Great Synth Mysteries Ep. 1 Whatever Happened to the Access Virus - Virus Ti3?
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Let's take a look back at the Access Virus, one of my favorite synths EVAR! It's been a while since the Virus Ti2, and while we patiently wait for the possible Virus Ti3, maybe there are some clues as to what happened to stalled the development almost a decade ago. Let me know what you guys think!
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This is a great idea for a video. Great work dude.
I agree-well done. Only thing that could have been better if there was news of a new Virus coming out (which is beyond your control-or the control of any of us)!
@@seancraig5373 I'll ask Christoph if I see him at NAMM this year, I promise.
@G I completely agree--but how many synth mysteries are there G?
@@NoirEtBlancVie Thanks! I wonder if it is simple economics--there is more money to be made building amplifiers and guitar pedals, and that is why everyone seems to be making those? Perhaps the guitarists who are reading this can comment.
@@NoirEtBlancVie Thanks for asking! When is NAMM?
From what I understand: all lines of the virus were built on a specific line of motorola DSP chips, now known as "freescale" DSP. The develpment of those DSP processors was passed on to a company called NXP, and the level of development that a company like motorola can provide has not been happening. A new virus came out when motorola deveoped new DSP Processors, which made porting over the very heavy architecture of the Virus much more feasable than re-codeing every line for a new processor architecture.
Since the Motorola Freescale DSP has been effectivley discontinued, making a new virus would essentially mean re-writting every line of code, optimized for an entirley different framework. It's not imposible, but starting a different project on a newer, better supported DSP chip is makes a lot more fiscal sense.
P.s. The Virus C is one of the greatest Hardware synths of all time, hands down.
I heard this too. Perhaps a future Virus would run on FPGA?
Great insight! This is why I made the video after all, I wanted to connect with people who knew more than I might. This is a very interesting revelation, I think if I get enough I’ll do a part 2, thank you!
Local Technique maybe, but probably not. FPGA code is waaayyy different than standard DSP processors, and taking something as huge as the virus software and porting it over would be a very costly undertaking. You might as well just design a brand new FPGA synth outside the virus line, for less time and money.
Noir Et Blanc Vie No prob! I'm glad you're back in the swing of making videos :)
I'm new to this game. I'm a 38 year old techno DJ who has finally gotten into production. First time I saw the Access Virus was with Hans Zimmer. Had a chance to play on a Virus Ti2 desktop. Was just blown away with its capabilities. Finally, I decided to build a studio. I kept asking the internet... what is the equivalent to a Virus, in terms of a hardware synthesizer all over forums (yes, I'm aware of the Zebra). The answer was nothing. I finally took the plunge. I just ordered a Access Virus Ti2 Darkstar. Getting the Waldorf Iridium in about 3 weeks for melodic and ambient sound.
Virus reminds me of the Korg Kronos. A workstation so ahead of its time, the latest iteration of Korg's worstations, the Natilus, is a stripped down Kronos a decade later.
I know I'm late but you might want to check out Adam Szabo's Viper. It's very close. With the newest update it can even import Virus TI sounds to a certain degree.
How has your experience been with it so far? I just ordered my first Virus (TI2) last week.
I bought a ti2 61 key in 2021. I can vouch. It's still a great synth.
But the problem is it’s not compatible with latest Mac OS.
@@Simbor-rh1dj Will it work with Windows 11?
I just bought a used Virus TI in December. Aside from a few stupid design choices, its the best sounding synth I've owned yet. Massive, dark, immensely deep. Amazing machine.
Professionally created: overall production quality, script writing, voice over, video clips, historical documentation, audio and the editorial. Thumbs up.
Thank you, it means a lot and I had fun making it :)
Except it says ‘Great Sytnh Mysteries’ at the start
Dude yes. Excellent work! Would much rather watch this than tv or any social media videos. Love this concept.
