i wanted to ask you guys a question . i realy want to play and use an access virus c but there so dam expensive theres no way in hell i can afford 2000 dollars if i had it it would go to a new computer . so what im asking is will there ever be a virus c soft synth ?

See Here:
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16964

If your computer is fast enough to run it, try the demo for Tera 2. It's not a knockoff of the Virus, but it is one hell of a synthesizer.

http://www.virsyn.de

I think z3ta+ is very close to the Virus C. I own both and v1.3 adds Hermode Tuning which the Virus has. So it's getting closer in specs. Each has its own special capabilities but I think z3ta+ is the closest in sound to the Virus than any other softsynth. Some may disagree however...

I don't know if the hype around the Virus ever will dissapear?!

I mean, the Virus is NOT that good! After I had finished my Trancemania-bank for the Z3ta+ I sold my Virus right away. I didn't need it anymore. Actually I even sold my Roland JP-8000. I can say that I don't regrett it at all. Now I am running Z3ta+, Emagic ES2 and some other softsynths and are really happy with it. The ease of use is incredible if you compare with hardware-synths.

I'm now working on my Fat Analog-bank for the Z3ta+ and I can tell you, when I tried to make these patches on my Virus (sold) it didn't even came close (This was before the 1.3 version)!

This is my very personal oppinion. There are maybe others who can't live without the "Holy" Virus, but I garantee... I can!

Kire - me too! I just sold my Indigo 2 as I just use Zeta now. So much more flexible in a DAW setup. The Virus was a nice little keyboard, but for the sounds, Zeta has it covered, easily. And like you say, with Hermode tuning Zeta just gets better and better. Zeta sounds good enough for me.

To rene at RGC, PLEASE PLEASE port Zeta+ to Mac. You know it makes sense!

Kire wrote:

I don't know if the hype around the Virus ever will dissapear?! I mean, the Virus is NOT that good! After I had finished my Trancemania-bank for the Z3ta+ I sold my Virus right away. I didn't need it anymore. Actually I even sold my Roland JP-8000.

After listening to Yours and Peter Schelfhout soundbanks for Z3ta+, I'm preparing to put my Virus B on eBay. Yeah, you can make some nice fat leads (Manuels patches kick ass!), but Z3ta+ covers every single area of it plus more. The argument that you can only get that "warm virtual analog" sound from Virus is NO longer valid. Z3ta+ does it TOO!!!

Looking forward to your new bank!!!

Lady J wrote:

To rene at RGC, PLEASE PLEASE port Zeta+ to Mac. You know it makes sense!

to be honest ive never owned a virus so i realy dont know ive just heard the hype .are you saying that the z3ta can do everything the virus c can do ? can this realy be true . if it is im realy amazed . and you sold your virus and your jp8000 i must be missing somthing here .also the reason for my thread was that a little while back some guy popped up on kvr claiming to be from a company working on a virus indigo soft synth and when asked for more information said he couldnt disclose anymore then hed already given. was this a hoax ?

If you work with hardware synths and require a decent VA synth then the Virus will serve you very very well. If you work mainly with VSTis in the computer domain, like me, then you might find that Zeta would be better suited to you.

I just found that for the price I sold my Indigo I could afford additions to my setup that would be more useful for me than the Indigo.

Z3ta+ is a really good synth but I wouldn't sell my Virus C because it's got an excellent sound and the presets are fantastic. For live use the Virus beats a PC or Mac any day for convenience and reliability.

Cubase, Sonar, Logic and other hosts are built from the ground up to work seamlessly with hardware synths. I don't find I have a problem using hardware and software synths. They both respond to midi so I can save everything in the host. Perhaps people who are unfamiliar with using hardware synths over a midi cable might find it confusing at first.

There's also the added bonus of having more synths voices over and above the number of softsynths my CPU can handle. If I want to stack sounds this is very useful. Once again, the Virus has excellent presets with many more available.

If I didn't have either and I was going to buy one synth then it would be z3ta+ before a Virus. But I don't regret buying my Virus. In fact it's another jewel in the crown along with z3ta+ and my other favourite synths.

I doubt whether there will ever be a vst version of the Virus because Access won't risk losing sales of the hardware version. But times change and marketing strategies develop so who knows? There is the z3ta+ Virus MOD which uses Virus waves as the basis of its sounds. If you buy z3ta+ then the MOD is also available for free. It has some excellent presets that are very Virus like. Other than that I know of no other Virus lookeylikey for vst/dx.

munchkin wrote:

There is the z3ta+ Virus MOD which uses Virus waves as the basis of its sounds. If you buy z3ta+ then the MOD is also available for free. It has some excellent presets that are very Virus like. Other than that I know of no other Virus lookeylikey for vst/dx.

is there a place i can demo this virus mod at ? thanx

Hi,
Side by side my Virus B sounds far better than the Z3ta+. I would not part with mine!! I think the accepted level of what sounds good is a personal opinion, I'm still liking hardware as it sounds warmer & fatter on the bass and has a smoother mid range and glows on the tops, you don't need to EQ and process the Virus as you do with softsynths. I also have some real analogue synths...and the Virus B is a lot closer to thoses than any VSTi or the Z3ta+ is at the moment.

