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

[cryophonik]

Come on: Play that 106 which is in that keyboard rack 1 foot above the ground...

Yeah, every time I see studio pics with gear at ankle-level, I just think, man what's the point if you can't even access it without lying on the ground, not to mention how easy it would be to accidentally kick it, push a chair into it, etc. Maybe that works for some people, but I assume many/most of them are controlling it via a software editor. For me personally, that would probably fall into the category of "no thanks, I'll replace it with a soft synth/effect and call it good."

[wikter]

I am currently using four Novation Launch Control XLs MKIIs. Novation is currently in the process of coming out with the MKIII version of those that should be out in late June or early July

I would love to see a pic of your setup. Not because I don't believe you; I just feel like that would be a nightmare in terms of organising a workspace.

Some guy's some years ago. (i helped him to create a Studio One Device controller for 192 CC's)


And the expanded one by Japbcn...

[wikter]

And add this cheap mate. 35€ for 59 controls.
105€ 177 controls.

[IvyBirds]

Why? Four Launch Control XLs take up less space than many hardware synths.

Edit:I forgot I had this picture on my phone, the whole thing takes less desk space than my Montage M would

Is that a two-tier desk with your monitor behind it? Where do you put your keyboard for playing VSTs? To the side? Apologies for my nosiness.

No I am using this which I got on Amazon

Screenshot_20250618-123859.jpg

The two side panels can move in and out making it longer or shorter and they can each pivot

This is set up on a cheapy Amazon desk that is L shaped. I have this on my left side of the L and a regular keyboard controller on the right side of the L. I sit in the middle in a very comfortable chair that pivots and can play the controller with keys with both hands or use the Launch Controls with both hands or use one hand on each

It's actually way more comfortable than when I had a bunch of synths on stands

My two monitors are mounted to the desk with arms that I can move and position however I want

I also have a Novation Launch Pad Pro in there as you can see. I use that to trigger notes as I am programming patches with the launch Controls

That has 64 pads that I have set up to trigger MIDI notes. The top row of 8 is an octave of White Keys down in the bass frequencies starting with C. The next two rows are an octave above and below Middle C, and the fourth down is another octave on higher frequencies. Those are all just like regular keys and will sustain as long as I hold them down, they are even velocity sensitive with polyphonic aftertouch

I have the next four rows on the bottom set up for the same notes only as toggles, so if I press a pad it will sustain that until I press it again. This allows me to easily trigger notes and have them sustain while I am tweaking things in real time with both hands. The Launch Pad Pro is integral in keeping everything compact

[IvyBirds]

Come on: Play that 106 which is in that keyboard rack 1 foot above the ground...

Yeah, every time I see studio pics with gear at ankle-level, I just think, man what's the point if you can't even access it without lying on the ground, not to mention how easy it would be to accidentally kick it, push a chair into it, etc. Maybe that works for some people, but I assume many/most of them are controlling it via a software editor. For me personally, that would probably fall into the category of "no thanks, I'll replace it with a soft synth/effect and call it good."

That was me for many years, I realized one day as I was controlling all that hardware while sitting at my computer with software and MIDI controllers, it would be easier to just go software as I was using computers anyway to manage the hardware

[Uncle E]

And add this cheap mate. 35€ for 59 controls.
105€ 177 controls.

Bluetooth, too! Can you post a link or picture of the 177 control version?

[El°HYM]

http://www.synth-project.de/diva.html

[IvyBirds]

Wow! Thank you so much!
That is very valuable to me. Bookmarked.
That makes a lot of sense to me.
219€ on Thomann, sounds good.

How do you get visual feedback with it?
Do you look to the screen mostly because you have internalized that logical setup?

I get visual feedback mainly by looking at the GUI of the actual plugin, but also from the Gig Performer Screen showing the rackspace, and on the controllers themselves

With Gig Performer you are not limited to having the knobs and faders be linear or adjusting parameters from 0-127. You can create all kinds of curves to control their behavior, you can also limit their range where turning the knob all the way to the left might be 40% and all the way to the right be say 80%, you can also invert them so all the way up is the lower value.

You also run into the issue like you do with many hardware synths that have presets where if you load a new preset the physical controls might be in the wrong position

As a result the positions in the physical controller might not reflect what is actually happening

The new MKIII version of the Launch Control XL replaces the pots with endless encoders which mitigate that issue

[Vortifex]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the pics! Sitting here with my empty white desk and mini MIDI keyboard feeling slightly envious.

[whassup]

http://www.synth-project.de/diva.html

Dang! That brings back memories...

[whassup]

Wow! Thank you so much!
That is very valuable to me. Bookmarked.
That makes a lot of sense to me.
219€ on Thomann, sounds good.

How do you get visual feedback with it?
Do you look to the screen mostly because you have internalized that logical setup?

