Is the Virus development dead ?

  • If there's one thing I've learned, it's that companies NEVER admit they're closing until they're closed. And the fact that Marc is still here (Hey there Marc :) ) doesn't prove a thing, I'm afraid.
    Personally, I find it pretty obvious that Access is going out of the hardware synth business. No news or new products for years makes this pretty clear. Sure, they'll keep selling the Ti until demand subsides, but that's already happening.
    What I wonder, though, is if there's something else cooking over at Access..
    What worries me is that Access for all it's greatness in making the Virus is, ultimately, a one trick pony... so to speak. The only synth they ever made was the Virus series. So it's really impossible to predict their success with a new product based on that.


    Whatever it is, I hope it comes soon, as Access is slowly starting to become forgotten and, frankly, irrelevant in today's music production climate.


    Still love my Ti, though ;)

    DAW: Cubase 7.5 (x86/x64)
    OS:Windows 7 (64bit)
    CPU: Intel i7 930 @ 4.0GHz
    MB: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
    RAM: 3x 2GB DDR3 @ 1600MHz
    GPU: MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II 1GB DDR5
    HDD: Intel 320 120GB SSD, 2x Seagate 320GB (raid0)
    Sound: E-mu 1212M
    Monitoring: Dynaudio BM6A Mk2 + BM9S Sub
    DSP: UAD-2 Duo
    USB: Virus Ti, BCF2000, Novation Remote SL...

  • I suspect most of their work is on the Kemper amps and simulators, which is of course wonderful. On the flipside it means they are starving the Virus, clearly believing it will be fine, it is a winner, and Kemper was really keeping Access alive by acquiring them.


    It's really time to put some attention back on the Virus, perhaps putting out something between the Snow and the Polar. Or beefing up the stats on the TI series. Hardware cycles ARE very long typically especially in smaller companies, so I understand everything taking longer, especially with what amounts to two separate hardware companies each working with half the resources.

  • If there's one thing I've learned, it's that companies NEVER admit they're closing until they're closed. And the fact that Marc is still here (Hey there Marc <img src="http://www.virus.info/library/wcf4/images/smilies/smile.png" alt=":)" /> ) doesn't prove a thing, I'm afraid.
    Personally, I find it pretty obvious that Access is going…


    NOOOO, i pray thats not the case. We're in a new synth revolution right now they cant give up on the original beast VA synth that's been the king of its lane for like 20 years now or whatever. But like i said, whatever happens i just pray that we can get the compatibility and software supported for as long as possible. It's just a shame if this amazing synthesizer gets discontinued. :(

  • If Access stay or go, live or die - this won't affect the synth that is sitting in your studio right now. It will still play those awesome patches, with that immense sound, when you press a key!!


    Yep, it's true!!! 8o

    _____________
    John
    Virus TI Keyboard
    Logic Pro x
    Mac OSX Yosemite

  • I don't think it's irrelevant, couldn't live without some of the sounds.
    I guess I could sample it but it's not the same thing with the controls added to the sounds.


    However I do think LfmC might be correct in that it won't be any successors to the current line.
    Possibly when the HW line don't sell anymore they'll turn the sound engine into a VST/etc. to get the last out of the development.


    Bought a VirusB in 200x (still have it as well) and it has never been this quite over all those years.

  • If Access stay or go, live or die - this won't affect the synth that is sitting in your studio right now. It will still play those awesome patches, with that immense sound, when you press a key!!


    Yep, it's true!!! <img src="http://www.virus.info/library/wcf4/images/smilies/w00t.png" alt="8o" />


    Yes that's true, but if the total integration is one of the main reasons you use the synth why would u not be concerned about how long it will be supported?

  • If Access stay or go, live or die - this won't affect the synth that is sitting in your studio right now. It will still play those awesome patches, with that immense sound, when you press a key!!


    Yep, it's true!!! <img src="http://www.virus.info/library/wcf4/images/smilies/w00t.png" alt="8o" />


    I disagree, ive owned this thing for about a month now got it second hand, its 8 months old and i haven't had a session where i don't have to restart over 5-10 times, ive contacted support and got an email back, asking me to send info back on which other items are pluged into USB etc, I get one email per day so at this rate the problem will never get solved.


    What worries me slightly is people are saying they are staying on top of updates but 5.1.3 is listed as a beta software on the website and support tell me that latest official version 5.0.8.0 (non beta) of the software doesnt support Yostemite which is over a year old. To me that isnt staying fresh or current, i dont care about features i would just love it to be stable because the 1 or 2 sounds i squeezed out of it so far are great.


