Refx Nexus vs Access Virus Ti

[Kola]

Just wondering what people think about both of these synths and if you could have only one which one would it be.

One of the things that has me concerned with the Nexus is zero resale value unless im mistaken.

Sound wise though, what is better for uplifting trance?

[Mans]

Originally Posted by Kola

Just wondering what people think about both of these synths and if you could have only one which one would it be.

One of the things that has me concerned with the Nexus is zero resale value unless im mistaken.

Sound wise though, what is better for uplifting trance?

If you're looking to program original timbres go for the virus. If you want overused sounds go for the nexus.

[shadowfac]

Virus.

[Captain Proton]

Virus by far. Nexus is ok-ish sounding. But you soon realize that there is huge amounts of built in reverb all oer the presets for a reason.

Only 3 samples per octave multisamples! Really bad aliasing engine and a crappy reverb all over everything.

But there are some really good samples of a virus ti on just about 90% of the presets

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by Kola

Sound wise though, what is better for uplifting trance?

That doesn't matter. Thing is, with Nexus you get a cookie cutter library of sounds, and with the Virus, you have full freedom to make whatever you want. The downside with the Virus is that Nexus has some realistic sounds in there (e.g piano) which the Virus obviously doesn't do.

If next year's uplifting trance sounds radically different for some reason, you have to buy a new Nexus expansion; with the Virus, you just learn to program.

Which you should anyway. The knobs aren't just there for decorative purposes; it's just that if you don't use them you've bought yourself an incredibly expensive paperweight. Any arguments about "but you're supposed to learn to program, it's what we do!" are moot when you can score a string of nice tracks using just the presets.

Thing is, so can anyone else, since you're not the only one buying. Resale value depends on what conditions they put on resale; can you transfer licenses? If not, then resale value is zero.

If you want software to augment the things the Virus doesn't do, consider Atmosphere.

[Dr.Wu]

Happy Virus user here. Actually the only piece of synthhardware that still gets any love in my studio.
For software check Omnisphere.

[4damind]

I don't like the Nexus. All sounds a bit the same "manuel schleis" style. Not my cup of tea. But of course usable for some known sounds but with the problem you will also sound like all other Nexus users.

Virus! Many Trance artist are using the Virus this days not only for leads. It can also create great bass sounds. Great synth.

[shadowfac]

In case the choice is still not obvious:

1) A fully-expanded Nexus costs almost as much as a Virus TI rack, but has little to no resale value.

2) You cannot make your own sounds with Nexus, so if you want to try another genre, Nexus may not be useful to you. A Virus, on the other hand, is useful for almost any kind of music.

3) One day, a new version of your OS or DAW won't support your version of Nexus, so you will be forced to upgrade (if reFX and Nexus are still around). The Virus, on the other hand, will work for 20 years or more, if taken care of. For example, Virus A's are 10-12 years old and lots of people are still using them.

[zebastian21]

Originally Posted by Kola

Just wondering what people think about both of these synths and if you could have only one which one would it be.

One of the things that has me concerned with the Nexus is zero resale value unless im mistaken.

Sound wise though, what is better for uplifting trance?

you shouldnt worry about the re sale value , but instead look for a synth you would love to keep and becomes essential part of "your sound".

[divine source]

Originally Posted by Mans

If you're looking to program original timbres go for the virus. If you want overused sounds go for the nexus.

and the virus sounds not overused...???

[moogfreak]

Nexus sounds absolutely terrible to my ears (and to most people ive spoke to). As somebody said, it sounds as if they only multisampled 3 notes per octave. The sounds themselves are mainly standard run of the mill trance/house sounds and the sound manipulation very limited compared with something like the virus.

Incase you are still unsure,

Virus would be a way better investment, both soundwise, resale costs and tweakability.

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by moogfreak

Nexus sounds absolutely terrible to my ears (and to most people ive spoke to).

+1 !

[shadowfac]

Originally Posted by divine source

and the virus sounds not overused...???

The Virus is a synth, and a very flexible one. It does have its own character, but in general, it can cover a very wide range of sounds, and as long as one has the skill to program it, it doesn't have to sound like anyone else.

Nexus, on the other hand, is little more than an expensive preset player. The basic Nexus costs $350, but each preset pack costs $80, so you have too keep investing in order to obtain new sounds.

If you're not into programming your own sounds, and need a huge source of presets for not much money, then NI Komplete 5 for $399 may be the best choice right now. You get, according to the marketing babble, 11 synths, over 7500 presets, and access to a huge user library.

[Mans]

Originally Posted by shadowfac

The Virus is a synth, and a very flexible one.

nuff said

[Feinstrom]

For some original sounds you might consider one of the cheaper earlier reFX synths. PlastiCZ!, for example, is a charm to use and capable of really expressive timbres. And Vanguard, of course, has Trance written all over it...

