[Timo]

Regards Access at NAMM, I have been searching absolutely everywhere and even dropped a load of emails to different places but I've drawn a complete blank. In past years it's also been hard to get info on Access announcements, but there's been no teaser on their site, or on Facebook, so not personally expecting anything this time given OS v5 has recently gone gold, but the kid in me would be lying if I said I wasn't a touch disheartened.

Originally Posted by TweakHead

With this crysis developers can't afford to take risks, they can either hit the market with a win win product, or they'd better hold it. And I guess it shows. I think the biggest part of the market, today, must be affordable mono synths with a nice interface with knobs, and of course analogue - which more and more people, of this new generation of electronic music, have a wish for (including myself).

Take a peek at the new DSI Prophet 12, priced at $3K (the same as TI2 kb) [1][2]. That thing is going to absolutely fly off the shelves.

And I think some companies are being smart about it. Like Korg, I also think they tested the market for small analogue stuff (with the all mighty ms-20 filter, worth the money by itself) and the very tiny controllers to, that are great for people using laptops for playing gigs not having to carry a big controller with them...

I agree, on both counts. Korg have been very perceptive in both the economic and cultural changes the last few years. From primarily selling workstations a good few years ago, they've had the foresight to completely change their tactics and evolve with the times, and have left the other two of the 'big three', Yamaha and Roland, lost for dust.

As for the Monotron paving way for the MS20, I think we'll see more analogue re-issues. Maybe even from Roland if they wake up and get a grip, they're in a prime position. There's definately a bit of an analogue renaissance occuring at the moment.

As for Access, they would hit big with a plug-in!

If Access made a native plugin, there would be huge stakes involved. The Virus is Access' only product. If it were cracked, it would kill Access completely.

I'm quite happy with hardware, but I feel Access need to be even more innovative with sound design and performance features. I think, from what other companies are offering now, both software VSTi and hardware, even analogue like the DSI Prophet12, that Access cannot afford just to drip feed a couple of small updates every year or two and continue to price the Virus the way it is. The Virus has saturated the market, Access need to do something more radically to it to add to it, or do something different with it, or even create another product, to continue to make it relevant.

I think the problem is, or was, that Access has (had to have) gotten so obsessed with the TI element, trying to get it to integrate and work under so many DAWs, that they've kinda lost sight of what they were originally good at - the sound design features.

It's crying out for new radical sound sculpting additions, FM, new controllable wave-types, user editable oscillators, maybe even sampling, and greater performance features to revitalise the brand.

Just brings it home when you look at the Prophet 12 Dave Smith is showcasing at NAMM to be released soon, that the same money of the TI2kb will be able to buy you a true analogue 12-voice monster of a synth with 4+1 oscillator per voice and immense sound programming abilities, and on the other flip of the coin where the Virus has gotten extremely heavy competition from feature-laden software VSTi's inside DAWs at mere fractions of the cost, additionally the way the developers of such synths are prolific in adding new features...

I feel Access cannot merely afford to sit on their laurels and continue to charge such an outstanding amount in this climate without innovating if they wish to remain engaged and not fall behind. I absolutely hope they don't (fade away), I love the Virus (otherwise I wouldn't be here hosting Infekted! )