I had to buy some of my Hardware back as I thought softsynths were great a while back!!! Like you guys I sold some great gear without thinking or listening!!

Softsynths are by no means complete crap as I think there is a place for Hardware and software to co-exist, at the moment Absynth 2,DSP Vertigo,Reaktor, and other unusual,quirky synths are absolutely brilliant!!!

Sorry for this Softsynth downer but their not there just yet for Analog emulation etc.

Cheers.

Some people will just never learn : the Virus IS a softsynth. Period. The fact that it has knobs and W&B keys doesn't make it more "hardware" than your average PC. Now, if you want to fork out 2000 bucks for a computer that can run only one VA softsynth, it's up to you, but imagine the sound palette you could get for this much money : Tera 2 AND Reaktor AND CA5000 AND ... (should I really go on ?)

KingofBeers wrote:

Sorry for this Softsynth downer but their not there just yet for Analog emulation etc.

I can't wait to overprove you with my Fat Analog-bank for the Z3ta+.

The Virus is a very good hardware-synth, I would say "the best", but I can't think of any sound that the Virus could do better than the Z3ta+.

I bought all the "cool" soundbanks for the Virus and did like them first, but when I listened closer and without fx the sounds sounded very boring and far away from analog!

I think that the hardware companies are going to meet even more hard competition with the new version of Z3ta+ and with many other ones like Tera 2, Albino 2 and Ohmforce new synths.

But for live-use nothing can be better than hardware!

/Kire

Kire wrote:

KingofBeers wrote: Sorry for this Softsynth downer but their not there just yet for Analog emulation etc. I can't wait to overprove you with my Fat Analog-bank for the Z3ta+. /Kire

Yo, kire. Can't wait either... Just listened to your trancemania bank. Absolutely delicious!

peace

Jemino wrote:

Some people will just never learn : the Virus IS a softsynth. Period. The fact that it has knobs and W&B keys doesn't make it more "hardware" than your average PC. Now, if you want to fork out 2000 bucks for a computer that can run only one VA softsynth, it's up to you, but imagine the sound palette you could get for this much money : Tera 2 AND Reaktor AND CA5000 AND ... (should I really go on ?)

The Virus is run by software but that's just part of the Virus's attraction. The software creates sounds that are output through Access's own special hardware.

The Virus plays 32 voices and is 16 part multi-timbral + effects. So it's a very powerful VA synth. If it were simply a matter of comparing a hardware synth with a PC then the monophonic Moog Voyager would be a joke for $3000. Guitars for $4000 would be redundant compared to the $200 budget guitar. It depends on what the product has to offer the musician and the Virus still has lots to offer that softsynths can't quite match (and vise versa).

Kire - I just found your bank for zeta, and I must say Im really impressed! Great work there!

PS. Jäklig sköna ljud du har skapat!! Min favoritbank till Z fr o m nu! Längtar redan efter nästa bank!

Quote:

The Virus is run by software but that's just part of the Virus's attraction. The software creates sounds that are output through Access's own special hardware.

Not to knock the Virus' sound, as I like it a lot, but what special hardware do you refer to? Unless the Virus' D/A's add coloring that would otherwise be lost if the Virus provided long overdue digital outs, then there is nothing that the Virus does that can't be done 100% in software.

In other words, if the specifications for the DSP controllers and the Virus' OS was made public, then any PC or Mac programmer could write a softsynth version that would sound 100% the same as a Virus, except for whatever coloring the Virus D/A's provide.

It is possible that such a softsynth would use more CPU power than current PC's provide, but I doubt that would be true, otherwise there wouldn't be a TDM version of the Indigo.

Of course, the Access people aren't releasing such specs, so if you want the Virus sound, you need to buy a Virus. And you get a small 60Hz hum added to your audio stream, no charge

-Brian

munchkin wrote:

The Virus is run by software but that's just part of the Virus's attraction. The software creates sounds that are output through Access's own special hardware.