Cheers,
Bert

[aaeronn]

Originally Posted by shadowfac

The Virus is a synth, and a very flexible one. It does have its own character, but in general, it can cover a very wide range of sounds, and as long as one has the skill to program it, it doesn't have to sound like anyone else.

<snip>

If you're not into programming your own sounds, and need a huge source of presets for not much money, then NI Komplete 5 for $399 may be the best choice right now. You get, according to the marketing babble, 11 synths, over 7500 presets, and access to a huge user library.

I *highly* recommend learning to program rather than preset surfing - especially through such huge libraries. I'm not knocking Komplete, or other collections - or people who use preset libraries, but I think it's much more rewarding and efficient to program what I need on the fly - which you can do fairly quickly if you spend the time learning to program your machines. I find digging through a huge number of sounds looking for something specific to be a distraction. Besides, the virus is a deep and very flexible machine that you are unlikely to get tired of exploring.

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by aaeronn

I *highly* recommend learning to program rather than preset surfing - especially through such huge libraries.

True. Komplete is however the winner in sheer longevity compared to Nexus - it's just that it doesn't have the groovebox like instant gratification.

It's not impossible to get a highly similar result out of Komplete as you get from Nexus - just a lot more work.

[clusterchord]

nexus is great as a quik fix for trademark/overused virus type sound. the way i work, and considering i only need this thing on ocassion, its a great solution. i need it to sound "virus" a mile away. i use other synths for new sounds.

but with a style more dependant on virus sound, i'd definetely recommend you go with the hardware. first, it sounds better, second its flexible, with a dedicated UI, and you're more capable of putting your own signature into its sounds.


you may also want to opt for a third solution, and that is Virus C. It contains most of what made Virus famous in the first place, and is subtantially cheaper. trademark sounds if you will. TI is just a re-package with extras like wavetables* and more polyphony/dsp, that you may, or may not find important. Good part of the virus-originated stuff in Nexus, could have been made on C just as easily as on TI.



*this term used by Access is a bit misleading, since it cannot do a true wavetable synthese - there is no capability to scan thru the wavetable by a modulation source. for this type of evolving sound, you still need a Waldorf or a PPG. on TI this bolis down to greater selection of static waveforms. considering the going used prices, personally i'd still pickup a Virus C and a Waldorf XT combo, instead of TI. and get two machines that excell in what they do, respectively. but depending on how you work, ymmw.

[bleepbleep]

Originally Posted by clusterchord

*this term used by Access is a bit misleading, since it cannot do a true wavetable synthese - there is no capability to scan thru the wavetable by a modulation source. for this type of evolving sound, you still need a Waldorf or a PPG. on TI this bolis down to greater selection of static waveforms.

not sure i get what you mean by this -

i got a virus Ti here and you can scan through the wavetable with all kinds of modulation sources, and increase/decrease the interpolation for smooth or chunky changes in timbre.....

whats the difference to what you are saying?

[Dr.Wu]

the TI does indeed have true wavetable synthesis. You can use envelopes, LFOs or the matrix to scan thru the waves.
Actually i had the honor to be on the team of people who made the wavetables. Good fun!

[Yoozer]

The Virus C or B do not call them wavetables but spectral waveforms; the wavetable name only appears with the TI, which has, AFAIK, Waldorf-style wavetables.

[Dr.Wu]

The wavetable synthesis was one of the new features when the TI was introduced the former models never had it.
The wavetables are made of up to 256 (or 1024 dont really remember) snapshots of 256 stacked sinewaves where each sinewave has its own pitch and level.
We did all kinds of crazy stuff like encoding a little melody in them-hold a key and scan the "third encounter" table slowly with an LFO and you will see what i mean.

[Captain Proton]

Originally Posted by moogfreak

Nexus sounds absolutely terrible to my ears (and to most people ive spoke to). As somebody said, it sounds as if they only multisampled 3 notes per octave. The sounds themselves are mainly standard run of the mill trance/house sounds and the sound manipulation very limited compared with something like the virus.

Incase you are still unsure,

Virus would be a way better investment, both soundwise, resale costs and tweakability.

Funny thing, I actually know they only sample that many notes in an octave. Had a funny conversation with the guy who runs the company.... I stupidly approached him with a view for me doing a library for Nexus 2.

Payment not based on sales i.e one off... and wasn't into my idea of quality sample packs. I can't do a library with so few multisamples....it just won't sound right, you are at the mercy of the resampling algo in Nexus which is not that good.... hence all the damn reverb on the presets.

I mean some of my simple analog bass sounds have over 400 samples! 15 does not cut it for me.

[casiosk1]

Virus...sideways.