Nothing new from access !!

[hatembr]

it s been a long time we didn't hear anything new from access!!!
nothing to release ? :cry:

[Tomer=Trance]

guss their still working hard on it :wink:
or waiting for the right time for the market to have demending for something new.
maybe this winter we can look for something,not another virus i think but who knows. :)

[Timo]

Hehe, 2yrs last Frankfurt Messe, the C (nothing more than a hyped up B) was unleashed.

We does wonders what's be happenin' in t'Access factory, though, doesn't we! :) We knows they must be workings 'ard on somethings, just what exactly that we doesn't knows!

[Hollowcell]

Hopefully they are working on a new OS for the C series!

Lets all chant together

More filters
More filters
More filters
More filters
More filters

[tranzash]

May be a modular virus :D
or
a Virus with sup saw and sup pulz with karma features. Just kidding.

[saba]

I don't know what Access could do.

A modular would be interesting, but a gamble. Although it'd be complicated, and the market for VA modulars isn't too large, I don't think.

I don't think we'll get an analogue synthesizer from Access, since their expertise lies in DSP stuff (look at the creators).

Perhaps a drum machine from Access to rival the Machinedrum? Having said that, the drum machine market is a fairly small niche, and wouldn't be a particularly successful venture.

Another VA synth from Access would be flooding the market, too.

What could they do? Hmm.
________
Side effects from nexium (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/nexium/)

[Tomer=Trance]

i think they will go out with a new multi effect unit
the drum machine market is very very small
i think electron is the only company who risked going into it.

a modular will be realy cool
if i could ask them what to make next i would say a virus modular :)
the analog synth market is not too big either.

[Timo]

I don't think Access would be flooding the market if their next VA was a genuine 'step up' from the Virus C, and not just a small leap like the C was compared to the B.

The Virus C was essentially nothing more than a Virus B, with near enough the same interface and control panel, with the sound engine itself having just a few additions. - Not really something that was a 'considerable' marked difference from the B, in terms of the concept. They might as well have called it a Virus B v1.5, or similar.

So, therefore, if Access were to introduce a successor VA synth (which I really hope they do), it would have to be significantly different to their previous offerings (involving at least a few new synthesis concepts), and be considerably more advanced in order to differentiate it from being just a Virus C mk2.

I would hope the interface would get a re-design in the process, too, and I think this would help in (aesthetically, too) getting away from what they have done already, and demonstrating a notable change from the stock VA concept of yesteryear.

In my humble opinion, a touchscreen (or an LCD of the same size) would immediately set it apart from every other VA synth on the planet. A graphical touchscreen would also allow them to do things that would almost be nearly impossible to do otherwise. Imagine having someting like a graphical waveform/Z3ta+ synthesis capability using the graphical LCD, and I think that would be exceedingly appealing and would allow for a whole new VA hardware sound-design experience. It would also open the doors for a whole wealth other significant sound-design concepts due to the data being immediately visible and accessible via the screen. And if Access ever wanted to make any more synthesis-types available, then the LCD would re-inforce that.

Rather than a modular design (a more extensive matrix would be sufficient), I think the LCD/touchscreen, and the additional supported synthesis types made instantly possible due to having a such a graphical screen, is where I would personally hope Access is heading. A screen would bypass the need to have a computer, and hence would lessen the extremely destructive aspect of the software vs hardware battle these days. It would be the best of both worlds, and more.

Thanks

[ben crosland]

I don't think it's fair to call the Virus C a "B v1.5"

When the Virus B itself was released, the interface was almost identical to that of the A, and it had virtually the same spec. It took a couple of OS updates to get the main addtional features, which included:

Extra polyphony (16 - 24)
3rd Oscillator
Additional FM modes
Reverb and Pattern Delays
Distortion EFX and additional Saturation types.
Phaser.
Extra Mod Slots

No-one ever suggested that the B should've been an "A v1.5" !!