Wow that's a serious compliment! I mean, I'd rather watch TV than myself, but I think I'm just sick of my face hahah
back in the mid 90's I had actually talked to him on the phone about getting one of the Matrix 6 controllers he was making, but he was just starting the virus line and he never got around to sending my one (he didn't have any on hand, but said he maybe able to get one put together from spare parts.. I realllllyyyy wanted one of those ) It was a real detective work to find him in the birth of the net days..
IMO, and I have owned 200 synths and modules in my lifetime, the Virus TI2 is definitely in the top 20 synths of all time.
Dusted off my Virus B a few months ago. It'd been sitting in storage for over 10 years. Holy moly that thing sounds as good now as it did in 1999 when I bought it. It truly is a classic.
I created two albums with the B. Fond memories!
Interesting video. In 2012, when I bought my Virus TI2 keyboard, I remember wondering whether I should wait for the TI3. I didn't wait, and the TI is still, as you say, one of the greatest synths ever created. One of two synths I'll never sell. The other is my DX7.
I love my virus TI, its maybe the best thing I've ever spent money on. I am always amazed at how I still find new things about it after 8 years of use. The gift that keeps on giving)
Access virus ti2 is still very relevant. It is the work horse of my studio. I get comments all the time on how good it sounds during live sets.
HOLY SHIT. I am BEYOND excited for this series. Every time you upload I'm shocked by the quality; cinematography, writing, music, everything. Keep up the great work; Props! 👏 👏
Love this video as a virus owner, I feel proud and lucky. I could only imagine the stuff virus would do with a simple update!
Proud of what? It’s obsoletion?
Thank you for this episode! Virus ti was my first synth. Then i become a beta tester. Then my bank was in all Virus TI 2 factory bank )
That's awesome. Truly awesome to know you were a part of such a legendary piece of kit! :)
Fair to say you kinda like it? :D
@@carlosdrfx sorry but I've sold all my synths long time ago. but a few month ago I decided to get Roland SE-02 for fun ))
@@andivax that's how we all started down this rabbit hole again ;)
@@andivax That dinky SE-02 is an awesome bit of kit!
If they were to make a TI3 or whatever there would be very little space for upgrade from the TI, I bought the TI polar about a year ago and I was very (pleasantly) surprised with not only the overall sound of the TI but the features are almost everything you’d want, very relevant even today. I also bought the Waldorf Iridium around the same time and though it was a fantastic synth and I’m not comparing them I can say that I’ve since let go of the Iridium but the TI still sitting strong in my set up.
Sir, do this more often, please! You make me interested in synthesizer history even though I told myself to not go there.
I just found this video and as a Virus owner I loved it! Great work!
Dude!, I could write a three page letter, telling you how great you are and this content!!
I’ve followed u for a minute, and I’ve been super impressed with your progression! 1st this concept you came up with is brill!!
No one has done except maybe Mark Doty?!:). 2nd your visuals are spot on, your voice comes through perfectly!! And the amount of time and effort you’ve slaved over is so clear to your audience!! I’m inspired! Thanks for sharing your talents with all of us;)😎✌🏻🤩👌🏻🙌🏻👏🏼🤩🙏🏻
Great video. Yes, I have the TI2 and never wonder (for now)if it can get any better
The Virus is still one of the coolest synths ever made. Period. They sound even better now than they did when they were introduced.
It's very hard to improve on perfection. 'Nuff said.
@@susanbaker3392 I would... If such a thing existed!
I mean, what is there really? The ultra expensive and not very impressive Waldorf Quantum or Kyra? Just seems like another wavetable vsti in a box. The novation Peak / Summit? Really just an analog synth with some interesting DCO functionality. I've already got a Supernova 2kb, doesn't sound all that different. Yet another revision of the Motif / Krotos / Fantom romplers / sample players with built - in vstis? I've already got a bunch of those on my hard drive.
Honestly, outside of the Roland System - 8 / 1 and maybe a couple of decent ideas poorly implemented in the Arturia Microfreak, I've not seen a single thing that has impressed me in the digital realm since maybe the Blofeld...and it's only useful when the icy metallic digital wavetables call for it.
No. For me, my TI2 KB, Polar TI, Virus Rack, Jp-8000, an1x, V synth, SN2 kb, Nova, Nord Rack, Nord 2x, Radias, MS-2000, SH-32, System - 1, AN200, CS6x w/plg150-an, Fusion 8HD, z1, and Ion are kinda all that I need right now if I want digital to sound good.
And honesty, with a few exceptions, I can get even all of them out of a Virus if I try hard enough.
Sure, the hypersaw doesn't quite have the unique phasing of the JP-8000 original supersaw and sure the filter models on the an1x are a little warmer, and yes...the Nords have a unique bubbliness to their oscillators.... But I'll get close enough for government work any day of the week with just one Virus.
I’d have to agree. I’ve just bought one. It’s absolutely brilliant.
Perfection would be true one knob per function, plenty of space on the 61 key keyboards but it would make the desktop massive haha
@@jrlx86 If you take really want one knob per function, I hear that the Volcas do that. ;)
@@mc2engineeringprof There is a huge amount of truth in this statement, agreed.
Loved this video, the Virus TI2 is still a monster, when you have perfected perfection guess there's nothing left to do but move on.
Forreal, if it ain't broke don't fix it
They did. They made the Kemper Amp Modler.
@@ChaosBeforeOrder at least they could fix the bugs
An original Virus Ti2 will be worth more than $10K in the next decade. It's a legend like some Moogs.
Fantastic new format, pal. I am really excited what’s coming up next. I didn’t know, that there is the same guy behind the Virus and the Kemper Profiler.
oh my GAWD!
You're my man! This is absolutely amazing. Thanks Noir. The production quality is through the roof. And that intro! Perfect.
Stay a Legend
Ti polar owner here. I love the concept behind this series, keep it up! As of for the virus, it is pretty much perfect, but I wouldn’t mind if they periodically gave us different wave tables and I wouldn’t mind paying for these upgrades either. Wavetables aren’t what this synth is known for, but they are useful for making sounds similar to Massive, which I also really like using.
Yes, user loadable wavetables would be really nice and more filter emulations - ms20, moog, roland perhaps. Since Kemper is working on amp profiling, it wouldn't be so hard to do.
Ahhh. The access music virus ti2 polar a favorite of my instruments as well. Thank you for spotlighting!
So good! I loved my Indigo 2, but it was so old, knobs were wobbly, and i just could never jig with just 37 keys for a synth with such big sound. Im excited to wait and see what the future holds for Access, definitely a unique and beautiful sounding synth!
once more you deserve praise for the editing and production value. you should have a broader audience!
You’re making some of the only gear videos that don’t feel like they’ve been made a thousand times. Thanks!
I'm very new to the world of synths. and I have to say, your videos are hands down the best of them all. Informative, well spoken, and done from a practical perspective. It's very clear these wonderful instruments are a big passion in your life. Don't stop making these videos. They're an invaluable asset for someone like me, that doesn't have much brand loyalty, or established opinion, to make truly informed decisions on gear to invest in. Thanks a lot for the hard work you put into these videos, and I look forward to many more.
Thank you for saying this Sean, it means a lot!
You video production and presentation style are TOP NOTCH. Well done!
My introduction to the Virus was the Timesplitters 2 soundtrack. The main theme uses that thing and uses it well. Always wanted one since, but my tastes have changes and thus I have never gotten one.
I had no idea the Virus was used for that, but it totally makes sense. Such a great soundtrack!
Fun facts: Virus TI wavetable synthesis engine is Waldorf development for Access (they was in financial crisis those days). Virus TI Total Integration technology (MIDI and audio streaming via USB and Plug-In) was also Waldorf development which was tried and tested first with AFB project.
