Namm 2013

[MBTC]

For me, the music-production related forums are one of the last bastions of Internet discussions that stand a reasonable chance of being free of pissing matches and insults, so not only am I not trying to piss on anyone else's good time, I do go out of my way to present my opinions in a way that avoids turning music and synth discussions into a competition. I'm one of the most competitive people I've ever met, but I see music and synths as a collaborative branch of my existence and I don't want to turn discussing it into a sport.

All of that said, I've never held back my opinion of Access here. Obviously the fact that I still visit this board indicates an interest in the Virus, and I certainly do still have that. I just find it frustrating that while they are one of the only synths that has taken on a challenge like total integration via USB, they seem to have a half-hearted commitment to it. Then, going in to a major trade show with product announcements like relatively insignificant filter changes or other minor OS tweaks, with zero updates that address major issues, all while maintaining a premium price structure in landscape where softsynths have to a large extent exceeded the capabilities and sound possibilities of hardware seems arrogant to me.

I continue to have faith and to watch the product line, hoping to own a Virus again one day; however Winter NAMM has become something of an anniversary of disappointment with regard to Access, while other vendors continue to make progress and introduce interesting products. I'd love to see that trend change, and maybe I'll be surprised and see an unexpected change this year, but based on the last several years, odds don't seem in favor of it.