RIP Access Virus TI2, the popular flagship digital Synthesizer from mastermind Christoph Kemper is discontinued.
Many bands use synthesizers on stage. Not only in electronic but also in rock and metal music formations with heavy guitar riffs are synths part of the setup. For example, the synths at Iron Maiden concerts are played live behind the curtain. Often with workstations or flagship synths.
One of the most famous stage synthesizers is now off the market. According to information from Amazona.de, Access has stopped the production of the Virus TI2 Synthesizer—time to say goodbye.
RIP Access Virus TI2
Access mastermind Christoph Kemper has confirmed to Amazona.de writer Sven Rosswog that the Virus TI2 has been out of production for a few months. So, the last units were produced in 2023, and everything that can now be found new are leftovers.
When asked whether Kemper was still interested in synthesizers in 2018, he replied yes. He answered, however, that the production line is fully utilized with the Kemper amps. I’m pretty sure, now they have even more to do with Kemper amp products, including the brand-new Profiler Player pedal. Theses products became super successful.
I think Access would make new synthesizers if they had the capacity. Often forgotten, Access is a sister brand of Kemper Amps, and both are small companies from Recklinghausen, Germany. The development and production capabilities are not comparable with big players like Roland and Yamaha.
The available resources are often used for the products that financially perform best. I think, in this case, it’s Kemper Amps. The guitar market is far more significant than that for synths. But there is hope for a new one. In a former interview, it was suggested that there might be an Access Virus TI3.
As a reminder, the Virus TI2 is a powerful digital synth with over 80 voices, 16 parts, three multi-wave oscillators + sub-osc + noise structure, dual filters, 3 LFOs, envelopes, various effects, built-in arpeggiator, and more.
A highlight of the TI range is the total recall functionality, which allows you to route all the sound parts into the computer via USB, including full control over the engine, using the free editor.
Virus TI2 Emulator
This clears the way for the Virus TI2 plugin from The Usual Suspects. These developers created the Motorola chip emulator DSP56300 and released two digital synths as software in the past. More precisely, the Waldorf microQ and Osirus (Virus B and C).
The developers have already finished the TI2 but left it in the drawer until the discontinuation of the hardware. The moment is now. So it will be interesting if they will release it in the coming months of 2024.
A longtime user of the Virus TI2 is Peter Gordeno, tour keyboarder of Depeche Mode. Here is a tour rig video.
Final Words
Either way, it’s sad news that the TI2 Virus will now disappear after 15 years (2009-2024) on the shelves from the market. But it was already foreseeable that this would happen. In the last two years, things have been very quiet around Access and synthesizers. But I hope that we get a new Virus TI in the future.
More information here: Access
Best classical synth ever made, nothing can touch its sound and versatility. Build like a tank, the Virus will continue to rock.
They can pry my access virus from my cold dead hands.
IMO the best digital synth ever made.
I have a Ti2 Polar. It’s my favourite digital synth by far.
Would love to see / hear a Ti3 😀🎹
I have just installed the Osirus onto my system as I had a Virus B for a number of years. Really think it’s rather good so looking forward to the TI2.
I will always remember when I got my first TI2 Desktop. It arrived during lockdown. Yes, the right sort of virus to get at that particular time! The courier was more than a bit worried – seeing the box label and its potentially hazardous contents.
A great sounding and versatile machine – particularly with the Aura editor. The external input plus effects is central to my Dawless set up.
Bring on the next Virus mutation – but not Covid, of course.
If you had only answered the door in a hazmat suit.
Virus TI3 or something completely new would be awesome.
tx to „thehandoflenin“ for mention Osirus. i have installed it on my M1 Macbook and it sound exactly! like my beloved bit selled virus. Now iam getting him back 🙂
TI/TI2/Snow emulator is heavily being worked on, expect nice things to be released in the future
TI 1 was my first synth in 2007…
Loved it …until better things started to come out and lack of support from access really put me off.
Sold and never looked back. Dont miss it a bit. Market is full of superior stuff.
The open source version of the Virus TI, OsTIrus, is now available on our website:
https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/2024/04/22/ostirus-emulation-now-available/