He truly is looking at this from a product mindset. Extend your Customer segments. He maxed out the TAM on Keyboard/Synth Users. So he extended his market to Guitarists. (Same as Nord Extended to drummers and Jazz Pianists and Organ players)
this video is still up to date 4 years later
Back in the early 2000s I wanted this synth so bad.
What's remarkable is how well the synth held up both functionally and sonically despite all the neglect by Access.
Amazing mini doc. I've never owned a Virus myself but I remember GASing hard for one before I had any idea what GAS even meant haha. I knew that my idols in Drum & Bass were making all these mind bending sounds with the Virus and that was enough for me to want one. No matter how hard I tried, back in 2000, my copy of Reason and its soft synths just didn't cut it. Little did I know that 20 years later the Virus, while it now has in insane level of VST competition, and is even surpassed in some areas, still holds a court all of its own. Thanks, very insightful and unexpectedly inspiring, I really appreciate you making this! Big upsss
This is one of the greatest investigative journalism pieces on the TH-cam.
"i have made something i cannot buy!" the singularity event of every modern inventor. :-)
I always thought those flip-sun/glasses were the shit since it's inception, automatic props. But I really do love the historian approach, the informational side stories, and your "reading rainbow" vibe, totally cool
Fascinating video, thoughtful, balanced, beautifully produced, insightful, and you list ALL the equipment you used - your work is top of the line in every way. Seems like Kemper is motivated by moving into a new product space and then creating something truly groundbreaking. Like the Profiler. The digital synth market is so crowded now, it might be less inspiring for him.
I clicked on it not expecting much. I was riveted and left a wiser person. Thanks!
This is a very exciting new series! I was aware of the Kemper amps (a very polarizing product among guitar players, btw) but didn’t know they were related to the Virus.
raistaparta i use a Kemper, but it feels like deja vu again as he hasnt released a refresh of the hardware of the Kemper for years 😭 it nails the amp modelling perfectly but the onboard effects are still weak
@@xPanDaemonx they just released a reverb update which is on par with top of the line strymons and even can match some eventides. The delays were already there a more than year ago.
I had a TI2 Darkstar and a B for many years. I always got along more with the B but don’t regret selling it. Traded the Darkstar for a Prophet 12. Apples vs Oranges but the Prophet 12 you would have to pry out of my cold dead hands.
Ha! Not many channesl on YT reach your level of quality, presented in a coherent style, no talking around, no blablabla. Really interesting to watch!
As a former user of Virus B and C I missed the next step in Access' synth evolution after the issue- plagued TI2 (USB1, plugin problems with many users), until I learned by someone that the reason for the absence of a TI2 successor are - as you perfectly illustrated - the digital guitar amps.
So what of the Virus versions Is more affordable, playable, dyinamic and fun to get?
TI owner here. It's perfect. End of story :P
Haha, that’s kinda how I feel, but would you wanna see updates though?
Noir Et Blanc Vie
We do see updates all the time though :P
Software updates are quite common. One thing a lot of people don't seem to know is that the same features arrive to both the TI1 and the TI2 through software updates. The latest update came as late as October last year.
And even then, although it's just me, all I personally want from the Virus are Virus sounds. That's why a lot of people keep older Viri. I have personally never used the complex oscillator models, comb filter, or even the vocoder in a song. Experimentation is great, but the real reason I have a Virus is to have a Virus, not an all-powerful experimental modular system.
As long as the chips don’t burn out, my TI will be my love for the rest of my life. She’s perfect.
Yeah updates just show up. I can't believe the support of this and Nord (and probably other things that I haven't directly experienced). Rare in electronics to have 10+ years of updates. IE: filter saturation came out of nowhere? The tape delay was added to the TI.
The only updates now seem to be when there's a new Mac or PC Os. The TI control is essentially abandonware, it looks and runs like a program from 10 years ago. I wish that Access would at least give us one more major update with a new, more user friendly librarian and maybe a new feature or two. I love my TI2, but I can't stand dealing with the outdated software.
