Great Synth Mysteries Ep. 6: There will NEVER be another Access Virus

[@RedMeansRecording]

F

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Hahaahahah

[@docmcfly3933]

Nah, the virus lives on in emulations like Viper, Osirus, and OsTirus. Nothing does Trance and Hard Dance leads quite like a Virus. It's gonna be around for a long time.

[@YotamPiano]

Glad you are back brother, the KZbin community has missed you !

[@JewettMusic]

Right? I feel spoiled with all the new videos.

[@andivax]

Welcome back! As official TI 2 sound designer, I would say "We don't need another Virus".

[@cyrillusventus1]

maybe with usb 2/3 and not 1.1 :///

[@SchweinchenHorst]

@@cyrillusventus1 : dont need usb 3 because sending 44.1 khz / 16 bit usb 1 is enough.

[@ftlaud911]

Such an amazing instrument. Fortunate to own a Ti2 desktop and it still blows my mind ever time I play it. Will never sell it!! I hope one day we will get a Ti3.

[@tonverfall_studio]

My desktop TI2 blows my mind every time I sit down for a sound design session. I've learned to live without the total integration and just use it as a hardware synth, which works fine.

[@russcontact]

I keep looking for the best edm and electronica synth and kinda reached the same conclusion. A Virus w/o integration still takes anything else for a small all in one solution. Still isn’t cheap but it’s all Id need

[@AdamsOlympia]

Do you ignore TI because it's buggy with modern operating systems or for other reasons? I'm thinking about buying the AURA software editor for my TI2 Desktop, now that it has Apple Silicon support. It'd certainly make editing mod matrix routings and managing large patch libraries a lot easier.

[@tonverfall_studio]

@AdamsOlympia the #1 reason is the way the Total Integration just took over everything whenever USB was plugged in... I wanted full use of hardware controls at the same time, and the TI software was built with this weird either-or logic. Once I realized there was no way around that, I just decided to live with my TI2 as a straight hardware synth and it has been great that way.

[@christopherjansen5135]

I’m so fortunate to actually have the 61 Access Virus Ti2. So happy to see you cover this synth. It’s hard to comprehend how resourceful and great-sounding this synth is.

[@mrcassette]

I've been using mine for so long now and it's more than worth it's weight in gold/enjoyment/creativity... feel like I should get another and keep it for future.

[@passivehouseaustralia4406]

Got one as well fits nicely with my rev2 16 v😅 big big sound

[@MrReeTart]

I'm one of the lucky owners of the 61key access virus TI2 Special edition whiteout colorway. They only made 150 of them ever!!!

[@sonicperformance]

I got one also, and it’s white #35 😊

[@TokyoScarab]

I had a TI Snow back in the day and used it in some bands I was in. The thing was such an absolute monster for how little space it took up! I have a Waldorf Iridium and it has filled that void for me. It's so intuitive and visually pleasing and while it does lack polyphony and some of the shaping, it feels like you can create anything you want on it if you're clever about what you do.

[@browe]

Same here--TI Snow user who also now has Iridium. Like you said, it featured so much juice in a small package, but it had it's problems when playing live. It unexpectedly (yet rarely) glitched while mono/unison playing... I never could sort that out to feel confident enough with it on stage.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@browe only downside on Waldorf compare to the Virus is lack of the multi-timbral capacity- virus is 16 part multi-timbral and Waldorf only duo-timbral. So Waldorf gimped their expensive hardware with newer technology than Virus. I love being to run 6 drum patches, 4 synth patches and a bass line on one piece of hardware. Waldorf cannot do that!

[@browe]

​@@GuitarsAndSynths Correct on all counts. I never used multitimbral parts to their full extent on my TI Snow, so it's not a limitation for me personally on my Iridium.

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Access Virus: the only keyboard used by the keyboard player in loud guitar bands that you forgot had a keyboard player.

[@ileutur6863]

Tool immediately comes to mind. Their moog-like virus textures are amazing

[@cyrillusventus1]

so true this virus can do guitar so crazy ahahahah

[@Meic909]

I got Virus TI2 and oh boy the keybed feels sooo good, such a great action and feel. Love it!

