Access virus

[cryophonik]

I had a TI2 61 for over a decade, but it's not supported on Macs since the last few OS versions. I'm very close to buying another one (rack or Polar/Indigo), but I'm actually leaning toward a Virus C over a TI. I always loved my old C and it handled the bulk of my Virus sound needs, albeit without the Total Integration, which is useless to me now, so why waste money on it, right?

[Synth Master Jedi]

I bought a Virus-C rackmount on ebay in 2007 for $950.

I still have it, though I haven't used it in more than 10 years. It's a long story, though it's not because I don't like it, I do like it, I'm just mostly lazy and in the box these past years and most of my hardware has been ignored and not used.

I was on ebay just now and it seems like Viruses hold their value real nice, because from the few listings that I saw, they cost more today than what I paid back in 2007 for mine.

[zerocrossing]

It's funny to me that people are so nostalgic of the Virus. I had a C in the 00s and later got a TI Snow, but by that time I was also using a lot of software and after a deep comparison where I took all my patches and tried to recreate them on other software instruments, I couldn't find a sonic reason to keep the Snow, so off it went. Nothing wrong with it, just not that interesting. The filter is just very clinical sounding.

[Echoes in the Attic]

It's funny to me that people are so nostalgic of the Virus. I had a C in the 00s and later got a TI Snow, but by that time I was also using a lot of software and after a deep comparison where I took all my patches and tried to recreate them on other software instruments, I couldn't find a sonic reason to keep the Snow, so off it went. Nothing wrong with it, just not that interesting. The filter is just very clinical sounding.

Maybe just a personal preference? For me, I've never owned a virus but always loved the sound. I genuinely love the sound of Viper more than any other synth, and it is very close to a virus. So I do think there is a character there that many (including myself) really like that isn't so easily replicated.

[cryophonik]

For me, it has far less to do with the sound of the Virus and everything to do with the experience of using the instrument. Using software is fine for making a sound, but using it is boring af and doesn’t make me nostalgic. It’s about as interesting as listening to Virus (or any other synth) haters carry on about how they can do the same thing with software I can make Trilian sound like my Lakland, or P Bass, or G&L, but that makes it nowhere near as fun as actually playing my basses.

[Uncle E]

Virus TI sounds more refined than the earlier versions. That's fine and all but the whole appeal of it for me is those late 90's DnB and breaks sounds. Same goes for the Nord Lead, it sounds more analog now but I only want it to sound like Second Toughest in the Infants.

[zerocrossing]

It's funny to me that people are so nostalgic of the Virus. I had a C in the 00s and later got a TI Snow, but by that time I was also using a lot of software and after a deep comparison where I took all my patches and tried to recreate them on other software instruments, I couldn't find a sonic reason to keep the Snow, so off it went. Nothing wrong with it, just not that interesting. The filter is just very clinical sounding.

Maybe just a personal preference? For me, I've never owned a virus but always loved the sound. I genuinely love the sound of Viper more than any other synth, and it is very close to a virus. So I do think there is a character there that many (including myself) really like that isn't so easily replicated.

Oh, totally personal preference… isn’t everything? That’s not what I’m talking about, though. I’m talking about people who say that the sound of a Virus is quantifiably “better.” Sure, say you like it more, or even like it the best, but when you start saying that software sounds worse… I think that’s mostly people talking to make them feel better about the money they spent.

We’re artists. It’s all really emotion and vibe. I understand that a lot of people have a hard time connecting with software. I have no illusion that my hardware sounds better than my software. Those days have been over since the mid 00s. What I do know is that sometimes the character of a hardware synth calls out to me like Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber calls to Rey. It recently happened to me with the Waldorf M. I tried to convince myself that Waldorf PPG 3 would do… but I couldn’t help myself. I even put PPG 3 up against the M when I had it and I had to admit that it sounds really good. Not the same, but as good. Was it worth it to spend $2k more? Not to a lot of people, but to me, yes.

