Have Modern VST Instruments Replaced Your Hardware Synths ?

[chk071]

It's objectively correct, that we generally prefer variation in sound, but truly objective is a totally linear microphone and recording device that does not colour the recorded sound the slightest.

Well, you are talking about unwanted side effects here, which can happen due to the nature of capturing the sound. Not the voice itself.

[pekbro]

At least when it comes to the modular side of things, my one major and constant problem with
the software side, is cpu limitation. I dunno what everyone else is doing, but I am constantly
running out of juice when it comes to software.

[buzz1]

At least when it comes to the modular side of things, my one major and constant problem with
the software side, is cpu limitation. I dunno what everyone else is doing, but I am constantly
running out of juice when it comes to software.

Which cpu do you have?

[FapFilter]

It's objectively correct, that we generally prefer variation in sound, but truly objective is a totally linear microphone and recording device that does not colour the recorded sound the slightest.

Well, you are talking about unwanted side effects here, which can happen due to the nature of capturing the sound. Not the voice itself.

interesting that you label a Neve console and tape sound as unwanted side effects, but whatever

[dellboy]

My first hardware synth was a Juno 106 back in 1989. I bought it because it was cheap (£200) and I failed to grasp that analogue was more or less dead and digital was the way to go.

So after a couple of years I sold it and got a Roland D20 followed by a korg M1.

Since that time its been all digital until now on various computers,when for no real reason a few months ago got the analogue thing again.

But before I took the plunge and bought hardware I demoed every known software analogue synth and the only one that does it for me is u-he Repro 5.

As for digital, just about any old software thing is good enough to replace hardware.

But the new PolyBrute ------------ could make me change my mind.

Nah, I just thought about it and hardware is definitely better. Period.

[pekbro]

At least when it comes to the modular side of things, my one major and constant problem with
the software side, is cpu limitation. I dunno what everyone else is doing, but I am constantly
running out of juice when it comes to software.

Which cpu do you have?

It's pretty old now I guess, but it's fine, a Haswell Core I7. My cpu is not really the problem, it's the
way that software modulars have to cope with complex generative stuff. They get left behind
by hardware almost immediately.

[SoftSynthLover99]

If you have the proper setup, hardware synths and keyboard workstations are workflow enhancers 1000%. No need for Terabytes of external hard drives as the sounds are all there in the hardware.

Recording straight to audio not having to worry about recalling anything is a massive creativity booster. You learn to stop endlessly tweaking things and just perform/play better.

The only thing I give soft synths over real keyboards and workstations, is price and accessibility.

When it comes to pure sound? Give me a hardware synth or keyboard workstation all day over any software synth.

Some of you underestimate what playing real instruments can do for your music. And you also underestimate the music listener assuming they do no care about sound quality in the music they listen to.

While you may love using software synths and enjoy them (as do I, check my name) they are not better than real instruments. Sorry if this hurts your feelings but you can’t beat the real thing!

[AnX]

If you have the proper setup...

please enlighten us....

[vurt]

If you have the proper setup...

please enlighten us....

it should include at least one lava lamp.

[wagtunes]

If you have the proper setup, hardware synths and keyboard workstations are workflow enhancers 1000%. No need for Terabytes of external hard drives as the sounds are all there in the hardware.

Recording straight to audio not having to worry about recalling anything is a massive creativity booster. You learn to stop endlessly tweaking things and just perform/play better.

The only thing I give soft synths over real keyboards and workstations, is price and accessibility.

When it comes to pure sound? Give me a hardware synth or keyboard workstation all day over any software synth.

Some of you underestimate what playing real instruments can do for your music. And you also underestimate the music listener assuming they do no care about sound quality in the music they listen to.

While you may love using software synths and enjoy them (as do I, check my name) they are not better than real instruments. Sorry if this hurts your feelings but you can’t beat the real thing!

In your opinion.

Know what? I'm probably old enough to be your father. I came from a hardware world. My first synth was back in 1977.

That world was patch cables everywhere, a 4 channel tape deck that cost $1,200 (Teac A3440) and no way to "cleanly" do more than maybe 6 tracks, if you're recording by yourself. And forget about stereo unless you simply hard pan each individual instrument unless you record in stereo and then you're using 2 tracks. No way around it.

As for as nothing beating the real thing as far as the playing experience, what's the difference between my playing a DX 7 keyboard, or CS 80 or whatever it is you own and playing an Axiom 49 or 61 and having access to any sound you want that's on your computer?

And unlimited tracks?

That wasn't happening back then.

And as far as your average listener preferring the sound of hardware over software, I'm waiting for somebody to show me a demonstrative poll that reflects this if these people, listening on their frickin smart phones, can even tell the difference.