[@bLiNdEDM]

Thanks for making this video! I’ve been using the Virus since the Virus power core in 2005! I later got a virus snow which I lost in a house fire and finally ended up with a TI2 about 6 years ago. Sad to see it discontinued but happy I still have access to it. The sound of it is softer than most synths but it can still cut thru a mix like a hot knife in butter

[@SchweinchenHorst]

The Virus has such a warm natural sound i never hear in all VSTs i got. And i got em all: Diva, Ni Massive, Omnisphere etc. it always sounds big and cut through the mix and sound so unique. I love em

[@christianwn]

Tried Dune 3 vst synth? 🙂

[@SchweinchenHorst]

@@christianwn : believe me! I have tons of VST Synths. None of them sounds like the virus. These warm, break through sound. The „professional“ sounding. Just Mariana still not sound like the virus.

[@jensschettler1732]

Spire Sounds Close enough

[@SchweinchenHorst]

@@jensschettler1732 😂😂😂😂

[@wesleinothingface]

Teste esses, OSTIRUS, OSIRUS, VAVRA e XENIA

[@Rhythmicons]

In 2005 when I was drooling over the Voyager, there were only two other synths in the catalogs in that price range: The Andromeda A6 and the Acess Virus. Those were the days before the analog explosion.

[@MULTIMAN-MUSIC]

Remember drooling on those exact synths too 😊

[@todbot]

After wanting a Virus for 20 years, I finally got a used one last month. It is very cool and such a beast. Perhaps this is why modern synths are seemingly less capable: it's a little intimidating to have so much available in one box.

[@PascalM-ld9xn]

Multi-timbral synth capable is amazing 👍

[@zitosonic]

"There will NEVER be another Access Virus" Behringer, "hold my beer !"

[@resofactor]

The Birus! lol lol lol

[@MULTIMAN-MUSIC]

Well the statement still remains since Behr will just clone their design… they are still not going to release anything better.

[@gainofdysfunction4135]

@@MULTIMAN-MUSIC So what, it's good enough as it is. I hate what they did to the 909. Shoulda stuck to the original.

[@MULTIMAN-MUSIC]

@@gainofdysfunction4135 What is “enough as it is”, the Virus? Oh absolutely I love the Virus and use mine all the time…

[@KattKirsch]

This synth is just so beautiful. Using the DSP vst has opened my eyes and helped me to remember just how much I can love using a synthesizer.

[@ultimateXsounds]

Access was almost 20 years ahead of the competition. It's amazing what they managed to achieve. This equipment still surprises me even though I have spent thousands of hours programming it.

[@dizx1982]

Love your sounds mate! used them in my productions!

[@ultimateXsounds]

@@dizx1982 Hey !! Thank you mate ! I'm please to hear it ! Tweaking some new for Ti atm.

[@mothretramusic]

@@ultimateXsounds Gotta ride this wave, right?

[@ultimateXsounds]

@@mothretramusic On Ti ? always

[@skinlayers]

I have a dream... of designing a Virus inspired successor based on open RISC-V chips, so it's open all the way down to the silicon. That way, in theory, we would never run into the issue with the synth's processor being discontinued. You could always take the design to another fab. I was thinking of learning embedded C++ and seeing if I could leverage Mutable Instruments' open source code as a starting point. If only I didn't need a day job...

[@toseltreps1101]

Or use an FPGA.

[@zoned7609]

If you do this, let me design patches for it.

[@Mostlethal]

Bruh, so stoked to see you still at it. Always with that quality content too.

[@Alleroc]

The lack of multi-outs is why I ultimately got rid of my waldorf iridium. It's an amazing synth, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to have to do 16 part mixing internally when I'd rather do it on my actual hardware mixer. I ended up sticking an 18i20 onto my MPC key61, while not as robust or capable, it gets the job done.

[@SvintMvrcus]

Just curious why would you need so many outs ? I’ve been using mine just designing pads and stuff I really enjoy it but what are the benefits of having all those outputs separately?

[@mrdavies7894]

Thanks for the heads-up on the DSP56300 emulation project! I was working on those things back in college! 😅 Nice to have a new playground to stomp around in….

[@kikkirow]

I have an access virus classic. Definitely love that sound. Hopefully they can come back some day

[@meilstone]

Most of the factory presets are already excellent, their names feature the initials of their creators (mostly internationally acclaimed, professional sound designers).

[@Andrew-K]

Damn, that teaser at the end. A TI3 would probably reign for the next two decades.

[@zmix]

This is an ongoing problem throughout, so many useful tools rendered obsolete prematurely (I know, I know 20 years, etc, etc). I really admire the open source community for the efforts they make. Excellent video.