I get visual feedback mainly by looking at the GUI of the actual plugin, but also from the Gig Performer Screen showing the rackspace, and on the controllers themselves

With Gig Performer you are not limited to having the knobs and faders be linear or adjusting parameters from 0-127. You can create all kinds of curves to control their behavior, you can also limit their range where turning the knob all the way to the left might be 40% and all the way to the right be say 80%, you can also invert them so all the way up is the lower value.

You also run into the issue like you do with many hardware synths that have presets where if you load a new preset the physical controls might be in the wrong position

As a result the positions in the physical controller might not reflect what is actually happening

The new MKIII version of the Launch Control XL replaces the pots with endless encoders which mitigate that issue

Thank you. I gotta check Gig performer and the MKIII when available.

[Uncle E]

And add this cheap mate. 35€ for 59 controls.
105€ 177 controls.

This M-VAVE controller has a DX-7 built-in:

https://www.cuvave.com/productinfo/1431195.html

[justin3am]

Come on: Play that 106 which is in that keyboard rack 1 foot above the ground...

Yeah, every time I see studio pics with gear at ankle-level, I just think, man what's the point if you can't even access it without lying on the ground, not to mention how easy it would be to accidentally kick it, push a chair into it, etc. Maybe that works for some people...

lol, may favorite way to play with synths is while sitting on the ground. I have gym mats all over my studio, so I can sit on the floor without it being too much of a problem on my back. I have some synths/drum machines on a coffee table too, so I can have one synth of the floor and another above it.

I maintain that the floor is the ideal position to play an ARP 2600, so that's where I keep mine.

I also stand a lot in the studio. I have a desk chair but I only use it when I'm mixing or tracking an artist who is in the live room. If I need to sit near the modular or something, I use a drum stool. Most of the seating discourages sitting.

The ergonomics of my studio are so f**ked up, but it works for me.

[zerocrossing]

Come on: Play that 106 which is in that keyboard rack 1 foot above the ground...

Yeah, every time I see studio pics with gear at ankle-level, I just think, man what's the point if you can't even access it without lying on the ground, not to mention how easy it would be to accidentally kick it, push a chair into it, etc. Maybe that works for some people...

lol, may favorite way to play with synths is while sitting on the ground. I have gym mats all over my studio, so I can sit on the floor without it being too much of a problem on my back. I have some synths/drum machines on a coffee table too, so I can have one synth of the floor and another above it.

I maintain that the floor is the ideal position to play an ARP 2600, so that's where I keep mine.

I also stand a lot in the studio. I have a desk chair but I only use it when I'm mixing or tracking an artist who is in the live room. If I need to sit near the modular or something, I use a drum stool. Most of the seating discourages sitting.

The ergonomics of my studio are so f**ked up, but it works for me.

I don't know how old you are, but that kind of thing can come bite you in the ass in your old age. A friend of mine showed me this cool, custom synth cabinet that he made for his keyboards. It's like a big dresser with drawers, each one holding a synth or two. Like you, he claimed to not be bothered by sitting on the floor to get to some, but I'd fear future repercussions.

[ghettosynth]

Come on: Play that 106 which is in that keyboard rack 1 foot above the ground...

Yeah, every time I see studio pics with gear at ankle-level, I just think, man what's the point if you can't even access it without lying on the ground, not to mention how easy it would be to accidentally kick it, push a chair into it, etc. Maybe that works for some people...

lol, may favorite way to play with synths is while sitting on the ground. I have gym mats all over my studio, so I can sit on the floor without it being too much of a problem on my back. I have some synths/drum machines on a coffee table too, so I can have one synth of the floor and another above it.

I maintain that the floor is the ideal position to play an ARP 2600, so that's where I keep mine.

I also stand a lot in the studio. I have a desk chair but I only use it when I'm mixing or tracking an artist who is in the live room. If I need to sit near the modular or something, I use a drum stool. Most of the seating discourages sitting.

The ergonomics of my studio are so f**ked up, but it works for me.

I don't play mine on the floor often, but, every once in a while I've been there. Did a show, holy shit, decades ago now, where it was some art opening and they wanted me to perform on some sort of ceremonial rug on the floor in the center of the gallery. I setup three work stations in a triangle facing inward. I enlisted two of my friends, and we sat on pillows at the workstations doing an ambient jam for about three hours. To be clear, we were facing each other, but, could see some part of the audience in the gallery over the other performers. So, we were facing inward, that is. Every 5-20 minutes we would get up and move to the next workstation to pickup from the point that the workstation was left in. To be clear, this was in the 90s so there were no "workstations" as they are known today. I simply mean collections of synths, drum machines, and effects from the day synced via midi clock and all routed into a Mackie 1202.

I'm only sharing because I want this thread to remain visible to me and because perhaps one or two of you might find the idea of the performance worthy of sharing, or not, whatever.

I do put rack gear all the way down to the floor, but that's because it is the kind of gear that doesn't get touched.