Access Virus Rack (2000–2002)

Rackmount virtual analog synthesizer with spectral wavetables and 16-voice polyphony, released as a budget-friendly version of the Virus B.

Overview

The Access Virus Rack is a 1U rackmount synth built from 2000 to 2002 by Access, a company founded in Dortmund, Germany by Christoph Kemper. It has the same core synthesis engine as the Virus A and gives you the classic Virus sound with a simpler structure. It was designed to be affordable. It has 16-voice polyphony and 16-part multitimbral operation, which made it a fit for producers in trance, progressive house, drum and bass, and psytrance. The synth combines virtual analog modeling with short PCM waveforms using Harmonic Spectral Waveshapes, all on a physical-modeling DSP core. You edit in real time with 5 knobs and 12 buttons, grouped in functional rows (OSC, FILT, ENV). The arpeggiator runs on internal tempo sync (63-190 BPM) or external MIDI clock. It has six modes: up, down, up/down, random, "as played," and "chords."

Specifications

Polyphony	16 voices
Oscillators per voice	2 oscillators + 1 suboscillator + 1 noise source
Filters	2 x digital (-12 dB each)
Filter types	LPF, HPF, BPF, Bandstop
Filter poles	2-pole, 4-pole, 6-pole
Filter combinations	SER 4, SER 6, PAR 4, SPLIT
Envelopes	2 EGs (EG1 AMP: 4 segments + 1 time; EG2 filter: 4 segments + 1 time)
LFO	3 modulators with sin, tri, saw, sqr, S&H, sample & glide waveforms
Modulation Matrix	3 internal routings
Effects	34 effects: master (delay, reverb), chorus, analogue boost, 32-band vocoder
Equalizer	Parametric
Arpeggiator	Yes, 6 modes: up, down, up/down, random, "as played," "chords"
Sync	Arpeggiator, delay, LFO syncable internally (63–190 BPM) or via MIDI clock
Multitimbral	16 parts
Preset Patches	768
User Patches	256
User Performances	128
Memory (latest OS)	1024 patch slots
Resolution	24 Bit
Converters	18 bits
Synthesis Method	Digital Subtractive Synthesis, Frequency Modulation (FM)
MIDI Interface	MIDI in/out/thru
Audio Outputs	2 main outs + 2 AUX outs (1/4" TS, non-balanced)
Audio Inputs	L + R (1/4" TS, non-balanced)
Front panel connectors	Audio in: 1/4", Phones Out: 1/4"
Display	LCD, LED, backlit, 16 x 2 lines
Controls	5 knobs, 16 LEDs, 12 buttons
Rack Size	19", 1U
Dimensions (WxDxH)	470(W) x 185(D) x 75(H) mm
Weight	2.5 kg
PSU	12 VDC, 1A (+ polarity)
Battery	3V CR-2032
Case/body	Metal, black

Design

The Virus Rack has a steel case and a DSP-based virtual analog architecture. There are dual oscillators, a suboscillator, and a noise source with white, pink, or highpass colors. The oscillators give you sine, triangle, square, variable pulse width, and 64 PCM waveshapes, and there is a hypersaw mode. The filters are modeled on classic analog topologies and include resonance and saturation for tube-like distortion. The modulation system handles 3 internal routings or virtual patchcords, with definable knobs and adaptive parameter smoothing. The functional rows (OSC, FILT, ENV) assign the 5 encoder knobs. It runs in Single or Multi mode and responds to SysEx messages.

Context

The Virus Rack is a cut-down Virus B, which itself evolved from the Virus A. It has reduced polyphony and one fewer digital oscillator. Access positioned it as a budget alternative at a time when analog synths were rising in price and digital workstations were seen as sterile. It sits between the Virus A and B in features and shares the sound engine of the original Virus. The Virus Rack XL corresponds to the Virus C model.

Market

The original street price was $400.00. Current market prices include $619 (Virus Rack XL) and $1,300 (Virus Classic Rack "Lady in Red"). A 2011 used price was 200 Euros (approx. $250 USD). The trend price is around 300€. Common problems are jumpy rotary encoders and screen backlights that dim or flutter. Both are replaceable. The latest OS version is 2.1.