[@warpigs330]

I think what all these synthesizer manufacturers have realized is that the long feature list isn't actually useful if the interface to access all those features isn't great. And even if the interface is great, with all those features you end up overwhelmed with choice paralysis. I have had a Hydrasynth for like 6 months and I think I have used the 4th and 5th envelope like once. There are just very very few people who actually need and use the phonebook sized featurelist of something like the virus. But we are techno-fetishists who think that a longer featurelist will make us happy. Or that we think that missing features are what is holding us back creatively.

[@RayTheProducer]

The cult of Virus is strong, and there may well never be another. But...there are quite a few lovely software alternatives, if not outright replacements. Spire, Hive, Sylenth, Lush2, Avenger, Dune, the new GForce Oddity and Minimonsta, most of the Tone 2 stuff, and Viper (a direct 'inspiration') can all get you close, IF you know what you're doing. While I've always wanted one, I think I'll get a fancy controller instead. With incredible advances in digital audio technology, interfaces and virtual analogue oscillator and filter modeling the Virus is no longer essential, but will forever remain desirable. Great video!

[@ranmadog72000]

There ARE also Osirus (a free virus b/c emulation) and OsTIrus (a free virus ti emulation) (both can be found in the DSP 56300 emulation site! They are free 1:1 access virus emulations!!!

[@cyrillusventus1]

Amazing i love my virus ti2 NEVER i ll sell it .... but a nos sens to put usb 1.1 on it when usb 2 was there also 3.

[@ianedmonds9191]

That last bit sounded like the intro to Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior album. You nailed it.

[@mdeerocks6792]

Christoph Kemper is a genius. He revolutionized synths and guitar amplification in last decade. Kemper amplifier is still one of the best (if not the best) amp modellers on the market and all other brands are playing catch up with more than decade old hardware.

[@NSW-ye3xw]

I have a Ti2 desktop. Gorgeous synth, sounds fantastic and unlimited options for me. I would never sell it!

[@no_guarantees]

How much? Lololololol

[@bux77]

Great piece, glad to see you releasing this high quality content. Keep it up!

[@DomSigalas]

I am still gutted I went through three of those (brand new)and they all had major issues so was forced to return them. Such an awesome instrument!❤

[@ingolf7411]

Had an Access Virus A, then a KB and finally a Darkstar (which I still have). The Darkstar is an excellent instrument and with the AuraPlugin Editor the Mac-connection is no problem. So many features, a wonderful design and solid built quality. But most important ... the sound. So wonderful and this synth is fun to program. A classic but with so many features other modern synths hardly offer. Thank you for keeping the Access Virus "alive" 👍.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Yup I use it and the ipad touch for virus.

[@jon_gee]

Awesome video. I really enjoy your calm voice. Beautifully put together, and an excellent homage to an amazing instrument. I owned a TI keyboard for many years, and wrote many songs with it. What a tank. A total dream synth. I gigged with it and it put up with a lot.

[@ArminDressler]

The TI2 Keyboard was also the cheapest Option to get the fantastic Fatar TP/8S keybed. Since macOS total integration does not work any more, I use my virus only as a controller. best keybed and a bunch of high quality knobs to assign to soft synths.

[@SuperMegaWoofer3000]

I picked up a Ti2 a few years ago. I have had a lot of synths. It sounds incredible and the build is top notch. It sounds so good. Hopefully one day there will be something like it again in the future.

[@stanbekker]

Owned a Virus C when I was 20 years old, sold it 3 years later, regretted it for 10 years... Bought a desktop TI and C in 2023, and in February 2024 they stopped selling the TI2 at music stores. So happy I got my hands on this synth, love it. They still can be found on Ebay and other marketplaces, but I wouldn't wait for 5-10 years, because by then they will be quite rare I guess.

[@TheUnfinishedSynth]

I had the pleasure of being asked to make a signature soundset for the Virus TI a few years back and it as my first experience of a Virus (although I remember craving the Virus B in the late 90s!). It remains one of my favourite synths in the studio. Such a great, timeless sound.

[@julko28]

I don't know how many of you have heard about Adam Szabo Viper Vst which is kind of modeled after Virus TI. It has all of those oscliators (formant, grain, wavetable, multisaw and classic). It can also run all of the Access Virus sounds via mid.format. I also made couple of soundbanks (Trance, Synthwave and Cinematic) in this vst and i must say it is really really close to the real Access Virus except of real knobs of course (it has 128 polyphony).

[@Behnan]

unfortunately just for win. Would love to try my old virus soundsets on it

[@ghfjfghjasdfasdf]

I mentioned it as well… looks neat.

