What makes a plugin "dated"?

[BBFG#]

What makes a plugin "dated"?
I often read that comment in threads discounting/dismissing good usable plugins.
I can see where maybe the lack of current computer standards such as not 64 bit, no VST3/AU/CLAP or other keeping with the times hardware might be something. But other times, it seems it's the presets being overused or the modulation capabilities that are culprit?
In your opinion, what dates them for you?

[seafire]

The date?

[BBFG#]

The date?

Which date?
The date of initial release or the date of the last update?

[Michael L]

It means that person went on a date with that plugin, but there was no spark.

[Jafo]

It's out of demand enough that I can afford it.

[zerocrossing]

There's no one answer to this. It could be a number of things. If it's an analog emulation, it can sound dated due to noticable digital artifacts in the sound, or a certain dullness. I'd say that Poly-Ana sounds very dated in comparison to something like Repro or UAD's Minimoog.

But Repro can sound dated when you're using to play sounds that are reminiscent of a lot of the classic sounds the Prophet 5 was used for in the late 70s and 80s. Play that "Let's Go" sync sound and you can't help but think of the 80s.

So when someone says a plugin sounds "dated," you need to ask them what they mean. If they're using 80s style presets from an emulation of a synth from the 80s, well... the whole point of it is to sound dated. Of course, the music can be of a totally different style and then even an old preset could seem not dated.

[crimsonwarlock]

Many DX-7 sounds are being perceived as dated, while the DX-7 can do sounds that many modern non-FM synths (and even several FM-based synths) are incapable of doing (at least accurately). Having owned one of the first DX-7 synths that were shipped (I pre-ordered mine before they came out), and subsequently have experienced the era of FM-sound bashing (as some sounds were indeed overused), it is funny to see all the new FM synths coming out over the last few years (both software and hardware).

Suffice to say that, although I sold my DX-7 around 20 years ago, I do own a nice assortment of software FM synthesizers.

[zerocrossing]

Many DX-7 sounds are being perceived as dated, while the DX-7 can do sounds that many modern non-FM synths (and even several FM-based synths) are incapable of doing (at least accurately). Having owned one of the first DX-7 synths that were shipped (I pre-ordered mine before they came out), and subsequently have experienced the era of FM-sound bashing (as some sounds were indeed overused), it is funny to see all the new FM synths coming out over the last few years (both software and hardware).

Suffice to say that, although I sold my DX-7 around 20 years ago, I do own a nice assortment of software FM synthesizers.

The DX line was especially frozen in time due to the difficulty of programming it. I couldn't quite figure it out and gave up, using presets instead. I think that's what most people did, so you end up hearing those presets again and again.

[cryophonik]

It starts to smell funny

[jamcat]

Serious answer:

Developers have always had to conserve resources. They make all kinds of trade-offs to use less CPU and less memory. Particular DSP techniques will become in vogue at a time, due to these concerns and also because everyone is reading the same DAFx and AES white papers coming out, and people tend to follow the crowd.

So you can imagine the trade-off developers were making 25 years ago for Pentium III processors with 2GB of ram were far more severe than what they have to do today, and it would show up in the sound. Those plugins would sound dated today (if you could even run 32-bit DX plugins, which also makes them dated.)

[jamcat]

But other times, it seems it's the presets being overused or the modulation capabilities that are culprit?

This is a different definition of "dated" altogether.
Probably some good examples would be if you're using Auto-Tune to get Cher vocals. Or if you're using the L1/L2/L3 to "win" the Loudness War. Or if you're doing whatever people use OTT for. All of that is going to sound dated like the E.Piano preset on a DX7.

But if you don't bother with trying to follow the latest trends, then it's really not going to be an issue.

[BertKoor]

When the latency they report is measured in years, not microseconds, then it's definitely dated.

Without kidding, it can be just the GUI. Some GUI styles go in and out of fashion. If you can see a limited palette of colours, it's definitely dated.

[El°HYM]

Using 20 year old code can sound dated; with that said, your 'almost indistinguishable' top notch analog emulations from today, will sound dated 20 years from now.

[Bunny_boy]

Familiarity breeds contempt - certain sounds or styles will be in vogue at a certain time, then become dated before becoming some sort of hypnagogic nostalgia.

For plugins specifically, I think I agree with jamcat about developments in coding and resource management leading to certain ways of achieving certain sounds that might then be able to place them at a certain moment in time.
But I guess that applies to most / all music hardware and technology?

[eLawnMust]

Poppycock!... I use alotta 20 year old plugs sound just great but even today many developer creating emulations of DATED hardware synth! Answer that one then... Also many ways to fatten & fill out sound of a 20 year-old soft synth I guess most don't know how to hook up FX to them? Or even NOT, some like the retro sounds of 20 year old soft synths... If the music is GOOD then it's all good but if your music is krap then I guess you'll have to settle for the most modern 'fat sound' to desktop dabble with which 9 of 10 times indicates rank amateur... These fat sounds don't fit in a composition well you must blend sounds in so not just one sound takes up the whole frequency bandwidth, unless all you do is play one or two sounds (no chords ever)...

I guess I'll go toss out my '67 Fender Jazz Fretless Bass as it's pretty dated now>>>>