Which is ? There's nothing analog in the Virus, apart from the D/A converters, which aren't anything special. The rest is basic computer hardware : motherboard, processor, memory, etc...

munchkin wrote:

The Virus plays 32 voices and is 16 part multi-timbral + effects. So it's a very powerful VA synth. If it were simply a matter of comparing a hardware synth with a PC then the monophonic Moog Voyager would be a joke for $3000. Guitars for $4000 would be redundant compared to the $200 budget guitar. It depends on what the product has to offer the musician and the Virus still has lots to offer that softsynths can't quite match (and vise versa).

I never compared a Moog to a computer, and I wouldn't compare it to a Virus either, as it's REAL analog, with VCO etc... If I wanted to put that much money into a synth, I'd go for the real thing, not VA.

Cheers
JM

PS : I never said that the Virus wasn't nice sounding. It's just not offering enough when you compare it to something like Tera, especially when you look at the prices .

thenumber23 wrote:

Quote: The Virus is run by software but that's just part of the Virus's attraction. The software creates sounds that are output through Access's own special hardware. Not to knock the Virus' sound, as I like it a lot, but what special hardware do you refer to? Unless the Virus' D/A's add coloring that would otherwise be lost if the Virus provided long overdue digital outs, then there is nothing that the Virus does that can't be done 100% in software. In other words, if the specifications for the DSP controllers and the Virus' OS was made public, then any PC or Mac programmer could write a softsynth version that would sound 100% the same as a Virus, except for whatever coloring the Virus D/A's provide. It is possible that such a softsynth would use more CPU power than current PC's provide, but I doubt that would be true, otherwise there wouldn't be a TDM version of the Indigo. Of course, the Access people aren't releasing such specs, so if you want the Virus sound, you need to buy a Virus. And you get a small 60Hz hum added to your audio stream, no charge -Brian

Well, each make of VA hardware synth has it's own sound. Roland, Korg, Yamaha, Novation etc. etc. That is down to coding and hardware used by the manufacturer. The same goes for PC soundcards. An Audigy will produce a different quality of sound to an RME soundcard. So I believe hardware makes a difference. Hardware and software is a package that is a collection of the sum of its parts. Whether it's a card slotted into a PCI buss or a hardware synth controlled by software.

If the hardware makes no difference in the final analysis then why use Apogee D/A converters when a cheaper bit of kit is available? Protools is about the hardware as much as it is about the software. Regardless of whether ProTools falls under the catagory of 'hardware' that can be replaced by PC/Mac only that doesn't make it suddenly redundant.

The debate seems to be about whether all music software should be on computer hardware rather than on purpose built hardware. That makes DSP cards redundant then. It's like saying that DVD's and CD's should only be played on a computer rather than purpose built players. Or that we should only watch digital TV on a PC. If I had a 42" Plasma screen I'd never swap it for a 17" LCD. No other area of media is constrained to the PC. In fact purpose built hardware in the form of game stations, DVD Recorders, TV's, Hifi's and even custom built PC's are thriving.

Evangelists for the exclusivity of software on computer fail to remember that they are using their synths on a combination of hardware/software called a PC or Mac. People (including me) on KVR are often affected by software bugs and incompatabilities between soft and hardware in the computer. Nothing is perfect not even the computer. Perhaps when a computer that is a perfect symbiosis between soft and hardware comes along to replace all my 'redundant' hardware then I'll get rid that hardware once and for all.

Jemino wrote:

munchkin wrote: The Virus is run by software but that's just part of the Virus's attraction. The software creates sounds that are output through Access's own special hardware. Which is ? There's nothing analog in the Virus, apart from the D/A converters, which aren't anything special. The rest is basic computer hardware : motherboard, processor, memory, etc... munchkin wrote: The Virus plays 32 voices and is 16 part multi-timbral + effects. So it's a very powerful VA synth. If it were simply a matter of comparing a hardware synth with a PC then the monophonic Moog Voyager would be a joke for $3000. Guitars for $4000 would be redundant compared to the $200 budget guitar. It depends on what the product has to offer the musician and the Virus still has lots to offer that softsynths can't quite match (and vise versa). I never compared a Moog to a computer, and I wouldn't compare it to a Virus either, as it's REAL analog, with VCO etc... If I wanted to put that much money into a synth, I'd go for the real thing, not VA. Cheers JM PS : I never said that the Virus wasn't nice sounding. It's just not offering enough when you compare it to something like Tera, especially when you look at the prices .

Converters make a difference. So does the chip, the memory and the coding. The point I'm making about the moog is that for a quality instrument you pay a lot of money. Virus is a quality instrument.

The Tera is great I'm sure but I can't sling it under my arm and rely on it at a gig. It's not immediately playable unless a keyboard and a computer are added which bumps up the price to somewhere around the Virus mark. All these softsynths need a powerful computer and a versatile hardware midi keyboard/controller to make them as playable as the Virus is.

