life is too short, aswell can spend money on hardware

 

the other reality is that you do not need to be a millionaire to spend 10 or 15k on hardware every year, an average income and no kids is already enough to do that.

the other reality is that 99% of the professionals are performing live, while only 1% are exclusively producing.

 

he asked you to "explain well".

that´s just random nonsense.

for example, how can you hear those differences since you do not even have hardware?

 

While it seems you're not much prone to explain details on what and how hw and sw differs (beside this clip), in this case I agree, because the virtual versions of emu racks sounds are bloody different from hardware and even grandpa could spot it, and I still own two Emu racks so I made comparison from X3 libraries to my Vintage Keys and the outcome was terrible.
BTW it was already discussed in some Emulator X3 thread in this forum, I was happy to find the proteus 1 library for X3 (custom made?), unfortunately it was utterly disappointing (one for all Whistlin' Joe...).

BUT it seems to me that those virtual racks are made from some (not endorsed) custom made initiative, most of sounds are just sampled with scarcity of commitment, while many other vsts, paid or even free are well designed and make difficult to find relevant differences to the ear, while some spectral analyzer can spot some bit here and there.

 

don't forget to recycle it properly. Separate the metal from the plastic.

 

This thread is degenerating into a classic hardware vs software abomination.

OP asked if it make sense to buy an Access Virus or a Clavia Nord Lead in 2026 ?
It make sense if you want tactile feedback (desktop) and the ability to play (keyboard).
If you do not care about tactile feedback, The Usual Suspects Osiris/OsTIrus and Nodal Red 2x are FREE 1:1 emulations.

All of the Viruses and Leads are DSP-powered virtual analog synthesizers.
Firmware running on Motorola 56000 Processors, 1's and 0's.
The Usual Suspects reverse engineered it, it's the same, the end.

"My Virus sound better because analog console/analog soundcard/analog outputs"
No.
If you want to add dirt to your OsTIrus you can throw Ableton Live Saturator/Roar/Fabfilter Saturn/Tone Projects Kelvin on it and have 100% control over it.

Playing a good keyboard, twisting knobs and pushing buttons on hardware is very fun, the Virus TI2 Dark Star/Polar sounds phenomenal and is probably the ultimate virtual analog subtractive synth.
The Usual Suspects OsTIrus sounds exactly the same and even so I would much prefer to use Adam Szabo Viper.
As matter of fact Synapse Audio Dune 3 is ever better.

As for Serum 1/2.
Clean doesn't mean thin.
Fat doesn't mean dirty.
You can make it sound liquid, plastic, bubbly, metal, glass, gazeous, elastic, spiky, hard, soft, morphing from one to another, whatever you can think of if you know to synthesize and automate things.

It sucks at FM, but Ableton Operator exists.

 

True. I like your approach, plus that thing that Clone said:
"You will produce differently on the real thing".
That's what I missed so far.
I was in for the sex appeal.
But he is right, half a day with a virus and half a day with the usual suspects might not have the same outcome.

But at that point we need to ask: If the tactile / inspiring way of producing is OPs cup of tea, does it have to be an expensive legacy synth, with hard to get parts if things go south?

So the answer could also be "it does not make sense to buy the historic thing. But it might make sense to buy a modern counterpart'.
And at that point (the 'but I always wanted the virus') we are back at the sex appeal.
That thing that can not be reasoned with.
The 'if you want that synth very badly, you might need to get one. You don't need one, but you need to get one. That's not the same'.