Let's have a quick look at what the C has by now:

Extra polyphony
3 band EQ per patch
Extra Mod Slots
New Filter type (which is flexible enough to count as more than one, really)
Redesigned interface (more so than you might think at first glance)
Improved timing engine for better MIDI clock sync.
Undo button ;).

Trust me - I have both the Virus C and the Virus Classic, and can assure you that the difference these features make is worthy of an alphabetical increment!

As for a product with a large LCD touchscreen display - I can't see it happening in the near future. The cost of displays like that are astronomical - that's why you don't see any of the small, independent European synth manufacturers putting them on their products. If you think about it, Access, Clavia, Waldorf and Novation all have similar sized displays. Even the Roland JP8000 and Korg MS2000had a small display.

You either have lots of knobs, or a nice display. I know what I'd rather have ;)

[Timo]

Hi Ben :)

It was maybe a little abrupt to call it a B v1.5, but the truth is that if Virus release another VA synth that will be updated from the C as much as the C was to the B, then I can't imagine many people would buy it because they'd be perfectly happy with their C.

I reckon Access need to branch out sideways as well as upwards, and devise a more extensive synthesis palette and a better user interface if they are to survive as a hardware-only piece of kit. The 2-line LCD is pretty abysmal - you can do sound-programming using a Trinity V3 with Moss [which has absolutely no knobs other than a jog-dial!] massively significantly quicker, rather than attempting to program sounds via the Virus' 2 line LCD and its labyrinth of scrolling menus, sub-menus, and parameters. It's frustrating, and not really at all conducive to efficient/effortless programming, regardless of how many knobs it has if you have to keep diving into the scrolling menus a lot of the while.

I think the (nothing short of) huge success of the Virus B and C would have put Access in a position to be one of the big-boys, financially, and I've no doubt they could R&D and implement a large graphical LCD if they wanted to.
Indeed for their next synth they will need to pull something like this out of the bag, otherwise people will say what they've said about all the other 'new' VAs that have cropped up recently - ie. "It's just another bog-standard VA", and that they prefer their computer monitor screens for waveform editing. A l? Z3ta+, Vanguard, etc. as they offer more possibilities.
Imagine, however, that a large LCD screen strapped on to a hardware VA synth would allow you to do graphical Z3ta style programming, and more, and Access would have more choices as to what synthesis types would be made possible as a result of having the LCD for graphical support, and for greater and deeper - not to mention hugely quicker ? interaction for the user.

>>As for a product with a large LCD touchscreen display - I can't see it happening in the near future. The cost of displays like that are astronomical - that's why you don't see any of the small, independent European synth manufacturers putting them on their products. If you think about it, Access, Clavia, Waldorf and Novation all have similar sized displays. Even the Roland JP8000 and Korg MS2000had a small display.

And that is what would put Access at a massive advantage if they were to implement one, being the first to do so. - No other VA on the planet has one, apart from the Moss VA/physical-modelling expansion board for Korg's Trinity and Triton. I'll take some pics of the Korg's screen when programming VA patches if you wish ? although as mentioned that it has no knobs (the Triton does, however) it still poos on Access' 2-line LCD from a truly immense height.

However, even the way that Korg uses the large LCD as a graphical monitor tool for programming VA is slightly archaic and can be improved - afterall, the Trinity and Moss were released back in 1995 and 1997 respectively. For example, there are no pictures of oscillators, or waveforms that you're tweaking (either ?live?, or otherwise), no illustrations of LFOs (which would be nice to assess the single-cycle waveshapes on offer), etc. These don?t detract from the programming efficiency, though, due to the Moss? much simpler VA architecture. But on balance the Trinity does graphically represent EGs, routing paths, and 'sliders' and 'knobs', and it all adds up to make programming a doddle.
But in an Access Virus vibe, using todays technology, imagine if you can see a large representation of an oscillator waveform (such as [these (http://www.waf80.de/virus/viruwaves/)], for example) that you're 'designing', and then to be able to graphically see it morphing as you tweak various wave-shaping parameters via the real knobs on the Virus, or likewise.

