Vintage Synth Explorer

Access • VIRUS C Series

VIRUS C

A brand new and ever more powerful strain of the Virus was released in 2002 to replace the entire B Series line-up. First up is the flag-ship desktop module, the Virus C. Polyphony is expanded from 24 to 32 voices! Otherwise the synth engine is virtually the same as the B series. Three oscillators, one sub osc., two independent multi-mode filters, two ADSTR envelopes, three LFOs, 16 arpeggiators, 32-band vocoder, five FM synthesis modes and 16 part multitimbrality. The C series offers an expanded mod matrix with 6 source and 9 destination slots, 98 effects, wood side panels, and more! A new 3-band EQ section is available as well as an Undo/Redo function. The operating systems can be easily upgraded via MIDI and there is a free SoundDiver Virus editor/librarian for Windows and MacOS systems available. It has been used by Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, and Max Graham.

VIRUS KC

The Virus KC, pictured above is the classy keyboard version of the Virus C. It features 61 semi-weighted keys responsive to velocity and aftertouch. It is the ultimate hands on Virus synth! There are also individual and assignable Pitch and Mod wheels. Nice wood panels and a layout that remains faithful to the module's intuitive design.

VIRUS Rack XL

The Virus Rack XL (pictured above) packs the entire Virus C into a single-unit rack-module for those of you who don't need built-in hands-on access. Limited in knobs, buttons and LEDs - but that's all. The Rack XL has all the same features and functions of the Virus C and KC versions. It even has front and rear audio inputs to process external audio through its effects, vocoder, filters, etc.

VIRUS Indigo 2

The Indigo 2 packs the same great synth engine found in the Virus C into a 'Roadster' style compact keyboard designed after the original Virus Indigo. The new Indigo 2 comes equipped with a new front-panel, a 3-octave keyboard with Aftertouch, aluminum side panels and even more blue LEDs! The Indigo 2 packs power, portability and the legendary Virus sound into an awesome looking synth! It has been used by Richard Barbieri.

Click here for a PDF comparison chart between all Virus products from 1997 through 2002.

VISITOR COMMENTS

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Mark Orfila

Posted 98 days ago

Very bad sound at source.Hidden by effects which are average at best. If you strip out the effects the sound is thin.It's like a softsynth in a box with a keyboard attached.True, the digital filter is OK for a digital filter.It is muddy sounding to my ears.The filter in the JD800/JD990 is far superior in my opinion.The JD is the best digital synth by far and you can pan the 4 seperate tones! If you compare the VirusC to an Oberheim Xpander for eg.well lets just say that the Virus sounds like a joke!Use a top reverb like and eventide DSP7500 with the Xpander and you will realise.Sound at source for the reverb tails.I also have a Moog Source and the bass blows the Virus out of the water..thick, FAT and punchy !Digital is just too thin and the Virus is terribly muddy.Digital has it's place for glassy sounds but the Virus is not a glassy sounding synth.I have had a Virus back 3 times,kept trying to convince myself but I care about my sound and the Virus will not be coming back this time

Robert Gustaffson

Posted 137 days ago

I own both a TI Polar and an Indigo II. The TI has more polyphony and features but for sound quality the Indigo II wins.
Glad I'm not the only one to notice!

Gigi

Posted 184 days ago

I did demos for Virus,
B and C are sounding better then new TI series maybe different converters? :)
One of the best VA in the market, but im quite bored about it, is overused everywhere! :)
Lets hope in a better OS for the TI series even the last 3 is not the top of the stability.....

Virtual Bela

Posted 189 days ago

I suppose the mp3 samples point to the virus b ones...

Andrei

Posted 277 days ago

I've used the Virus C for about two years now and what can i say is that it sounds fat as hell. After playing around with soft synths like Massive and Albino, i can say that they get pretty close, and you can definitely get very good sounds out of them, but it's much harder and time consuming than with the Virus. This one's a keeper, even if TI2 is out now.

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