KVR Audio

maclean · Post by **maclean** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:22 pm

Okay I'm gonna probly buy a virus ti soon but I'm just curious about something. I don't have much hardware apart from the essentials (monitors soundcard keyboard and computer of course) and this will be the first proper pricy thing iv bought.

I'm wondering is it a good idea to buy one without trying it out in a shop or whatever, aint no music shops that sell viruses in my town. I mean I'm being attracted to it like a fly to shit because of all the word about it being the ultimate all-round trance machine. Im quite experienced with soft synth programming. I understand that a shiny new synth can't replace mixing skills but im reaching the stage where I want just that little extra professional phatness that you apparently get with hardware synths
I suppose what im asking is: has any1 producing hard trance bought one of these things and ended up unhappy with it?

And please also tell me if you were happy with every penny you spent on it.

Cheers Folks!

aciddose · Post by **aciddose** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:30 pm

"I'm wondering is it a good idea to buy one without trying it out in a shop or whatever"

you can ask this question refering to "one" of anything, and the answer will always be No.

you should definitely test one out first. not only that, but if i were you i'd make several trips, test it out, go home and think about it for a few days. think of some stuff you wonder if it can do. go back and test it some more, if you're still satisfied, go home, decide if you really want to buy it. finally, go back and buy it or order it online or whatever.

this way you avoid getting caught in some initial excitement over what you're buying. a lot of stuff can seem really great at first, but the novelty can wear off.

based upon the virus' reputation, you probably do not have a lot to worry about. when i buy something, i always do it this way. think about if you were buying a house. would you buy it just based upon the photo you saw?

Coxy · Post by **Coxy** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:32 pm

I don't think you could be unhappy with it no matter what electronica genre you were aiming at producing.

It's phat sure, but how often do you hear phat sounds in Trance? I mean like truly fat? Trance is all about subtleties and movment and atmosphere. Even hard trance to some extent.

What I am trying to say is that this isn't a 1 stop trance machine, nothing is. I bought a Virus C years back when they were the fresh goods, I was expecting... I don't know actually, I guess the sound I was looking for whatever that was.

That's half my point though there isn't that magical sound or phatness that you need from this that you couldn't get from other sutff or a combination of other stuff. In fact there isn't any magical sound or fatness you need full stop.

I don't think you would be dissapointed with it providing you use it to it's capabilities and program it properly.

But on the flipside it may be overkill for what you are after? You need to ask yourself though, what is it that you are actually wanting from a synth?

For me to help you further I need to know what you want from a synth too, what is it?

Cheers

ATS · Post by **ATS** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:55 pm

I wouldn't assume you will get a better fatter sound or whatever just because you are using hardware. Of course people could debate this forever just saying you might be setting yourself up for a dissapointment.

dxl · Post by **dxl** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:56 pm

if you like electronic music
and and you dont like how virus sounds from ur new TI that you might be getting a defective product or ur brain chemials all messed up at that time

Mikelo · Post by **Mikelo** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:16 pm

The Virus is superb. Subtle, delicate and also aggressive. You won't go wrong with the Ti model, or any virus model in matter of fact.
If you can't get to test one out, try downloading demos or listen to it on Access's web site. If thats not enough, try to find out popular artists in your genre who say they use the virus and read what they say or what tracks they use one.

Arcvidean · Post by **Arcvidean** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:35 pm

You could look in SoundonSound's online readers ads and see if anyone near you is selling one or even a Virus c or b and try those out. If I'm not mistaken the sound is basically the same, just the features extended and the extra wavetables you can scan in the Ti. Unless you have money to spare you might find the older models adequate for your purposes. I tried a Virus b out second hand this way before I got to try out a Ti in a store and I was enthusastic about both,though I don't produce Trance. I'm just waiting to see how my finances shape in the near future before I buy one. For me it's between the Virus b and c though at the moment. Another thing is the Ti stable yet, I gather there were problems with the early models?
Arcvidean.

Mikelo · Post by **Mikelo** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:51 pm

Arcvidean wrote:You could look in SoundonSound's online readers ads and see if anyone near you is selling one or even a Virus c or b and try those out. If I'm not mistaken the sound is basically the same, just the features extended and the extra wavetables you can scan in the Ti. Unless you have money to spare you might find the older models adequate for your purposes. I tried a Virus b out second hand this way before I got to try out a Ti in a store and I was enthusastic about both,though I don't produce Trance. I'm just waiting to see how my finances shape in the near future before I buy one. For me it's between the Virus b and c though at the moment. Another thing is the Ti stable yet, I gather there were problems with the early models?
Arcvidean.