In addition, there are such parameters for waveshaping that software programs like Z3ta+ can do, that the Virus can't. In Z3ta+'s instance, aspects what they call:-

* Warp (increasingly warps and bends the waveform beyond its amplitude threshold),
* Twist (same as warp, but increasingingly inverts the polarity instead),
* Multi-point (chops and splits the waveform into three separate portions),
* Wave (bends and molds the waveform into a sine wave),
* Symmetry (pulse width/waveform),
* Drive (boosts and clips the waveform),
* Offset,
* Shrink (shrinks the pulse of the wave, and inserts silence up until the 'single-cycle' [of frequency] is completed),
* Self-sync (same as Shrink, but adds multiples of the waveform up until the single cycle is completed),
* Bit reduction (as per what the Virus already does),
* DC-Offset, and (corrects, or forces apart, the DC offset)
* Window (straps a triangle amplitude envelope over the waveform)

Which are great to see on a waveform display:-

http://www.gobo.dsl.pipex.com/images/Z3ta.jpg

?on an LCD, along with menus/tabs, programming stuff, and much, much more!

Alesis Ion has an, albeit smaller LCD, come to think of it?

[ben crosland]

Timo,

I think you're missing the point about why a multitude of knobs is the preferred choice for many users. You see, it's not all about programmability - it's also about live tweakability. You can program an enormous range of fantastic sounds by only using the knobs on the Virus - the menus are only required to get to the more esoteric features. So, whilst I'm sure programming on the Korg is all very intuitive with it's lovely large display, it's just not the same as being able to grab any one of 32 knobs to tweak the sound directly. Also, remember that you are speaking from the experience of an Indigo 1 user - that's one of the big advantages of the C series, is that the redesigned interface means you need to go into the menus far less often than on the B series.

It's not like I'm saying that I wouldn't like a bigger display - and I'm sure Access would love their instruments to have Korg style displays. However, you have to understand that the instruments that Korg endow with the massive screens make up a much larger share of the musical instrument market than the VAs. Like I pointed out earlier - note how they *didn't* put a big display in the MS2000 series! (Remember - that is what the Virus is competing with; it is not competing with Tritons etc) If they had put a big screen in it, it would have put it into a price-range that would have been unrealistic for that kind of instrument. Likewise - Roland put a small display in the JP8000 series, and Yamaha put virtually no user interface to speak of on their AN1X did they? Korg also put the most pathetic knobs I've ever encountered on the MS2000, whereas Access at least use decent quality ones that might survive some over-enthuastic tweaking.

[Hollowcell]

Mmm Modular - Yeh nice, but I wouldn't spend the money on one. I'd never make music as I'd be making patches.

Umm, Big graphical touch screen - It would be nice as an add on feature (as long as it still has the same amount of knobs).

IMO Access shouldn't be wasting time on a new machine when they could

Make more filters
Make more filters
Make more filters
Make more filters

Actualy a few more distortion and FX algos wouldn't go a stray either. :wink:

For the C series of course.

How about a PM Ben? You can tell me. :D

[Timo]

Hi Ben!

Didn't suggest for one mo that they should get rid of any of their knobs!

But, to see my point of view, you must realise that programming via knobs is not always the best way! Of course it's great for live tweaking, but to fully unleash the Virus' labyrinth of a sound engine when programming sounds in detail in the studio, a large graphical LCD can only significantly help matters, in the same way that a computer monitor screen allows you to do a whole plethora of things that the Virus just cannot do, but potentially could. Think Reaktor, Rhino, FM7, X-Phraze, Z3ta, Absynth, Malstr?m, and the like. - not the entire programs (that would be truly impossible, unless you have a Neko ;) ), but the synthesis concepts enhanced greatly by (or even only made possible by) using graphics of some kinda or another.

