The Access Virus is an electronic music instrument created by the German company Access Music GmbH. It was first made in 1997 and has been improved over time, with new models released approximately every two years. Early versions included the Virus A, Virus B, and Virus C series, each offered in different hardware setups. In November 2005, the Virus TI series was introduced, featuring the 61-key Virus TI Keyboard and the 37-key Virus TI Polar. A smaller desktop model, the Virus TI Snow, was released in February 2008. In March 2009, an updated version of the TI series called TI2 was launched, with faster computer parts, more notes that can be played at once, additional sound effects, and a slightly different design. The Virus series also includes two software versions: TDM for Pro Tools and VST for TC Electronic Powercore. The term "Access Virus" can refer to any of these synthesizers. In 2024, Access Music stopped producing the TI2 model.
Technical details
The Access Virus uses several methods to create sounds, including subtractive synthesis, phase distortion (PD) synthesis, frequency modulation (FM) synthesis, and wavetable synthesis starting with the TI series.
All Virus synthesizers are powered by digital signal processing (DSP) and are virtual analog synthesizers. They include virtual voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) that can be adjusted smoothly from a pure sine wave to a square wave, with variable pulse-width modulation. They also have 63 "spectral" waveforms, which are completely synthetic and not based on analog waveforms. Oscillator waveforms can be modified using ring modulation (AM), phase distortion (PD), or frequency modulation (FM). The Virus includes a Matrix Modulation system. With the TI series, new oscillator models were introduced, such as Hypersaw and wavetable, along with formant and granular oscillators.
The filter section is adjustable, featuring two separate resonant filters that can be combined and modified in different ways. The Matrix Modulation system allows for the creation of complex and detailed sounds. The Virus includes a filter saturation stage and offers various types of digital and analog-style distortion.
Series comparisons
The Virus has had three major hardware updates since the original Virus A model, along with many features added through software updates. The core of the Virus engine remained mostly unchanged from the Virus A until the Virus C. All models use a single Motorola DSP chip, and the sound differs between models, even without considering added features. A major change from software improvements is the addition of a third oscillator control in the B-series menus.
The Virus TI uses two DSP chips and marks the most significant technical change in the Virus series since its creation.
The Virus TI series can copy the sounds of many old and new synthesizers. It is a digital synthesizer but can copy the sound and behavior of analog synthesizers while keeping some digital features. What makes the Virus's VA module special compared to similar synthesizers is its two multimode filters and a large modulation matrix. Starting with the Virus B OS4 update, it has three oscillators per voice (plus one sub oscillator per voice) and two filters per voice.
The basic analog modeled oscillators in the Virus A and TI are the same, with the only differences being the number of voices available, plus the additional Hypersaw oscillator and digital wavetable oscillators in the Virus TI. The original Virus oscillators also have less high-frequency sound compared to oscillators in other analog-style synthesizers like the Clavia Nord Lead and Roland JP-8000.
The highly resonant twin multimode filter is a key part of the Virus sound. In the TI series, this filter was expanded to include grain table, comb, and formant filter settings.
Both Virus filters can be connected in series, parallel, or set to process two oscillators separately. The flexible filter setup allows the Virus to copy an 18 dB/octave 3-pole filter, for example, by combining a 24 dB/octave 4-pole filter with a 12 dB/octave 2-pole filter and adjusting the balance. Connecting a 4-pole filter with a 2-pole filter also creates a 36 dB/octave 6-pole filter, which is unique among similar-priced synthesizers. These interchangeable filters allow effects like simultaneous high-pass and low-pass sweeps or automated filter changes while still leaving one filter available for manual control.
Every parameter on the synth's control surface and every parameter in submenus can be set as a modulation destination. The Virus has a list of modulation sources, including a random trigger. The Virus A and B have three modulation sources that can control six destinations. The Virus C and TI have six modulation sources that can control up to 18 destinations. This does not include the three LFOs, which can modulate oscillators 1 and 2, pulse width, resonance, cutoff of both filters, stereo pan, and any parameter set as a source in the modulation matrix, all at the same time if needed.
It is possible to copy the unstable tuning of analog synthesizers by using a random source to modulate the pitch and detune of one or more oscillators, so that each note played has a slightly different tuning. The modulation matrix also allows for recursive modulation, where a variable can modulate itself. This affects how control variables on the synth behave. For example, the Virus amplifier attack envelope is linear by default but can be changed by setting the amplifier envelope as a modulation source that modulates itself.
The Virus includes a set of DSP effects, such as a distortion unit that can create rectified, analog-modeled, and digital distortion, as well as effects that reduce bit depth and sample rate. The Virus C and TI also include a 3-band EQ.
The Virus has always supported 16 parts multitimbral for layered sounds and ensemble performances. However, until the Virus TI, this feature had serious issues and was often considered unusable due to the limited polyphony of the Virus A, B, and C.
The programming method for the Virus A is similar to the Virus TI, and most sounds produced are the same. However, the additional oscillators, higher polyphony, extra filter types, the EQ, revised control surface, and improved sequencer integration in the TI allow for a wider range of possible sounds. Hardware changes in the TI include balanced inputs/outputs, 24-bit/96 kHz output, and a new sequencer interface.
The Virus TI Snow was introduced at the NAMM Show in January 2008. It is a simplified version of the TI Desktop and is compatible with other TI models. It is smaller, with a simple interface, uses a single DSP chip, has about half the polyphony, and supports only four parts of multitimbral capability.
Notable users
The Access Virus synthesizer has been used often by trance and techno musicians, such as Headhunterz, Hardwell, Angerfist, Luca Anzilotti (also known as John VIRGO Garrett III of Snap!), Paul Oakenfold, DJ Sammy, and Sasha. Anders Trentemøller said the Access Virus was one of two synthesizers he used while making his first album, "The Last Resort." The synthesizer has also been used by Minecraft composer Daniel Rosenfeld.
The Access Virus has been used in many different music styles by artists like Barenaked Ladies, Celine Dion, Covenant, Depeche Mode, Dr. Dre, fripSide, Front Line Assembly, Gary Numan, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jim Jonsin, KMFDM, Linkin Park (it appears in the music video for their song "New Divide"), Michael Jackson, Myon & Shane 54, Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Owl City, Periphery, Radiohead, Ryan Leslie, Stevie Wonder, t.A.T.u, Tangerine Dream, The Prodigy, Thomas Dolby, Thorsten Quaeschning, TOOL, Velvet Acid Christ, VNV Nation, and film composers Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt.