Access Virus TI2 Polar Integrated Modeling Synth

No longer available at zZounds
Tear up the scene with the Access Virus TI2 Polar. This next-gen virtual-analog synth adds more effects and 25% more processing power in a lighter housing.

A powerhouse of a synth, the Access Virus TI2 Polar keyboard synthesizer brings together the best of both the analog and virtual realms, delivering more processing power, more effects, and more control options than you'd expect to get in such a compact, lightweight enclosure.

The Virus TI2 Polar effectively one-ups Access's previous TI model with its redesigned front panel and housing, 25 percent boost of processing power, updated OS with onboard effects like Tape Delay and Frequency Shifter, and the enhanced Virus Control 3.0 plug-in. Ideal for studio musicians, producers, and touring musicians alike, the 37-key virtual-analog synth is both easy to play live and a pleasure to keep in the studio.

Super Fat FX Section

Thanks to the OS4 update, this compact integrated modeling synth has a rather robust effects section. The Virus TI2 Polar adds a Tape Delay effect, a Frequency Shifter, several different distortion algorithms, and an effect called Character.

With Character, you can shape the tone of a preset and recall the sounds of several vintage and well-known synthesizers, as well as emphasis 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.

Its Tape Delay is especially sweet during live performances. It syncs smoothly to tempo, letting you decide if a Doppler effect takes place when changing the tempo. When making the stereo Frequency Shifter and the Ring Modulator algorithms, Access read more turned to '70s stompboxes for inspiration.

6 Delectable Distortions on the Menu

OS4 gives the Virus TI2 Polar six saucy distortion types modeled on vintage guitar distortion pedals: Mint Overdrive (tubes!), Curry Overdrive (extreme), Saffron Overdrive (harsh and grungy), Onion Overdrive (fuzzy), Pepper Overdrive (clean), and Chili Overdrive (classic fuzzbox). These virtual stompboxes feature carefully modeled distortion curves and tonal characteristics, as well as tone controls where appropriate.

You can use the distortions to add anything from warm tube-like tones to circuit-bent-like mangled messes to your music. Featuring a wide dynamic range and controls to customize the sound, the distortion algorithms on the Virus TI2 Polar also have improved bit and sampling-rate reduction, making it simple to change the quality and cutoff point with precise, continuously variable control.

Many Sound Design Options

Also courtesy of OS4, a powerful arpeggiator to matrix feature allows you to use the arpeggiator pattern to modulate any of the parameters available to the modulation matrix. You can use this to create dynamic, rhythmic patterns within a sound, kind of like what you can achieve with a step sequencer.

The synth's Vowel Filter provides an effective way to vocalize any sound, vocoder style, while a Comb Filter is capable of creating anything from subtle, pitched overtones to extreme time-warped deconstruction of any given patch.

Completely Overhauled Virus Control Plug-in

With a redesigned user interface, Virus Control is poised to infect you with some virtual-analog excitement. Giving you total control over the Virus TI2 Polar from within your DAW, version 3.0 of the plug-in features a side chain input that allows you to mangle audio from a sequencer track with the FX and sound engine of the hardware Virus (for selected hosts only).

The Access Virus TI2 Polar sports a 37-key synth-action keyboard, along with alloy and wooden side panels. It's the ultimate convergence of hardware and software, putting VST control and analog synthesis at your fingertips.

Features:

- 37-Key virtual-analog synthesizer
- Effects section enhanced with Tape Delay, Frequency Shifter, distortion algorithms, and Character
- Updated Virus Control 3.0 plug-in integrates hardware with DAW software
- OS4 adds Vowel and Comb filters and 2-dimensional modulation matrix
- Programmable arpeggiator pattern for every patch
- 25% More processing power than the Virus TI
- Redesigned front panel and housing for compact, lightweight portability
- Dual DSP system with over 80 stereo voices under average load
- Audio and MIDI I/O can be used by the sequencer application as an audio and MIDI interface
- Sample-accurate timing and delay-compensated connection to your sequencer
- 3 Main oscillators and one sub-oscillator per voice
- Wavetable oscillators, hyperSaw oscillators, grantable oscillators, and formant oscillators
- 2 Multimode filters (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-stop) and Analog Filter
- Independent delay and reverb for all 16 multi mode slots
- 129 Parallel effects
- Dedicated remote mode turns the Virus TI into an universal remote control for VST/AU plug-ins and external synths
- 6 Balanced outputs with +4 dB level and switchable soft limiting algorithm
- 192 kHz D/A converters with S/PDIF digital I/O
- Tap tempo
- Knob quantize for creating stepped controller movements
- 2 ADSTR envelopes
- Extended memory: 512 RAM patches and 2,048 ROM patches (rewritable)
- Adaptive control smoothing for jitter-free modulations on all important parameters
- Multi mode with embedded patches
- Compatible with USB
- Synth-action keyboard with 37 keys, velocity response, and aftertouch
- 2 pedal inputs
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- Height: 11.2 cm (4.4 inches)
- Width: 56.5 cm (22.3 inches)
- Depth: 33.5 cm (13.2 inches)
- Weight: 8.4 kg (18.5 pounds)

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: +49-2361-970-9777
Web: https://www.virus.info/contact

Access Virus TI2 Polar Modeling Synth

The Access Virus TI2 Polar Keyboard synthesizer is built for the road: a compact synth with 37 keys makes it a true contender for traveling electronic enthusiasts. The TI2 provides 25% higher calculating power and a redesigned housing and front panel. Access TI2 also has used lighter materials to bring down the weight of the keyboard synth to make it easier to take along on gigs or anywhere you may need some electonic audio to give you peace of mind. On the software side of things, a major feature update, OS4, will be available by the time you read this. The operating system adds several FX such as a Tape Delay, Frequency Shifter and several Distortion algorithms along with a feature called Character.

Character allows you to adjust the overall tone of a preset reminiscent of several vintage and well-known synthesizers. In addition you can emphasis 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 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 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 OS4 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 thing, however, is that OS4 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 software features totally free of charge.

Virus TI2 Polar 37 keys (synth action) keyboard model with alloy and wooden side panels.

OS4

OS4 for the entire Virus TI line of synthesizers brings 6 more distortion flavors to the table, modeled on vintage guitar distortion pedals. Every one of these classic pedals is famous for its distinctive character and has been exploited by some of the greatest guitar heroes of all time. The virtual stomp boxes feature carefully modeled distortion curves and tonal characteristics and include tone controls where appropriate.

Mint Overdrive - The sound of this one just screams tubes - a very special kind of overdrive which results in a wonderful smokey tone. Good for achieving a subtle distortion effect whilst still retaining headroom for dynamics.

Curry Overdrive - A more extreme distortion, like in the original, this does not feature a Tone control.

Saffron Overdrive - The orange one. A very harsh distortion, popular with the grunge movement.
Onion Overdrive - A big distortion effect famous for its fuzzy character.

Pepper Overdrive - A clear, powerful distortion thats perfect for making leads cut right through the mix. Tone control to soften sound with a lowpass filter.

Chili Overdrive - A classic "fuzzbox" overdrive. No tone control, just in-your-face fuzz.

Vowel Filter

This effect is a simple and effective way to vocalize any sound similar to the way a talk box or vocoder would do.

Comb Filter

The comb filter creates everything from subtle, pitched overtones to extreme time-warped deconstruction of any given patch.

Arpeggiator To Matrix

OS4 for the Virus TI series introduces a powerful feature that allows you use the arpeggiator pattern to modulate any of the parameters available to the modulation matrix. You can use this to create dynamic, rhythmical patterns within a sound, similar to what you can achieve with a step sequencer.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (8 ratings)
Submitted June 30, 2014 by Andre L in Berkeley, CA

"Fantastic Synth, worth every cent."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've had the TI2 Polar for six months now, and I use it every day. I bought it as an upgrade from a Virus B. It's definitely similar to the older Virus line with some pretty awesome features. I'm coming at this from a Linux user perspective so I can't really speak to the Total Control Integration point of view, that is unfortunately a Windows or Mac only piece of software. I run it exclusively as a midi only box, although I occasionally use the USB in/out as an audio capture device. The sound on the synth is definitely the selling point for me, especially with the updates like wave tables and arp to mod matrix support. This is a pretty amazing synth engine in it's own right and adding a keyboard just makes you want to play on it all the time. The construction is very sturdy, the knobs feel like they will last quite a while, the weight of it makes the smaller size easily giggable. I've also instilled a lot of lust in my friends playing synths like the Moog Voyager, so I would say it fares well even though it's virtual analog. For me the key pros were: * Fantastic sounds and effects for every midi channel * Easily sculpt sounds from the hardware interface * Integrated keyboard * More DSP = more sounds * Great training videos, however they should post more of them. * Support on the forums is actually pretty nice, a little digging pulls up a lot of great information. Main Cons: * The total control is supposed to be very stable now, however may still require tinkering. read more Since there is no VST only version of the software, and I am on Linux, it is really only possible to use it like the original Virus B. * The manuals are not clear, you need to read several versions only to discover you need to read the original TI manual - there is no TI2 specific manual other than the quick start. They expect you to read the manual from the Total Control help. * Even with the extra DSP I managed to bog the synth down using it as a drum module. Each note is very short with no long decays, and yet I maxed out with 7 patches fairly easily. Most were simple drum sounds. That being said there are lots of tricks for getting a lot more out of the DSP, I was using premade sounds that weren't really optimized for multi-timbral playing. * Some parameters are now buried with the Shift button, which can make tweaking those parameters a little harder to tweak while also playing. * Vocoder is nicely complex, which made it hard to get a useful sound out. Documentation is slim, but I finally worked out they have a bunch of presets for a reason. * Knobs work when using it as a generic midi controller, but buttons don't. * Web site was often glitchy and hard to download updates from. It's still USB 1, and running any other devices on the same port may cause glitching. Overall though, if you make a point of thinking of this as an amazing sounding piece of hardware and you take the time to learn the hardware interface, it will pay off. If you are trying to use the Total Control software, your millage may vary considerably. I wouldn't view the Total Control as the main selling point.

Musical Background:
I've been playing synths, guitar and bass for roughly 22 years, produced an award winning album, some commercial sound design

Musical Style:
Mostly alternative and electronica, occasionally Hip-hop.
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