Korg M3 Radias Board/Access Virus Ti Polar
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
Korg M3 Radias Board/Access Virus Ti Polar
Ok so I have an M3 and a Access Virus Ti Polar so do I need to have a Radias module or expansion board for the M3? I think the Access Virus Ti Polar is the best synth analog/digital on the market. I need some opinions here please.
-
MartinHines
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3041
- Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 12:56 pm
- Location: Topeka, KS (USA)
The Radias and the Ti Polar will sound similar but not the same.
I would suggest demoing a Radias keyboard to see if you think the sounds are different enough from the Ti to justify its purchase.
One advantage of the M3-Radias expansion board would be its integration with the rest of the M3 (including Karma). It also wouldn't cost that much to add to the M3.
I would suggest demoing a Radias keyboard to see if you think the sounds are different enough from the Ti to justify its purchase.
One advantage of the M3-Radias expansion board would be its integration with the rest of the M3 (including Karma). It also wouldn't cost that much to add to the M3.
i own a M3 with EXB-RADIAS and also a VIRUS B rack, well do not add the EXB board. even if the EXB-RADIAS claims to add a similar VA-capabilities to M3, what you get cannot be compared with Virus sound.
Virus sounds like a real VA, EXB-RADIAS imho does not sound so well.
I added it beacuse often i do not bring to gig Both M3 and Virus and so i can have in one keyboard both kind of sounds, but at home i use mainly Virus for synthetic sounds. Further M3 has no all the real time controller usually needed when play on VA.
so, i suggest to save money for something else...
Virus sounds like a real VA, EXB-RADIAS imho does not sound so well.
I added it beacuse often i do not bring to gig Both M3 and Virus and so i can have in one keyboard both kind of sounds, but at home i use mainly Virus for synthetic sounds. Further M3 has no all the real time controller usually needed when play on VA.
so, i suggest to save money for something else...
the Virus sounds different...cold, metallic. Radias sounds fat, warm, and can sound digital and harsh too.
I prefer fat Korg sounds over thin, weedy Virus sounds anyday. Virus has that 'saturation filter' sound that its famous for...and it has more oscillators and routing options that let you create more variety than the Radias...
But when it comes to sheer sound quality, Korg WINS!
I prefer fat Korg sounds over thin, weedy Virus sounds anyday. Virus has that 'saturation filter' sound that its famous for...and it has more oscillators and routing options that let you create more variety than the Radias...
But when it comes to sheer sound quality, Korg WINS!
-
Unknown Sound
- Full Member
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:08 am
- Location: On a small island just off the coast of an island not to far from Antarctica
I have both and use both. The RADIAS and Virus TI complement each other very well.
In fact, as times gone by, I find myself appreciating the RADIAS more and more.
It will come down to what you want/do. If you want classic Vintage sounds then the Virus has the RADIAS beat. However, if you create your own stuff and want to experiment with new, out there sounds/textures then the RADIAS sound and feature set is awesome.
-US.
In fact, as times gone by, I find myself appreciating the RADIAS more and more.
It will come down to what you want/do. If you want classic Vintage sounds then the Virus has the RADIAS beat. However, if you create your own stuff and want to experiment with new, out there sounds/textures then the RADIAS sound and feature set is awesome.
-US.
I totally agree, Unknown sound!
radias will kick virus' ass for more different varieties of sounds, spacey pad sounds (no matter how hard i try on the virus, i can never get those pad sounds spacey enough - korg has superb effects). virus is good for vintage and for psycho trance because of its harsh filter sounds.
radias is smooth, well behaved, well groomed bachelor with a high vocabulary while the virus is a sinister, rowdy gang street member that yells and screams a few words (limited vocabulary) well but gets mellow if needed in a not so great manner. the vocabulary is because of the m3's immense processing capabilities like karma, 170+ effects plus the standard radias fare: mod sequencer, mmt synthesis etc
i have a virus classic (24 voice red one) and the m3/radias and the radias blows the virus every time i monitor the sounds from my studio monitors. i don't even think they are in the same league (radias being better).
but some people say virus/waldorf are in the same league and radias is below...those people are the people who are trance boys/girls and need that aggressive filter sweep lol!