[Harry_HH]

no.
it was never "alive". its a machine.

Depends on the definition. My Virus is software plugin - is software a ”machine”?

[aMUSEd]

I had a TI2 61 for over a decade, but it's not supported on Macs since the last few OS versions.

I’m thinking of trying this as it runs now on Big Sur and later

https://www.mysteryislands-music.com/pr ... us-editor/

Doesn’t do the total integration but tbh I mainly used the Virus Ti plugin as a librarian anyway but otherwise use the hardware

[Echoes in the Attic]

It's funny to me that people are so nostalgic of the Virus. I had a C in the 00s and later got a TI Snow, but by that time I was also using a lot of software and after a deep comparison where I took all my patches and tried to recreate them on other software instruments, I couldn't find a sonic reason to keep the Snow, so off it went. Nothing wrong with it, just not that interesting. The filter is just very clinical sounding.

Maybe just a personal preference? For me, I've never owned a virus but always loved the sound. I genuinely love the sound of Viper more than any other synth, and it is very close to a virus. So I do think there is a character there that many (including myself) really like that isn't so easily replicated.

Oh, totally personal preference… isn’t everything? That’s not what I’m talking about, though. I’m talking about people who say that the sound of a Virus is quantifiably “better.” Sure, say you like it more, or even like it the best, but when you start saying that software sounds worse… I think that’s mostly people talking to make them feel better about the money they spent.

We’re artists. It’s all really emotion and vibe. I understand that a lot of people have a hard time connecting with software. I have no illusion that my hardware sounds better than my software. Those days have been over since the mid 00s. What I do know is that sometimes the character of a hardware synth calls out to me like Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber calls to Rey. It recently happened to me with the Waldorf M. I tried to convince myself that Waldorf PPG 3 would do… but I couldn’t help myself. I even put PPG 3 up against the M when I had it and I had to admit that it sounds really good. Not the same, but as good. Was it worth it to spend $2k more? Not to a lot of people, but to me, yes.

Oh yes then I agree. I see the Virus as no different than software synths, all just digital synths. I don't think it being hardware is a factor at all. More just the synthesis design. I like the oscillator and filter sound more than pretty anything else.

[4damind]

When I bought my Virus many years ago, I often felt that this hardware was exactly what I wanted in a plug-in. Back then, most plug-ins were nowhere near that level. But in 2022, things are a bit different

[chk071]

TBH, when I compare the Virus C in the Motorola DSP emu to Spire, I prefer Spire.

Nonetheless, it's nice to have exactly that sound in the box though. Also look forward to what comes in the future in that emu. A microQ or microWave in the box, that would be something.

[Uncle E]

That’s not what I’m talking about, though. I’m talking about people who say that the sound of a Virus is quantifiably “better.”

I assume they meant "it's quantifiably different in a way I like". But you know what they say about assuming.

[zerocrossing]

TBH, when I compare the Virus C in the Motorola DSP emu to Spire, I prefer Spire.

Nonetheless, it's nice to have exactly that sound in the box though. Also look forward to what comes in the future in that emu. A microQ or microWave in the box, that would be something.

I’m surprised no one’s done a Q+ plugin. I’d buy that. Microwave 1 too. Digital hybrids are really my thing. I’ve always loved them. Arturia’s SQ V is really good. PPG 3 is good too, though cleaner than the original, still sounds great to me.

I think it’s that I just never liked Trance or Techno at all, which were really the genres that embraced the Virus. I like something that sounds a bit more organic, but that doesn’t mean it has to be analog, though it often is.

[zerocrossing]

That’s not what I’m talking about, though. I’m talking about people who say that the sound of a Virus is quantifiably “better.”

I assume they meant "it's quantifiably different in a way I like". But you know what they say about assuming.

Sometimes they do, but I read a lot of, “plugins sound like sh!t compared to my Virus!” That just sounds really weird to me. Like someone is comparing a plugin they tried in 1998 and never tried another.