Have Modern VST Instruments Replaced Your Hardware Synths ?

[machinesworking]

It's definitely measurable. I gave the example of a static sound vs. a sound with modulated pitch. It's how our hearing works. It's not subjective. Analog simply has certain charactertistics which make the sound more interesting for the listener. The listener. That means everyone.

That is only because you "prefer" a sound with modulated pitch or variances over a static sound. Preferences are not facts. They are opinions. Please read a dictionary.

But, that aside, soft synths are more than capable of producing variable sounds and yet they are not analog. They are, by science, digital as they exist in the computer domain of 0s and 1s. Again, this negates the statement of "analog synths sound better than soft synths" as being factual. Again, just opinion.

And finally, a majority of the people believing something is true makes it fact is also not true.

Up until 1543, when Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) believed that the sun revolved around the Earth. And even after proving this, it took 100 years for people to finally accept it.

So majority opinion doesn't make something fact.
[/quote]
I think you did a great job of attempting to explain this to people here. What got lost might help some people to understand I think. Music is art, it serves no quantifiable real world purpose that's easily definable. There are parts of the process that are science in terms of actual sound, but the ordering of the actual sound into music? that's always a subjective opinion.

There is a world of difference between the fact that the earth revolves around the sun, and the opinion that analog sounds better than digital. The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

[anomandaris1]

There is a world of difference between the fact that the earth revolves around the sun, and the opinion that analog sounds better than digital.

The whole idea that analog sounds better than digital is beyond biased.
What about the nerds with whole rooms full of analogue synths at gearslutz that found that Diva sounds better than a real moog or whatever it was some years ago? I am 100 % sure they would say the opposite, if they knew in the beginning which sound source is the hardware synth.

The only problem with digital was aliasing and it is not a problem anymore in 2020.

[AnX]

unless you bought knifonium

[FapFilter]

It also depends on the sounds. At some settings, some analogs can indeed sound “better“, while on other settings, “fake analog“ (aka some emulations) can sound “better“, sometimes even because it isn't emulating as accurate.
A technical “flaw“ actually being a pro for the not so accurate emulation.
Same goes for analog stuff too of course.
An extreme example might be the TB-303, which might indeed be a poor substitute for a real bass.
Yet, somehow some people still found use for it, i heard.
A Moog is also a poor substitute if you actually want to do purely do orcherstral music.
Even technically “incredible sterile“ stuff, like the Monomachine or Serum gained some cult status. Both most likely not that undeserved.

In the end, labeling something as factually “better“, is more a self confirmation that what you do (and purchased) is THE right thing, while some kid in his bedroom produces some hit quality stuff with what he has. Without having bought all the Rolands, Korgs, Yamahas, elektrons and most expensive softsynths on earth.
Even the cult bands from yesteryear often used stuff that was more affordable.
But this doesn't say that their songs would have sounded factually “better“ if they used a CS-80 or Synclavier, instead of an SH-101 or TB-303 recorded through a Mackie mixer.

[Second Skin]

Up until 1543, when Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) believed that the sun revolved around the Earth. And even after proving this, it took 100 years for people to finally accept it.

Nicolaus Copernicus wasn't the only one thought that the Earth revolved around the sun.
Many other observers realized that the heavenly bodies did not move as Aristotle postulated.
Back then the Church had a nasty habit of executing anyone that challenged their authority.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

Back on topic I suppose if we all accepted that there's no point in discussing anything that remotely strays onto subjective opinions this place would be a whole lot less fun as well as very empty.

[FapFilter]

Up until 1543, when Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) believed that the sun revolved around the Earth. And even after proving this, it took 100 years for people to finally accept it.

Nicolaus Copernicus wasn't the only one thought that the Earth revolved around the sun.
Many other observers realized that the heavenly bodies did not move as Aristotle postulated.
Back then the Church had a nasty habit of executing anyone that challenged their authority.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

Back on topic I suppose if we all accepted that there's no point in discussing anything that remotely strays onto subjective opinions this place would be a whole lot less fun as well as very empty.

