Hi folks

I am seriously gassing for Virus TI2. It’s been haunting me for several months.

I currently have:
PolyBrute
Deepmind 12
OB6
Elektron Analog Keys (and MK1 and MK2)
P6 (module)
Digitone Keys (and Module)
Bunch of Moogs

Anyway, I want and can afford Virus TI2 module.

Is Virus still relevant in 2022?

If you're gassing buy it simple as that. Would would "relevant" even mean

I'd sooner have a Peak or Argon/Cobalt if I didn't need the multi parts but it's up to you if you think it sounds good or not.

Yes, I think you should buy one. It's a classic synth IMHO.

Check out the DSP563xx emulation project thread here if you haven't already. I've tried it out myself and it's more or less a 1:1 recreation of the Virus A/B/C (depending on which ROM you load in). Very good DAW integration as well, using it with an SL MKIII feels almost like having the real deal.

As far as I know, there's no TI2 emulation yet, so you would miss out on the wavetable functionality and whatnot. But not bad for a free open source project! At least this way, you can see how it fits in with your music before making the call on a $2k+ synth.

No one listening to your music cares what instruments you used. What matters is how the thing sounds to you and how well it fits into your workflow. An instrument can only be as "relevant" as the music you make with it.

Pros: The Virus TI2 sounds great, has a wonderful physical interface, and the Total Integration plugin is a technical marvel which I'm not sure any other synth brand has replicated to the degree of seamlessness that Access managed to figure out all those years back (2005?).

Cons: There hasn't been any meaningful development on the virus in years; the only software updates they push now are for OS compatibility, I think? The multi-timbrality is cool, but in practice it's very easy to exhaust the DSP resources when using it to play multiple patches. The built in audio interface mode is another really cool early innovation, but it puts DSP/channel limits on the synth when enabled, and also has a huge amount of latency (I think the Virus is a USB 1 device?) As much as I liked my Virus TI2, it didn't do anything for me sonically that I couldn't do with plugins (Diva, Spire, Sylenth1, DUNE, even Massive can sub in for many Virus applications).

I think it's a great synth, but I sold mine years ago because I couldn't justify it taking up space in my cramped studio when I had plugins that could make the same sounds I was using the Virus for.

Not a reason in itself to buy one imo.

People get hung up on legend and hype but that means next to nothing.

Looks like he isn't a newbie succumbing to that though.

It is rare for a synth to truly call out to you and if this one does buy it no questions. Just make sure you are basing your decision on capabilities and - primarily - sound demos.

I would buy a a virus TI2 over all those other synths you mentioned. It's a fabulous synth, capable of so much. And with a great sound!

It's usable, but it's sound is a bit dated.

I would check out the Peak/Summit or a modern Waldorf.

there's no such thing as a "dated" sound, I mean I can make any sound I want on mine, but I can't make a "dated" sound cause I have no clue what that is..?

If it scratches your itch and it won't hurt you financially to buy it then go for it. I think it sounds really dated and there are a lot of synths both digital and analog that sound a lot better for a lot less money, but that's just my opinion.

Well first of all, having all those analogs and not one single VA is a sin in and of itself, and so your main tasks should be to first feel very ashamed of yourself and then figure out what VA could best fill that place. Obviously there will be different opinions about what that would be. The Virus is a coming of age digital design and so if aliasing and ultra high resolution are highly important issues to you then you might want to look elsewhere. Other than that it has power in spades.

Regarding relevance, any half decent synth with a certain level of complexity is in effect versatile enough that it can manage to escape any 'type casting behavior' with relative ease. The Virus does have a "sound", but you sort of have to search for it to even recognize it and then lean hard into it for it to be very obvious. Easily escaped in other words. I's really more of a chameleon than anything else if that's what you want it to be. I happen to like the Virus sound so I tend to let it lead. I still end up at a different place each time. Hope that helps

Uh, no.

All synths have a sound. Can't make a Virus Ti2 sound like a Moog and vis versa.

I did it. I bought it. Thanks for your consultative approach.

Thanks for pointing this out. Is emulation like a VST?

Maybe I am crazy, but in so many years when I may no longer care so much about having all these synths, I may sell everything and leave just the Virus because it’s so versatile….

Forgot to say that I have a Peak, Waldorf Blofeld, Monomachine, etc…

I somehow feel silly I have all this

lol

If you haven’t done so already, install Virucide on your computer. It’s software that makes it a cinch to create patches as well as navigating thru the presets.

Thanks for letting me know, I’ll download this app. Does Virus TI2 have an associate VST, like SNOW?

Those two things aren't necessarily related, no.

But, yes, in this case the emulator runs on a computer and loads an actual Virus ROM (ie it 100% sounds like a Virus because it is a Virus). If you want the Virus sound for free, it delivers. If you want the total experience of the sound plus the hardware designed for it, it does not deliver.

yes download at Access site.

In terms of hardware, it's still a beautifully designed, high quality instrument, even if the DSP chips inside it are ancient and not very powerful by today's standards (Maybe similar to a Pentium III from the late 90's).

In terms of sound, you can get very close with some VST's like Viper, Rapid, Spire etc. Even closer with the emulator that directly emulates the DSP chip in the Virus. Synths like Pigments let you do even more with the granular/sample engine than the Virus TI ever could.

In terms of software and support, keep in mind that the Virus seems to be largely abandoned. The TI aspect is long dead on Mac and Windows will probably follow in the not too distant future, due to the lack of updates to the drivers/software. Think of it as a standalone synth and if the VST integration works, that's just a nice bonus.

Try the Mystery Islands software. I recently saw someone in the Access Virus group on FB saying it currently works on all Mac OS platforms. I haven’t tried it out myself because I use the Virus as a regular hardware synth. Never used the usb connection on it. People mention it not being supported anymore which is true far as their own TI system, but you have 3rd party companies supporting it. I’d say the hardware itself doesn’t need anymore updating. It’s a finished synth.

I only recommend Virus TI2 only if OP has an enough budget and can buy some other synths along with it. Virus is a top notch VA, but I think its signature sound is a little dated. My Virus TI has not been used for a few years.

I just would not recommend to spend over $1K for just for this. Another option is getting an original Virus for $500 or so. There are many interesting VAs and analogs available in 2022.

I’m trying to figure out why the VIrus is the only synth around here that gets labeled as dated. I never hear anyone say that about Nord Leads, Roland JP8000/8080, Yamaha AN1x… Roland has been recycling the same sounds since the 90’s and no one bats an eye. But anytime the Virus comes up. The “it sounds dated” trend starts. The Virus can do anything your current hardware synths do. It can also sound a bit better than some of the newer sh!t being released now because it has its own sound. Most of all new synths sound very thin and sterile to where you’re better off buying a vst over the new digital synths being released today.

I have never understood this stuff about outdated sounds. It sounds like this is coming from someone producing EDM who suddenly thought….oh no my EDM sounds are outdated mom!

Seriously don’t get it. People have ruined electronic music!

I think you’re hitting the nail on the head lol.

The TI2 is the perfect synth to own and enjoy if you already have one, but not to invest again. I bought mine in 2010 or so. It is capable of doing many things, but timing is a bit off, just check out the arp.

The fact that you're bored with your Virus doesn't make it "dated", whatever that even means in the context of synthesizers. How can a synth be dated? The Virus is so vastly capable that it can do practically anything, so tweak it a bit and it will sound different, because it's a synthesizer...

D.

trick with arp is to keep retriggering it every other bar or 4 bars etc..