Is it Honestly True That Access Virus = VSTI's

[kenny saunders]

I've always wanted one as it is the iconic trance synth but people say that you can get the same sound with any vsti, without the hassle of hardware integration? Is that really true?

[recursive one]

Is that really true?

Short answer: no.

It was an iconic trance synth because it has the right sound for this genre. Then it was mostly replaced by software - Sylenth, Massive, Spire and the like and the sound of mainstream trance changed somewhat, not necessarily to better.

[Mushy Mushy]

In before: list my favourite synth.

[chk071]

The OP should try Reaper.

Seriously, though. IMO, the appeal of the Virus is rather the sweet spot. It's where many soft synths simply suck. There are a couple of exception now, though. But, in essence, for me, a instrument has to be musical. It has to be fun to play. In many varieties. IMO, that's where bad instruments lack. They sound good for a very narrow, special use case.

[Echoes in the Attic]

The Virus is a digital synth, just like VSTs are. So it is strange to compare it to VSTs in general. Kind of like comparing a minimoog to analog synths. Or comparing Massive to VSTs. What makes the Virus special isn't that it's contained in a hardware box, it's the actual design and sound, oscillators, filter algorithms etc. Same that makes any individual VST special and unmatched by others. The Virus has it's own character that worked really well for certain genres as the filter really nice but also super punchy, has the super saw thing going on and all the rest. I think it's actually amazingly versatile.

Viper has done a great job in capturing the sound ofthe basic structure (aside from the formant and graintable oscs), so it shows that it can be done in software. I'm sure if the folks at Access had decided to make a VST version based on the design, it would have sounded identical.

[Mushy Mushy]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

[Distorted Horizon]

Is that really true?

Short answer: no.

It was an iconic trance synth because it has the right sound for this genre. Then it was mostly replaced by software - Sylenth, Massive, Spire and the like and the sound of mainstream trance changed somewhat, not necessarily to better.

Even shorter answer: No.

But Viper can get you close.

[chk071]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

Yeah. Shame it never had been developed as a VSTi.

On the other hand, I can very well understand the reason why it wasn't. Apart from contracts with manufacturers of DSP cards, it wouldn't have made much sense to compete against the own hardware, and cut into the own sales.

What I always wondered, though, is that soft synth developers never took notice, and learned about what made the Virus so insanely popular. Or, tried to build on that, and improve the sound/design/whatever. OK, maybe also a matter of the skills to do so.

[kenny saunders]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

Was that the TC powercore hardware dsp one?

[chk071]

Yeah, they also ported it to that Pro Tools DSP card (don't remember the name now).

[recursive one]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

Was that the TC powercore hardware dsp one?

Yes, it was locked to Powercore or Protools hardware so it was essentially the same thing as Virus Control plugin that goes with Virus TI, except that it was 32 bit only afaik.

As others said, Viper is the closest. Still misses some of the important features of TI and sounds somewhat different but worth trying if you are on Win.

[AnX]

I've always wanted one as it is the iconic trance synth but people say that you can get the same sound with any vsti, without the hassle of hardware integration? Is that really true?

yes, not any synth, but there are a few that easily replace it

[chk071]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

Was that the TC powercore hardware dsp one?

Yes, it was locked to Powercore or Protools hardware so it was essentially the same thing as Virus Control plugin that goes with Virus TI, except that it was 32 bit only afaik.

I think they also limited the voices to 16 voices. Or, depending how many DSP chips your card has on it.

I almost bought the Powercore version once, but... then I realized that messing with 32-bit, and questionable future proofness was too much hassle.

[recursive one]

They did have a plugin version years ago.

Was that the TC powercore hardware dsp one?

Yes, it was locked to Powercore or Protools hardware so it was essentially the same thing as Virus Control plugin that goes with Virus TI, except that it was 32 bit only afaik.

I think they also limited the voices to 16 voices. Or, depending how many DSP chips your card has on it.

I almost bought the Powercore version once, but... then I realized that messing with 32-bit, and questionable future proofness was too much hassle.

Second hand Snow would be much better investment, and not much more expensive I think.

I've always wanted one as it is the iconic trance synth but people say that you can get the same sound with any vsti, without the hassle of hardware integration? Is that really true?

yes, not any synth, but there are a few that easily replace it

It depends

[chk071]

True. Makes no sense to go for such a DSP card now, IMO.