How the heck do hardware synths make sense to you?

[faun2500]

Buchla? Overly expensive.

When you dream big money, do you dream of a KIA? Or a Bentley?

I guess I dream more practical, so I have a better chance of achieving the dream. I've pretty much built my own dream studio myself. But point taken of course. I'm never getting a Lambo, but it might be nice to have one one day I suppose.

Devon

Not a dream then is it. Just a goal.

[Compyfox]

Thus, I just have to ask you guys how you make sense of hardware synths ( and drum machines) beyond jamming and live performances. Are there anyone who would go through a proces like the above to produce some synths and why would it be worth it to you?

I have multiple MIDI I/O's at two modules, so everything is pretty much "hard-patched". Audio is routed over a mixing console, Cubase controls everyting for me.

My BCR is connected through MIDI, had to setup that one once, then forget it. Then again, I don't use it that much for VSTi.

My Kurzweil K2000 is mainly used as keyboard, modwheel, pitchbend, sustain. My 88key semi weighted (and modified) FAME is not programmed yet with the most used MIDI CC's in terms of the sliders (and the two available banks per 8xSlider and 8xRotary). But then again, this is dead simple to do.


Soooo... how do I make sense of it?
Simple... sit down, start working. If I am lost, consult the manual.


Can't live with software alone. I need to "touch" things to get away from the pure "digital" setup.

[Scoox]

It's been nearly a decade since the last post, I wonder if anyone has changed their mind about hardware vs software in terms of workflow. JunkieXL sold a bunch of hardware not long ago, he said it was to find it a better home, but I feel he may have found the software was dragging him down, in fact he had a full-time technician employed to maintain his studio, which kinda goes to show keeping a complex hardware-based studio running can be a time suck.

[cryophonik]

I’ve used a hybrid system for decades now and IME maintaining software is far more of a time suck than hardware. My hardware needs updating or maintenance far less often - I turn it on and play and I can’t recall the last time one of my 15 hardware units crashed, froze, sat there with that annoying little spinny ball going for forever, etc. That’s not to say that there aren’t other disadvantages and advantages of each, but hardware wins the maintenance battle AFAIC.

[vurt]

It's been nearly a decade since the last post, I wonder if anyone has changed their mind about hardware vs software in terms of workflow. JunkieXL sold a bunch of hardware not long ago, he said it was to find it a better home, but I feel he may have found the software was dragging him down, in fact he had a full-time technician employed to maintain his studio, which kinda goes to show keeping a complex hardware-based studio running can be a time suck.

i hadn't posted a decade ago, so don't know if my mind has changed, but my situation has.
i didn't have much hardware to get pissed off about, now have lots but don't find it a chore.

i enjoy using it alongside software, or alone.
now, im not suggesting anyone else should feel the same, it's just what i enjoy and keeps me wanting to get back in the studio!
which is what counts isn't it? to be inspired to create by our weapons of choice!

[justin3am]

I still maintain, it's all good. There is no shortcut to find what works for you. And once you have found what works for you, there is no guarantee that it always will. I just work with what I enjoy using and over the years I've learned to even enjoy the maintenance aspects for operating a studio.
Sure I wish I could hire someone to change my guitar stings, repair my patch cables and install my software updates but in the meantime, I don't mind doing chores when it means I can spend the rest of my time having fun.

[whyterabbyt]

plugin and software updates take up far more maintenance time than just about anything hardware (except maybe making cables). but there are some aspects of hardware could yet cause me to go postal.

the main one is dropping that f**king micro sdcard with the Disting firmware update on it into the inside of the modular -again-.

[vurt]

plugin and software updates take up far more maintenance time than just about anything hardware (except maybe making cables). but there are some aspects of hardware could yet cause me to go postal.

the main one is dropping that f**king micro sdcard with the Disting firmware update on it into the inside of the modular -again-.

i recommend some of those net bags you get oranges in, cover the rack!
safety nets!!!

[whyterabbyt]

Wouldnt work. The micro sd slot is -right- on the edge of the module, impossible to see properly, and the card basically sits flush with the top of the faceplate, so you have to hold by the tiniest bit of the top edge.

Tiny bit off on the alignment and...

f**king fallen inside again.

Impossible with fingers, bloody difficult even with small pliers, not enough grip with tweezers.

Its the singular thing that made me buy knurlies.

[justin3am]

the main one is dropping that f**king micro sdcard with the Disting firmware update on it into the inside of the modular -again-.

OMG I have done this so many times! At first I was thankful that the card slot was accessible from the front… until the first time I had to remove modules to get at the card I dropped into the case.

[vurt]

ah not great then.
they should all use the ones qubit use though, even dropping them on the floor you can see the buggers!
those tiny ones go under a shelf and youre opening a new one.

[whyterabbyt]

Radio Thing and TipTop ONE/TG ONE have it done right, IMO; SDcard socket is away from the edge, has a 'lip' around the socket, and the card sits out enough (but not too much) from the faceplate where my clumsy digits can pluck them free and re-insert easily.

[machinesworking]

I still maintain, it's all good. There is no shortcut to find what works for you. And once you have found what works for you, there is no guarantee that it always will. I just work with what I enjoy using and over the years I've learned to even enjoy the maintenance aspects for operating a studio.
Sure I wish I could hire someone to change my guitar stings, repair my patch cables and install my software updates but in the meantime, I don't mind doing chores when it means I can spend the rest of my time having fun.

I'm often just literally confused that people don't get that their requirements and needs are not everyones. It seems so simple, I don't use modular synths, but in no way am I going to justify that by knocking anyone who does. I have three hardware synths, and hundreds of software synths. I don't see the need to choose.

[zerocrossing]

It's been nearly a decade since the last post, I wonder if anyone has changed their mind about hardware vs software in terms of workflow. JunkieXL sold a bunch of hardware not long ago, he said it was to find it a better home, but I feel he may have found the software was dragging him down, in fact he had a full-time technician employed to maintain his studio, which kinda goes to show keeping a complex hardware-based studio running can be a time suck.

i hadn't posted a decade ago, so don't know if my mind has changed, but my situation has.
i didn't have much hardware to get pissed off about, now have lots but don't find it a chore.

i enjoy using it alongside software, or alone.
now, im not suggesting anyone else should feel the same, it's just what i enjoy and keeps me wanting to get back in the studio!
which is what counts isn't it? to be inspired to create by our weapons of choice!

I really don't know what all the contention is about. It's like explaining to a pre-agricultural society that we can just use tamed wolves to heard our game and kill them at our leisure instead of going hunting. Sure, you might also enjoy hunting, but at the end, there's a steak on the table either way. Don't like being a rancher? Don't do it, but it's clear that it works for a lot of people, and vice versa. I like both methods.

I do feel sad for my hardware only pals. They seem to have walled themselves off from a lot of great possibilities. Sure, you can get most of them in modular, but monophonically and with a lot of other limitations.

[vurt]

yup, far too much great software and hardware to stick to one camp.

although, polyphony is a fad! soft or hard.