Namm 2012

[FSTZ]

I refuse to buy another casio haha

I am also hyped on a lot of the iPad development

I'll have one soon

[Rick Boogie]

I'd rather they wait until they have something worth releasing than rushing out with something sub par just to make a spalsh.

[Berni]

Originally Posted by Rick Boogie

I'd rather they wait until they have something worth releasing than rushing out with something sub par just to make a spalsh.

are u serious, Lol ; )

[MBTC]

My thoughts on this overall is that Access is a company that needs to either adapt to the realities of modern softsynths and either provide a competitive advantage over softsynths or modify the price of their expensive hardware to make more sense in the wake of competition.

The Virus came to popularity at a time when Core i7 processors did not yet exist and soft-synths were not quite where they are now, both in quality and variety. Back then it took a different approach to incorporating a signal from hardware and all the latency that comes with it into a fully produced track. These days, once you've tried a pure software approach and not had to deal with as many middlemen steps, it becomes much harder to justify external hardware and all the timing niggles.

Clearly Access acknowledged this when they introduced the notion of DAW integration. My personal belief is that they are currently experiencing a case of arrested development, living in the spotlight of past hardware successes without acknowledging how important the software integration really is. That could lead to their downfall and that is not going to change if folks keep patting them on the balls telling them how awesome the Virus is. It sounds nice, but there are a lot of modern softsynths that sound just as good if you route them through equivalent processing and signal paths. The difference is that many of us would like to use the computer for sequencing and general arrangement, while not being limited to the CPU or threading limitations of a single piece of hardware. At least, this is what I wanted out of the Virus, great sounds that didn't load up my CPU. But if I have to give one or the other up, guess which wins? The fact that I don't have a Virus today answers that question, as I am happily composing along with amazing softsynths like Zebra2, Synthmaster, Dune, Sylenth, etc. The synths you're more likely to hear in professional tracks these days anyway, for the same reasons I've described here.... easier to work with, easier to produce music with. This is what Access is missing.

Beyond that, I cannot bring myself to buy a simple TI Snow, because it seems everywhere I look (at dealers I'm familiar with) the price is fixed to something like $1386 US. See a problem there? Especially when the last two digits are 8 and 6? Funny coincidence eh? Meanwhile I can get a wide assortment of synths that sound indistinguishable but cost a fraction of it.

As I see it, the ball is in Access' court now. They can fix shit or die, plain and simple.

[oscillator]

MBTC +1 right thinking

[TheHobbit]

Glad Access haven't bought anything out....I wouldn't have any cash left (or a wife lol).

Existing TI and now I can add a MiniBrute + MiniTaur + QuNeo which will be finding their way into my rack =:•)

Going to be good fun!

[Ruari]

Check this out

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2012/...-virus-ti-os5/

[enfield]

Originally Posted by Ruari

Check this out

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2012/...-virus-ti-os5/

wow... good morning SonicState...

[feedingear]

Heh 'available soon'. Some interesting new additions, the new envelopes are very welcome.

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

7 years of Total Integration...that is a long time in software development terms. I have been a Virus owner/user in the past...but for me...the TI departed from where I wanted the Virus to go...

I never liked being forced to stream audio over USB whenever it was connected and I found loading/saving/organising patches a total pain in the arse. The number of duplicates is a headfuck...and the sheer volume of presets actually killed my creativity. Hours upon hours of aimlessly cycling through presets that had been too heavily effected. Honestly...that onboard EQ has been abused and alot of the sounds on the TI are dry, flakey and crusty 'n' crunchy. The Virus KC...and in particular the factory presets made prior to OS6.5 were the best sounding. Silky, warm and smooth. The TI is brittle in comparison...and this is down to EQ abuse and possibly inferior DACS. But dont quote me on that...

I'd love to see Access put the TI aspect to bed. Just fuck it off into cyberspace. Stop wasting time and money adding a couple of filters, envelopes and bug fixing. Instead, expand the control surface, streamline the menu system, develop NEW synthesis (Phase Distortion, true FM DX7 style, User Importable Waveshapes etc) and get INNOVATING. Just think....all that time and effort spent on Total Integration...could have been spent on a new product line, new synthesis etc etc. They really are reluctant to let this go. Unfortuntately, history shows us what happens to companies who can't let go of a bad idea. It eventually sinks them. I say fuck it...before it fucks you.

The Virus is way over priced in this economic climate. Back in 2001/2 the Virus KB cost £1299. In the space of 10 years your paying £1999. Im pretty sure thats damaging sales. You would think they'd sell alot more of £1200 synths than a warehouse of £2000 synths...but I guess Im just clueless.

I dont want this post to be taken as a negative. I love Access...I love what they've done for the music industry (alot of my favourite songs have obvious virus on them) and I want them to survive this econonmic downturn. I dont wanna see them goto the wall. Just refine their business model and get innovating as opposed to dragged down by their TI legacy.

Cheers, DS