Software vs Hardware

[IvyBirds]

In 2025, virtual instruments sound so good that one doesn't even need to look at hardware.

Unless one prefers hands on bespoke interfaces,

There is 100% absolutely no more bespoke hands on interface than a good MIDI controller you have programmed to do exactly what you want it to and that's fits into your workflow

Every hardware synth you buy doesn't have a bespoke interface created to serve your needs, it has a mass produced interface built to make it easier and cheaper to manufacture

With hardware you are forced to use whatever control surface they give you, and in 2025 if your synth has patch memory and/or can be controlled and programmed remotely via MIDI all of those knobs and faders are just sending digital data anyway to a CPU. It's not like if you turn the knob for filter cutoff that you are actually turning the potentiometer that increases resistance in the audio path filter circuit

So why not just buy a good controller(s) that have lots of knobs, faders, and buttons and make your own?

[El°HYM]

Well, dont want to be that guy, but DAC!

[foosnark]

I can't think of any synth I've used from many years ago that seems to be vaporized by OS updates or anything like that. (I am a PC guy).

Alchemy

(I'm not sure if I'd be using Alchemy today anyway if Apple hadn't taken it away from us. But it still annoys me.)

Windows doesn't seem to have the compatibility nightmares that Apple folks have gone through, for the most part. But there was a point where I abandoned using my 32-bit plugins because it was holding me back from new 64-bit-only ones. (But then Bitwig handles both anyway.)

[hebex]

I have hardware synths that no software has accurately replicated yet, and possibly never will.

What hardware synths if I may ask?...

[seafire]

In 2025, virtual instruments sound so good that one doesn't even need to look at hardware.

Unless one prefers hands on bespoke interfaces,

There is 100% absolutely no more bespoke hands on interface than a good MIDI controller you have programmed to do exactly what you want it to and that's fits into your workflow

Well, there is no midi controller I know that has a one knob per function to match the soft synths I use. If you are very lucky you might get 16 knobs and 16 sliders....but that's unlikely, very expensive, and still doesn't cover everything.

[Examigan]

I can't think of any synth I've used from many years ago that seems to be vaporized by OS updates or anything like that. (I am a PC guy).

Alchemy

(I'm not sure if I'd be using Alchemy today anyway if Apple hadn't taken it away from us. But it still annoys me.)

I thought Alchemy worked with Windows 10, but who knows about down the line...

[seafire]

I can't think of any synth I've used from many years ago that seems to be vaporized by OS updates or anything like that. (I am a PC guy).

Alchemy

(I'm not sure if I'd be using Alchemy today anyway if Apple hadn't taken it away from us. But it still annoys me.)

I thought Alchemy worked with Windows 10, but who knows about down the line...

Works on Win11 here

[swilow11]

Personally, I'm using about 80% software with the rest being my hardware synths. Software is just so much easier to work with, no sync issues, easier to sequence, sounds fantastic, multiple instances. Hardware- from sync issues, to fiddling with routing, is just much more laborious without the sound quality improvements that would make all the hassles moot.

That said, I do have much more fun just playing with my hardware than software. The physical limitations can really promote creativity, and the tactile nature feels more like one is making music as opposed to just constructing and sequencing patterns. I doubt that I'll ever purchase another softsynth unless it is utterly exceptional, but will definitely be picking up a few more hardware darlings.

[IvyBirds]

In 2025, virtual instruments sound so good that one doesn't even need to look at hardware.

Unless one prefers hands on bespoke interfaces,

There is 100% absolutely no more bespoke hands on interface than a good MIDI controller you have programmed to do exactly what you want it to and that's fits into your workflow

Well, there is no midi controller I know that has a one knob per function to match the soft synths I use. If you are very lucky you might get 16 knobs and 16 sliders....but that's unlikely, very expensive, and still doesn't cover everything.

For $159 you can get a Novation Launch Control XL that has 8 sliders, 16 buttons and 24 knobs.

You can get them at Amazon, Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Thomann and pretty much any music retailer

You can use the Novation Components software that comes with it (or use the online version) to set up very quickly and easily whatever MIDI Channel and CC you want and have 8 pages/banks worth of all those knobs and you can control the pages/banks via external MIDI and even sequence the changes if you want

And you can very easily set up unique USB device IDs for them and your computer can see up to 8 of them if you choose

It's a very simple, very easy, very low cost rock solid system

[vitocorleone123]

It's "+" not "vs".

[kritikon]

Personally, I'm using about 80% software with the rest being my hardware synths. Software is just so much easier to work with, no sync issues, easier to sequence, sounds fantastic, multiple instances. Hardware- from sync issues, to fiddling with routing, is just much more laborious without the sound quality improvements that would make all the hassles moot.

That said, I do have much more fun just playing with my hardware than software. The physical limitations can really promote creativity, and the tactile nature feels more like one is making music as opposed to just constructing and sequencing patterns. I doubt that I'll ever purchase another softsynth unless it is utterly exceptional, but will definitely be picking up a few more hardware darlings.

Personally, I'm probably the opposite with 80% hw or more, 20% sw or less. Regarding the hw, I'll requote you for my own experience with it. Hardware is just so much easier to work with, no sync issues, easier to sequence, sounds fantastic, multiple instances. That is absolutely the case with my hw. No sync issues whatsoever - I can't actually remember the last time I had sync issues with a hw synth - maybe 35 years ago with an old OSCar? Incredibly easy to sequence in EXACTLY the same way I do with sw, some of them even have their own sequencers onboard should I want to use them, though generally I don't, as obviously DAWs are great sequencers - maybe it's just me, but I find MIDI works exactly the same way with hw synths as it does with sw synths, who knew? Sound fantastic - obvs otherwise I wouldn't have bought them, in EXACTLY the same way and reason I bought the sw synths I have. Multiple instances - there are so many ways I get multiple instances of hw. For every 999 instance of whatever plugin you have, I can record the same 999 instances of any hw I choose. Easy really. But then I also can't remember the last time I used the same synth multiple times, it's just something I don't generally do, so it doesn't even exist as an issue.

I don't have too many gripes about using sw synths, apart from the obvious pain I get from too much mousing, but that applies to all sw, not just synths.

But as I mentioned before - my experience doesn't relate at all to anyone else, so it matters absolutely nothing that hw works well for me. In the same way it matters to nobody that sw works well for others. I'm not proselytising about hw, by the way, I'm pleased you get good use from sw. That's the bit I never understand about people like twatbirds - why they have to try and prove to anyone that their way is best. Seems pointless. These threads always degenerate to that, like they have to get everyone else to do things their way with sw and they have to agree.

[KBSoundSmith]

The HW vs SW argument always amuses me, as if all of the people commenting don't spend too much on both

[Ah_Dziz]

I've got a pile of crazy old software that I still use regularly with zero problems. The only problems I've had with software "breaking due to age" has been directly caused by developers and their changing and dropping activation methods while breaking the old stuff or going out of business without leaving a working final version. The first plugin I ever bought runs fine on my current windows 10 system.

[Gam456]

What's the better play financially buy the $3500 hardware synth now and sell it in a few years for $2500? Or buy a software instrument for a few hundred bucks that might become obsolete or stop working at some point in the future and you lose a few hundred bucks ?

It's not just about money.
The connection with the instrument, the sound. I have 1000 time more pleasure to play on my hardware with limitation.

Don't get me wrong. I love my plugin, but I always miss something.

[Dalle]

I like grooveboxes like Elektron because they give you a tactile and focused experience, and everything is saved in one box. The idea of having to hook up multiple hardware synths, effects, sequencers and mixers sounds horrible.