You make some valid points here (especially about live use. This I won't fight ), but adding the price of the computer to the price of the softsynth is not really fair, as you'll need one to record the Virus anyway ...

Cheers
JM

Jemino wrote:

You make some valid points here (especially about live use. This I won't fight ), but adding the price of the computer to the price of the softsynth is not really fair, as you'll need one to record the Virus anyway ... Cheers JM

I agree that I record onto PC so that's an added cost but still I think that music is as much about playing as it is about recording. With the Virus a computer and host is not necessary for playing or recording. With a softsynth they are.

There is a new piece of hardware kit coming out soon that plays VSTi's so the dilemma then is whether it is still a PC playing softsynths or whether it has become a hardware synth. I would love to be able to play my z3ta+ like I can my Virus. To be able to interact with my softsynths in such an intuative way would be a dream.

You know I really like the z3ta+, but when I play with the filters on my Virus, there's just no comparison to me. I know tastes differ, but I think what makes the Virus sound so great are the filters, imho the best sounding ones of any VA synth. I think the filters are z3ta+'s biggest weakness, and still it sounds fantastic. So just to make sure, I am not trying to put the z3ta+ down or anything, as a matter of fact it's the softsynth I like going to first when writing songs.

I used to own a lot of hardware gear and I sold them off one by one (I am going more and more the software route), but the Virus and my Q I will hold on to.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Take care,
Ken

kenporter wrote:

I know tastes differ, but I think what makes the Virus sound so great are the filters, imho the best sounding ones of any VA synth.

I have to agree here. Z3ta+ comes really close for that "big and dirty" sound, and can be coaxed to sound like a Virus MOST of the time, but there are a few things (filters especially, and the arpeggiator) that the Virus is still superior at.

And, seriously, unless you're strapped for cash ... why would you even sell your hardware at all? What about those days when you (will) say, "Oh ... I know what sound I need ..." and the hardware you USED to have it on is now living in someone else's studio?

Keep it. Love it. Use it.

All of it.

(stu.macQ)

P.S. Kire et al: Keep up the good work! Those are some virustastic presets!

Quote:

And, seriously, unless you're strapped for cash ... why would you even sell your hardware at all?

Convenience of softs (larger UI, fast track bounces, easier patch management), more physical space, less maintenance, less heat, less hum/hiss, less of a cable mess.

I once computed the hidden cost of hardware synths, and it worked out to be $157 on top of the price of the synth (MIDI interfaces, audio mixers, power, storage racks, etc.).

Amazingly, the hardware companies have done zero in twenty years to address this hidden cost. It's no wonder why softs (with no hidden costs) are skyrocketing in popularity.

I'm actually in the process of selling a bunch of hardware, and it's not for the cash. Heh, I'll probably use the cash proceeds for each sold synth to buy a few softs

-Brian

Hi,

To all thoses selling hardware!!!!


Whose going to buy all your old hardware if everyones going soft!!!


Cheers.

Quote:

I once computed the hidden cost of hardware synths, and it worked out to be $157 on top of the price of the synth (MIDI interfaces, audio mixers, power, storage racks, etc.).

then don't you need to count these things as the hidden costs of software synths: MIDI controller, sequencer, soundcard, computer upgrades?

No NO nO!!!

I and several other's have done some test's.... When the Virus fx are off and the Z3ta's fx are off the Virus is miles ahead, softsynths are so one dimensional and in your face, but the virus has depth and is not so harsh in the mid range but still cuts through the mix!! At least I have complete control with the virus's sound. If I want harsh sounds I would go for softsynths.

Some if not all the Z3ta's patches have got loads of EQ all over them to make them sound passable by the way.


Cheers.

KingofBeers wrote:

No NO nO!!! I and several other's have done some test's.... When the Virus fx are off and the Z3ta's fx are off the Virus is miles ahead, softsynths are so one dimensional and in your face, but the virus has depth and is not so harsh in the mid range but still cuts through the mix!! At least I have complete control with the virus's sound. If I want harsh sounds I would go for softsynths. Some if not all the Z3ta's patches have got loads of EQ all over them to make them sound passable by the way. Cheers.

Translation:-

I just spunked all my cash on this trance box.

cbit wrote:

then don't you need to count these things as the hidden costs of software synths: MIDI controller, sequencer, soundcard, computer upgrades?

And all of those are part of the cost of recording with hardware synths as well. I mean, what are you planning on recording your hardware synths with after all.

