Korg Radias vs. Access Virus TI—an unfair comparison . . .

[botega]

Another thing, the Virus has been out for eons (1997/8?), and there have been plenty of great sound programmers for it over the years, therefore an established catalog of presets have been built up.

But believe me, it's exceptionally easy to make the Virus sound crap/cheesy!

The Radias hasn't been out that long, consequently the presets are few and not entirely demonstrative of the Radias' full capabilities. It's still fresh meat.

that is so true Timo, i kind of got rid of my virus C sounds and after having it for few years now, i want to get rid of it and buy me any other synth that is not virus

it is quite worn out

[LEVEL4]

Good point, Timo! Yep, I'm sure the Radias is capable of much more than its paltry collection of less-than-stellar, preset sounds (although, that "Power of Radias" patch is my all-time FAV! . . . just kidding). I guess, it's just that much more incentive for me to learn how to program the darn thing.

[LEVEL4]

i want to get rid of it and buy me any other synth that is not virus . . . it is quite worn out

Hmm . . . you're really making me think that synths are a lot like women. You get tired of them all—no matter how pretty you think they are at first. And then there's that NEW one that turns your head—the one that you've just GOT to have! And it may not even be that she's just prettier, or skinnier, or fatter, or younger, or older than the one you have—it's just that she's DIFFERENT!

[DimensionFour]

i want to get rid of it and buy me any other synth that is not virus . . . it is quite worn out

Hmm . . . you're really making me think that synths are a lot like women. You get tired of them all—no matter how pretty you think they are at first. And then there's that NEW one that turns your head—the one that you've just GOT to have! And it may not even be that she's just prettier, or skinnier, or fatter, or younger, or older than the one you have—it's just that she's DIFFERENT!

In my opinion it's just your ideas they get worn out... Not synth capabilities
With just one simple tube amp you can change the whole sound of the synth.
I did something different yesterday tho.
I went to check the Moogs as I was looking for a new piece of gear and after 2 hours I couldn't make up my mind. My wife called me and we talked for a bit and then she says, honey you should buy something that you would never buy in normal circumstances. This should give you some sort of contrast to what you are used to...
My wife is brialliant... For real.

...So I bought a guitar
not joking. I can't play s**t BUT with the wah-wah fx and my lexicon MX200 (+a book - Guitar for noobs ) I am already building pads on it. I don't remeber when was the last time I had such a huge flow of ideas and unreal smile on my face.

[LEVEL4]

That's cool, DF! Yeah, that's what we're all looking for . . . creative inspiration. That's cool about your new guitar (and your wife!). I haven't let my lame ability stop me from playing! (I have a Strat, a classical, a steel string, and an electric bass, and I suck at all of them.)

[LEVEL4]

Another thing, the Virus has been out for eons (1997/8?), and there have been plenty of great sound programmers for it over the years, therefore an established catalog of presets have been built up.

You make an excellent point, Timo! At first I was surprised at the sheer number of presets available in the Virus. But, since all the patches are forward-compatilble, that makes sense—that all the previously developed patches still work with newer Virus models, and were simply collected and thrown into additional ROM banks. This also helps justify the Virus' premium price. You can look at in that, you're not only getting the hardware (and the POTENTIAL to program great sounds), but all of the creative labor of the many sound designers that worked to produce the Virus' vast library of well-programmed patches.

[Khazul]

...So I bought a guitar
not joking. I can't play s**t BUT with the wah-wah fx and my lexicon MX200 (+a book - Guitar for noobs ) I am already building pads on it. I don't remeber when was the last time I had such a huge flow of ideas and unreal smile on my face.

Heh - TC Fireworx and a guitar are great for interesting pads - I still cant play the damn thing, but its fun

[LEVEL4]

Well that's where the real beauty of a DAW comes in handy . . . you only have to play it (your guitar passage) right ONE TIME (at least, for recording)! I have some guitar chord books, and it's damned hard to finger some of those chord progressions on the fretboard at full-speed. But, if I try it over and over again, I can eventually get it right . . . ONCE.

[Polarelh]

Hey people,
I just registered to this forum because of this thread...

I am in expectation of enough money to buy *either* the Virus (key version) *or* the Radias, and I would love to have them both :S
So: I can't decide in all the sleepless nights I'm having rightnow and thought someone might be able to help me a bit here.

My background: Musician / Songwriter, founding a new synthpop-act, also doing Solo-Stuff, everything - at least by now - on a nonprofessional ground. Having a small homestudio here with a Korg Triton, a Kurzweil PC1X, some softsynths (also Korg Legacy Collection).

My music can be quite kitschy, it's definitely no techno and nowhere near Depeche Mode, sounds more bright and melodic.
Can also have dark and depressing moments though.

What I now want is a hardware synth for studio (in order to reduce CPU problems) and for stage.
What gets me to the Radias, is the fact that I might use it for beats on stage (we don't have any drummer, I have to do all the stuff alone!!),
though I am no big beat programmer really - sold an electribe cos I had no clue how to use it.
Also pro Radias: The lightweight, the intuitivity (at least in store), the price, also the sound is great but I'm afraid it can't go dark or dirty. It sounds all so bright and polished like at the dentists

So what gets me to the virus, is the fact that I can use it like a VSTi in Studio. This would replace some CPU-eating softsynths.
Also pro Virus: The massive sound, the reputation, the effects, but I'm afraid it's not as easy to handle as the Radias (I'm still a synth-beginner actually), afraid it's always too dark and can't sound as sweet-lovely-clean as the Radias. And then there's almost 1000 Euros less in my pocket.

