Access Virus Indigo2 Redback
A limited-run virtual analog synthesizer with a distinctive black body and red LCD/LEDs, part of the influential Virus line.
Overview
The Access Virus Indigo2 Redback is a variant of the Access Virus Indigo2, produced by German manufacturer Access Music. It is a virtual analog synthesizer known for its radical real-time parameter control and aggressive sonic character. The Redback model features a black body with red LCD panel and LEDs, distinguishing it visually from the standard Indigo2. Its knob layout is nearly identical to the Virus TI, emphasizing hands-on sound manipulation. The Virus product line began in 1997 with the original Virus, which used DSP chips to model analog oscillator behavior, filter saturation, and imperfections. Over time, Access released iterations including the Virus A, B, C, and TI series. The Virus became central to late 1990s and early 2000s electronic music, especially in trance, progressive house, drum and bass, and psytrance. Producers like Ferry Corsten, Armin van Buuren, and BT adopted the Virus A early on. The Redback’s sound is described as transformative—“turning any music into the color of indigo”—contrasted with the more adaptive tone of the TI.
Design
The difference from the normal Indigo2 is that the body is black, and the LCD panel and LEDs are red. The knob layout is almost the same as the Virus TI, allowing for intuitive, performance-oriented control.
Context
The Access Virus product line was first produced in 1997 by Access Music, founded that year in Dortmund, Germany, by Christoph Kemper. The line includes the Virus A, B, C, TI, and Indigo series. The Virus Indigo2 Redback is a model within this lineage, representing a specialized variant of the Indigo2. The Virus architecture features hypersaw oscillators with massive unison stacks, built-in effects, and a deep modulation matrix. It delivered sounds so thick and aggressive that it made digital synthesis feel genuinely dangerous, with buzzing leads and wide supersaws defining an era of electronic music.
Market
The Redback model is limited to 150 units worldwide, with rumors suggesting only about 30 were imported to Japan. It was considered considerably expensive at the time of release, described as a "treasure for a lifetime." Some past units have appeared with issues including unstable operation, scratches, and a damaged rear phone output.
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Service Manuals, Schematics & Catalogs
- Catalog (1919) — archive.org