Questions - Fundamental differences in Analog and Digital synths OR Intrinsic problems in each

[Aiynzahev]

Here is the kind of thing I was interested in hearing from you all about:

Greg from Studio Electronics (the synth makers) said this on GS in response to people complaining about slow envelopes on his SE1 synth.

"To address the "slow envelope" moniker which has amused and mildly irritated us over the years. First, people want presets. Second, the software envelope routines we use fire with the same initial timing as a hardware envelope. The difference is the added circuitry needed for programmability. Even when done well, it puts a subtle "veil" over the sound...

...A hardware envelope presents itself with more snap due to the natural discharge of the capacitors and the "realness" of the circuit. So even at the same speed software envelopes lack that element.

We can get the software envelope to be instant, but we have to slow them down ever so little to eliminate unpleasant popping and ticking anomalies from the VCA..."

Of course here we are talking about digital elements in an analog synth and not a pure digital synth.

[antto]

digital envelopes can be as snappy as you want, and there ARE unpleasent things happening in analog VCAs too

so i don't quite get the point of this quote

[Aiynzahev]

I was trying to get some more insight. Greg seemed to be saying that using digital envelopes in his synths have a negative effect on the immediate feel, but that it was necessary for preset function.

[MadBrain]

My take on this is that analogs are kindof overhyped, mostly because they're rare, whereas everybody has VSTs and romplers, and FM synths used to be dirt common too (old soundcards, Sega Genesis). The "fat sound" mythos has built up over time, since most people don't own a Jupiter 8 and can't verify if they're really as fat as the myth says. This counts double for the even more expensive CS-80, of course.

(yeah, I'm a cynic)