Software vs. Analog in 2025 – Has the Balance Shifted?

[whassup]

Having said that: There are situations like anything modulated at audio rate and any non linearities that still leave me with the theoretical desire for analog.
Most software developers just don't care yet about the powerful computers that we have to make their software ready for serious oversampling.
This starts with rediculous things like delay lengths that reacts to oversampling.
Leave alone sound that changes when oversampling besides of reducing aliasing. Filters are off...
Food for thought: Why not make your synth and fx able to be radically oversampled to the amount that bouncing a 5 minutes synth part takes as long as recording your analog synth in real time? That pould be something!

Practical concerns like ...
space, "No, my studio is inside of that computer."
money, "No, it wasn't as expensive as a Stradivari"
and time "Uh baby, we don't bounce that stuff offline!"
partly HAD to be and partly are deliberately driving forces behind my decisions against analog over the decades.
Not talking tube amps which are loud, awesome heaters and bulky.

We always used what we had access to.
Decades later THAT sound that was created with the limitations of back then is the desire of some replicas.
This is why I am more relaxed about such things as not owning a real OBXa to get THAT sound.
In the meantime I made some music that I and others enjoy.
Mostly inside of my little computer plus some guitars and some cheap mics and a cheap interface.
Thanx for reading.

[dellboy]

As far as a tactile experience goes there is nothing more tactile than your own custom control surface controlling software

Because if you really want knobs and faders, you don't settle for the limited control surface of hardware synths that are predefined for you, you make your own layout

Serious question.

If you were invited into a studio as a session musician playing keyboards, and you had the choice of using the Studios hardware Prophet 5 or a laptop running Softube Model 80 and your own custom controller which would you use?

[vurt]

we're cold and dead for a long time, choose life while you can.

[Vortifex]

As far as a tactile experience goes there is nothing more tactile than your own custom control surface controlling software

Because if you really want knobs and faders, you don't settle for the limited control surface of hardware synths that are predefined for you, you make your own layout

This is just ITB made annoying. I don't want to fiddle about with scripts and shit.

[IvyBirds]

As far as a tactile experience goes there is nothing more tactile than your own custom control surface controlling software

Because if you really want knobs and faders, you don't settle for the limited control surface of hardware synths that are predefined for you, you make your own layout

This is just ITB made annoying. I don't want to fiddle about with scripts and shit.

Awesome, neither do I which why I don't, I also don't want to be limited to whatever controls a hardware manufacturer thinks I should have and menu dive for the rest, and of course be limited to whatever set up of those limited knobs and faders the hardware manufacturer thinks I should have

But then again obviously a tactile experience is important to me, and for you not so much

[mambo888]

Anybody at this point who thinks analog is better should buy a bigger set of speakers. Minimum 10-12” and you won’t say again “this soft synth is lacking low end”, the hard truth is we used to listen on small computer speakers while you connect your analog gear to a big ass amplifier, then you talk about how it is not the same. Once I got proper speakers for my setup I realised I don’t care about the rest, the key is sound design, great presets. Whatever is lacking in low end can be adjusted with EQ, after proper processing and mixing all arguments in favour of analog are pointless. Of course audiofiles will never admit.

[IvyBirds]

As far as a tactile experience goes there is nothing more tactile than your own custom control surface controlling software

Because if you really want knobs and faders, you don't settle for the limited control surface of hardware synths that are predefined for you, you make your own layout

Serious question.

If you were invited into a studio as a session musician playing keyboards, and you had the choice of using the Studios hardware Prophet 5 or a laptop running Softube Model 80 and your own custom controller which would you use?

That's easy and is a situation I run into often

I would prefer to use my own controller 100% of the time, but if you are a hired gun in the studio they are not paying me to sound design they are paying me to play and if they have a Prophet 5 and want me to play that awesome not a problem as money talks

On the other hand if if they don't have any specific gear in mind that they happen to have in the studio, I can show up with my laptop and a couple of Novation Launch Control XLs in a bag. That bag is small and light enough I can carry it on a plane, train, or bus. I will also be able to send them a digital DANTE signal right out of my laptop or use an analog out from my small interface

They will have some kind of synth it controller with MIDI out for playing so it's not an issue

That gives me a giant collection of sounds that are easily available to use on a moments notice. On my laptop I have emulations of every popular vintage synth imaginable, and samples ready to go in pretty much any genre or style

[pdxindy]

So I would like to ask how others see the situation today. Has software become the preferred choice for most workflows? Or is analog hardware still essential for you?

Hybrid (both)

The one analog hardware box that I haven't found anything comparable in software is the Elektron Rytm. Specifically, the analog distortion and compressor makes these gorgeous raw tones I've never heard in software. I'll never sell the Rytm.

There is also a dynamic fidelity of sound with eurorack hardware that software cannot match, but the gap isn't so big and eurorack takes a lot of labor. I could live without it.

[pdxindy]

Software continues to get better. Hardware remains pretty much the same

Ahem... Eurorack

[vurt]

Software continues to get better. Hardware remains pretty much the same

Ahem... Eurorack

not much has happened with anything since the last thread.
not even sure ive passed what i ate since the last thread tbh...

[SLiC]

Software continues to get better. Hardware remains pretty much the same

A lot of hardware now is predominantly software with its own dedicated controller. They both improve together. Also, relative to cost both offer ridiculous bang for the buck now-a-days.

I use both- have a S88 MK3 and a PUSH3 offering great control of software with enough fairly instant hands on control for me. Also have lots of hardware into an X32 desk and hardware sequencers (Electron, OPXY etc). I don't even think about what better, I use what works and what inspires me.

I recently bought a Tempera for example, havent put it down for week, the way it all works together is sublime, it puts a big smile on my face. I just don't get that with virtual things, they are just practical.

[pdxindy]

Here's an interesting twist on these software vs hardware debates. Imagine you could go back in time to 1980 with a modern computer loaded with the U-He instruments and FabFilter's Pro-Q, Pro-C, Pro-R and Pro-L plugins, and a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface. Who in their right mind then wouldn't rather use your setup instead of all the cutting edge analog equipment back then? So why do we say the equipment back then was better? I remember recording in 1982. My band had to go into a recording studio and plop down a shit ton of cash for a demo tape that was of laughable quality in today's standards. Garageband and its included FX could blow that demo out into space. We all played guitars and bass because no one could afford a synthesizer. Digital has made music so much more powerful and affordable than we could ever imagine 50 years ago. The only thing it hasn't done is increase musical talent, but that's a whole other discussion.

I could make a lot of money in 1980 with my current laptop

[vurt]

I could make a lot of money in 1980 with my current laptop

especially if before you go, you google "every horse race for 1980"

[pdxindy]

I could make a lot of money in 1980 with my current laptop

especially if before you go, you google "every horse race for 1980"

Stock Market would be better...

[jamcat]

I exclusively use software models of hardware. Everything I use must have a real-world counterpart.

A major reason for that is if should I ever need a hardware version of something I used, I know I can get it.

Also my guitars are hardware.