Ok guys,
imagine you want to try the Access Virus synth engine, and imagine you can't pick another synth in the upcoming future. Imagine this would be the one and only synth you will have for at least a couple of years.
In the 2nd hand market you find these offers from different sellers:

• Access Virus A 450€
• Access Virus B 350€
• Access Virus C 700€
• Access Virus TI 680€
• Access Virus TI Snow 650€
• Access Virus TI2 1100€

I know that B adds a lot of features over A (firts of all the 3rd oscillator per voice, then a wider FM-synthesis mode), but C doesn't add so much stuff over B. The TI is a revolution over all the 3 previous versions (supersaw, wavetables, granular and formant synthesis, new distortions, new filters, atomizer, etc...).
That said, what would you choose considering these prices?
Is it worth spending extra 300/350€ to get the Virus TI/TI Snow, rather than the Virus B?

I would definitely choose one of the TI models, considering the upgrades to the engine. I also think there were some issues with patches in single vs multitimbral mode, where if you altered the patch in multi mode, it would also be altered in single mode, thereby affecting other multi setups that used the same patch. I could be mistaken here, though.

Nevertheless, all are good synths but I can't imagine you'd regret getting the TI.

Ti2 is king.

I’ve got the TI & wouldn’t/won’t sell it.


But based on how I use the TI, I think I’d have been just as happy with the B. I’m mainly into basses & leads. I don’t care much for pads, super saws, or evolving sounds.

Ti2 of some sort. Desktop if you dont need keys and its for live. Snow in a studio unless you want lots of knobs - then desktop there as well.

Same here.
For pads and evolving sound I have the Roland JD-990, so I want a synth mainly for deep bass lines and punchy leads, so I thought something in the Access Virus range could be ok.
Is it true that, with the exception of the TI/TI2 models, any Access Virus synth has a step sequencer? Arpeggiator only?

If you plan to use multiple parts, the TI series is the only one with clearly separate effects per part.

I picked the Virus C desktop for myself last year, but I paid 550€, the 700€ you mention for the Virus C is too much.

At the prices you list I would pick the B, 350€ is a bargain (unless it has some defect).

I'll definitely play multiple parts. My tipical scenario will be arpeggiated bass lines on the lower notes, lead line on the upper notes, so 2 timbre at time is very important.

So, if you were me, you'll save your money and pick up the TI?

I wouldn't buy anything lower than a TI, because of how far more advanced the features are. In USD I paid $999 for a TI 61 key in excellent condition, and I'd never sell it. Excellent keybed and sound, and the interface has grown on me.

personally id pickup B and original TI.

i have B. atm some other stuff is higher on priority list, but plan to pickup TI later on.

i did have one on tryout for the longest time, from a friend, and compared it with B. and two sound different on identical patches.

wont go into details, as there is a specific thread about these things. but i do find they excel at different sounds.

got B for various reasons.

Seems simple enough to me. If you have €350 the Access Virus B, if you have €1100 the Access Virus TI2.

How much is €350 to you? For some of us that's an hours work, for some it's a week.

If you're seeing that big of a difference between the prices of the TI and TI2, I wouldn't go TI2, when you're just getting an extra 25% of DSP power/polyphony for almost twice the cost of the TI1 - the value for money isn't there. I'd save the extra cash for something else to go with the TI1. Definitely would not get the Snow when it's such a small savings vs. the full-on TI1 and has only half the DSP power and a lot less physical I/O. Also wouldn't opt for the C when it's priced higher than the TI1.

TI/TI2

350€ for me it's a week, but I don't have too much problems to get the TI1 if it's worthing.
The Virus B at 350€ it's a bargain, so I wanted to understand if I can live without all the extra TI's features.
The TI2 is definitely out of my budget.

Can you explain me why you got the B?

Am I wrong, or the B doesn't have a step sequencer? Arpeggiator only, right?
BTW, I downloaded the B owners manual and I read about multi-mode. Switching from single to multi-mode, can I play 2-3-4 arpeggiators at the same time to create complex bass lines with different sounds? The Virus B engine can handle all these arpeggiators at same times?


BTW, the 110 voices polyphony of the TI2 is unuseful to me because I don't have 11 pairs of hands
When I look at synths, 8 voices polyphony is enough...much less the 80 voices polyphony of the TI.

