Access Virus A

The Access Virus A is a virtual analog synthesizer that put German manufacturer Access on the map when it launched in 1997. Built around powerful DSP chips, this desktop module delivers aggressive, punchy sounds that became synonymous with trance, techno, and electronic music throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite its age, the Virus A remains a capable and sought-after synth with a character that many producers still prefer over newer alternatives.

At its core, the Virus A offers two main oscillators per voice with classic analog waveforms including sine, triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse, plus 64 FM spectral waveforms for more experimental timbres. Oscillator sync and a sub-oscillator add further tonal options. The filter section is a real standout, featuring two independent resonant filters with lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and band-reject modes. You can run the filters in parallel, split, or serial configurations, with slopes up to 36dB per octave (6-pole) for razor-sharp cutoffs. Built-in saturation and overdrive give the Virus its famously gritty edge.

The modulation architecture is solid for its era, with three LFOs, two envelopes, and a modulation matrix that lets you route sources to destinations with reasonable flexibility. Effects include chorus, phaser, reverb, and delay, all processed internally so you get polished sounds without external gear. With 12-voice polyphony and 16-part multitimbrality, you can build full arrangements from a single unit. The front panel provides 32 knobs and 27 buttons for hands-on control, and the rear panel offers six audio outputs in three stereo pairs plus stereo inputs for processing external audio.

Who Is This For?

• Electronic music producers looking for an authentic late-90s virtual analog sound at a lower price than the Virus B or C
• Live performers who want a rugged, knob-per-function desktop synth for real-time tweaking
• Sound designers who appreciate aggressive filters and FM capabilities for creating cutting leads and basses
• Vintage synth collectors wanting the original Virus that started it all

If you can find a Virus A in good condition, it remains a fantastic sounding synth with loads of character. Just be aware that it lacks some of the refinements of later models like the Virus B and C, including fewer effects and lower polyphony. For classic trance leads, acid-style basses, and thick pads, the original Virus A still delivers.