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

[DrGonzo]

I agree that most listeners don’t care how a sound was made. But maybe that’s exactly why the process matters more to the person creating it than to the person hearing it.

Yes! And it should matter to the person who is making it.

[Ah_Dziz]

For kontakt, the banks make swapping sounds instantaneous at the expense of ram. Or you can load different presets as individual instruments and Crossfade via midi or switch midi channels, or use a multiscript that controls all that... It's not an issue except for large patches. I spent lots of time resampling large sample patches into very simple patches that only contain what was needed while preparing for live stuff. Also resampling FX keeps the amount of "live" gear to a minimum. Many ways to skin and eat one's fellow humans.

[IvyBirds]

I have posted a video showing someone switching between presets and instruments in a fraction of a second while on stage during a performance in an arena tour

It's really not hard, it just requires you to do something properly

Here is another video of someone switching presets and splits to play a different instrument for just a specific part of a song, he is switching using a foot pedal and goes from playing a full organ sound, to having a whistle part and back to a full organ. Because it he is doing it properly and it switches so fast he can do that right in the middle of his song



Using a DAW is the wrong approach as one doesn't need to do anything more than host your plugins and switch between them so the traditional DAW is the wrong tool that wates time, RAM, and CPU cycles

[crimsonwarlock]

Also using a DAW is the wrong approach...

Richard Barbieri disagrees with you



And yes, that is indeed the Reason DAW on that laptop

[D-Fusion]

[zerocrossing]

What's your point? That all those sounds are easily made in a plugin like UAD's Minimoog?

[IvyBirds]

Also using a DAW is the wrong approach...

Richard Barbieri disagrees with you



And yes, that is indeed the Reason DAW on that laptop

Awesome, so he is using a bunch of hardware synths, most of them digital

What Richard Barbieri is saying there is that he can't switch the timbres on his instruments fast enough when using a DAW.

In this case Reason so he is reduced to using a bunch of hardware synths instead.

He isn't disagreeing with me at all he is proving my point in spectacular fashion, so thanks for that image. If you don't need speed or need to work efficiently by all means use a DAW and a ton of hardware synths

My point is that if you don't want to, or can't have a bunch of hardware synths at the gig, you can use a laptop and a controller or two and switch the timbres and instruments instantly, and to accomplish that the DAW is the wrong approach

As for me I couldn't fit all of that in my car, and I certainly would never want to fly or take the train with all of that, So I use a laptop and two controllers

All of the digital synths there I can easily do with software, and the Prophet 6 I could easily replicate in software also or use something else that will sound just as good to the audience

Thanks again however for proving my point, you are the best

[IvyBirds]

And I can do all of those timbres and a ton more using The Legend HZ, with the added bonus of polyphony so I can play chords

[Uncle E]

What's your point? That all those sounds are easily made in a plugin like UAD's Minimoog?

Maybe that 90% of the sounds are similar enough that the audience won't care if it's left at the same settings the entire night?

[SoftSynthLover99]

And I can do all of those timbres and a ton more using The Legend HZ, with the added bonus of polyphony so I can play chords

McDonalds and all fast food restaurants can serve you dinner sure, but would the quality of the food be the same as a 5 star restaurant with only the best ingredients and chefs cooking it?

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers. Sure they can get the job done, but the overall experience and quality will not be the same as a 5 star gourmet restaurant

It's quite ridiculous to think fast food is equal to a 5 star restaurant using the best ingredients for all of the food they serve. Yet these threads are doing that very thing with software vs hardware. Nobody will stop you from eating McDonalds every day, but don't delude yourself into thinking that your Micky D's happy meal is equal to the very best restaurants in the world.

[Uncle E]

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers.

Relinquish your user name, SoftSynthLover99.

[DJErmac]

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers.

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[DJErmac]

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers.

Relinquish your user name, SoftSynthLover99.

Yeah, that’s why this goat above doesn’t understand a thing anymore...

[SoftSynthLover99]

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers.

Relinquish your user name, SoftSynthLover99.

the truth will set you free Uncle E. I love software synths just like I love a good fast food burger from time to time, but will never delude myself into thinking that fast food burgers are equal to the food from the very best restaurants in the world. Just like software synths are not better than the very best designed hardware synthesizers in the world.

They are different beast entirely.

[DJErmac]

Software synths are the fast food of synthesizers.

Relinquish your user name, SoftSynthLover99.

the truth will set you free Uncle E.

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Now this bear needs a drink.