Impressive video with high production value. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely love and would never get rid of my TI.
You sir, are very talented. Excellent documentary on one my beloved synths that I have never owned, but I've always wanted to. Keep up the great videos my friend.
Dude that is some top notch content here. Cheers from a russian guy who is into synths for a long time.
I've been looking for a series like this for ages! there's so much history/informational stuff about computers on YT but not nearly as much about synths or audio gear. thank you! ❤
Been using a Virus Indigo for 20 years. It's still my pride and joy, and I have many synths now, including new groundbreaking ones like the ASM Hydrasynth (which I LOVE, but guess what, it's still not a Virus). May we all pray someday they release a new hardware synthesizer.
Great video! I hope Kemper jumps back into the synth game sooner than later!
I still use my Commodore 64 for vintage 8bit sounds. Retro rocks!
Its true, from the late 90s 'till about 2010, Access Virus were about the coolest synths around. I suspect there are 10x more guitar players than synth players and as a small company access needs to go where the money is. Who knows, the profits from this guitar amp might fund this new Access Virus?
Great video series! There's quite a few mysteries in the synth world...
Probably the best video you've done yet imo
Interesting stuff! Didn't know about them at all. Love that you make every backing track yourself with a synth that's related to the content!
Seeing Ben crosland was a throw back
Every name I looked forward to what new feature the ti would bring
I love my Kemper, and I have great respect for what Christoph is doing. They're obviously a smaller company and can only focus on a few things at once. I'm excited to see what comes next in terms of synths, and what they've learned from the guitar world that might carry over.
"....in the future... we will put some more effort into the keyboards".
So here I'm down on my knees praying.
Definitely a good start to a great series! I really can’t speak on the virus. It sounds great but I’m happy with my analog mono beauties. And made the owners of the virus series forever be content with their perfection.
Ensoniq was also started by a Commodore 64 engineer.
Sal A. Mander Yep, one of the co-founders worked on the SID chip. Really fitting, considering the SID was a cool hybrid synth that blew all other computer sound solutions out of the water, and Ensoniq's first few synths were also hybrids (including one of the first affordable samplers)
Hmm. Manuel Caballero, creator of the upcoming Waldorf Kyra was yet another c64 programmer. And maybe the Kyra will be the next Virus.
@@letMeSayThatInIrish He was? I didn't know that; pretty cool. And yeah, Kyra definitely seems like the next Virus (glad Waldorf picked that up, too - as long as the terms are good for him)
FPGA is the next step for all digital Synthesizers. Waldorf Kyra may seem to become the virtual successor to the Virus, which will launch next year.
Novation Peak uses an FPGA way before the valkerie
@@videosuperhighway7655 but is not multitimbral, not really comparable in that sense. Beyond virtual analog virus strongest part is all those scifi wavetable stuff, grain and formant, and sheer amount of effects and modulation you can add per part, in that sense it doesnt really have competition, and kyra might change that but the demos atm of it dont really show alot. Kyra is said to have 96khz streaming via usb for all parts, so well see if it will have somekind of vst editor, also a strong point of virus, given that it is long developed software and very care free, latency is alright too (5ms in live mode in ableton at least)
What about the Waldorf Quantum?
Bit of Trivia.
Access started by making a Hardware Control surface back in the early 90's specifically for the Waldorf MW1... (which I own)
Also, the people that designed the Audio chip in the C64 (SID) went on leaving around amiga, and started a company called "Ensoniq" (also , I own a few boxes)
I own 1 VA (AN1x) but most the arsenal (15 keys ) 10 of which are Vintage Analog, but seeing this, reminds me I need to grab me a TI2... Truly a beast.... that actually sounds a beast..
Great Vid.
Love the concept of this series, love the production quality, and all the information you've gathered here. Would love to see more videos in this series.
mans made one of the most badass synths and dipped
Truth
TI2 owner here. The synth is the foundation of any track I write and does almost every sound I could possibly want from it.