The Snow is out of my radar due to less DSP power and less knobs (I like knobby gear and don't like menu diving!), as well as the TI2.
The dispute for me is Virus B at 350€ vs. Virus TI at 680€

B is respectable psytrance machine (quite many people of psytrance scene prefer B sound over later models), and it happened at the right moment and right price.

it does not have sequencer, but yes, you can run several arpeggiators simultaneously in multi mode (up to 16 in theory, but i never tried to reach that limit myself), which is absolutely sufficient for my purposes.

I'd get the best you can afford which would be a TI1. Once you get your first Virus you'll understand just how good it is and will then be kicking yourself for not getting a better one.

I read the same elsewhere: many people prefer the B sound over TI/TI2. They find it deeper and warmer.

Have you ever tried to set a split point on the Virus B while the arpeggiator is playing, then play a lead line? Is it possible?

+1. If you can afford the TI, go for it. It is an absolutely gorgeous synth. I have several setups, and I was so blown away by the TI2 (desktop), that I got another one (TI2 Polar). For me the TI is like the perfect synth - no compromises in multi mode, amazing and very versatile sound, great effects on all parts, PROGRAMMABLE arpeggiator - I don't think the other Virus versions feature that (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I dont count the step sequencer in the Virus... I have a Ti2 desktop, and I cant program the arp/step sequencer from the unit, only via PC. I dont like that, I very rarely have it hooked up to my PC as its in a live rig. Thats the only downside Ive found yet (though the Modelled Moog filters are not very good in truth - slightly warmer but not moog like really).

There is a TI2 Darkstar in the second hand market for 1.500€ (No warranty anymore)

Would you buy it, is it a good deal or... ?

That seems steep. Dont know the US market or continental eu market as Im in the UK mind.

I picked up a Ti2 desktop about 6 weeks ago - yes granted its not a Darkstar and has no keyboard HOWEVER, I paid £750 which is approx 850 Euro though that was a good price. They can be had quite readily for £850 (940 Euro)

I expect to pay around £900-£1100 for a Darkstar over here dependant on condition - approx 1000 to 1220 Euro. Might go 1300 Euro is it was pristine.

Incidentally, the one I picked up for £750 included about 300 commercial banks of sounds he EMailed/Drop Box's over as well. Pretty much every commercially available bank up to 2016.

Thanks a lot! @ paulmapp8306
Had also the feeling...

//edit
Your deal including all the soundbanks seems quite good, congrats!

This is such a tough question I couldn't make it, its not always about what has more features.
That being said if I really had to only have one Virus it would be the C.

Good luck loziodavi.

Do you refer to the Access Control Center? For me this wouldn't be a major issue because I would use it only in my studio, indeed it would be an advantage because editing on a 24" Full-HD screen is way easier than editing on a 3" screen, but I admit that for live playing things change.

Am I wrong or the Control Center is available only for the TI and TI2? No support for A, B, and C, so no step sequencer on the PC for all the earlier models?

Yeh. Live that's no good. At home my rig isnt connected to the pc generally, just a mixer. I do all my sound design on the hardware.

I can connect via usb, and boot up PC, and control centre. It's not "not achievable" bit it's a pita, so I dont bother.

If it was studio bound, and for recording where daw is running and virus plugged in anyway, it would be different.

Definitely not good.

For the same reason, I decided to not get the Virus B.
I make a research yesterday, and I found there's no PC editor for the A, B, C. There are some 3rd part plugins, but the user interface is not so good and some features are missing (I couldn't find a plugin with a tab dedicated to the arpeggio function), so I’d end up in the same situation as you: all the editing work on a small screen...a nightmare!!
After downloading and trying 5 different PC editors for Virus B, I've reconsidered the Waldorf Blofeld: it's very bright, crisp, hifi, but it's easy as pie to program thanks to its big LCD screen.

That Virus B at 350€ it's a bargain, but I don't want to curse everyday the moment I decided to buy it.
If I ever pick an Access synth, it will be in the TI range.

YMMV of course but why make the plugin editor a point of focus. One buys hardware for the tactile feel so if you’re going to just use a plugin why not go software?

I love my Virus to bits and wouldn’t be without it but I’d be lying to myself if I honestly said it couldn’t be replaced by software nowadays. Maybe not the one synth but by €1,000 (or even €350) absolutely without question. That is Serum and likely another 2 of equal calibre.

TL;DR buy a Virus because you don’t control it from your PC.

Personally I got a Ti keyboard a couple of years ago. I don't need a gazillion voices at the same time so didn't need the extra horsepowe of a Ti2. Soundwise Ti and Ti2 are the same. Also, the keybed is fantastic!