Thanks, I was wonderingvurt wrote:i know it has something to do with how we came to exist. and kung fu.VariKusBrainZ wrote: Do you know what software is
Is it worth it to get a bunch of hardware? (coming from software only)
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- KVRAF
- 10153 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
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- KVRAF
- 10153 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Actually we shouldnt promote buying old gear, it drives the prices up 
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 22 May, 2017
Indeed it does.chk071 wrote:Some hardware surely sounds lovely though.
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- KVRAF
- 13133 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
USB printer cables sound the best.recursive one wrote:It must be a very special USB cable in my Virus Snow providing that magic noise ...Distorted Horizon wrote:Cable noise maybe?
Wait, it's not an original USB cable! That one was broken, I replaced it with the cable from my old MIDI keyboard.
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Distorted Horizon Distorted Horizon https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=392076 - Banned
- 3878 posts since 17 Jan, 2017 from Planet of cats
LMAOjustin3am wrote:USB printer cables sound the best.recursive one wrote:It must be a very special USB cable in my Virus Snow providing that magic noise ...Distorted Horizon wrote:Cable noise maybe?
Wait, it's not an original USB cable! That one was broken, I replaced it with the cable from my old MIDI keyboard.
But seriously. Everything affects everything
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- KVRist
- 168 posts since 18 Oct, 2017
Hmm I bought a Roland JV-90 just because it was dirt cheap and looks good. I think it's important how things look and feel. But then again, it's not about what you have but what you do with it.
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- KVRAF
- 5851 posts since 9 Jul, 2002 from Helsinki
Hardware is more inspiring, and makes playing more immersive and enjoyable. These may sound like intangible things (they are) and subjective (only sort of), but when we're talking about a creative process, these nuances may be more valuable than practical advantages of plugins.
After I expanded to a hybrid setup (2 DSI synths, Live and a handful of VSTis), I realized that I'll never get another softsynth. The VSTi market seems to be pretty much dead anyway.
After I expanded to a hybrid setup (2 DSI synths, Live and a handful of VSTis), I realized that I'll never get another softsynth. The VSTi market seems to be pretty much dead anyway.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRAF
- 7869 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I think if I could have Kurzweil Forte and Korg Krono's I'd be set for life. I got a lot of use out of my Emu XL-7 Command Center.
Going through the endless arrays of vst's on in my daw is always less inspiring.
Going through the endless arrays of vst's on in my daw is always less inspiring.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRian
- 1000 posts since 26 Sep, 2013 from The Frozen North
This!rod_zero wrote:Electronic music is much more about the journey of discovering and exploring the tools on your own, going deep with them and developing your own sound.
I started my musical journey by buying a few bits of hardware before I really knew what was available in software. I then switched to software for quite a while, selling the hardware I bought (which I now regret). Earlier this year, I became interested in hardware again, so I'm back to picking up a few things and combining it with my software setup. So, I really feel like it is worth it from an explorer's perspective. There is so much neat stuff out there... building a setup that combines your opinion of the best of both hardware and software worlds is a worthy endeavor, I think. It just depends on what kind of sound you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend.
On a side note, my current hardware love affair is with the Dreadbox NYX. Man, that thing sounds amazing...
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- KVRist
- 119 posts since 31 Aug, 2013 from Chicagoland, USA
I started in 2012, and then started buying hardware in 2014. Here is my experience:
I’ve tried a lot of hardware stuff. Analog mono & poly, VA mono & poly, drum machines, eurorack modular, fx racks, fx pedals, etc.
I’m not one of these people who finds working completely ITB to be “uninspiring”. I own a ton of software, synths, processing, and fx. If I had to make music on my computer only forever, I would still do it obsessively.
My initial experience when I bought two synths (Virus B and DSI MEK) was an immediate slow down in workflow. There was an adjustment period. Learning how to record different parts, how to automate HW ITB, thinking about arrangement completely differently, this all took time to get used to.
As far as sound quality goes, IMO you get what you pay for. However, the price to play has come way down recently, so there has never been a better time to experiment with hardware. Regarding VCO monosynths, there is a punch from a real VCA, there is a smooth brightness to real VCOs and a harmonic richness to driven VCFs that is difficult to achieve ITB. They have really nailed the tone of analog HW, and I adore Diva, but when it comes to mixing down an entire track, this is where I feel like the accumulative effect is evident. You can A/B HW vs SW in isolation all day. I do realize that with the best SW, people fail blind tests. But, when you have an entire track of recorded HW vs an entire track of recorded SW, I just find it a lot easier to get really good mixes with the HW track. The attack is sharper, things seem more present, up front in the mix. I could speculate forever, but it just is, time and again.
Bottom line, there is only one way to find out. I feel a definite advantage with VCO monosynths vs software, especially for bass. For pads and strings, bathed in fx, I can’t tell the difference.
As far as FX go. I’ve done a lot of tests, and I find delays like Echoboy, Primal Tap, Timeless 2, and Satin to be almost always superior to Eventide Timefactor or Strymon Timeline. If you’re a performer, or just love hardware, then go for it, but I find the sound quality to be just as good ITB, and the plugins are more flexible.
Another area where HW has an advantage is with really high speed modulation. I can’t describe it, but when working with a semi-modular or modular synth, there is just a sound....that I never hear in SW. Analog distortion is very difficult to achieve. I will never give up my distortion/fuzz pedals. Things like Saturn adn Decapitator sound good when used gently, but they just don’t have it when you drive them hard.
Go slow. Buy one thing at a time. I’d reccomend starting with a VCO analog mono. Something good....because people seem to buy a $300 synth, and then go, “Pffff, hardware sucks.”