[@benjiwill]

I recently found Viper, great VST! Able to run my old favourite patches again is so good! Highly recommend to anyone wanting those sounds! :D

[@SchweinchenHorst]

I‘ve got OsTIrus yesterday and man this sounds similar! I‘ve try a direct comparison in the next weeks

[@stephencoakley]

Something to consider about digital audio: The types of connections seem to limit the timelessness of the hardware. While plain old analog audio has entrenched itself as something that will never be truly obsolete, USB audio, software controllers, etc will always be subject to issues over time if not kept up-to-date. By avoiding that stuff and making a synth that is more of an "isolated island" that operates entirely within itself, it is more likely that the synth can continue to be used in exactly the same way it was originally designed decades from now.

[@audiolego]

I'm grateful that I have the Darkstar. Oh I use it for my new track. Every track I do there's a Virus sound in there.

[@PlugInGuruVideo]

There will never be another Access Virus TI2, but the capabilities (audio over USB-C and plug-in control of hardware) in a different product by other companies will show up I'm certain. I have a TI2 and original red Virus 1b desktop that I will be buried with. They're great synths for certain.... I know where you shot that Kyra video footage, I did the same and published the video. Great video once again man, love the HQ levels you are hitting!!

[@CaidicusProductions]

Your playing and patches at the end were just excellent sounding, especially the very last one. Man... I can't seem to make anything but ugly and brash sounds with my Virus. :P

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Awesome video brother amazing work. Enjoyed this.

[@matrix12x]

awesome video. I love this synth.

[@willtechton]

Insane synth! I’ve owned loads of synths over the years (hardware & software) and the TI has always remained a favourite.

[@lineriderrulz]

I bought a Ti2 Desktop in 2017 or so, sometimes wished I got a Darkstar or Polar but the discontinuation of the whole line made me realise I'm lucky to have a Ti2 at all. It's not easy to afford for everyone and I can't imagine how much it would hurt to save for months or years only for it to be discontinued before you can buy new.

[@RenigadeCineTrax]

Got mine in 2018 for $1500. Ti2 desktop.

[@blondeengie]

The story of access is crazy ! I loved the TI

[@alecjahn]

This was a dream synth of mine for a long long time. Never picked one up, wasn't sure if it would fit in with my current stuff and style. Maybe eventually I'll grab one.

[@Slope114]

After all that build up the demo was too short! But I enjoyed the little bit you gave us. Well done!

[@jeffryarchambeau5441]

Great investigative journalism! I have long lusted for a TI2. Now what am I going to do?

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I bought one of the last production new Virus TI2 synthesizers a year and half ago and still love it and it can outperform most new and more expensive hardware synths! Quirky old LCD interface and issues with new Mac OS but I am used to the interface and love the sound and power!

[@bikepedal11]

Episode 1 was one of the first videos of yours that I saw, and still remains my favorite synth related video. Getting to see this made me pretty happy :)

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Brooo! You are a BEAST! What an amazing video dude, please start posting again, I could watch all day🔥🔥 RIP Access Virus❤️

[@jaxobophiuchi676]

My favorite synth. I was lucky to get one in 2020 during Covid and I cried when I first heard what it could do. I will never let the sickness go.

[@kannon3979]

One of the best synthesizers ever!

[@Distortic]

Touch for Virus on iPad is my favorite editor, I think I have tried them all. It has features like copying effect stacks from one patch and applying them to another, the sequencer control is fantastic. Rather than emulating the old software, I feel it pushed patch design further and faster.

[@petelongrs]

Fantastic video, thank you.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The Montage has two sets of stereo outputs, not one - you literally show them at 5:30 as you pan past the jacks. It also has 32 channels of USB audio out (you can send a stereo pair from each of the 16 parts, each of which can be a separate sound made up of hundreds of elements, with unique effects). And if you like, it has 6 channels of USB in, so you can run other sounds through its effects. The Hydrasynth again has two sets of stereo outs, which (again) you literally show at 5:37 as you pan past them, just as you say it has a "pair of stereo in and outs". Actually the Hydrasynth has no audio input, but you can achieve kind of the same thing using its modulation inputs, which will read into the audio range. I agree with you about Osirus - it does sound amazing. The user interface leaves a bit to be desired, and the non-standard method which in which it integrates as a plugin to your DAW is somewhat limiting however.

[@CRayBeats]

I use Viper by Adam Szabo. It's windows only but modeled %100..

[@synthanatomy]

I'm waiting for the DSP56300 emulator version :)

[@VIRALBEATS360]

Great video! UVI has a little bit of Virus in their Synth Anthology, as well. It is definitely limited, but sounds amazing. I still want to do an all Virus album. There is something about that sound...

