Gear Hunter
ACCESS VIRUS TI2 DESKTOP/RACK
Description
The Virus TI2 Desktop synth is a follow up to the widely acclaimed TI series of totally integrated synthesizers, gives you 25% more calculating power and a redesigned housing and front panel. Access has also supplied a major feature update, OS3, adding extra FX including Tape Delay, Frequency Shifter and a handful of Distortion algorithms along with a premier feature named Character.
Character allows you to adjust the tone of a preset, most of which resemble vintage and well-known synthesizers, and emphasize certain aspects of the patch to allow it to cut better through the mix or fade it into the background with an extra-wide stereo field. The distortions were built from scratch and feature an extreme dynamic range along with sophisticated controls to tailor the sound to your specific needs. They can add everything from warm, tube-like overtones to complete sonic deconstruction more reminiscent of circuit-bending. The added algorithms also include a revamped bit and sampling-rate reduction, allowing you to change the quality and cutoff point with precise, continuously variable control.
The stereo Frequency Shifter and the new Ring Modulator are state of the art algorithms modelled with old '70s stomp boxes in mind.
The Tape Delay goes way beyond the possibilities of the real Tape Delays in the '60s and '70s. It smoothly syncs to tempo, lets you decide if a Doppler effect takes place when changing the tempo, and even switching the delay time between presets is all smooth, making it perfect for performers. Last but not least, a modification to the main VCA algorithm enables OS3 users to design gating FX known from electro and minimal influenced music.
Virus Control has received a completely redesigned user-interface thanks to various improvement requests over the last years. The plug-in now features a side chain input allowing you to mangle audio from a sequencer track with the FX and sound engine of the hardware Virus (for selected hosts only).
The best news, however, is that OS3 is compatible with all legacy Virus TIs and the Virus TI Snow, thus enabling Access' vast user base to update their existing instruments with all the new software features totally free of charge.
