Is it worth it to get a bunch of hardware? (coming from software only)

[pdxindy]

Is it a subjective opinion that a real hardware accoustic guitar is better than a software version ?

The term better is subjective... people define it differently according to their own interests

[Rameses]

Yes, but no analog synthesizers, those are mostly a waste of money. A good spend are rack units/sound modules, they sound way better than any out-of-the-box soft synth.

[dellboy]

Is it a subjective opinion that a real hardware accoustic guitar is better than a software version ?

The term better is subjective... people define it differently according to their own interests

Ok.

So would you prefer a virtual guitar emulation of a Gibson or Martin guitar rather than a real one that can be looked at and touched and played ?

[himalaya]

Hardware is better than software.

I especially like the non-existent hardware equivalent of Alchemy. It's so good, isn't it?

[dellboy]

Yes, but no analog synthesizers, those are mostly a waste of money. A good spend are rack units/sound modules, they sound way better than any out-of-the-box soft synth.

Rack unit modules are software instruments that are housed in a metal box instead of existing on a computer hardrive. The reason a computer can emulate them so well is because they are both digital. The only thing making them sound better to you is that the metal box version has an amplifier and dac output stage that colours the sound.

An analog synth on the other hand exists in the real world and manipulates electricity to produce sound waves. One of your metal box digital boxes or (modules) has to emulate real world sound waves in the digital domain. Think a vinyl or shellac record versus a cd or mp3.

[sjm]

So would you prefer a virtual guitar emulation of a Gibson or Martin guitar rather than a real one that can be looked at and touched and played ?

I would vastly prefer the real thing. But would DJ Tarnce who has never played an instrument, let alone a guitar, prefer it?

[dellboy]

Hardware is better than software.

I especially like the non-existent hardware equivalent of Alchemy. It's so good, isn't it?

Alchemy in a hardware box with knobs and dials and inputs and outputs sound great to me.

Where do I buy one ?

For that matter,where do I buy a non existent vst version ?

[himalaya]

@dellboy,

Your example of virtual guitars vs real guitars is misplaced in this context (of hardware vs software synths).
A real guitar has strings, and you interact with strings, a virtual guitar has no strings and you will most likely interact with a keyboard or some other non-string based playing surface (maybe Linnstrument or the Seaboard).

You understand how different this is to a hardware vs software synths? You play both by using keyboard based surfaces, or just simply trigger via sequencers, or if you are esoteric, you have some other means of note input. But in essence, the common ground with hardware and software is the same note input surface. So your proposition that hardware is better than software because it....just exists in front of you is silly. It's all in the mind.

My sitting position in my studio has several hardware synths in front and around me, both digital and vintage analogue, and I also have my computer with all the plugins I need. When I close my eyes and simply play I do not sense any difference between any of the synths at my disposal. I play them, express the sound in the same way, via the keyboard and knobs plus faders (even with software!). Go figure!

Ok.

So would you prefer a virtual guitar emulation of a Gibson or Martin guitar rather than a real one that can be looked at and touched and played ?

[himalaya]

double post

[himalaya]

tripple post

[Russell Grand]

Hardware is better than software.

I especially like the non-existent hardware equivalent of Alchemy. It's so good, isn't it?

Oh, by non-existent do you mean like the software version of Alchemy for PC?

[dellboy]

So would you prefer a virtual guitar emulation of a Gibson or Martin guitar rather than a real one that can be looked at and touched and played ?

I would vastly prefer the real thing. But would DJ Tarnce who has never played an instrument, let alone a guitar, prefer it?

DJ Tarnce (whoever he is) should at least try to learn to play a musical instrument.

How does he input stuff into his sequencer ? ready made loops ? step sequencer ?

[himalaya]

Hardware is better than software.

I especially like the non-existent hardware equivalent of Alchemy. It's so good, isn't it?

Alchemy in a hardware box with knobs and dials and inputs and outputs sound great to me.

Where do I buy one ?

For that matter,where do I buy a non existent vst version ?

You don't buy the VST , you get the AU when you buy yourself a Mac and Mainstage. Simples.

But, should you not want to do that, than we can play that game with other synths, how about IL Harmor? The non-existent hardware version of IL Harmor is so much better than its software version isn't it? How about Halion? A sampler plus synthesiser extraordinaire? I just love how much better the non-existent hardware is than the software...you get the picture?

[himalaya]

Hardware is better than software.

I especially like the non-existent hardware equivalent of Alchemy. It's so good, isn't it?

Oh, by non-existent do you mean like the software version of Alchemy for PC?

Not at all. My Personal Computer (a Mac) does have a copy of Alchemy2. Yours doesn't? That's a pity.

But my other Personal Computer (custom build running Windows) even has Alchemy 1! How about that! It exists across the boundaries of computer platforms, who would've known?

[whyterabbyt]

Ok.

So would you prefer a virtual guitar emulation of a Gibson or Martin guitar rather than a real one that can be looked at and touched and played ?

If I actually wanted to, like, play a tune or something?

Yup.