A second-hand Virus 'Indigo2' or 'kC' or similar would be a great starting point.
The only differences between Virus A, B, C, Ti etc. is that each successive generation were released with more DSP and features. For example, the TI can load patches (programmed sounds) that were made using the Virus A, but the reverse is not true as the Virus TI employs new hardware and features that the Virus A simply never had as it was released back in 1997.
Series:
Virus A (1997)
Virus B (2000)
Virus C (2002)
Virus TI1/TI2 (2004-present)
The Virus A series had one model: A (desktop unit).
The Virus B series had three models: B (desktop unit), kB (61-note keyboard) and Indigo (37-note keyboard). A later model called "Virus Classic" (desktop) was also released, but this was merely a re-badged Virus B.
The Virus C series also had three models: C (desktop unit), kC (61-note keyboard) and Indigo2 (37-note keyboard).
The Virus TI series has seven models: Ti (desktop), TI KB (61-note keyboard), TI Polar (37-note keyboard), Snow (a cut-down desktop unit), Ti2 (desktop unit), TI2 KB (61-note keyboard), TI2 Polar (37-note keyboard).
The TI and TI2 variants are identical (they are 100% compatible between each other, and thus sound identical) other than the TI2 has 25% more polyphony. It's effectively a "refresh" (update) of the same TI model, being release several years after the original TI. The TI hardware has been phased out and replaced by the refreshed so-called TI2.
There were other models (rack units, TDM, etc), but the above were the main ones. The Redback, since you mentioned it earlier, was an Indigo 2 (virus C synth engine) but just a different colour. It came a long time before the TI series.
Here is a comparison of the earlier Virus models (before ever the Virus TI/TI2 were released):
http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/access_virus_chart.pdf
However the largest step upwards in terms of increased DSP and functionality between models occurred between the Virus C and the TI. The TI can do everything the Virus C can, but a whole lot more. A huge amount more in fact. So read up everything you can about it before you make your decision.
General:
http://www.access-music.de
Virus B series:
Virus B
Virus Indigo 1
Virus C series:
Virus C
Virus Indigo 2
Virus Indigo 2 OS v6.5
Virus TI series:
Virus TI
Virus TI Snow
Quote:
|
The A B C and snow are Samplers from what I know
|
The Virus cannot do sampling nor use samples. Period. They are just synthesizers. As such, the Virus will
never sound like a sampled acoustic grand piano, for example, nor can they record samples for later playback. For playing and/or recording samples you'd need a computer or a keyboard workstation like the Korg M3 or Yamaha Motif or Roland Fantom.
Quote:
|
When you get patches is it just a sheet of information liek Oscilater tweeked to 33, LFO down to 22, Appegiator on, and stuff like that you have to program in or is it like a file that you take a flashdrive to.
|
Patches are files (one file can contain anything up to 256 patches), but the Virus doesn't use a flashdrive. With a Virus C or earlier you'd need to use a program such as SoundDiver to transfer/receive patches to and from the computer via MIDI. With the TI you drop the patch files into a folder and they are uploaded/downloaded via USB, I think, but don't quote me on that (I have a Virus Indigo, a much earlier model, and haven't ever had a chance to play with a TI yet).
Quote:
|
Lastly a desktop is a keyboard right, its just another name fore like a workstation?
|
No. A "desktop unit" is a synth that sits on your desktop and doesn't have a keyboard. You'd need a MIDI keyboard to hook it up and play it.
The Indigo1, Indigo2, TI Polar and TI2 Polar are the 37-note Virus B/C/TI keyboards respectively, and the kB, kC, TI1 KB and TI2 KB are the 61-note versions.
A "workstation" is a keyboard that does everything - sequencing, sampling, sample-playback (like acoustic piano, drums, etc.), effects, and stuff.
The Virus is not really all-round enough to be considered a "workstation".
Hope this helps.