Synths that are still on my list are the upcoming Nord Wave, the Stromberg, mayyyybe the Origin or the Solaris. Dunno about the latter 2.

I'm afraid, the best choice for my Studio would be the Virus, and the best choice for Stage would be the Radias, since we are only a duo and I have to do *all* the music *all* alone. Plus sing background vocals.

But - my budget is very limited, and it's also between spending 1400 EUR (Radias) or 2260 EUR (Virus). Don't want to regret any of the buys.
Small comparison: By now, I regretted buying a micron (too sharp), a Creamware Pro12 (too plastic), an MFB Synth 2 (too monophone) and an Electribe (too hard to handle).
Fave vsti: Minimonsta. Period.

So.
Can anyone help me? At least a bit?

[Khazul]

Go with which ever sound you prefer.

With the Virus Control plugin, the virus is very easy to program.

IMHO the Radias is easier to pregram from the front panel than the Virus for basic stuff, but overall I find I can get to a sound I want easier on the Virus hardware, just because it a much more flexible synth through modulation matrix.

The radias has the advanctages of drum sounds, a bunch of decent PCM waves to work with etc, buit over time having owned since it came out, and also having had the Radias more or less since it was available in the UK, the Virus is very much my primary synth, and the radias is very much the bells and whistles around that. Basically while a very good synth feature wise in its own right, I personally just dont find its sound character, particularly its filter and drive character enough for prime time.

Also I was doing some detailed sound tests the other day - I was quite shocked out how poor its oscs seem to be compared to the Virus, V-Synth and a Studio Electronics ATC-X analog synth - which explained why I often have problem getting to sound I want when it should be perfectly capable of getting there. It just ends up missing something.

The bottom line - if you want a good powerful VA and can grow into the digital extended side of the Virus - go with the Virus. If the is something special about the Radias features or sound that you particularly like - go with the radias.

For me - I dont think the radias is really cutting it,s will probbaly sell it soon, unless I do start finding a good use for its unqiue capabilities.

[nemmo]

I wouldn't sell my Radias. Four MS2000 in a single rack ? No way

[LEVEL4]

Polarelh:

If you're comparing the Virus with the Radias, you can't. Your initial impressions are correct. IMO, you NEED to buy BOTH. TRUST ME! They sound so f*cking different from each other, that it's not even funny. Try to find a used Radias on Ebay to save some cash. I saw one girl who sold hers for only $700 USD. The Radias' characteristic "bright-digital" sound is great for rhythms and beat creation, and its sequencers and 16-key interface can't be beat. But for synth leads, basses, and just plain bad-ass sonic character, the Virus is THE synth to get, and nothing else, IMO, comes anywhere close.

It's a tough call for you. You need the accessibility of the Radias, but I know that you'll just love the complexity and depth of the Virus sounds. And don't worry about not being able to program the Virus—it has so many presets, I'm sure you'll find plenty of phat sounds to use already in the box. And if you like classic analog synth sounds, the Virus also does those very, very well, IMO. But your ears are serving you well, since every one of your comments, I believe, are spot-on. Tough choice. You really need/want both.

[Polarelh]

Hey again,

thanks for the first replies
I was in Music Store yesterday and tested both again. And yeah, I WANT both.
Radias really was fun to play on, though I also noticed that it kind of misses some soil. Exactly that I found at the Virus. God, I love them both.
I really believe they'll fit great together, I guess you can tell me stories about it, rezfactor

Radias was really fun to play and I even love the keyboard (isn't it the best keyboard Korg ever made? at least that I played on...)
And while playing on the Virus, on some point I came to a present... holy s**t... my jawbone was falling to the floor... I never had an experience like that: This one preset sound broke my heart in thousand pieces. AMAZING. And that was the point when I was sure that I need them both, and I will buy me both...
Though Radias first I guess. It's the thing I can afford the quickest.
Virus can come in half a year then I think

Thanks for the decision help

[LEVEL4]

Radias really was fun to play on, though I also noticed that it kind of misses . . . and while playing on the Virus, on some point I came to a present . . . holy s**t . . . my jawbone was falling to the floor... I never had an experience like that: This one preset sound broke my heart in thousand pieces. AMAZING.

See what I mean? I had the same exact experience. I played the Virus the day after I had already purchased a used Radias online. I came across a certain preset on the Virus, and my jaw dropped too. 'Cept, I think I said something like, "holy f*ckin' sh*t, this sounds f*cking amazing." Now . . . you're "infected" for life.

But the Korg is just so damned fun, and I'm sure, once I learn more than just being able to turn it on, I'll unlock much more of its potential than I can appreciate now. The great thing about you only being able to buy the Radias right now, is that since that's all you've got to play with, you'll really be motivated to dig in and learn the machine, and how to program it. Something I really need to get started on.

[Polarelh]

So would you say the Virus is easier to get into, once bought?

I mean... what I can tell from my experiences is that I gave up early on getting deeper into synths, such as:
microKorg (because of the interface and the 2 knobs and so on)
micron (stepping through the menus)

Though, I turned a lot of knobs on my Pro12 (and couldn't get anything nice out of it).

Wonder if I would give up getting deeper into the Radias as well.. hmm... but the knobs are just *too* inviting, and as far as I can tell - it still sounds better than the Creamware ASB thingy.

By now I don't own any hardware VA synth that got me stuck to it. Trying to sell the micron and the pro12 atm, since they didn't interest me anymore after 1 hour of playing. Hope it will be different with the Radias
I'm sure it will with the Virus though