Why do producers still use hardware ?

[vurt]

To those of us who were using hardware synths and effects before the majority of KVR users were born, and are primarily acoustic musicians to boot, the whole "hardware electronics" mythos is just comical, the stuff of "facepalm".

You want to get all organic and real and olde schoole and shit. Learn the f**king cello or saxophone, LOL.

Shouldn't you be in an old peoples home then?

I would think so; AFAIR polls on the age of KVR people have consistently shown that the biggest age group seems to be about 35-45.

and even if it where true, so what, there is no medal for having your dad borf your mom earlier than everyone else

[spaceman]

Stop using the word borf, please

[Gamma-UT]

and even if it where true, so what, there is no medal for having your dad borf your mom earlier than everyone else

I guess dad might be feeling slightly happier that at least he got in first.

[Axis1~SL61]

I have quite a lot of hardware (I don't like to sell things, I'd rather use what I have to the last drop instead of selling it to buy the latest new thing, so my hardware has been accumulating around me since the early '80s). However, nowadays I rarely use any hardware except as a source of samples -- and the main reason is that I like to play live whenever the opportunity presents itself, but hardware is heavy and risky to transport, let alone the risk of playing in bars where all it takes is one single drunk idiot to ruin something or even everything!... and I play mostly solo or in a duo sometimes (due to scarcity of musically like minded collaborators here where I live). So... as I like all of my songs to be playable live, I'd rather program/record everything using software instruments only. For me hardware nowadays never comes out of my studio (unless the hypothetical concert organizers would be willing to pay me a Lot more than they usually do, which has not happened again since 10 years ago).
There was a time (between 2001 and 2004) when I used a mix of hardware and software synths, and it was a good compromise and the mix beneffited from the variety of audio quality coming out of different DACs. But I don't think it's that important in the present day...
That said, I remember that once a reviewer in the (long gone) garageband.com site noticed the difference and criticized one song that I had uploaded which he claimed (without having any prior knowledge of which instruments I used) "sounded bland and flat and it was obvious to him I had done it all with softsynths" -- which was true for that particular song -- but this was 2002~2004 and technology has evolved a lot since then... Anyway, nowadays I still would like an MS20mini (even though I have a vintage MS20), a microBrute, a BassStation II ... just in case

[vurt]

Stop using the word borf, please

brings back some bad memories?
something about scouts maybe?

[damoog]

you cant rest your coffee on absynth.

I like

[spaceman]

Stop using the word borf, please

brings back some bad memories?
something about scouts maybe?

I think it's just any word anding in orf.

[Gamma-UT]

Stop using the word borf, please

brings back some bad memories?
something about scouts maybe?

I think it's just any word anding in orf.

Does swarf count?

If so, avoid lathes.

[DrGonzo]

Though I understand the usefulness of a midi keyboard while producing, the other stuff that I see in studios I don't see their purpose.. what is it that they have and pc audio producing softwares and plug-ins don't ?

I think the best way to sum it up is to say it does stuff that you can't get on software. In many regards it about taste and nuances, but also workflow. I concert pianist would probably hardcore-puke on the idea of performing with a midi keyboard using the piano samples in Komplete while a guy making music in his bedroom think they are awesome and perfect for his trancey tunes.

Do you have to have hardware? No - lot's of people happily make music without any hardware synths and effects. But many people prefer hardware to software. Different feeling - different workflow.

/C

[Aroused by JarJar]

Cello? Pah. If you want to kick it oldskool, you need a shawm and a lyre.

Now you're talking! Have to admit that I've got a soft spot for those newfangled contraptions the sackbutt and rackett, though.

[Aroused by JarJar]

The thing that strikes me about the engineering interviews is that they have the gear, but the description of what they did (on anything recent) is very plugin-centric. When it comes to dance producers, you get a bunch who claim to have seen the light on hardware and avoid software and, as if by magic, start to suck really badly. I doubt it's the hardware, it's just the problem of coming into money just at the point the creativity dries up.

Not only that, but even ten years ago when talking to studio engineers I was told "off the record" in several studios that the hardware gear was mostly still around to impress the musicians and that almost everything was done with Pro Tools plugins.

Years ago a professional illustrator who'd worked in the mid 20th century said that using airbrushes was looked down upon- but in those days they all used them and said they didn't.

Of course none of this has any to do with "which is better" when it comes to hardware and software.

It's just that the idea of "producers" using only hardware is just a fairytale.

I think maybe the idea is used as an excuse. "If only I had that sweet analog hardware then my music would really kick". Then one night you're smoking some tea with a "producer" and they tell you that they don't synthesize *any* of their own sounds, they string together samples in Logic.

[do_androids_dream]

Hello I'm beginner in music producing so I don't understand why do the producers still use oldschool hardware to produce music when all the softwares like cubase, fl studio, logic pro have already built-in sophisticated synthesizers and sound manipulators, instruments, etc...Though I understand the usefulness of a midi keyboard while producing, the other stuff that I see in studios I don't see their purpose.. what is it that they have and pc audio producing softwares and plug-ins don't ?

I ain't gonna read the whole thread - just respond to the OP. My answer - If i find software that sounds as good as my bass station, yamaha cs5, even my korg x5d i would gladly use it! That's the simple reason!

[rockstar_not]

Who would like to join me to petition KVR to automatically censor the words 'producer' and 'producing' and variants thereof?

[DrGonzo]

Personally - I think they nail the answer pretty well.

[Gamma-UT]

Who would like to join me to petition KVR to automatically censor the words 'producer' and 'producing' and variants thereof?

Who's going to volunteer to take a marker pen to all those old albums for the production credits?