You may find it insanely fun using hardware. Give it a good few months. There will be growing pains. Make a few tracks using only your new synth so you get to know it. Then you’ll know if its for you or not.
I use everything. I like it all. Each option has its pros and cons.
I’ve tried a lot of hardware stuff. Analog mono & poly, VA mono & poly, drum machines, eurorack modular, fx racks, fx pedals, etc.
I’m not one of these people who finds working completely ITB to be “uninspiring”. I own a ton of software, synths, processing, and fx. If I had to make music on my computer only forever, I would still do it obsessively.
My initial experience when I bought two synths (Virus B and DSI MEK) was an immediate slow down in workflow. There was an adjustment period. Learning how to record different parts, how to automate HW ITB, thinking about arrangement completely differently, this all took time to get used to.
As far as sound quality goes, IMO you get what you pay for. However, the price to play has come way down recently, so there has never been a better time to experiment with hardware. Regarding VCO monosynths, there is a punch from a real VCA, there is a smooth brightness to real VCOs and a harmonic richness to driven VCFs that is difficult to achieve ITB. They have really nailed the tone of analog HW, and I adore Diva, but when it comes to mixing down an entire track, this is where I feel like the accumulative effect is evident. You can A/B HW vs SW in isolation all day. I do realize that with the best SW, people fail blind tests. But, when you have an entire track of recorded HW vs an entire track of recorded SW, I just find it a lot easier to get really good mixes with the HW track. The attack is sharper, things seem more present, up front in the mix. I could speculate forever, but it just is, time and again.
Bottom line, there is only one way to find out. I feel a definite advantage with VCO monosynths vs software, especially for bass. For pads and strings, bathed in fx, I can’t tell the difference.
As far as FX go. I’ve done a lot of tests, and I find delays like Echoboy, Primal Tap, Timeless 2, and Satin to be almost always superior to Eventide Timefactor or Strymon Timeline. If you’re a performer, or just love hardware, then go for it, but I find the sound quality to be just as good ITB, and the plugins are more flexible.
Another area where HW has an advantage is with really high speed modulation. I can’t describe it, but when working with a semi-modular or modular synth, there is just a sound....that I never hear in SW. Analog distortion is very difficult to achieve. I will never give up my distortion/fuzz pedals. Things like Saturn adn Decapitator sound good when used gently, but they just don’t have it when you drive them hard.
Go slow. Buy one thing at a time. I’d reccomend starting with a VCO analog mono. Something good....because people seem to buy a $300 synth, and then go, “Pffff, hardware sucks.”
You may find it insanely fun using hardware. Give it a good few months. There will be growing pains. Make a few tracks using only your new synth so you get to know it. Then you’ll know if its for you or not.
I use everything. I like it all. Each option has its pros and cons.
Logic Pro X : Prophet Rev2, Blofeld, Toraiz-AS1, Model D, Minibrute, MOTU 828x, Presonus Eris E7's, dozens of pedals
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- KVRAF
- 26978 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
For you... that is a subjective statement and just cause you find it so is not indicator that someone else will too..jon wrote:Hardware is more inspiring, and makes playing more immersive and enjoyable.
And of course it also depends very much on the hardware. I found the old workstations distinctly un-inspiring. All the menu diving to do sound design was awful.
Me, I find playing the new breed of MPE controllers more immersive, expressive and enjoyable... and most hardware these days does not support MPE... whereas lots of soft synths do.
Also, I have software synths with no hardware equivalent...
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
Hardware is better than software.
But the trouble is that I doubt many who advocate hardware are actually ALL hardware. Go back just 40 years and the choice was only hardware. Hardware synths,hardware sequencers,hardware tape recorders etc. The big distraction,which at the time was pushed as a big benefit,was the the use of computers in the process. For most bedroom producers this meant an Atari running either Cubase or Logic. The whole messing around with computers soon became the spanner in the works with having to learn new stuff and the constant upgrading. Not to mention the biggest distraction which was soon to come .... the internet.
By all means go hardware, but, go completely hardware,and remove the computer and the internet from the process.
But the trouble is that I doubt many who advocate hardware are actually ALL hardware. Go back just 40 years and the choice was only hardware. Hardware synths,hardware sequencers,hardware tape recorders etc. The big distraction,which at the time was pushed as a big benefit,was the the use of computers in the process. For most bedroom producers this meant an Atari running either Cubase or Logic. The whole messing around with computers soon became the spanner in the works with having to learn new stuff and the constant upgrading. Not to mention the biggest distraction which was soon to come .... the internet.
By all means go hardware, but, go completely hardware,and remove the computer and the internet from the process.
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- KVRAF
- 26978 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
For you... That is a subjective opinion.dellboy wrote:Hardware is better than software.
Right now, I am traveling for the next year plus... I have my laptop, Babyface Pro, headphones, and Linnstrument and they fit comfortably in my carry-on. Just with those devices and software, I have a limitless musical setup. I could never do what I am doing with hardware synths and fx. So in this situation, software is infinitely better than hardware.
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
I am all software as well,unless a midi controller and usb interface counts as hardware. I recently went on a trip and took my irig 37 controller and laptop with me so I know what you mean.pdxindy wrote:For you... That is a subjective opinion.dellboy wrote:Hardware is better than software.
Right now, I am traveling for the next year plus... I have my laptop, Babyface Pro, headphones, and Linnstrument and they fit comfortably in my carry-on. Just with those devices and software, I have a limitless musical setup. I could never do what I am doing with hardware synths and fx. So in this situation, software is infinitely better than hardware.
Is it a subjective opinion that a real hardware accoustic guitar is better than a software version ?