Maybe I should just sell the UAD-2 Quad and the Sonic Core 15-DSP, any surplus VSTs and DAWs, and scour ebay.

If I had a spare £3600, I'd happily buy a Voyager XL without stopping... but erm, I don't.

Nope - I think it's going to be a slow-build modular. The various replies have been really helpful in confirming where I need to go, and I'm realistically on a much smaller budget (without finance) than I'd like, so that plays a big part.

I'm still going to check out the Nord though, and hoping for the lottery win

Edit: And yes, I like the irony of a Virus TI desktop just going on sale here

that's a bit naive.

There's no real difference to how virtual analog and "real" analog synths integrate. They all rely on MIDI and analog audio. While some have a USB port, it's used as a "virtual" MIDI port. It reduces cable clutter, but there's no difference in functionality compared to plain old MIDI.

Some synths might have a VST editor available, but still require you to route audio separately - I use one for the (mostly) analog JX-8P, and I know there's one for the analog Tetra/Mopho as well, so it's not limited to just digital synths.

The only synth that works differently that I know of, is the Virus TI. It behaves just like a multi-timbral VST in your DAW, routing both MIDI and audio data over USB via the VST plugin.

My opinion is naive? Your opinion of my opinion is pretentious.

My Roland SonicCell and some other Roland stuff will do it too, though I don't use it that way due to the fact that it only has 2 channels of output and the synth is using them. Stupid design. I hope the TI is different.

you must know what i meant though. i don't think you honestly even believe yourself (despite that you sort of implied it) that the oscillator is of trivial consideration relative to the filter.

i agree with you, i just think you worded it a little too much in the direction of saying "oscillators are pointless! it's all in the filter baby!".

i'd say it's more 40|60 or so?

there are a lot of synthesizers with plain jane oscillators so in those cases you can't really compare. there are also a lot of synthesizers with average joe filters as well.

then there are also completely insane oscillators and filters. for example the tb-303 is an easy case. it isn't the oscillator, it isn't the filter. it isn't the amplifier, it isn't the mixer. in fact it isn't even the glide circuit, the envelope and accent or the sequencer. it only really becomes what it is as the sum of it's parts.

what i meant was to shrug that off is a little naive.

The Virus TI (any model) gives you three stereo pairs of output. Pretty good to have when you're running out of analog inputs, but not nearly enough to take advantage of 16 simultaneous parts.

...if you're fortunate enough to get 16 simultaneous parts. With most typical Virus sounds using polyphony and effects, you're more likely to get a half dozen parts simultaneously, at best, before dropouts and voice stealing start happening.

I've owned numerous Viruses (A, B, C, TI1, TI2) and have never found myself having to do much menu-diving for sound design or performance purposes (except on the XL and B-Rack). Configuration and setup, yes, but nearly every control that I would use for sound design or real-time performance is available on the front panel.

Well, excuse my ignorance for not reading all replies given so far, but let me share with my personal experience.

I own VC and VSnow (but I'm not Virus fanboy - just found it extremely practical) and being totally honest sound wise there are plenty of alternatives in h/w or s/w domains which can easily replace or suprpass Virus sound.

However, I haven't come across as yet to anything, which could substitute the experience of using Virus hardware and/or software (apart from Novation KS Rack hardware wise). Buy second hand Snow and see/try if you like it. It keeps top reselling value around so it seems to as a low risk investment.

Thanks for more replies.

I'm actually looking at the mfb kraftzwerg at the moment, but still researching into the Virus and Nord. I do like the ease of use of my KS5, and may also consider grabbing a Supernova after all.

Or maybe just a BCR2000...

..

Nah - that's boring

Well, I thought I'd post an update with what I actually bought, just so everyone can share in my insanity

For the 'analog' fix... I bought.. A Korg Monotribe Okay, well it's actually for my young daughter rather than me, but I suspect I may pinch it now and again. A shame it doesn't have MIDI in, but she won't care about that.

I eventually decided to focus on the 'hands-on' aspect of my studio needs, and to that end I bought a Roland Octapad (previously only had a Korg PadKontrol, and I want to hit things) and an Akai EWI4000S for some breath control. Obviously both give me some new sounds and MIDI control, but the fact that I'm not tied to the PC was very important.

Anyway, I realise I'm just almost complete OT for my own post, but thought it worth sharing the end result.

<gets coat>

Edit: Oh, and I finally managed to get ASIO4ALL to work with my Sonic-Core PCI board, so I've got another modular, albeit virtual, sounding very nice. Sometimes, it's more about workflow than anything else, for me at least.