Posted by: I_watch_stars
( 5-, 2006)
Price paid
approx 600$ used
Features (10 / 10)
This is where the strength of the virus shows itself. This is a beast with about 1 million features, including more saturation/distortion options than I even knew existed. Coupled with a decent mod matrix and 3 LFOs plus FM, if you tame this beast as a sound designer you have an awesome amount of power at your fingertips.
Sound Quality (
8 / 10)
Most everyone knows the "virus sound". Basically, very heavy on the low end, not so much on the high end (I have to EQ the high end A LOT on the virus). The virus has a sort of crunchy, grainy, VA sound that is very distinctive to me now. Overall, the sound is deep, distorted, "digital", and archtypical agressive VA sound, which can be very good when you want that particular sound, or bad if you are trying to get something out of the virus to be "analog".
Usability (5 / 10)
Interface is annoying. They should have made this a 6 rack space like the jp-8080, to contain a bigger LCD and more knobs so you won't have to menu dive so much. With the virus you will always be menu-diving trust me! It seems like they sacrificed function for the sake of form, especially since the 2002 software update where they crammed even more stuff into the virus that wasnt designed for the new features (which equals more menu diving).
But hey, Im just nagging right? If you have owned synths before or are decently intelligent then you will get it in notime, but this doesnt change the fact that it is annoying.
Quality / Durability(
8 / 10)
Got mine used and never had any issues whatsoever.
Love Factor (5 / 10)
I really like this synth, but I wouldn't say that I LOVE it. It has its uses. When I need an aggro VA type sound or a distorted sound I turn to the Virus. Its a very good hardware but I would sell it if something did what it does better.
Posted by: Unknown
( 1-, 2003)
Price paid
$1,500
Features (9 / 10)
access is great with os updates, often adding major things.
im satisfied :)
Sound Quality (
10 / 10)
wonderful thick sound. great phat bass and warm pads. its wonderful for trance and dance.
Usability (8 / 10)
its a breeze.i dont understand how it seems some people have a hard time at mastering its interface. this was my first hardware synthesizer and i had no trouble.
Quality / Durability(
8 / 10)
I have the KB model and it seems pretty tough. wooden sides can be dented.
Love Factor (10 / 10)
i love the thing! warm phat sound. too bad its so pricy.
Posted by: Unknown
( 8-, 2002)
Price paid
$2300 CAN
Features (10 / 10)
Fully loaded. More than I even imagined.
Sound Quality (
9 / 10)
Hard, mean, dark dirty, warm, clean... need I go on? If you can think it, you can do it.
Sound quality is top notch. Effects have improved with the free OS upgrades. They left something to be desired at first, but they're quite good now.
Usability (8 / 10)
Manual is decent. It's gotten easier to use with the OS updates. Pretty steep learning curve at first though. Just experiment lots!
Quality / Durability(
9 / 10)
Not going to break any time soon. I'm sure I could take it to gigs, but I love it too much to take a risk.
Love Factor (10 / 10)
I love this machine. Probably the only external synth I'm going to hang on to over softsynths down the road...
Posted by: Unknown
( 4-, 2002)
Price paid
£769.99
Features (9 / 10)
Everything you need, Good effects and superb filters mark this out above the rest for me
Sound Quality (
10 / 10)
omfg, my face is bleeding, this is the best for dnb
Usability (9 / 10)
Manual is very good, OS is easy to use and quick to become accustomed to (OS 4.5)
Quality / Durability(
9 / 10)
Not hard it long tho, it survived a long journey and my eager fumblings. It definatly feels as secure and robust as a brick. With looks to match. I think you have to do it in purpose to damage it
Love Factor (10 / 10)
Dark sounds, Deep sounds, Powerfull sounds, easy and fun to use looks like a chunk of metal covered in knobs and buttons, this wasnt designed by artists, but it wasnt enginered and built by artists either.
Posted by: mano 1
( 3-, 2002)
Price paid
$1500
Features (8 / 10)
This board has everything I need to create sounds. Plenty of oscillators and filters, and ~35 physical knobs. Love the individual outputs.
Sound Quality (
9 / 10)
Gorgeous! I am not a dance music guy and I was a bit scared to have a trance-only machine in my hands; I was wrong. The sound is excellent, and I don't feel stuck in a genre (though the factory soundset is mostly dance oriented). Lush pads and basses that make my house shakes.
Usability (6 / 10)
OK you need to spend a lot of time with the baby to design sounds from scratch. The menus are a bit hard to access via the small LCD screen. Get yourself the SoundDiver-Virus librarian software, it makes things much easier. Theres a standalone version (if you dont have sound diver).
Quality / Durability(
7 / 10)
I travelled a lot with my Virus and it never broke.
One day though, one of the internal chips was damaged; I panicked, because I bought the virus in a different country and wasnt sure if my warranty was still working... Well, Access told me to go to this one local music store, and the guys there replaced the chip for free, and while I was waiting! THAT's what I call customer support.
Love Factor (8 / 10)
I love this synth but I would like: no menu to "explore".
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