Have Modern VST Instruments Replaced Your Hardware Synths ?

[jancivil]

Practically everything I'm interested in as far as synthesis is strictly from software, except for NI Monark which largely is a Minimoog. I've owned two hardware synths in my life, a DX7 I bought in '03 at a pawn shop and a Roland rack XV type. I used a DX7 extensively in the mid to late 80s and two Minimoogs, one for a significant period of time, which I didn't actually own but I was the go-to programmer of the group per the DX7 and the owner of MM1 was not using it. I'd rather use NI Monark than have something to dust and wonder if it's going to die like the last Minimoog I used. In '03 I also bought Absynth 2, so... Ultimately the DX7 went back to a pawn shop. So I don't really miss that paradigm, there are other m.o.s, and yes, software obviates the Minimoog easily.

[e-crooner]

The Minimoog didn't even have a patch memory, right? Gee, I can't even imagine using such a device...

[vurt]

The Minimoog didn't even have a patch memory, right? Gee, I can't even imagine using such a device...

it did if you purchased the seperate "polaroid module"

[.jon]

Analog hardware, software for digital. Computers allow for interfaces that would be impossible or impractical to implement in hardware, and software has proven to be incapable of bridging the gap between code and actual electronic components.

Hybrid setup is the best of both worlds.

[chk071]

The Minimoog didn't even have a patch memory, right? Gee, I can't even imagine using such a device...

Couldn't imagine that either, TBH. No patch memory, no total recall. Software is spoiling.

[vurt]

, no total recall.

youve never even been to mars!

[e-crooner]

The Minimoog didn't even have a patch memory, right? Gee, I can't even imagine using such a device...

it did if you purchased the seperate "polaroid module"

Didn't they use patch sheets for such synths? Must have sucked, especially live Sorry groupies, keep cheering while I am turning the synth bass into a string sound

[chk071]

, no total recall.

youve never even been to mars!

They recently re-released that movie here. I think it was even on the index for some time here.

[deastman]

More silliness and biased assumptions. Even back when all I had was an Emax, a DW-6000, and an HR-16, I was still sequencing them from a Mac running Vision. It’s been hardware and software, hand in hand, all along. I use both hardware and software. It’s all great, and I love it equally. Music, for me, is a form of play, and I love to experiment with new musical toys full of novelty and the potential to delight. I do notice that I’ve been mostly using hardware for the past few years, but software is still fun and useful too.

[mladi]

More silliness and biased assumptions. Even back when all I had was an Emax, a DW-6000, and an HR-16, I was still sequencing them from a Mac running Vision. It’s been hardware and software, hand in hand, all along. I use both hardware and software. It’s all great, and I love it equally. Music, for me, is a form of play, and I love to experiment with new musical toys full of novelty and the potential to delight. I do notice that I’ve been mostly using hardware for the past few years, but software is still fun and useful too.

Agree..

Who knows where they put those fu**in' midi-cables in?!..

[foosnark]

I find it a bit sad, and revealing, that some people here are assuming if two musicians own the same set of gear they will sound the same.

A lot of stuff goes into my gear choices, including opportunity and whimsy and sometimes alcohol, but at no point do I worry about what other people are using just so I can avoid it.

[vurt]

I find it a bit sad, and revealing, that some people here are assuming if two musicians own the same set of gear they will sound the same.

A lot of stuff goes into my gear choices, including opportunity and whimsy and sometimes alcohol, but at no point do I worry about what other people are using just so I can avoid it.

indeed, look at mutable instruments, many people own one or more of those modules, but the diversity of output ,you might not realise it if you didnt know.
and they even have quite a distinct sonic footprint. (the ones with out put obvs)

[clipnotic]

There is no reason and no advantage still buying and using hardware and of course it's possible to use a PC / Mac on stage and more and more live musicians are doing this, except those, which are still thinking they're "elite", because they can create sounds like decades before or cover musicians, which still living in the past and want still sound like in the 80s / 90s.

There is a reason. The control surface of Roland System-8 is simply the best (for many). And the synth itself is the best (at least for me), despite being VA. Well, I shouldn’t say “despite”, cause good VA in good hands (relying not only on presets) sounds not less uniquely then A or a unique wavetable engine

No, there's no reason still buy Roland hardware (new and vintage) AND software, I'm working complete "Roland free" since a very long time ...

[AnX]

There is no reason and no advantage still buying and using hardware....

for you maybe...

[EnGee]

I don't find any right rules! Sometimes software is better than hardware, and sometimes hardware is better (in everything including the sound!). It also depends on so many things! Synth quality, the kind of music, ease of use, presets quality, etc.

It is also doesn't matter if this hardware is a VA or a digital workstation/synth. Some digital synths are really great and super inspiring!

Everyone is talking about him/herself of course and we are not the same and don't have the same taste or music background, then we find it so odd that we differ in our opinions! Maybe we just like to repeat ourselves