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The Virus sounds like nothing else. OS 4.01 comes with awesome preset sounds; most of them only need a little bit of tweaking to fit into your mix, and some can be used right off the bat (altough I still have that guilty feeling every time I use a preset, which is why I don't do it very often). The new OS4 manual is very thorough, covers pretty much everything, but I never really had to use it. The system layout of the Virus is very awkward in my opinion, the location of the menus and functions makes no sense to me. For example, I also have a Waldorf Microwave XTk, which has a MUCH better system layout (you can read my review of the XTk). The Virus can make some really good sounds though, very harsh and agressive. It also has a pretty good drum&percussion section: the kicks are very good, the snares are usable, but the high hats are not as good in my opinion. Still, you can get away with it if you don't have anything better (but I prefer my Nord Lead for the percussion, it has some really nice hats). I really like the Virus arpeggiator, and the new OS 4.01 seems very stable. In fact, I haven't had a problem with the Virus yet, while my Microwave likes to act out once in a while (she's a spirited gal). If you are looking for a general purpose all-around VA, the Virus is the best thing on the market, especially when you consider the price. Personally, I think the Virus b is the best bang for the buck: you still get all the knobs, and it's only $1200 for a 16 part/24 voice combo! I also own a Microwave XTk and a Nord Lead 2, and I would not recommend those synths as an all-around general performer. The Nord Lead only has 4 parts (16 voices and only 4 parts?! who's the genious who came up with that idea?), and it can only do straigh-forward sounds: no effects at all, the pads and sweeps are pretty bad, no extra-weird noises, and no usable kicks. The Microwave has 8 parts and only 10 voices, but the effects are only available for the first 3 parts; there are no usable kicks or percussion, and it is mainly oriented toward sweeps and weird noises, while having no powerful leads or basses. The Virus, on the other hand, can do it all: pads, sweeps, weird noises, awesome agressive teeth-grinding leads, and good general-purpose basses, plus it has good kicks and usable percussion. It is 16 parts/24 voices, which is really incredible, and you can use effects on every part simultaneously, up to a total of 72 (i think). All that adds up to a killer combination, and you'll have no problem making a track with the Virus alone.
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