Yeah it’s pretty self-moderated here and we’re not shy about pointing out rude behavior (stupid git)
I’m glad to see that we all agree. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb here and ask our little family a non-moog related question (keep in mind that I love all my moog gear: phatty, theremin, mf101, mf102, mf107, cp251, but I sometimes find a need for a poly VA synth… that’s right, I’m not a purist, can’t afford it yet, haha). I’m hoping that with all the collective knowledge here, someone will have experience enough to answer my questions, even if they never owned the synths in question, Ok, here goes . . .
I’ve been thinking about replacing my Nord Lead 2x with a Virus TI (or TI2).
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My favorite aspect of the Lead2x is having four sound banks to choose from in performance mode, in which case you can layer any combination of the four sounds, or use them as individual synths that can be switched between at the push of a button. For certain songs I use the banks separately as individual sounds and/or midi channels to control my moog, and then for other songs I use the banks as layers, or split the KB and layer bank A & B as two octaves and C & D as two octaves, and so on. SO, my question, does the Virus offer a similar interface that offers such versatility in a live setting?
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How difficult would it be (if its even possible) to transfer five or six custom patches from the nord to the virus? Can it be done without doing an entire dump?
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Finally, I’m still deliberating on whether to get the TI or the TI2 . . . I’ve read that the only difference is 25% more processing power, and a couple extra knobs(?). Is this the ONLY difference? (I’m pretty sure I won’t need the extra power, not really using it as a VST, just live hardware and controller). Think it’s worth the extra $ ?
Thank you all in advance for any advice you can share. (Or, any other suggestions you have besides the virus)
Cheers
I can not answer all your questions, the fact is I am not a performer, just an amateur trying real hard to improve his musical skills, but here’s my two cents on current stuff. Sorry for being lengthy a bit, I just feel like writing.
I have had lots of VA’s, that was before I got my first Moog. Just last month, I had a clearance sale, got rid of all my VA’s except for the Nord Lead 2x, which is definitely a keeper, and the Roland SH-201, a totally under-rated machine whose special effects section alone is worth the price of admission. People are turned off by the name and low price, but it’s the best pad machine I know.
For a while, I fancied the Virus and the Prophet 8, but not anymore. In fact, I somehow grew tired of the Prophet sound and I am not going to spend 2500+ for a rack or any 37 keys machine. But that is not the say that the Virus is not right for you.
I also got rid of my Kurzweil 2500X, a superb machine, which I wanted to replace with a PC3X, but I did not like the PC3X’s keyboard as much as that of the 2500X, so I am looking into a smaller SP4-7 instead.
Similarly, I ditched an Akai MPC49K and a Roland PCR-800 controller. I did not like the stiffness of the keyboard on the MPC49, and the single expression lever on the PCR-800. Going to pick up an Arturia Laboratory 61 next week if I like the build quality. So far, I like the look and the two mod wheels. Hopefully, it’s gonna be the right controller for the Nord Lead 2x. Now if get it, I’ll have a Lab Experience software to sell. I like to play musical instruments with keys, not computers with a mouse. Not interested in browsing 3500 sounds in a pull down menu interface.
From there, maybe, just maybe, one another high end VA for polyphony, but not the Virus. No real candidate, and I am not really looking. Hopefully, the Kurzweil (I really like the V.A.S.T. sounds) will fill my need for canned sounds.
There’s nothing wrong with a good VA, IMHO (with high resolution knobs and high resolution sound). I like and use my Alesis Ion, but everything else I use is analog. I do own some hybrids, but they’re gathering dust.
Most VAs are driven by essentially the same hardware (Motorola DSPs), the sound engine (software) and the keyboard feel, along with the panel design and resolution, is what makes or breaks such a synth.
I"m afraid I don’t know much about Nord Lead stuff, never was lucky enough to thoroughly try one out, but I’ve heard rave reviews about some of their models.
TIFWIW.
Thanks again everyone. I actually decided against the virus (for now anyway). Instead, I ran the nord through an mf101 and mf102, and wow, definitely added a whole new dimension to the sound. So, now I’ve gone and ordered the Cluster Flux, should arrive tomorrow 
Perhaps I’ll exercise some patience with my desire for a poly-synth, and evolve my Phatty/mf101/mf102/mf107/mf108/cp251 mono-moog into a Voyager/phatty/phatty/fully-foogered/quasi-modular poly-moog,(already about a third of the way there, ha). Then I could give the nord to our guitarist and focus my attention on the massive Moog monster.
Just something about that Moog sound, gets me every time.
Yup…and something about that Moog sound gets my bank account, everytime as well. If you ever need help justifying a Moog purchase to either yourself or significant other, keep in mind the Moog Financial Unit. One MFU is equal in value to 300USD. Thus, a Voyager priced at 3300USD is a mere 11 MFU’s. 
“Honey I bought a new pearl necklace, it was only 8 MFUs”
MFU = Macy’s Financial Unit = US$5000 
Even the MFU can’t justify some things…a Macy’s Financial Unit would only be about $50, though. They have stuff starting at $50, except for the clearance rack, where you can find stuff for less than that. The cheapest device that is not an accessory or app from Moog is the MF-101…which lists for $299. This is where I got the MFU from.