Do you really think the majority of todays "hits" are made with all hardware? I know top producers (at least that's what they publicly say) who work almost entirely ITB as far as synths go. Drums, bass, guitars, yeah. The real thing. But synths? These folks are so good at what they do, you can't possibly hear the difference in the mix between a hardware and software synth.

Go to Youtube and go watch all the interviews with the big names and see what they're using as far as synths go. A lot of people are going the software route exclusively outside of, as I said, drums, bass, guitars. And of course if they feel they actually need a real string or brass section, as examples, for their production. But synths? It's not all hardware and the average listener couldn't care less.

[chk071]

If you have the proper setup, hardware synths and keyboard workstations are workflow enhancers 1000%. No need for Terabytes of external hard drives as the sounds are all there in the hardware.

Recording straight to audio not having to worry about recalling anything is a massive creativity booster. You learn to stop endlessly tweaking things and just perform/play better.

Ugh... that's a major downside for me.

I still think analog synths have the edge over most software in terms of sound, but, apart from that, I don't really see many advantages of hardware over software.

[Teksonik]

Nine pages ago......

It just goes to show this whole software vs hardware argument is totally pointless and always has been and always will be.

And the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.

[AnX]

seems like you enjoy repeating yourself too....

[Teksonik]

Just trying to raise the collective IQ at KVR a few points by stopping these pointless discussions.

[SoftSynthLover99]

If you have the proper setup, hardware synths and keyboard workstations are workflow enhancers 1000%. No need for Terabytes of external hard drives as the sounds are all there in the hardware.

Recording straight to audio not having to worry about recalling anything is a massive creativity booster. You learn to stop endlessly tweaking things and just perform/play better.

The only thing I give soft synths over real keyboards and workstations, is price and accessibility.

When it comes to pure sound? Give me a hardware synth or keyboard workstation all day over any software synth.

Some of you underestimate what playing real instruments can do for your music. And you also underestimate the music listener assuming they do no care about sound quality in the music they listen to.

While you may love using software synths and enjoy them (as do I, check my name) they are not better than real instruments. Sorry if this hurts your feelings but you can’t beat the real thing!

In your opinion.

Know what? I'm probably old enough to be your father. I came from a hardware world. My first synth was back in 1977.

That world was patch cables everywhere, a 4 channel tape deck that cost $1,200 (Teac A3440) and no way to "cleanly" do more than maybe 6 tracks, if you're recording by yourself. And forget about stereo unless you simply hard pan each individual instrument unless you record in stereo and then you're using 2 tracks. No way around it.

As for as nothing beating the real thing as far as the playing experience, what's the difference between my playing a DX 7 keyboard, or CS 80 or whatever it is you own and playing an Axiom 49 or 61 and having access to any sound you want that's on your computer?

And unlimited tracks?

That wasn't happening back then.

And as far as your average listener preferring the sound of hardware over software, I'm waiting for somebody to show me a demonstrative poll that reflects this if these people, listening on their frickin smart phones, can even tell the difference.

Do you really think the majority of todays "hits" are made with all hardware? I know top producers (at least that's what they publicly say) who work almost entirely ITB as far as synths go. Drums, bass, guitars, yeah. The real thing. But synths? These folks are so good at what they do, you can't possibly hear the difference in the mix between a hardware and software synth.

Go to Youtube and go watch all the interviews with the big names and see what they're using as far as synths go. A lot of people are going the software route exclusively outside of, as I said, drums, bass, guitars. And of course if they feel they actually need a real string or brass section, as examples, for their production. But synths? It's not all hardware and the average listener couldn't care less.

I think you missed the point of what I was saying.

Take for example the huge song Bruno Mars had with 24k Magic and the other song he did with Mark Ronson uptown funk. Those catchy synth lines? All done on hardware synths (juno 106 and jupiter 8 I think).

I know and work with a lot of those big names and they do absolutely use hardware synths and keyboards like the Fantom and Montage in modern recordings. I think Alicia Keys used the Roland FA-06 in one of her recordings a few years back.

With the ability to just turn on a keyboard and press record in your daw without worrying about any issues with Midi, that is more desirable than fiddling with software trying to get a good sound.

You also free up your CPU because instead of running 15-20 instances of say Omnisphere or Arturia DX7, you can just record your keyboards straight into your DAW and call it a day.

Dr luke is also another pop producer who never even works with Midi as far as I’m told. I think he did an interview several years ago where he stated he almost always prefers working with audio over midi.

I think a lot of you are overlooking the fact that Midi can cause unwanted issues in sessions. Midi is not perfect and when you get to working with sessions upwards of 100 tracks it can be time consuming to bounce midi to audio.

My opinion is go somewhat hybrid.