Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $1,791
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1501+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
Unlock new sonic realms with the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer, a powerhouse that has been captivating musicians since the late '90s. This synthesizer is a dream for both studio magicians and live performers, delivering versatility and intuitive control. With its 61 non-weighted keys, the Virus TI offers an expansive playground for your creative ideas, while its user-friendly interface ensures seamless editing during performances. Dive into a world of sound with its four oscillators, providing rich textures and dynamic soundscapes.
The Virus TI is not just about quantity but quality too. It boasts three filters and three LFOs, giving you a broad palette to sculpt your sound exactly as you envision. The onboard effects are abundant, featuring 192 parallel effects including reverb, delay, and much more, to add depth and dimension to your music. Each patch comes with a 32-step user-programmable arpeggiator pattern, allowing for intricate rhythmic sequences that will elevate your compositions.
Whether you're crafting ambient soundscapes or driving dance beats, the Virus TI is a versatile tool that will take your music to the next level. Its robust design and powerful features make it a staple in any musician's arsenal, providing endless possibilities to explore and create.
Key Features:
- 61 non-weighted keys for versatile playability
- Four oscillators for rich and dynamic sound creation
- Three LFOs and three filters for detailed sound sculpting
- 192 onboard effects including reverb, delay, chorus, and more
- 32-step user-programmable arpeggiator for complex sequencing
- Extensive patch storage for your custom sounds
Product specs
| Brand | Access |
| Model | Virus TI 61-Key Digital Synthesizer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2000s |
| Made In | Germany |
| Categories | Digital Synthesizers, Keyboard Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| Key Size | Full Size |
| Keyboard Action | Synth Action |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Number of Keys | 61 Keys |
| Polyphony | 110 Voices |
FAQs
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What synthesis methods does the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer use?
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The Access Virus TI synthesizer utilizes various synthesis techniques, including subtractive synthesis, wavetable synthesis, phase distortion (PD), and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis, providing a versatile range of sound design possibilities.
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Is the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer polyphonic?
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Yes, the Access Virus TI offers polyphony with up to 110 voices, allowing for complex and layered sound creation suitable for both studio and live performance settings.
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How many keys does the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer have, and what is the key action type?
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The Access Virus TI features a 61-key keyboard with full-size keys and synth action, providing a responsive and expressive playing experience.
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Can the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer be integrated with a DAW?
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Yes, the Access Virus TI can connect to a DAW with sample-accurate timing and delay-compensated integration, making it a powerful tool for both production and live performance.
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What are the MIDI connectivity options available on the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer?
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The Access Virus TI offers comprehensive MIDI connectivity, including MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, facilitating seamless integration with other MIDI-compatible gear.
Reviews
PROS
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Ideal for starting and finishing tracks, highly useful in production
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Offers unparalleled complexity and possibilities for sound exploration
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Extensive library of both free and commercial soundsets enhances versatility
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Considered a standard in electronic music production
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Superior analogue modeling sound quality, second only to Moog hardware synths
CONS
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Lacks the DSP power of newer models for advanced effects
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Complexity may deter some users
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Known to have quirks and bugs, including tuning issues in some patches
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer.
Comparisons
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The UDO Super 6 and Waldorf Iridium are suggested alternatives at a similar price point, offering modern features and support.
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The Virus C and B are noted to have a slightly darker sound, potentially due to differences in their digital-to-audio converters, but this could also be subjective bias.
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The Waldorf Iridium offers similar digital synthesis but lacks the Virus's unique sound, prompting some to retain their Virus despite owning both.
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Use cases and applications
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Users integrating the TI2 with gear like the Octatrack find its unique sound and capabilities to complement complex setups effectively.
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Despite its age, the Virus TI2 is favored for creating wide stereo-spread unison textures and complex soundscapes.
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The Virus TI2 is often used as a standalone synth due to its unique sound and control surface, despite the availability of software emulations.
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Value and pricing
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The Virus TI2's resale value in Australia consistently exceeds $2000 AUD, making it a financially safer choice compared to older models like the B or C.
