Access Virus KB (1999)

61-key virtual analog synthesizer from Access Music, released in 1999. It has 24-voice polyphony, 16-part multitimbrality, and DSP-based analog modeling.

Overview

The Access Virus KB is a 61-key virtual analog synthesizer made by Access Music in 1999. Each voice has three oscillators with pulse, sine, triangle, and spectral waveforms. It gives you 24 voices of polyphony and 16-part multitimbral operation. Memory holds 768 preset patches, 256 user patches, and 128 user performances, which makes it a full workstation for live and studio use. The keyboard is semi-weighted and responds to both velocity and aftertouch. MIDI In, Out, and Through handle the connections to the rest of a MIDI setup.

Specifications

Oscillators	Three oscillators per voice, with pulse, sine, triangle, spectral waves
Filters	4 filter routings (lowpass, highpass, bandpass, reject), up to 6 poles
Envelope	Three envelope generators
Sync	Oscillator sync to MIDI clock
Modulation	Comprehensive modulation matrix with four LFOs
Keyboard	61 semi-weighted keys, velocity and aftertouch sensitive
Polyphony	24 voices
Multitimbral	16 parts
Preset Patches	768
User Patches	256
User Performances	128
Analog / Digital	Digital
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Effects	Extensive effects section including reverb, delay, and chorus

Design

The Virus KB uses DSP chips to model analog oscillator behavior, filter saturation, and imperfections. The architecture has hypersaw oscillators with massive unison stacks, a deep modulation matrix, and a built-in effects section. It is built for hands-on control and hooks into MIDI and audio setups.

Context

Access Music was founded in 1997 in Dortmund, Germany by Christoph Kemper, and released the original Virus in 1997. The Virus KB belongs to the broader Virus line, which went through the A, B, C, and TI series. The synth became popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s with producers in trance, progressive house, drum and bass, and psytrance. Its characteristic supersaw lead helped define a subgenre of trance music. Notable users include Ferry Corsten, Armin van Buuren, and BT.

Market

The Access Virus KB currently sells for $1,800 - $2,500 on the used market, which puts it in the high-end/boutique tier. Common problems are leaking capacitors that damage PCB vias, and units that fail to boot with no signs of life. Repairs are described as far easier to open than to reassemble.