Even things like the modulation matrix would be a breeze to use by picking source and destinations via a pull-down menu (which is how the Korg's LCDs work), rather than scrolling through every source and every destination one by one, as per what the currently 2-line LCD only permits.

What I was saying was, that even though the Trinity doesn't have any knobs, I can still program patches far, far faster - by a long shot - than programming the equivalent patch on the Indigo, with all 32 knobs, albeit with an Indigo v1 LCD and B-series interface. The Virus' knobs remaining in whole or part, in addition, would be a dream synth. Almost no need to use a desktop computer.

I'd also bet that Access have sold as many (or similar) Viri' that Korg have sold Tritons? But there's no real way to know this, though.
However, they are both roughly the same price, too. And the Triton includes a massive (understatement) sequencer, 48MB sample ROM, upto 96MB sampler, 60 oscillators, 100 effect types and very flexible multi-timbral effects routing (ie. you could have up to six reverbs and delays in one chain, if desired), RPPRs, onboard controllers such as the XY joystick, ribbon-controller (the Trinity's ribbon had depth-control, too), optional CD-RW... etc.
I find my Trinity's ribbon controller to be of a hugely greater use than simply a cut-off knob, when it's set, for example, to modulate cutoff frequency in the X-plane, and resonance in the Z-plane. You can tap the ribbon controller anywhere on its length to produce 'gated' staccato modulations if you wished. You can't do this with a knob, or 32 of 'em!

Regards the MS2000... it has 4 voice-poly, two oscillators, two EGs, two LFOs, one modulation effect, one delay effect. And that?s it. Oh, and a vocoder. Mmmm, not exactly on a par with a modern Virus beast! ;) The JP8000 is a standard VA, and can?t do anything else due to its UI, whereas the Virus, to me, has more potential to break away and branch out from that VA mould? If only a larger screen would let it.

I think you can only appreciate what a large screen can do if you've actually tried it yourself. Have you ever used one of the Korg workstations? Or, more appropriately in its sound architecture to the VAs, the Roland's V-Synth, or similar?

[Click this (http://www.roland.com/products/com/V-Synth/images/top_L.jpg)]

Imagine a Virus with the V-Synth interface? Can you imagine that?! 8O :D That would seriously kick some preverbial synthesis butt!! That would be pure sex in a synth, IMHO. :D AND everyone would buy one, even if they had a Virus.

www.V-Synth.com

But, it hasn't the Virus sound engine inside it, unfortunately. :(

But Access could do one! :D

Timo ;)

[ben crosland]

Maybe the reason I don't mind the small display on the Virus, is that if I want instant access to all the internal parameters, I just fire up Sounddiver :)

As it happens, I use keyboards at work every day with large LCD screens, so I know they can be useful; but in actual fact I can achieve what I want in very little time on the Virus, for one simple reason: I know it like the back of my hand!

As to whether there are as many Viruses sold as Tritons, well I couldn't tell you for certain, as I don't have access to that kind of information, but I *seriously* doubt that Access have sold anywhere near that amount!!Not that the Virus hasn't sold well, but I think you might be surprised by the ridiculous numbers of instruments sold by the big Japanese manufacturers ;)

[saba]

Oh! I know what I'd love to see from Access.

A wavetable synthesizer.

One to rule them all. Something in a similar vein to the WaveXT from Waldorf. That, with some new features that Access could think of, would make me weak at the knee's, and I'd go out and buy one the day it was announced :)
________
Shaved Pussy Cams (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/webcam/shaved/)

[Tomer=Trance]

yeah a wavetable couldnt be a good idea
the waldorf xt and microwaves are the only ones in the market.
maybe a wavetable with one analog filter and the other digital for hollows fillters :wink:

[Panopticon]

I'm hoping for a modular. I really think some competition for the G2 from Access would be killer. Ooh, and another mod wheel would kick ass...