    Out of interest does anyone else have a similar setup that actually works


    OSX 10.10
    16GB Ram
    Macboook pro Retina late 2013
    1TB SSD


    Virus ti 2


    Live 9.5 64 bit


    Tried everything i can think of



    Changing cables,
    Audio cards
    No other usb connections
    latency settings max low and in between


    Nothing works, when i'm using the virus as an audio card the rest of my sounds play, the virus either plays no sound or distorted so bad i cant make out what it is


    Only thing i can do is restart, and hope it lasts longer than 2 minutes

  • I just hope that updates still occur and that this whole thing doesn't turn into the JazzMutant Lemur ordeal. Regardless of Total Integration, which would be really weak if it was pulled, the virus is an amazing hardware synthesizer and even with the Virus TI Plugin I still usually use the knobs on my Virus Polar TI2. Plus the atomizer is awesome and the Remote section is great for controlling stuff through MIDI, which can be done at least on a Mac because the MIDI driver is plug and play ( to the best of my knowledge and please correct me if I am wrong).

  • Armino-g you can go up to 6 channels if you use both the usb and the analogue outs...or even 9 if you use the analogue outs as mono :)


    Guys I disagree with a few of you saying that the synth "is not relevant anymore". It's a synthesizer - it all depends on how you use it and program it to make the best out of it. Yes Access are a bit radio silent lately regarding the Virus, no updates, Vocoder still doesnt work perfectly but hey, we got one of the best synths in the market. I truly feel grateful for owning a Virus (Ti2 Desktop) but I guess it's human nature to be wanting more and more isn't it?

  • The virus will never die at all.
    As long as you understand simple synthesis you will be able to keep it alive and continue to make new sounds that have the Virus edge to it.
    I think it has proven itself nice over the last 11 years and its good as is.
    Sure a OS update could be handy when it will be needed and if its really needed in time for certain OS updates on Mac or Windows then i'm positive the team behind virus will be there to arrange that the total integration part keeps working.

  • check out this video on the future of Virus:

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    From this video and other interviews of Kemper, it seems he is focusing his energy on Kemper amps which are more profitable. He may return to synths at a far later date but right now thats where its at.

  • Major Tom, thanks for bringing up this wrap-up.


    I agree, that this synth cannot be better than it is. But the 32 knobs are not enough to get best out of this synth - too much digging into the menues to my taste. Therefor I got myself a programmable 2nd hand controller (Bitsream 3x) - not easy to program, but with a little help of the Access team (special sysEx control via Page B "Poly Pressure") it works like charm now

    - I can now do things like swithing on/off "Split of Filter", Cutoff Filter Link ON/OFF, Note Hold, Arpeggiator Velocity to Volume, Arp Vel to OSC1 Form, Arp Swing, Arp Note Length, Patch Volume (without using two hands!) Bass and Mid Boost, and many more...


    Key Follow - Env Amnt - Resonance - Cutoff - of the individual filters 1 and 2 directly with individual sliders!


    Mixing of Multis is now easy too - 8 parts at least - more than I usually need....just another program of the Bitstream and on you go...

    I bet other controllers can do similar.....

  • I bought my TI2 new recently and in spite of the software TI issues and menu diving on the hardware, it’s still a fantastic synth in 2023 compared to most poly synths today. I have an OB X8 that is wonderful but my Virus Ti2 does way more for half the cost. Also have other gear like Elektron that has fantastic sequencer and user experience but Virus sounds way better and more massive to my ears. So I’ll keep it and use without the computer to record to mixer sdcard. I do like how Waldorf brought new up to date synths with color screens and modern support. So in few years if Access Kemper has not released anything, a new Waldorf M or Quantum would be a great option.

  • Same, seeing the characteristics of the Quentum, I thought like you. I imagine the TI MKII in this aspect. That yes, the TI2, I use it every day, with the SLOTS, well patched, we can manage a1 big, scalable sound, endlessly :) It's like patching a modular, but virtually. It emulates many, many analogs as well. It is a wonder :)

  • software and virus are technically end of life due to no more Motorola dsp chips and no support of 64 bit audio on Mac OS new versions. But stand alone a fantastic synth. It does way more than new synths costing 2-3x the price. Not perfect and menu diving on the crude screen is a pain but I’m loving the sounds and options on mine. But that said, next synth probably be a Waldorf M and Juno X and Perkons drum machine and once get past wait, add another sequencer like Cirklon.