Enigmaesque Dubstep! The Polar Ti2 takes you there.

This review is actually for the Virus TI2 Polar, released last 2011. I bought my first synth, a Dx7 in 1994 with money left over from my student loan check -- technically, you're supposed to give that back. Since then, I've owned a lot synths. I'm not a very fastidious consumer. I don't read reviews or drive out to brick and mortar music shops to "feel the action". Every synth purchase I make is based two things: A) Obvious Winner, usually vintage. B) My confidence in the vendors' ability to make great instruments. While this methodology has blown up in my face a few times, Access is a company whose products continue to defy expectation. The TI2 Polar with it's matte white visage and heafty price tag is capable of delivering amazing sonic results ranging from lush multilayer Enigma worthy soundscapes to the dankest dub step wobble; all at once. Architecturally speaking, Access has maintained and improved their modular synth framework. The ability to route and route and route means that the user is only limited by the scope of their creativity, skill and the thickness of their walls -- if they live in an apartment. The Polar 2 ships with well over 500 presets. Some are very up-to-the-minute and some pay tribute to beloved legacy virus patches going back to version A. I found that the trance and drum and bass pre-sets were among the best and most faithfully reproduced. There's a patch called "Cafe" that if you play the right three notes and close your eyes, you'll be wisked back to 1998. I'm a pretty decent programmer, so I don't use the presets in my music too much. The Polar 2, via USB can be mounted inside of your DAW of choice and mapped as a 16 patch multitimbral instrument with up to three virutal stereo channels. I'm hoping that they will upgrade this in future revisions. Note to Apple uses: Due to a very REAL issue that Apple has needed to address since 2005, USB chaining, the Virus USB connection can only be connected to a ROOT USB port on your Mac. This means if you have a MacPro workstation, or a powered USB hub, the Virus will throw an error letting you know that the Virus can not operated over a USB bridge. On my 4000 dollar MacPro, I only have two USB ports that will accept the Virus. PCs do not suffer from this issue. Access are very dedicated to the quality and distinctiveness of their instruments. This shines through brilliantly on any of the Polar series instruments. If I had to point out one let down, it would have to be the vocoder. I'm pretty good with vocoders and for the life of me, I could not achieve any of my favorite VOXs, The Robert Trautman, nor, the Chorus of Eno (just about every song on Brian Eno's 'Just another day on Earth). Luckily I'm taking full advantage of Korg's current line of well priced performance synths like the Micro, Micro XL and R3 --- The R3 is shameless product, the synth is engine is shakey at best, but the vocoder goes from Kraftwerk to Cher with the just a knob twist. So, if you have the means understand VA and Patch synthesis, buy a Polar 2; save up an additional 250 for the Korg R3 that you will ultimately need for you vocoding requirements.Read full review