I wouldn't much care for the LCD, like Ben I just fire up Soundiver. I have a Triton and enjoy the screen on it, but I don't think it's really so necessary just for a VA.

Features I would like to see: user arp patterns, user waveform loading....

[Timo]

Saba, a wavetable synth would be cool. But I feel they could integrate this type of synthesis, and others, into their next Virus, in addition.

Any future Virus' synth releases will need to do more than just the relatively bog-standard synthesis that it currently does. Integrating wavetable synthesis, as well as other exotic synthesis types such as waveshaping, physical-modelling, neural, vector, FM, granular, sample-resynthesis, 8-bit/retro etc., into future Virus follow-ups would be amazing. This way they can continue to enhance their line of Virus' exponentially with each release. Why restrict the Virus to just one synthesis type?

Regards SoundDiver, I don't think it should be up to sounddiver to do all your programming. The fact that you're using, or relying on SoundDiver means that the inadequacies of the Virus' current user interface are forcing you to do so. That's bad, IMHO. Not everyone has a computer, or wants to use a computer, or wants to lug around a computer and monitor (or laptop and midi-interface) around with them.

[ben crosland]

I don't think it would be sensible for Access to shoehorn all those different types of synthesis into the Virus. If they did, it would be in danger of becoming something other than a Virus, and so far they have been very successful at maintaining a strong foothold in the market by just making the Virus better and better and making sure that it retains a competitive edge in certain areas. One of the major strengths of the Virus range is that they all retain a certain character, which has become part of the musical landscape.

It's not like I don't understand where you're coming from, Timo - believe me, you'd be hard-pushed to find someone more excited about a brand new 'ubersynth' from Access than I would be! But at the same time, it's easy to forget that your own personal feelings about the Virus are not necessarily indicative of others'. There are still loads of musicians who are yet to encounter a Virus - I think their potential marketplace has far from dried up. For instance, I was amazed at the number of people at NAMM who had no idea what a Virus was - far different from Frankfurt the year before, where nearly every visitor was already a Virus owner!

As for new features, I'm with Hollowcell, personally - I'd love to see more filters and distortion types; these would enhance the existing architecture, without fundamentally changing what the Virus is. The new Analog 1-4P filters with their *gorgeous* embedded saturation have really whetted my appetite!

[Hollowcell]

As for new features, I'm with Hollowcell, personally - I'd love to see more filters and distortion types; these would enhance the existing architecture, without fundamentally changing what the Virus is. The new Analog 1-4P filters with their *gorgeous* embedded saturation have really whetted my appetite!

Yep, that's the whole reason I've been thinking about new filters myself. I was really surprised that filters came with a new OS and now that I know it can be done so well, I just want more!

I honestly think that incorporating some new filters (maybe not emulating a vintage synth this time) and adding more distortion algos with a new OS for the C series could push the sales of the C even more. I'm sure the moog filter helped from what I had heard on other forums, imagine what a new "original" self osc filter may do. I'm not just saying this because I want some more filters for my VC - well...maybe just a little, but I really do think so. :wink:

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Why would anyone want to have unneccesary features....which just increase price? I dont want to see touchscreens or any more poly. Ive been thinking about this, and this is my opinion:

1) First off, I would like to see Access make a dedicated effects box. That way, the could spend the time and money, needed to make truly usable/versatile effects. I think their effects sound pretty good....and with further enhancements, could be a market leader. Lets face it.......Access can be attributed to the reintroduction of the classic phaser sound in mainstream music.

2) The UI of the Virus can be further enhanced. There is alot of empty space.....which could be used to make the effects/oscilator sections less ambigious. More knobs plz.

3) I would like to see the Virus move away from its inherent dark tone quality. As a programmer, its drives me crazy sometimes. Its not possible to make genuinely bright/happy 80's sounds. I keep hearing people talking about their Virus for dark distorted sounds........arrrrghhhh. Synths like the Prophet 5 and JP8 and make very dark tones....but also really bright happy ones. I wish the Virus could do the same. I once heard someone say that this 'dullness in tone' was inherent b'cos the programmers were trying to overcome the aliasing issues.