Nuffnik,

Not all is lost!!! Although if you or anyone else is is planning on getting a Virus then get a B and not a C. The C does not - I repeat... does not sound as good as a B believe it or not!!! 2 people I know have sold there C's to get there second hand B's back as the B's sound alot more vibey and tight for some strange reason, I borrowed a C and I thought the same...I think Access have squeezed to much into the C in exspence of quality, it just doesn't vibe the same way as a B!!

So yes I know I'm a Virus lover but I do think the B's are better than the C's!!!

Cheers.

Harry,

GET OFF THAT FUCKING COMPUTER.

Quote:

So yes I know I'm a Virus lover but I do think the B's are better than the C's!!!

What about the new Moog filter they just implemented? The demo sounds pretty good.
What I don't like about Virus is they upgrade the hardware every couple of years. At the rate they upgrade after 5 years you would be two or three models behind.

I've recreated some patches from the Virus B for my Z3ta+ soundbank.

While there are lots of sounds that can be closely matched, there are others that are simply unique to the Virus! The way the FM and Sync algorythms, Bandpass Filter and Arpegiator work on the Virus CANNOT be recreated on Z3ta+. Z3ta+ comes very close to the sound of the Virus though, especialy when you make use of the equalizer, which is part of the sound of Z3ta+ IMO.

But there's nothing wrong with that! Using the filters together with the equalizer on Z3ta+, I can make it sound like everything I want. I've also recreated some Juno patches which sound EXACTLY the same as the real thing if you put them side by side!

Peter.

i would settle for getting z3ta+ to F CKING WORK!!!

i installed it and all it does is complain about missing bitmap 20 times and then quit with an error.

nothing about it in the readme or help... is it just broken?

Never had that issue, and I have been using it since it went beta for the first time. Do you have the distribution in the right tree? The distribution has to follow a certain heirarchy (which is how the installer installs it). I can safely say my z3ta+ has never crashed once in the many months I have used it.

Nope, just see that you have following tree in Explorer :

VstPlugins
-> Z3ta+.dll
-> rgcAudio folder (containing sounds, bitmaps, etc..)

In other words : the .dll should be directly in your VstPlugins folder, not in the rgcAudio folder!

Peter.

Hello,

Nice thread. I'd like just to comment on a small thing:

Many people use to compare Hardware synths vs. Software synts, by running the softsynths thru a SBLive, or a very low priced multimedia-targeted soundcard.

While I have nothing against those cards, I don't think they make a audiophile-level comparison fair. Spend $500 in a nice audioboard, and we'll be talking seriously

I've been carefully reading about the comments on the 'warm' Virus filters as well, and surprised how taste can go from low to high. I personally think those filters are the -less- warm filters on all the league, and that's why they sound great.

They're definited, fast, responsive, agressive, punchy, and with a unique dirtiness in the resonance. Awesome.

But warm... no way, not at all. Well, all a taste matter methinks

Cheers,
René

munchkin wrote:

There is a new piece of hardware kit coming out soon that plays VSTi's so the dilemma then is whether it is still a PC playing softsynths or whether it has become a hardware synth. I would love to be able to play my z3ta+ like I can my Virus. To be able to interact with my softsynths in such an intuative way would be a dream.

Do you mean "Plugzilla"..? I think it's been out for a while, the spec sounds fantastic - sorry though, I don't have the link now. I'd love to get my clammy paws on one 'cos there's no way I'm gonna gig with a PC.

Anyone here tried one..?


EDIT...

Just found the link....

http://www.plugzilla.com/

Sorry, may be I'm on the wrong way but I'd like to ask who knows :
How can I force the output from some midi-channels to one instance of z3ta+?
Thanks beforehand

Kire wrote:

I bought all the "cool" soundbanks for the Virus and did like them first, but when I listened closer and without fx the sounds sounded very boring and far away from analog!

Please elaborate on how this proves anything? The FX are just as much a part of the Virus synth engine as the oscillators, lfos and the envelopes are. That's like saying "I turned the osc volume to zero and had all the FX on, and didn't hear anything! What a crap synth!"

MarkM wrote:

What about the new Moog filter they just implemented? The demo sounds pretty good. What I don't like about Virus is they upgrade the hardware every couple of years. At the rate they upgrade after 5 years you would be two or three models behind.

If you buy your Virus C now, it will still be the same instrument 10 years from now. It won't magically go down in quality every time a new version is released. Besides, how can upgrading the hardware be a bad thing, in the end? Should they just sit on their asses and do nothing because the owners of their earlier synths might feel some kind of inferiority?

abacus66 wrote:

How can I force the output from some midi-channels to one instance of z3ta+?

You can't, Z3ta+ isn't a multi-timbral synth, you'll have to use multiple instances for multiple midi channels.

Peter.

