The sound of an analogue synth, but it's really not that interestingHAL76 wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 10:40 pmI thought it might be interesting to ask here what is analog sound for you?
What is analog sound? Examples plz
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- Banned
- 10729 posts since 17 Nov, 2015
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
I probably sound like a text book but I can't think of a better way to express without a comparison to digital audio: Where digital audio is discrete; analogue audio is continuous.
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- KVRAF
- 2726 posts since 2 Jun, 2016
Aa an additional point: it is rather ironic to be posting examples here of 'analog sound' music tracks via Youtube, soundcloud and other such digital sites' links given the (substantial) potential for many of those tracks to have been audibly altered, via distortion and compression effects etc, from any initial intended "analog sound" when uploading the songs to the sites!
Of course, purely analog recordings (with analog instruments / equipment) do exist and will output an analog sound at that current time.
And before digital technology came along, you could have an "analog sound" simply as a matter of fact of the analog instruments / gear you were using.
However, even then, how would one define the "analog sound", given the large variances in how these tracks sounded to the listeners etc?
But it is highly moot to suggest that an "analog sound", or its qualities (even if you can define them clearly), cannot be convincingly mimicked by a competent engineer nowadays using current digital software tools or a hybrid setup (hence voiding the sound as an 'analog' sound anymore).
A Youtube clip of a 2013 song, made on Daniel Avery's hybrid setup, is certainly not a good example of 'analog sound' !
Arguably a vinyl pressing of a 1960s Jamaican ska tune would serve as a much better example, but even then - how would you define "THE analog sound" ?
Of course, purely analog recordings (with analog instruments / equipment) do exist and will output an analog sound at that current time.
And before digital technology came along, you could have an "analog sound" simply as a matter of fact of the analog instruments / gear you were using.
However, even then, how would one define the "analog sound", given the large variances in how these tracks sounded to the listeners etc?
But it is highly moot to suggest that an "analog sound", or its qualities (even if you can define them clearly), cannot be convincingly mimicked by a competent engineer nowadays using current digital software tools or a hybrid setup (hence voiding the sound as an 'analog' sound anymore).
A Youtube clip of a 2013 song, made on Daniel Avery's hybrid setup, is certainly not a good example of 'analog sound' !
Arguably a vinyl pressing of a 1960s Jamaican ska tune would serve as a much better example, but even then - how would you define "THE analog sound" ?
Last edited by dark water on Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 2726 posts since 2 Jun, 2016
^^ true.
Or is it...
Or is it...
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- KVRian
- 798 posts since 5 Oct, 2020
its like with art eg photography or painting, different mediums have their own character even though every picture is different
analog synths are like painting, digital synths are like microsoft paint or a more advanced version.
digital recording is like a digital photo, tape recording is like a film camera
its easier to tell what these differences are when comparing analog to digital pictures, but id say the differences are equivalent
analog synths are like painting, digital synths are like microsoft paint or a more advanced version.
digital recording is like a digital photo, tape recording is like a film camera
its easier to tell what these differences are when comparing analog to digital pictures, but id say the differences are equivalent
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 792 posts since 9 Feb, 2019
Sorry but that is a subjective point of view, isn´t it? May I ask how old you are?dark water wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:19 pm
A Youtube clip of a 2013 song, made on Daniel Avery's hybrid setup, is certainly not a good example of 'analog sound' !
Many ppl tday think the´d know since they have an analogue synth. People who have lived in a 100% analog world might just smile
To evade further complications: I have said nowhere that he´s really made the track with analog synths. I don´t know. He seems to make lots of post processing and what ever. But the track sound like back then, lying on the sofa - half dead - grinning ´bout those vibes from our stereo
But to be honest: I have read many promises. I have read too many assemssments. And I have heard like nothing yet that would really have convinced me that this type of sound is possible without good old Roland analogue gear ...-
- addled muppet weed
- 111343 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 792 posts since 9 Feb, 2019
could you mybe give us some insights on this creation?