Yes, i'm pretty sure the Egypts knew better a few thousands years before. Most likely the Chinese too. And the Orient.
It was probably mainly the western aka Christian world which was still living under it's (catholic) rock.
And everyone who might have thought differently was burned anyway

[vurt]

Up until 1543, when Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) believed that the sun revolved around the Earth. And even after proving this, it took 100 years for people to finally accept it.

Nicolaus Copernicus wasn't the only one thought that the Earth revolved around the sun.
Many other observers realized that the heavenly bodies did not move as Aristotle postulated.
Back then the Church had a nasty habit of executing anyone that challenged their authority.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

Back on topic I suppose if we all accepted that there's no point in discussing anything that remotely strays onto subjective opinions this place would be a whole lot less fun as well as very empty.

was it aristotle who said flys have 4 legs?

[.jon]

.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

Actually if you can somehow prove that "4 billion years" is "most of the time" you will get a Nobel.

[vurt]

.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

noble prize

[toonertik]

.

The earth doesn't revolve around the sun "most of the time."

It has been for the past 4 billion years and more according to all the scientific evidence, if you can prove otherwise there's a Nobel prize that awaits.

noble prize

"No noble prize for you" I said to my ex as she signed the divorce papers..

[toonertik]

To the original question ..
A resounding NO
in fact quiet the opposite, after a couple of decades in the "virtual" world of synths..3
I gone full blown modular..

Any regrets tooner?

yeah..

should have done it years ago.. instead of effing around in some effing box...

suits me..
YMMV

[Second Skin]

noble prize

That will teach me not to type too fast or bother to proof read

"No noble prize for you" I said to my ex as she signed the divorce papers..

Lets hope for her sake the situation improved for her after the dust settled

[THE INTRANCER]

To the original question ..
A resounding NO
in fact quiet the opposite, after a couple of decades in the "virtual" world of synths..3
I gone full blown modular..

Any regrets tooner?

yeah..

should have done it years ago.. instead of effing around in some effing box...

suits me..
YMMV

Isn't modular in the virtual world far less messy, takes up far less space and cheaper than what you would otherwise have in the real world though when you compare with separate modules, you wire up by hand ? Propellerheads Reason, Voltage Ignite, Native Instruments Reaktor ect... on a laptop and 61 key keyboard setup if for any reason you want to take it out of the studio, or else if one is happy to use a desktop system at home ?

[EnGee]

The main difference between the analog and digital synths AFAK is that the analog synth doesn't alias. So, with analog synths, you don't care how extreme you go while in the digital world you need to be careful.

Yes, many developers could minimize the aliasing by oversampling, but it is still there. Personally, I don't mind very little of it! But, I'm careful also not to push the sound especially in the high notes.

[toonertik]

Isn't modular in the virtual world far less messy, takes up far less space and cheaper than what you would otherwise have in the real world though when you compare with separate modules, you wire up by hand ? Propellerheads Reason, Voltage Ignite, Native Instruments Reaktor ect... on a laptop and 61 key keyboard setup if for any reason you want to take it out of the studio, or else if one is happy to use a desktop system at home ?

First up.. I'm 66.. started recording bands in 1967..
that means all hardware environment...
Although not a gearslutz forum member .. I am a Gear Slut through and through. Dare I mention some of the real kit I either owned or worked with.. Neve.. Studer , OMG the B62 valve 2 track... MIDAS,, DBX, Raindirk mixers Klark Technik etc etc )
First synth I got to touch was back stage at an Arthur Brown "all nighter" gig in seedy Kings Cross London in either 1972 or 73 An EMS VC3 . Got shown how it worked and told to patch it.. loved it.
I got to program a few VC3's for others and an ARP.. never a minimoog.. different kinda user..
Got a Roland System 100 in 1978... semi modular.. regret .. selling it in 1985.. but hey..

Second..
In 2018 I went 100% VCV.. no timeline.. FREEDOM from that cursed effing DAW time line.. yay

The 9 months on VCV was a tester for going real...

Third..
and I have not been so productive or inspired since my mad crazy youth.

I have this wonderful collections of modules, that I can patch to create the most amazing and fun instruments upon which to express my musical/sound ideas with.
I stand over this machine and flick switches... turn knobs and vibe with this thing that I create..
What more can I say