Hi,
I know this debate is a little hot, so I'll try not to add too much fuel to the fire.....but, I think z3ta licks balls compared to a Virus or many other hardware synths. Only today, I compared z3ta to my Q and was amazed but the difference. Z3ta sounded cold and cheap in comparison. Kire, I heard your trance bank and it was nice, but I would not let any of those sounds any where near a track of mine. No offence towards your programming, the patches are great, but I feel the synth is really not worthy of your skills. In fact, Im amazed you favour this synth to h/w va's like the virus. Id of thought those types of patches would rock on a Virus or JP.

Not that Im against softs at all - at the end of the day both h/w and s/w va's are all software at heart. But the again, all Cola's are sugar and water...that dont mean there isnt a big difference between brands. And at the moment, I cant say that Iv used a s/w va that comes close to sounding as good as h/w synths like Q and Virus. And if I had, it wouldnt be z3ta (I much prefer the sounds of Albino, Pro52).

Hey, but each to their own!

tee boy wrote:

z3ta licks balls

Wow ! Where do I have to click to activate this function ? Can't find it in the manual...

lol, unfortunately fella thats no more than a crude figure of speech! If any developers are watching though...

z3ta is a great synth, no question about it.
the main reason virus synths are so great are the effects, not the patches themselves. (well minus having the sub osc option)

I see we are still running this topic into the ground..

Jemino wrote:

tee boy wrote: z3ta licks balls Wow ! Where do I have to click to activate this function ? Can't find it in the manual...

hmm maybe version 1.4.. I wonder what kind of licensing deals Rene' had to do to get THAT feature in there

I'd have to agree (in essence) with tee boy.. but I also agree with Mighty in that it might actually be the effects.. who knows maybe its also the filters? They sounded a bit "dry" (if that makes any sense) to me.

It's definately a personal choice based on opinion..

..and thats my opinion and im stickin to it

well crap, I forgot all about the filters


yes virus filters are just sweet!!!!

Don't forget the Minimoog filters.

tee boy you were almost convincing me.. until you started to talk about how pro52 would be better than z3ta+ .. personally I think it's the worst sounding VSTi I have, never fancied albino either (maybe because the audio engine sounds a bit like pro52 with similar flaws).. but hey like you said: each to their own.

Quote:

Don't forget the Minimoog filters.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!

Is there anyone out there, apart from trance heads, who thinks that the virus is a good synth?

Seriously.

nuffink wrote:

Is there anyone out there, apart from trance heads, who thinks that the virus is a good synth?

..and why?

I don't do Trance and I think the Virus rocks. Seriously, if you think that the Virus is only good for Trance music, you're wrong!

And I agree with Rene, I don't think the Virus filters sound warm, they sound absolutely wicked, but yet not too digital. That's why I think they are the best sounding filters of any VA out there.

Take care,
Ken

Quote:

Z3ta sounded cold and cheap in comparison.

Are you sure that you had the polyphony setting up above 1 or 2? It goes up to 64. Please try the Virus mod bank and tell me it is cold and cheap.

Gordon

Ok, admittedly it was a bit daft using Pro52 in the same sentance as z3ta - they are very different instruments and really cant be compared. If I had the option of having either Pro52 or z3ta I would ofcourse take z3ta. But I do find a place for Pro52 in a lot of my music, I know what it does well and what it doesnt. My problem with z3ta is that I dont really know what its 'supposed' to do well. Is it mainly for trancy leads, strings etc? This seems to be what people rating it on, but to me it comes a poor runner up to the likes of the h/w va's. I dont think Albino is brilliant, but it just seems to have a little more warmth that z3ta.

On the plus side though, I really like the way z3ta is set out - I manage to work my way around it with great easy and produce results quickly. I think the waveshaping facilities are good, but unfortunately the synth just leaves me stone cold. That said, I havent tried the Virus Mod bank yet. Maybe using the Virus waveforms will make significant enough a difference to change my mind.

Hey, you should do a Microwave mod (Im a 'BIG' Mw fan). Id imagine that z3ta would be ideal for this. And you could use d-pole for filtering. Anyone know if the MW waves are available?

tee boy wrote:

Ok, admittedly it was a bit daft using Pro52 in the same sentance as z3ta - they are very different instruments and really cant be compared. If I had the option of having either Pro52 or z3ta I would ofcourse take z3ta. But I do find a place for Pro52 in a lot of my music, I know what it does well and what it doesnt. My problem with z3ta is that I dont really know what its 'supposed' to do well. Is it mainly for trancy leads, strings etc? This seems to be what people rating it on, but to me it comes a poor runner up to the likes of the h/w va's. I dont think Albino is brilliant, but it just seems to have a little more warmth that z3ta. On the plus side though, I really like the way z3ta is set out - I manage to work my way around it with great easy and produce results quickly. I think the waveshaping facilities are good, but unfortunately the synth just leaves me stone cold. That said, I havent tried the Virus Mod bank yet. Maybe using the Virus waveforms will make significant enough a difference to change my mind. Hey, you should do a Microwave mod (Im a 'BIG' Mw fan). Id imagine that z3ta would be ideal for this. And you could use d-pole for filtering. Anyone know if the MW waves are available?

