Need advice, Access Virus vs. Little Phatty

So basically I have two people willing to sell me some kick ass synths for the same price. For $750 I can either get an Access Virus KC or a Moog Little Phatty I. So I'm just looking for some opinions on the two models. I've been making a lot of ambient, downtempo and at the same time some synth pop and trancy stuff. So shout out some thoughts on the situation.

Virus is polyphonic, LP is monophonic. If you need pads, chords and stuff like that, get the Virus. If you need a bitching bass and lead synth, get LP.

Virus because...... it does more than 2 things. The little phatty doesn't even have a freaking noise source for {censored}s sake...... what were they thinking?!

(that being said, the little phatty actually sounds great, in all it's stripped down......*ahem*..... phatness.)

Probably depends on what else you already have.

What he said.

The Virus and the LP are like apples and oranges, both fruits, but completely different from each other. Neither is "better" than the other, except based on your needs/expectations.

The Virus is a polyphonic virtual analog (digital) synth, while the LP is a monophonic real analog synth. Their strengths and weaknesses are different from each other.

So, what synths do you have now, so we can give more informed advice? Well, besides "buy both"?

Actually, the phatty does have white noise that can be used as a mod source.

But they are two different beasts. If you have no other synths, get a Virus. If you desire some Moog, phatty is the only way to go.

I can get a Ford F150 pickup truck or a Honda Civic for the same price. So shout out some thoughts about what I should get.

Virus KC for sure! The LP's are cool and retro but they're built like crap and can't touch the KC for features. The KC has more oscillators per voice than the LP and can be just as Phat. If you needed to be funky or jazzy and had no bass, then maybe I'd consider the LP. But if you do trance and downtempo then its not even close....get infected!

Check out a used Caravan. Especially the green ones.

currently using mostly softsynths. still learnin a bit, started with reason, went over to hardware synths with a microkorg, then I got native komplete and kore 2. so i've basically been messing around all the time in reaktor and massive, but i'm looking to change things up and use some hardware. The virus seems to look like the winner here, i feel like i can explore it more and ive always been in love with the virus series

Based on the type of music you work on I think the obvious answer would be the KC. It's probably one of the best synths for ambient, excellent for synthpop and more. The Moog is, as has been mentioned, great for leads and basses and is an analog synth if that's what you need but it sounds like you'd be better off with the Virus. - J.

If you just want some hardware to play with as a change from using software, you'll probably be happier with the Virus. It's a lot more versatile.

If you can give the Little Phatty a test drive though, go for it. You might fall in love with the sound. Analog vs. digital makes a huge difference to some people (myself included), while others don't care (or even prefer virtual analogs like the Virus). I disagree with the previous poster about the build quality of the LP. Mine seems quite solid. The keyboard action is very light, but I've never felt like I was going to break it or anything like that.

I have the Little Phatty Stage II and the build quality is good in every way.They may have improved the keys over the Stage I's and Tribute although the stage I's I've tried have been demo's at GC,Maybe trashed.JD

i use a moog voyager rme and a virus c, they are both bitchin but if you can't afford both then i'd say go with the virus it can do basses and leads but the moog can't do pads, wavetables, more effects than a lpf, etc. etc. etc.

Virus KC....and BTW, 750 is a good deal for a KC!

Virus it is then. It's a good synth with a fantastic feeling keybed.

If you get it for 750, it's a steal. I wouldn't let mine go for any less than 1200 or so, but it's in brand-new shape.

They both have plusses and minuses.

The Viruses are known to have some reliability problems (my experience plus talking with others) and don't have very good US support IMHO for resolving those. Sounds pretty wicked though. I've been tempted by thinking about a Snow or something again sometime despite past experiences. The downside is they aren't super easily tweakable and you tend to drown in a sea of identical presets. Lately I like synths that don't tend to make you want to preset surf. There is category browsing however. I didn't have much luck with the computer (TI) software.

In terms of sound and flexibility the virus wins in my book, because the LP doesn't offer a lot of modulation/craziness options, nor effects, and has the polyphonic option -- but Moog still has a lot to like. The main sticking point I don't like about the LP is that you have to press buttons to change the effects of the knobs. If they doubled up the knobs it would be work better. However the lighted knobs are cool in that it's something even the Voyager doesn't have. It's good for bass but it doesn't make a super-wide pallet of sounds, and the polyphony may bother you (maybe) except on the death-from-Taurus-style-bass patches, which are nice. Plus, well, the keys are pretty weak, but maybe you won't notice. Filter sweeping and everything is very fun with them since they have very nice and accessible knobs.

Edit: good to know, I had a Stage 1.

Moogs are more specialized, but the LP is certainly more than a one-trick pony, especially if you start adding things like the CP-251 control processor. What you haven't told us is what other hardware synths you have in your stable now. If you have none then the Virus is probably the way to go but if you are already holding a decent polyphonic unit and don't have any analog chewiness then the LP would be a good choice. You can always incorporate external stuff with the LP as time goes on.

Get a used Harley-Davidson

F150 for truck duties, Civic for practicality, and H-D just for fun.