The Access Virus TI passes the torch onto the Virus TI2 series at Winter NAMM 2009, where Access announced the availability of the new versions, which offer 25% higher calculating power along with redesigned housing featuring lighter materials and a new front panel scheme. The software gets a boost thanks to OS3, a brand new operating system for the Virus that adds more effects -- tape delay, frequency shifter, more distortions and "Character" -- to your repertoire.

The Character parameter lets you adjust the overall tone of a preset. You can also emphasize only certain parts of the patch to enhance or scale back presence in the mix. The new distortion algorithms were all built from the ground up and antonymically focus on delivering a very widely dynamic range, bringing you everything from the warmth of tube effects to the hazardous wizardry of digital malfunction. Better bit and sampling-rate reductions add surgical precision to determining audio quality and cutoff points.

The stereo Frequency Shifter and Ring Modulator are modeled after "old '70s stompboxes." It'll only be another 61 years until we see some new '70s stompboxes, but in case I don't make it there to tell you about them, I want you to know I tried.

As for the '70s stompboxes that already exist, the Tape Delay actually surpasses the capabilities of actual tape delays of the era. It syncs to tempo, gives you the option to create or lose Doppler effects during tempo change and smooths delay time switches between presets. Not to mention it has presets. Sounds more like an effect from the NEW '70s.

Furhtermore, the Virus Control user interface has been wholly revamped in line with requests Access has received and chosen to honor over the years. It now offers a side chain input. However, the best part about OS3 is that it will works with any legacy Virus TI or Virus TI Snow, and the OS upgrade is free.

While OS3 is available on the double, and the TI2 hardware will be out shortly after the '09 Winter NAMM Show. Hardware options include the Virus TI2 Desktop 19" desktop synth, Virus TI2 Keyboard with 61 semi-weighted keys and Virus TI2 Polar with 37 synth-action keys.