m3 has 170+ types of digital effects while virus has like 5 or 6 types...only new effect access added is the 'atomizer' which sounds like a skipping cd player - a truly dismal addition.
radias will kick virus' ass for more different varieties of sounds, spacey pad sounds (no matter how hard i try on the virus, i can never get those pad sounds spacey enough - korg has superb effects). virus is good for vintage and for psycho trance because of its harsh filter sounds.
radias is smooth, well behaved, well groomed bachelor with a high vocabulary while the virus is a sinister, rowdy gang street member that yells and screams a few words (limited vocabulary) well but gets mellow if needed in a not so great manner. the vocabulary is because of the m3's immense processing capabilities like karma, 170+ effects plus the standard radias fare: mod sequencer, mmt synthesis etc
i have a virus classic (24 voice red one) and the m3/radias and the radias blows the virus every time i monitor the sounds from my studio monitors. i don't even think they are in the same league (radias being better).
but some people say virus/waldorf are in the same league and radias is below...those people are the people who are trance boys/girls and need that aggressive filter sweep lol!
m3 has 170+ types of digital effects while virus has like 5 or 6 types...only new effect access added is the 'atomizer' which sounds like a skipping cd player - a truly dismal addition.
After spending some quality time with the EXB-Radias, I have to wonder about all the criticism aimed at it from different folk. Also, if these differences are from experience playing live, since a good concert hall sound system that sounds right is going to emphasize a few differences.
But just playing through my sound system at home, a superb system by the way with TDL monitors and a sub, the M3 and Radias both are superb synthesizers. The Radias will give you a whole host of vintage synth sounds, as well as digital timbres which cover a surprisingly wide spectrum. The Radias is plenty warm, thanks to very nice sub-oscillators, filters and EQ. Maybe not as warm as a real Moog, but it will certainly give you something in the ballpark of the Andromeda.
Now to be sure, it doesn't have a modeled Moog filter, so it's basic sound is more in the range of the Roland or Oberheim, and of course the Korg synths of yesteryear. And you can capture some of the quality of the Yamaha CS-80 and Arp Odyssey or even 2600. And honestly, you don't want EVERY synth to sound the same. You want a variety of timbres from each synth, so each one has something unique to bring to the table. But really, if you want to do patches recalling something of either Keith Emerson's or Tomita's Moog Modular III, you can get very close. You have to learn how to program though, and the Radias is a patch synth programmer's dream. You can do a ton of things with it that you have to get an Arturia soft synth to do better. And having Karma control with a drum track to accompany it is just over the top coolness.
I could almost forget all my other synths and just compose, program and play with my M3/EXB-Radias and not look back. But as I say, each synth brings something unique to the party, and I'll always need something from the rest of my arsenal to complete a song.
But just playing through my sound system at home, a superb system by the way with TDL monitors and a sub, the M3 and Radias both are superb synthesizers. The Radias will give you a whole host of vintage synth sounds, as well as digital timbres which cover a surprisingly wide spectrum. The Radias is plenty warm, thanks to very nice sub-oscillators, filters and EQ. Maybe not as warm as a real Moog, but it will certainly give you something in the ballpark of the Andromeda.
Now to be sure, it doesn't have a modeled Moog filter, so it's basic sound is more in the range of the Roland or Oberheim, and of course the Korg synths of yesteryear. And you can capture some of the quality of the Yamaha CS-80 and Arp Odyssey or even 2600. And honestly, you don't want EVERY synth to sound the same. You want a variety of timbres from each synth, so each one has something unique to bring to the table. But really, if you want to do patches recalling something of either Keith Emerson's or Tomita's Moog Modular III, you can get very close. You have to learn how to program though, and the Radias is a patch synth programmer's dream. You can do a ton of things with it that you have to get an Arturia soft synth to do better. And having Karma control with a drum track to accompany it is just over the top coolness.
I could almost forget all my other synths and just compose, program and play with my M3/EXB-Radias and not look back. But as I say, each synth brings something unique to the party, and I'll always need something from the rest of my arsenal to complete a song.
PRAY FOR THIS PLANET!!