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- addled muppet weed
- 111343 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
several analog oscillators and filters, through an analogue mixer and spring reverb.
there is additional sampling and bitcrushing later on too.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 792 posts since 9 Feb, 2019
I wouldn´t sign that personally, it all depends on what you are doing, but back then in the analog age the sounds ran through a mixer directly to the tape for the most people and purposes - and that really sounded different.j wazza wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 6:48 pm its like with art eg photography or painting, different mediums have their own character even though every picture is different
analog synths are like painting, digital synths are like microsoft paint or a more advanced version.
digital recording is like a digital photo, tape recording is like a film camera
its easier to tell what these differences are when comparing analog to digital pictures, but id say the differences are equivalent
There was not much you could do, we thought about other aspects anyway - and we all stll thought our samplers would sound 1:1 like the sound source. Tday we have religions about different types of "vintage" sampler crunch and as we see again here even people who don´t accept "religious freedom" anymore
Last edited by HAL76 on Sat Apr 16, 2022 8:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 792 posts since 9 Feb, 2019
Ok that really IS analog sound. Great example!^^
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- KVRian
- 798 posts since 5 Oct, 2020
what?HAL76 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 8:47 pmI wouldn´t sign that personally, it all depends on what you are doing, but back then in the analog age the sounds ran through a mixer directly to the tape for the most people and purposes - and that really sounded different.j wazza wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 6:48 pm its like with art eg photography or painting, different mediums have their own character even though every picture is different
analog synths are like painting, digital synths are like microsoft paint or a more advanced version.
digital recording is like a digital photo, tape recording is like a film camera
its easier to tell what these differences are when comparing analog to digital pictures, but id say the differences are equivalent
There was not much you could do, we thought about other aspects anyway - and we all stll thought our samplers would sound 1:1 like the sound source. Tday we have religions about different types of "vintage" sampler crunch and as we see again here even people who don´t accept "religious freedom" anymore
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- KVRAF
- 2726 posts since 2 Jun, 2016
To answer you directly:HAL76 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 8:17 pmSorry but that is a subjective point of view, isn´t it? May I ask how old you are?dark water wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:19 pm
A Youtube clip of a 2013 song, made on Daniel Avery's hybrid setup, is certainly not a good example of 'analog sound' !
Many ppl tday think the´d know since they have an analogue synth. People who have lived in a 100% analog world might just smile
To evade further complications: I have said nowhere that he´s really made the track with analog synths. I don´t know. He seems to make lots of post processing and what ever. But the track sound like back then, lying on the sofa - half dead - grinning ´bout those vibes from our stereo
I'm 44 years old.
I can truly remember listening to music, including electronic music (via my dad's interests in JMJ etc), from around 1980 onwards - experiencing first-hand the excitement (!) around gradual 'digital technology' changes with regards to music, home computer systems and other forms of entertainment throughout that decade.
I started making music via digital software NoiseTracker for the Amiga in 1989 and via PCs in the 1990s, I was out enjoying music in Midlands nightclubs from 1992 onwards (which is why I questioned your statement about music sounding analog because it is "from 1994"), and I was DJ-ing professionally at the weekends for 4 years in Cardiff nightclubs during the mid-late 1990s.
I'm no stranger to tracks made via analog equipment, digital equipment or a hybrid of both
Likewise, now may I ask how old you are?
In terms of Daniel Avery, factually his setup includes several analog synths but the production for Drone Logic was done using a combination of hardware and digital software by him and his producer mate Erol Alkan.
This information is readily available via the internet.
That is why I know 'Drone Logic' does not offer an 'analog sound', because it uses a hybrid (digital and analog) range of sounds and FX to achieve its final sound, as Avery and Alkan have explained publicly.
And so how can we say that something has an 'analog sound' if it has been partly made with digital sounds and equipment?
As said before, I am very familiar with Daniel Avery's music (which is why I recommended his follow-up album to you, which you ignored).
Yes, I am sure that a SIMILAR sound to the record can be done via 'good old Roland gear'.
But Drone Logic was not done like that - it was done using digital as well as analog gear.
You started this thread asking for examples of 'analog sound'.
You then gave as your example a Youtube digitally-processed (and arguably YT distortion-affected) clip of a digital/analog 2013 track called Drone Logic.
Do you really not understand why I questioned your selection? @_@!!
To answer one of your previous questions, my suggestion for an 'analog sound' would be one that is the outcome of using all analog instruments and equipment, such as a 1960s vinyl pressing of Jamaican ska/reggae music (which I enjoy).
I wouldn't attach any intrinsic subjective values to an 'analog sound' beyond it being purely the product of analog gear.
But you apparently think that there is an 'analog sound'.
So let's see if you will answer the question that I asked of you previously:
Can you define an 'analog' versus 'non-analog' sound?
TBF, you chose the thread title "What is analog sound?" so why not try to explain it yourself clearly?