The past couple of weeks I've been experimenting to recreate sounds of analogue synthesisers from Moog and Roland to see how close I can get to the original sounds. It's amazing how easy the Virus is able to adapt the characters of other synths.
It kills GAS for other synths very easily that way, so I can safely say this synth could be the cure for your GAS :)
So the cure for GAS is... one more piece of gear? I think you have a bigger problem than you realise.
Nic Brown I never really had much to do with GAS to begin with. It's rather used as a joke to express how good the Virus is in my opinion. So nothing really serious :)
Great video. Virus-lover here. I was waiting for you to flip the shade lenses down at the end with the final line, haha maybe next time.
Great video! Very informative and entertaining! 👌🏻 I’m not a big synth lover/user myself, but I consider the Virus (my only hardware synth) essential in my DAW environment. Cuts through the mix every time. It’s a bugger the AU plugin is not being supported anymore. But that motivates me to modify my setup so I can use it as any other old legacy synth without USB 😉
We need more youtubers with your sensibilities and attention to detail - someone get nebv a team of employees
Your scripts are so awesome! YOU ARE AWESOME! Brilliant writing and editing.
Big fan of this as a series. Nice work!
Imagine where they would be now if they kept developing and improving... the concept is still perfect, and still kind of unique, being able to choose between many different types of oscilators/etc etc... we would have been at Virus ti4 or so by now..
'bleeding edge to bleeding out'...that's pure gold.
I dig this new series, it's a great concept. Glad you're back, looking forward to the next installment!
This is the best video i watch on TH-cam. Thanks. Really, thanks. This was chill to watch, yet very exciting. I didn't know this answer from Cristopher! I own a Viris TI2 and i feel kinda proud now. Luckaly our band also has a Kemper. They look great in a rack.
Brilliant! I didn't know that Kemper is Chris' project!!! Fantastic!
I sold ALL of my ‘Virtual Analog’ synths and replaced them with real analog synths EXCEPT my Virus C. That thing is BEAST and sounds phenomenal. It impresses me every time I switch it on.
keep mine too and like a lot the deep and defined bass of it
Great review and insight couldn’t agree more with your comments
the pandemic people of 2020: we need a new virus!
What a nice documentary style presentation.
Amazing what you were able to cover in 8:51. Spectacular!
Virus TI2 is the best synth ever, the tones you can get out of it by slightly tweaking especially on a sequence
Ooh this series looks dope
Thank you, I hope it lived up to your expectations!
And don't forget that the wood panels gave it a warmer tone.
Great video. As a Virus Snow user, the only thing I can say about it, we don't really need a next TI3, it is indeed perfect since VST are now mostly sound amazing these days. What I want for Access is for continue supporting Virus for more decade to come on never stop evolving operating system for the meantime, until they come up with a new modern synth hardware that will change the game again.
Thank you for making this man. Very entertaining and informative.
Given the success of the Kemper modeling profiler and the interest in vintage synths, a modeling synth that could capture the waveforms, filters, envelopes, modulation, etc. of a specific synthesizer could be very cool.
love my virus, there are genres of trance music literally based on that tunable comb filter.
My first impression about the sound after getting my hands on it was "Wow, Power!". I'm talking sound quality only, I have yet to come to hear a VST that sounds close. Good vid man!
Great video man Virus and Kemper fan here, love the nostalgic vibes ;)
Great idea for a series! looking forward to the future episodes. And I trust the quality of Kemper’s amps a lot more now that I know that he was involved with Access as well
Incredible production quality as always - I'll be able to proudly say that I was one of the first when this channel inevitably gets up there with the other great synth channels on this site!
The man is such a genius! The Kemper Profiling Amp is as ground-breaking in the guitar world as the Virus Synth was in the synth world.
as a Virus TI owner and user, I really hope he finds the time to update the line, both in and out of the box. I love my virus but OS moving on the way it inevitably does feel left behind with a rather expensive gem. Thank you your time, great video.