I agree here,
any of the virus models might be right up your street. I have the TI keyboard and have tried all the virus models and to be honest, there is'nt to much diffrence between the lot.
It all depends on your budget really. As the virus A,B, KB, C and KC models are discontinued, you'd have to look at ebay or private sellers to get your hands on one.
If its just a desktop or rack you require and don't want to spend £xxx then the Virus Classic might just suite you. This is based on the Virus B and still available new.

maclean · Post by **maclean** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:54 pm

Thanks 4 the replies...

For me to help you further I need to know what you want from a synth too, what is it?

Yeh I think in my orignal post the word "Phatness" was the wrong word to use... What I want is a synth that can do almost everything i could ask for (in trance) and deliver it with mind blowing quality. The thin textures, the fat leads, the moving atmospheric pads, powerful plucky bass, liquidy filtery 303 type sounds, hell even produce some basic percussion to layer up and create some unique drums hits, the ability to get experimental and create some unique sounding stuff and some other shit i cant quite think of at the mo. At the price of the TI i would expect its onboard effects to sound top dog aswell?

If you can't get to test one out, try downloading demos or listen to it on Access's web site. If thats not enough, try to find out popular artists in your genre who say they use the virus and read what they say or what tracks they use one.

lol already done that m8... This vengeance mp3 demo of the TI factory patches particularly impressed me, some really impressive sounds in there if u hunt around it.... Have a listen here

Unless you have money to spare you might find the older models adequate for your purposes

Yeh i am semi tempted by the older models but id probabbly end up gettin annoyed at the fact the one im using aint the newest one available ALSO Isnt the virus TI a bit easier to work with though in cubase with its own plugin and stuff... Wont the older models be a bit of hassle to get used to for some one like me with no hardware backgroung. I dont exactly have money to throw away but will be happy to spend on a good product. BTW how does the TI hook up anyway does everything go through one usb lead? Or do u still do it with all the midi and audio cables or what exactly?

Again thanks for the input folks!

Jeremy_NSL · Post by **Jeremy_NSL** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:15 pm

Everything can go over USB. Its not foolproof though - there is a lot of latency. And in the past it has been very glitchy (pops, crackles, desyncing problems etc.). This stuff may have been fixed in the latest 1.2 update but I'm too lazy to hook up my TI right now...

Overall I think its somewhat overrated. Without the FX on it doesn't sound significantly better than say - NI Massive or Zebra2. However, it does come with an immense amount of presets that would probably be useful to anyone doing trance.

I'd really recommend trying one before buying! Even if you need to travel an hour away...

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:17 pm

I would love to buy one, I have wanted one since they first were announced but I think to myself what sound do I REALLY need that can't be replicated on my softsynths with enough effort? and for a 10th of the price?

Be great if money wasn't an object but I can't justify 1000 pounds + on this machine, it's good, but not that good

aciddose · Post by **aciddose** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:33 pm

"what sound do I REALLY need that can't be replicated on my softsynths with enough effort? and for a 10th of the price?"

the sound of the key switches open and close. you do not need a virus for this though.

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:49 pm

Yeh I think in my orignal post the word "Phatness" was the wrong word to use... What I want is a synth that can do almost everything i could ask for (in trance) and deliver it with mind blowing quality. The thin textures, the fat leads, the moving atmospheric pads, powerful plucky bass, liquidy filtery 303 type sounds, hell even produce some basic percussion to layer up and create some unique drums hits, the ability to get experimental and create some unique sounding stuff and some other shit i cant quite think of at the mo.

Well, you'll be disappointed when you buy your Virus then. No synth can do all of that and do it better than every other synth. I've never been happy with just one h/w synth, and equally never happy with just one VSTi. Most of them have some specific strengths and equally, some weaknesses.

Could I make music with just one synth? Yes. Would I be happy that I had made it the best it could be with just one synth? Absolutely not, and never will be.

Buy a Virus if you like some types of sounds it produces. But don't delude yourself it can do everything. It most certainly cannot.

General advice...I've never bought anything musical I've not tried out first. And still I've been disappointed with some things I've bought. If you believe everything you read on the internet...you deserve to be parted with your money.

maclean · Post by **maclean** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:01 pm

But don't delude yourself it can do everything

Oh no most certainly not, we wouldnt need any other synths if that was the case. What I do know from simply reading the specs is that it is much more versatile than any soft synth I currently own, I can only presume from word of mouth and the sheer reputation of it in the trance genre it sounds better too.

But yeh I think the general way every1 is kinda pointing me here is try it, so i will. Not enough people shouting "WOW its the best synth ever!" lol.

Cheers

£1200 for a synth without trying out?