No trance here .. it finds use as a VA bass synth, for old Tony Banks style leads, and as a source for wicked/whacky pads

Yeh, Im not trying to suggest that z3ta is 'only' for trance (and neither should anyone try to suggest the same of the Virus). But as Virus has become known as the trance va, I get the impression many see z3ta as the 'trance' vsti. I also think its important for people to know that Im talking about z3ta in comparison with my own favorite synths. When I say its sounds cheap, I mean in comparison. Im not saying it sounds like a fucking psr or something, lol. Z3ta is a decent synth, no doubt about that, but it aint up to being compared to synths like Virus and Q. And to be honest, it bothers me a little that so many feel it is.

If there is one vsti that I feel really does sound the nuts, its the Arturia Moog.

tee boy wrote:

Z3ta is a decent synth, no doubt about that, but it aint up to being compared to synths like Virus and Q. And to be honest, it bothers me a little that so many feel it is.

Yeah, strange that. I never understood why so many people, on a site devoted to software synths, preferred them to hardware.

tee, albino and z3ta are THE closest synths to the virus.

(sound wise that is)

Lol! I seem to have touched a nerve with this. All Im saying is, I simply dont think z3ta is a patch on Virus. I have no real preference towards hardware or software, Im a musician and are just looking for the best instruments I can lay my hands on.

Nuffink, you talk about being 'dedicated' to softs as if it were some kind of football team! Why are you even bothered if I dont like a certain synth? If you like z3ta and think it is better than other synths h/w or s/w, then great! Im glad it works for you. But I dont, thats all. I cant wait for the day that vsti's do sound better than h/w, cuz lets face they are much more convenient (for me at least).

And you can't buy a Virus for $150! I love z3ta. My main complaint about z3ta is that the majority of the patches it comes with are trance-oriented. But it can do so much more than that. If only I were better at programming it. At any rate, I can F*** up a tune pretty well using either hardware or software.

Fair enough, but price really has little to do with the points Im making. If it were about value for money, then the Virus would be bottom of my list. That said, Iv seen s/h MicroQ's for as little as 200quid and this synth also blows z3ta away (in my book). Iv seen Virus B's for 400quid s/h. Nord Lead 2' at 350. So it aint as if you got to spend like 2000 or something daft. Id much rather have a s/h hard for that kind of money, than say two softies like Albino and z3ta.

tee boy at 1:31 wrote:

Z3ta is a decent synth, no doubt about that, but it aint up to being compared to synths like Virus and Q. And to be honest, it bothers me a little that so many feel it is.

tee boy at 2:23 wrote:

Why are you even bothered if I dont like a certain synth? If you like z3ta and think it is better than other synths h/w or s/w, then great! Im glad it works for you. But I dont, thats all.

Wow, less than hour to go from being bothered to wondering why I am.

b.t.w. where did I say I was dedicated to anything? I said the site was devoted to software synths. Which it is.

nuffink wrote:

tee boy at 1:31 wrote: Z3ta is a decent synth, no doubt about that, but it aint up to being compared to synths like Virus and Q. And to be honest, it bothers me a little that so many feel it is. tee boy at 2:23 wrote: Why are you even bothered if I dont like a certain synth? If you like z3ta and think it is better than other synths h/w or s/w, then great! Im glad it works for you. But I dont, thats all. Wow, less than hour to go from being bothered to wondering why I am. b.t.w. where did I say I was dedicated to anything? I said the site was devoted to software synths. Which it is.

what is your point? are you just trying to give tee a bit of grief?

sorry to jump in here this late, but im usin z3ta+ and the virus c, and ive never made a trance song in my life.

both synths are great, and between these two synths, i feel i dont need anymore, except maybe invader for some quick little bleeps and bloops.

they both sound great, and both are better than each other when it comes to certain things.

when is Trance going to Die anyway??

VitaminD wrote:

what is your point? are you just trying to give tee a bit of grief?

My point is that if I logged on to the Access site and posted:-

Quote:

Virus is a decent synth, no doubt about that, but it aint up to being compared to synths like Z3ta and Absynth.

some of the folks there might just think I was trolling.

