000 new. I'm looking into an A6 right now a well. But for techno trance stuff... TI is the "go to" instrument... nothing comes close.
Value
Good value. Much better than Nord or Roland. Those are good, but not this good. Access Virus TI is the now the king of all VA synths and blows doors are soft-synths. The only advantage soft-synths have is workflow and even that is changes once Access gets Total Integratoin working without it's bugs.
Manufacturer Support
They respond to my emails within 24 hours.
The Wow Factor
I own it. I has some blinking gizmo's in the rear for live use and it looks nice. But better than that the KEYS FEEL soo good. Nice weight. Great response.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Techno, Drum and base
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Submitted March 16, 2011 by a customer from inode.at
"Not worth the money!"
Don't think i buy a hardware synth again. Only if there is the ultimative synth and sounds ten times better than any VSTi.
Sound
A lot of nice Sounds if your into Techno, House, Trance or SFX Sounds.
Features
Total Integration is a nice idea but never worked 100% for me.
Now the drivers are in version 4 and still lot of troubles in both Logic OSX 64bit on mac and Cubase Windows 7 64bit on PC.
Ease of Use
Use it as a synth over midi is great but use it over usb in 64bit os
its a pain in the ass.
Quality
Good build Quality. I have a desktop model can't ssay anything about the keyboard version.
Value
I wouldn't buy it a second time. It sounds good but with lots of troubles i had its a creativity killer. I am more happy with my VST's now.
Manufacturer Support
They let you think you are the only one with that problem but there are lots of users not satisfied with this access products.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
I like a lot of differnet styles.
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Submitted February 21, 2008 by a customer from subcycle.org
"Bad Access Virus experience."
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I was pretty psyched when I first purchased this product. The feel of the instrument was impressive and I enjoyed having the freedom that a multitimberal synth can give you. Now my laptop can handle tons of software synths and it is a pain bouncing the midi tracks.
But most importantly, the instrument is now un-repairable and there is no support from Access. It lasted a few years. Was in the shop (the North American authorized repair shop) for just under a year. The repair bill was approx. 500 US dollars and I receieved back a bunch of parts I did not need and a broken synth. Wish I would have bought a software synth a laptop and a midi controller for the same amount.
Sound
Sounded great when it worked. It is now un-repairable and there is no support from Access.
Features
It had a decent feature set but does not really compare to a software synth. The fact that my instrument is now no longer working I wish I would have purchased a software synth.
Ease of Use
It has a good quality when it worked. All of the controls are on the surface but most soft synths have surpassed this by now. I would prefer to buy a power book and a suite on Native Instruments software synths and a high quality midi controller.
Quality
It is now un-repairable and there is no support from Access. It lasted a few years. Was in the shop (the North American authorized repair shop) for just under a year. The repair bill was approx. 500 US dollars and I receieved back a bunch of parts I did not need and a broken synth. Wish I would have bought a software synth a laptop and a midi controller for the same amount. At least two of the three would still work. I still have a Juno 106 in the basement from the 80's and it works like a charm. These products are supposed to last beyond a couple of years.
Value
These products are supposed to last beyond a couple of years.
Manufacturer Support
Horrible. This is the single worst consumer experience that I have ever had, bar none. The authorized repair shop was horrible I would have to call them once a month to get status and they would always have nothing for me. Until I finally pulled the plug and received a bill for 400-. Wow.
The Wow Factor
I will never purchase an Access product again. I have had great experiences with Fender, Roland, Native Instruments, Emagic/Apple, Fatar and Digidesign in the past. This is the first sour experience I have had with gear.
Musical Background:
Electronic music composer for over 20 years
Musical Style:
Experimental/IDM
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