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Despite its discontinued status, the TI2 retains high resale value due to its distinctive capabilities and build quality, though some users find it overpriced at $2000+.
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Software and compatibility
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Contrary to some beliefs, the TI emulator doesn't require original hardware to run; acquiring the ROM is the primary challenge.
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The Virus TI2's software integration is considered abandonware, with no recent updates for modern systems, causing potential compatibility issues, especially on Mac.
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The TI software works well on Windows 11, but users report issues with newer MacOS versions unless using third-party plugins like Mystery Island.
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User experience
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Owners report that despite theoretical polyphony, practical use in multimbral mode typically involves sequencing 3-4 sounds simultaneously.
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Owners report the Virus TI2's sound can dominate mixes due to its distinct, overpowering tonal character.
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Some owners report glitches in multitimbral mode, advising against using more than four parts simultaneously to avoid artifacts like pops and clicks.
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Features and functionality
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The TI2's wavetable and hypersaw oscillator modes significantly expand its sonic palette, enhancing its capabilities beyond marketing claims.
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The third oscillator is considered limited compared to other features, impacting its potential for complex synthesis.
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The TI2's 16-part multitimbrality is appealing but complex layering may reduce effective polyphony due to DSP limitations, affecting performance with intensive patches.
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The sequencer is limited to built-in rhythms, restricting versatility in creating custom sequences.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 13 Ratings
114
My "goto" synth for sound pallet diversity.
While not a Ti2, and lacking much of the DSP power for the fancy effects and all that, my Ti Keyboard is the place I find myself in front of when starting on a new track and typically finish with and have done so since getting it in 2015. I love it. I want another one, possibly a Ti2 Darkstar or Ti2 Keyboard or rack mount unit, even though ViPER is now a thing. It has its quirks but when you understand why it does weird things in production use, and can learn to avoid certain bad habits, it really is the most amazing synth made over the last 20 years.
164
Total.
Many people maybe hates its complexity. I love its possibilities. A synth you cannot explore totally in one single life, you'd need two, at least. That's why owners are keeping it during the years. Whoever is selling a Virus maybe has no time to approach it, what a pity... You can do almost everything with a Virus in the VA domain. So many free and commercial soundset around, you cannot avoid the Virus in electronic productions.. A standard, IMHO.
Artist usage
Add artist
Hans performed live tonight on Stephen Colbert's show using a black/wood-grain Virus TI keyboard, as seen in this Twitter photo.
At 8:34 in this video from Architectural Digest, Travis Barker gives a tour of his home studio, where a Virus TI synth is visible on the coffee table.
In the video "Sean Tyas In The Studio With Future Music Part 1" by MusicRadar Tech, Sean Tyas is seen using the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer.
Bottom left of eight synthesizers mounted on A-frame stands lining the back wall of his studio.
On Instagram, Matt Lange shares a post featuring the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer, suggesting it's part of his setup.
Sabrina Carpenter confirmed her use of the Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer by posting a photo featuring the instrument on her official Facebook page.
Ken "Hiwatt" Marshal provides a tour of his current studio via his YouTube channel. The Virus is prominent in every video.
"My first proper setup was out of my college dorm room. I had an Access Virus TI, Waldorf Microwave XTk, Waldorf Pulse, Korg MS20, and Dave Smith Evolver. I did my first releases with this setup - a lot of synths had come into my life before then - juno 106, microkorg, nord lead 2x, to name a few, but those 5 were the constant ones. At the time I wanted the most and varied synth power. I always try to make sure there is no overlap in functionality between my various pieces. Nowadays my setup consists of a giant eurorack modular (8 rows @104 hp, ever growing and changing), Waldorf Micro Q Keyboard, Kawai K5000s, Elektron Octatrack, Analog RYTM, and Digitakt, and a revolving door of other little things that come in and out. All of this recorded into Ableton Live, though lately I’ve been experimenting with Bitwig Studio as well. I really like Bitwig’s built in modulation capabilities."
Album Usage
The Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Access Virus TI Keyboard Synthesizer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.