[@josephramone5805]

I have TWO of these: 61 keys and desktop. Without any doubt, when all features are considered, the TI and TI2 are the most complete hardware synths in the history of synthesizers. It's not hyperbole. No other polyphonic synthesizer has attempted to even come close to the 16 part multi-timbrality that the TI offers. Never mind the rest of the features, and possibilities, which are boundless.

[@oz476]

My favorite synth. I have TI2 desktop and TI1 Polar. One of them should go but couldn’t decide and sell.

[@Death_By_Media]

Had a classic desktop and the Power core card version . Could never quite justify a TI , but thanks to The Dsp56300 emulation project I got the craving for the B and C satiated and hopefully the TI one day soon !

[@markdwighttadina7655]

This synthesizer is been used by Alternative band Linkin Park on their last tours. This also appeared on the music video of their song "New Divide" which was featured in the Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen film.

[@Dale0001]

Amazing synth, really hope there is a ti3

[@SynthAddict]

nice love letter to the Virus 🙂 I still love and use my Access Virus TI rack I bought in 2008 - a shame they stopped production I also use a lot of the digital stuff you mentioned including the Fusion, Neuron, and others, and they all offered something cool and different - I even made my own sound models with the Hartmann Neuron Model Maker software new features and ideas in synthesis are always promising, but the lack of polyphony and usable multitimbrality these days is sad, but Kemper figured it out long ago - that is why I can make elaborate hardware jams with just an Arturia Keystep Pro and my VIrus TI rack - it can handle anything I throw at it and it sounds great hopefully a Virus TI 3 or something similar will be on the distant horizon... Kemper makes great stuff

[@jameslast3192]

I have a virus Ti2 polar darkstar that I got for a steal second hand over ten years ago. I’m a massive analog fan but the virus is mind blowing!

[@peterlof]

Back when I was looking for a dedicated synthesizer the TI and the NL3 were the two main contenders on my list. Since I (still) play only dawless, I went for the NL3 and I still love that thing to death. My best guess is that nowadays there is more than enough power to do everything software based, that (for most manufacturers) there is no incentive to create a hardware based synthesizer when it is a) super expensive to produce and distribute and b) will always fall behind software capabilities. Most flagship workstations now come with pre-installed emulators for the legendary synths of the past, the time of great synths is just over. The one "new" synth I'd consider today is an OB-6 probably.

[@meilstone]

When I run a Korg Radias timbre through the filter and FX sections of the Virus TI2, that alone could keep me awake for 72 hours straight. 🙂

[@dewulfe9913]

Just looking at pics of Quivver's studio taken not too long ago, the TI2 Polar is pretty much the only hardware synth in sight, and that says something, don't you think?

[@thelanavishnuorchestra]

I love Osirus. It's pretty awesome. I contributed to the project.

[@charonme]

ever since I started learning about HW synths it has always fascinated me how is it possible almost all modern synths have such poor polyphony and multitimbrality and can't compete with the old TI, especially when there are such powerful processors nowadays!

[@AvantHarde]

Legendary... I might buy a Snow once again but in the meantime (and beyond) there is OsTIrus :)

[@chrisjohnson8262]

Aura for the virus plug-in is perfect. Maybe better than the Ti proprietary software.

[@westerncivilization]

Bravo! You are the Quinns Ideas of synths!

[@KieranShort]

I have an Access Virus KB and still love it. They keyboard is beautiful IMO.

[@mb102]

Also owned two miniak at same time...they are amazing!!!!!

[@Andrew-K]

So happy I have my TI2...beast of a synth!

[@jmzorko]

I still love my Darkstar, and it is the synth I use the most often, hands down. I also have a Kyra, and use it more and more. It sounds _so_ good ...

[@MrQmason]

Love the video.... I agree...the Virus was a beast.....keep em coming

[@GareyKennebrew]

Keep Hope Alive! The Ti is one of my favorites off all time and platforms

[@BackToFE_OnlyTruth]

The king of all digital synths💜

[@gautrstafr]

I think probably the best thing in production today is the Yamaha Montag M series ... BUT it seems you got the data for the Montage all wrong! It's basically over 1,000 part multitibral because the new generation can have 128 "elements" within each of the main 8 parts (basically turning each part into a full blown Motif). Plus VA (AN-X) and FM-X engines. It also has 400 note polyphony in total, though it's divided up in a weird way, because of the chips used. It's at least 128 for the AWM enine (plus 128 for non-preset samples), 128 for FM-X and 16 for AN-X (so similar to the Quantum just in that engine) Also, the new ESP plugin has come where you can directly edit parts, basically similar to the TI aspect of the Virus. On the MIDI side it also has USB input so you can integrate other controllers through itself. Plus it has 4 outputs, 2 inputs and an audio interface, 6-in/32-out so you have a lot of flexibility there. It's not just stereo out. Though I do agree it's completely different, not necessarily overall better but if you're a player in a live Band, the Montage M is just miles ahead of the TI. If you're a synthesist in your studio, then they're just different.