DS

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

But anyways.....its no longer a concern for me because ive had to sell my KC through lack of funds whilst at university.

Im financially fucked....and having a synth became a luxury. It'll prob be a year before I can buy another synth.....by which time...ill be keeping a close eye on any new access synths.

Ill check out the forum from time to time........I hope ill be able to replace my synth sooner rather than later :wink:

DS

[ben crosland]

Sorry to hear that DS :(

[Tomer=Trance]

why not geting a second hand b or something?
so your delaying your music for now DC?

[Timo]

>>why not geting a second hand b or something?

I did that myself, purely to tide me over. I heard rumours a good while ago that the C was only ever meant as an improvement of the B, to tide Access over until a redesigned product was released.

[Timo]

I don't think it would be sensible for Access to shoehorn all those different types of synthesis into the Virus. If they did, it would be in danger of becoming something other than a Virus, and so far they have been very successful at maintaining a strong foothold in the market by just making the Virus better and better and making sure that it retains a competitive edge in certain areas. One of the major strengths of the Virus range is that they all retain a certain character, which has become part of the musical landscape.

I didn't speculate at all that they should do all, or even many, of those synthesis types! ;) Only any ones which might integrate well within the Virus' current subtractive engine, as an extra animated sonic extension of the bog-standard saw/sq/sin oscillators. For example, wavetable synthesis works just as well alongside with a subtractive synthesis engine as the standard static oscillators do. To me, this would be adding a new dimension to the Virus' architecture, but not changing its purpose, far from it - just integrating into what the Virus can already do - running alongside its present features. It would be like a larger extension to the Virus' own spectral waveshapes, only animated instead, if you wished.

The various synthesis types mentioned were just various possible ideas for the pot. Thinking aloud, just food for thought.

[marc]

But anyways.....its no longer a concern for me because ive had to sell my KC through lack of funds whilst at university.
DS

good luck,

best, marc

ps. your comment about dark sounds i'd like to discuss a little more. I'd be interested in understand a little more of what you actually miss. if you don't mind, please send me a private email m_s@access-music.de (remove the "_" --> spam)

[Hollowcell]

Shit sorry to hear about that DS!

You went through so much to get a KC that you were happy with too. Anyway, I know you won't be able to stay away for long. :wink:

Oh I should mention.

More filters
More filters
More filters
More filters

Hhehehe.

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Well miracles do fucking happen!!!!!!!!

I have just come into some money.......and to cut a long story short, Ive managed to keep my synth.

Sorry about my language....but im genuinely fucking relieved. I feel sorry for letting down the guy who was about to buy it.....but thats life I guess. Im happy now, weeeeeeeee......

The new analog filter is proving to be very versatile for me. Ive been creating very good pads with the Analog 4P and great crispy arp's with the 1pole. Ive also made a 90% clone of a 5ths chord tone of a Jupiter 8 (I made it with the JP8 by my side and its practically indistinguiable). Im also getting really interesting tones using the analog filter coupled with Virus LP, HP, BP, BS configurations.

If I had a choice of future filters, I would like to see:

Vintage-
Jupiter 8 (Very hard to emulate but worth it me thinks!)
Prophet 5
Oberheim OBXa

New-
Anything!!!! (A completely original, great sounding new filter would be really exciting. The Original Virus LP is the nicest sounding digital filter ive ever heard....its practically perfect. Obviously, Access have the technical know-how to make great filters.....)

Im with HC on this one. However, Im not in any rush to see new filters....I'd rather Access take their time. I have a shit load of versatility to be getting on with in the mean time anyways......

Im looking forward to showing u all my synthguitar tone I made. Im just waiting for CNet to accept it....then I'll post link.

DS

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Thx Marc,

Give me a week to sort my stuff out at university and Ill be in contact.

DS 8)