Lol!!! Why are you hitting me with a dose of attitude fella? Im talking about synthesizer's and get all defensive like Iv personally offended you or some shit. Unless you have some kind of stake in rgcAudio, Im failing to see how you've got this bent out of shape over my posts. The fact is mate, Im a total geat geek and I know what I like and what I dont. The fact that this is a site "devoted" to softs dont mean Im not going to question their quality on here.

But to clarify, I said it bothers me (a 'little') because I personally see z3ta as being way off the quality of the better h/w va's, and it worries me people are happy to pay less for vsti's and except a poorer sounding instrument. Does this really bode well for the future? In the guitar would, real amps are yet to be threated by digital mock ups like Pod and Amplitude because guitarist wont accept that kind of compromise when it comes to tone.

ps Please dont hit me with a speech about how all va's are just digital mock up, blah blah. Im well aware of this, and Iv used this comparison purely to illustrate my point that tone should come first, before price or convenience.

hey tee, do you have any music you have made you would like to share?

Im working on a sample CD right now, which I hope to have finished by the new year. I have a rough demo track on this comp which your're welcome to hear. Musically its weak as fuck, but it demonstates the sounds well enough.

You'll have to tell me how to post it though, can I do an attach of something?

Hmm.. I don't think z3ta+ would necessarily sound better than a bick bug H/W synth like Virus .. I wouldn't even know because I don't own one to do direct comparisons (anyone with a virus and z3ta+ care to do a demonstration with similar patches). However I do think it's one of the best sounding soft synths around. Also I have tried various hardware synths and while they sound great they are not THAT great in my book it would be worth investing my money on them at the moment, I rather choose to upgrade my computer for that money . Then there's always workflow.. I've always found myself working better on a big computer screen because that's how I started up when I loaded fast tracker II in DOS for the first time..

What comes to z3ta+ sounds yes it does trance but I'm kind of tired to those über leads because this synth can do so much more. For example you can do simulations of acoustic type of instruments that sound from other world. Great for experimental music types. I think most people have just touched the surface of this synth since it can do much more than VA..

viruse do have this distinctive lush sound, but it's not worth it for me to have any hardware anymore...

but ot a bit, does anyone use the EXCELLENT virus mod for zeta??

ttoz wrote:

viruse do have this distinctive lush sound, but it's not worth it for me to have any hardware anymore... but ot a bit, does anyone use the EXCELLENT virus mod for zeta??

Yes it's really cool. I use SONAR, so the regular DXi version is the stock one (with 6 of my own user waveforms), and then I have two different VSTi versions that I use with the adapter; one with the Virus mod, and the other with Dual Reality patches (stock main waveforms, with 6 custom user waveforms).

z3ta+ is by far my favorite soft synth. I did pick up a hardware synth a few months ago, because I needed a shorter keyboard for my studio and I thought it might be cool to have one hardware VA. I chose the Alesis ION because it was in my budget, was about as large as I could fit into my new studio space, and because most of the DSP is used for making 8 voices sound as good as possible with very little effects. I really like it. For a couple of weeks I thought it blew away all of my soft synths. I was recreating patches that I had done with Pentagon to compare sound quality (and to learn the synth). After the honeymoon I came to the conclusion that there really is no better or worse when it comes to the really good stuff. It's all different and all that matters is what you do with it. We have so many options these days it can really stand in the way if you get too obsessed with which is better, faster, larger, or whatever. At this point I've decided that I'm not going to get any more synths until I master the ones I already have. That's my theory anyway... just not sure how long I can keep the G.A.S. from taking over.

jtstatic wrote:

I wouldn't even know because I don't own one to do direct comparisons (anyone with a virus and z3ta+ care to do a demonstration with similar patches).

Take a listen to my patchbank on Patcharena, lots of the sounds are replica's of patches I made for Virus B and have almost exactly the same sound character!

Peter.

Quote:

but ot a bit, does anyone use the EXCELLENT virus mod for zeta??

thanks,
still struggling with time to give you a nice Christmas present....

and yes, way OT as I never heard a Virus in action


ciao
Francesco

Here are some soundexamples from my new Fat Analog-bank! (For the Z3ta+)

http://medlem.spray.se/synthzone/FatAnalog.mp3
(Copy the link and paste it in the adressfolder)

Especially the brassounds were hard to recreate on the Virus.

/Kire

cool sounds there.. esp like the one starting around 20 seconds into the clip...

please, where do i get this virus mod for z3ta+? does it work with the demo version?

if it can do the kinds of sounds i expect out of a mod named virus, i am gonna buy it. it doesn't have to sound just like it, but have the same KIND of sound, you know?

down under rgc audio

it won't sound JUST like it, but pretty close.