stormy_weather

How can I express in words my feelings about the access virus? The immense euphoria of all the laboratory like experiments with sound and using pre-made patch libraries. Reverse engineering many of my favorite artists settings. Creating my own music using only one synth, a laptop for sequencing and sampling and a I/O? To start off, its a Virtual Analog synth that works more like a softsynth in a hardware package. Its the best I've ever used or encountered so far. I'll go into the bad side of things first. It sounds great, and its reputation alone far exceeds its overall capability. I use it for phase, FM and subrtractive Synthesis as well as some mild signal processing with it. Those who become frustrated with it when using it in conjunction need to remember its USB 1.1, which means YOU NEED A MTT/multi transaction translator. Which looks like a USB hub but is much more capable. Since I keep all my audio devices on a single Rosewill MTT, its never a big deal for me to utilize it in this fashion (Otherwise you wont be able to run any other USB devices on your bus that it's plugged into since most computers come with one or two STT's in their USB groupings.) The only other disadvantage for the virus is its price point. Even used units scare away new musicians with a whopping 1k for a TI series which enables you to use a USB only connection or if you want to milk those ADACS and run TRS lines from your device into a I/o, you can disable USB audio feeds (which also saves the DSP's CPU a little) and set it up for midi only operation, its not that complicated, just remember to set your "main out" to "OUT1 L+R" and do this for ALL 16 channels and the patch utility/config to "surround output" "OUT1 L+R" and make sure its this way on ALL 16 channels and your Virus VST is nothing more than a midi controller with a patch librarian that ultra convenient to use. Remember to record and enable from your DAW's inputs and make sure they're not muted on your recording device, or you'll be wondering why you cant record. Now for the good. A gigantic voice capability, split between 1-16 channels (Keep it low and record what you need. initialized and unused channels wont bog your DSP CPU.) Its one of the best synths I own because it replaces an entire studio of gear and kicks all the old gear I wanted to put into my studio off my shopping list, it emulates old roland gear with ease and can hold its own in many genres. Either rack or Keyboard are rather portable (full sized keyboard I think is 52lbs, not much considering its made of wood and metal and sounds like an entire studios worth in vintage gear.) If you're the kind of person who doesnt want the experimental capabilities of the virus and rather the ablity to use it for perusing giant patch libraries, feel free to purchase or download free many patches created by professionals and generous users alike. While many of us would like to see Kemper gmbh release another Virus, they still support all their devices fully and without additional charge. Even the original "A" virus still have updates available for it, just be sure to put it on a UPC before you dare update it as if the power goes out, you're precious virus is bricked. The only devices I plan on buying are updated version of the virus and a single analog synth and a rompler because they can do the few things a virus cant, what I wouldnt want it to do anyways., (sample playback, which is fine, I don't care for the blofeld honestly. I've got IL's Harmor for those kinds of sounds.) I love using it for anything and everything, drums, basses leads, analog sound-alikes, Its the epic synthesizer for me. Also, what synthesizer on the market has the ability to set up a "Party" setting? That's right, The Virus TI does. No.... Really... It does! http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g246/Samanthaindigo/Stormy_Weather_Virus_Guides/pinkparty_zpsjdw9phsv.png

Its kinda like playing with an additive synth, you take preset patches wih a little bit of basic editing available from all of Arturia's flagship VST's and give people the ability to stack and mix patches,

While I'm used to using samples on FL Studio's interface, this is a nice Virtual drum machine to play with, sounds great, syncs well and according toa friend, works great with the SparkLE controller. Like any VST, once you get it into a mix, no one would know its a VST.

This is one of my rapidly becoming a favorite plugin, not only does it save your patches but it sounds pretty faithful to the original deal, In comparison with the 2600, I like how I can get this to be a little more dark and aggressive sounding.My only complaint with this and any other virtual modular is you cant patch in other VST modulars and save the config at the same scale as you would with a real modular. At least it wont burn a hole in your pocket.

The original Dr. Who theme, Half the songs by TATU, and many major 80's artist used the real deal. I really liked how Arturia handled this plugin. I'll be honest, the fan animation surprised me! But thats just a pretty feature, the synth itself is as anyone expect, a really good sound alike, totally worth your investment if you want an easy pop or electronica sounding instrument..

I use it for epiano patches. sounds great for it, I'm sure its more capable, but for what I use it ofr it works rather well. I honestly feel no need to buy another epiano VST after owning this. Amp models and micing is great! Add a little chorus and a tight reverb and you got a great solo instrument that can rock it in real time.

I nabbed it back when Arturia was handing liscenses of these for free, but I picked up an official liscense of it in a bundle and have no regrets. Freebie lacked patch tinkering and certain refinements but the full on liscense breaths better life into the program. Can get a bit CPU heavy... Okay it can downright bog your machine down on some patches if you're running an old 2nd gen i7 laptop like myself. But it sounds really close to the real deal. Just give it a little tube warmth and it will sound spot on.

This is a must have for any dark and vintage style players. works great for real time use, the combined features of the synths that made this give it a massive palette and array of sound. Its rather easy to get a great sound out of it.

Like most VST's from Arturia, it sounds incredibly close, once you add it to a mix, no one would honestly know the differnce.

My entire travel setup is based on this one stand. Pleanty of strength and room to handle heavy synths in my studio, portable, and you can put a mic boom or a laptop tray atop it. I currently use it entirely for keyboards. However I'm tempted to get the laptop holder and put a computer monitor in the cradle in the studio and a laptop when mobile, lots of room to put things, takes mods alright and doesnt fuss with 3m velcro, cable management is a dream if you take the time to set it up and use it. Pleanty of space between the feet for a pedal board or a controller.

Rack, you are a rack. Orange, you are orange. Like a rack, which you are. Rack... It sounds phenomenal, takes third party controllers like a champ, slaves extremely well to midi signals, has official and javahacked uploaders and downloaders. Best of all, THE SOUND! Okay, anyone who knows me, knows I'm MEGA picky about amps and pedals. I have some sounds in mind and to the wind with everything if I have to drop some real money for it. Most multis have their "Close enough" sounding patches. This is the one device that not only hit it spot on, but could be adjusted to sound like a slightly more clear version. I'm a big fan of Mesa/boogie Engineering Rectifier amps and some older clear toned amps for pedals, this thing captured it and got it right! You can even mic your own sounds and use the rack as a Audio Interface if needed. Plus if you go big, you're only toting the guitar, rack and a 3rd party pedalboard controller (Assuming you use more than one patch) and you're set! Plug into a PA and you're done. :D Only effect it lacks is pitch bending, so plug a modded whammy into the effects loop and you are set. Gave up a bunch of pedals after buying this. I simply didn't need them anymore. That's how great this rack is. It's also stupid-simple to work with, like many things in my studio.

This is the best pair of headphones I'd ever owned in my life. I followed the advice of others and ran it through 2 weeks of non stop music to break it in and it sounded a lot less "withheld". They're made for studio so you're not wanting to use them in anyplace that isn't quiet or where you cant hear your band-mate commenting about something. They're very responsive! When I listen to mixes and finished songs, I for lack of a better way of putting it, can hear the "space" between the drums and the woods of acoustic instruments. So ya. I like em.

It works, it's robust, it captures well. Only thing that beats it is a specialized mic for a purpose recording, Use mind for vocal work and capturing sounds.

Yet another USB dongle made in a asthetically pleasing format. Personally I wish it was bug-drive sized so it would be less noticable or likely to snap off, either way it holds my soft liscenses for EWQL which I use often and some soft effects plugins I never use.

When my mixer EQ isn't enough or I want something with a visual feedback, I'll use this handy VST.