[@ZenithMusicNet]

I'm glad you covered the Virus. I always felt they fit into a certain era of when people were craving for virtual analog. Why Access ended development is a mystery to me. I mean look at Waldorf, there still is a market for compact, good sounding hardware synths.

[@lucid484]

So bummed about this being discontinued. I have a Virus A and was on the fence for years about buying a Ti2. I have absolutely no need for one, but always wanted one. Jumped online soon as I heard and everywhere was already sold out! Was just looking at them on Sweetwater a few months ago and still had them in stock.. 😑😑

[@yvesbajulaz]

Its mindboggling how poly timbrality went backward…

[@bookerjones1757]

Much appreciated! Thank you.

[@eliaszerano3510]

What can the Virus TI do what for example Roland V-Synth can't do ?

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

Great video! Man, I own an Iridium, but not having a VST editor/patch manager for it really kills me. I felt like I was the only one where that was an issue lol. It’s such a cool device and sounds great, but given its complexity and not having a vst editor, in terms of actually making music with a DAW I find it frustrating to work with. On the fence about selling it.

[@paulchambers2403]

I’m Sure somebody will make one:)

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

@@paulchambers2403 I really hope so, I think a developer said that wasn't going to be something they would do. But I would hope with so many versions (and now the core) they might change their mind. Seems like a perfect next step to me.

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

@@paulchambers2403 I actually think they changed their mind on MPE first saying they wouldn't add it, and then they did...so fingers croosed they'll change their mind on this too lol

[@paulchambers2403]

@@user-kx5fs9jy1g fingers crossed mate

[@djanthonythomas]

The concord of synthesizers!

[@yasunakaikumi]

Snow discontinue was pretty much the biggest hint already, and im kinda glad i kept mine. I think the only future I see for virus users to keep their synths in good shape is using the DSP emulator.

[@mothretramusic]

EDIT: I feel that instead of Access abandoning the Virus TI (Total Integration) VST with the synth itself, they make it opensource and able to be supported, at least in a longevity sense vs. modification of the code (which perhaps to which Access could retain copyrights). Eventually, VST formatting will change over time and/or OS changes may force it to die, but I am hoping that won't happen. Aura Plugin's editor is NOT the Total Integration package. It is merely a MIDI editor giving the allusion of the original VST. There is no audio-over-USB. Bought my Ti2 desktop in 2013, and it's been my bread-n-butter sidekick ever since. The VST integration is, and has, been insanely awesome and never replicated in another synth. Roland COULD have done it in their Aira lineup, but they went "interface" route not the audio-INTEGRATION route. Fail.

[@synthanatomy]

Awesome video :) Just a correction: the new Yamaha Montage has digital I/O over USB, allowing you to send up to 16 channels to your DAW :) And they have the plugin that makes a kinda total recall style possible as it reproduce the entire synth engine in your DAW with patch recall etc.

[@NullStaticVoid]

Lets be real. All those older synths had a thousand features because at the root of it they did not sound very good. The market has moved away from workstations that claim to do everything in favor of synths that do one thing well and have knobs per function. Because honestly the product that does all of these things that a giant keyboard does is a laptop with a MIDI controller.

[@dreamstaticsounds]

I only just got into hardware synths in 2020. I had no idea the Virus TI series was this powerful. Here's hoping if they don't make a new version someone else starts bringing this kind of power and flexibility to a new generation of synth folk.

[@robertkrohn9385]

Why were they still producing them but not updating the software?

[@leftovernoise]

Gonna be real, didnt even onow they were still producing these synths.

[@julian-multiman]

It was just discontinued… sadly

[@berzerkrobot]

This man deserves millions of subs.

[@gmo2932]

Very cool video. And all we needed, or would be happy with is for the vst work as an editor for new macs. The aura one is meh.

[@oraz.]

I wonder if current synths are mostly using arm cortex