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

[crimsonwarlock]

Another example where software can't match sonically.

Software: Hold my beer...


https://soundcloud.com/blamsoft/aiyn-za ... ets-in-103

1:20

Still, the Peak example sounded better to me. Less edgy on the bright parts.

Just to illustrate that a talented sound designer like Ayin Zahev can do great things with either hardware or software, and it is difficult to determine which is better in such a case.

[whassup]

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

Dang! That brings back memories...

You got this thing?

No, way back when I was at U-He I was involved in building a prototype of a controller for Diva. At first glance I thought it was a pic of that one.

[DashOfLime]

Another example where software can't match sonically.

Software: Hold my beer...


https://soundcloud.com/blamsoft/aiyn-za ... ets-in-103

1:20

Still, the Peak example sounded better to me. Less edgy on the bright parts.

Sami can make anything sound good.

[_leras]

Another example where software can't match sonically.

Software: Hold my beer...


https://soundcloud.com/blamsoft/aiyn-za ... ets-in-103

that actually sounds really good and gets pretty close to that kinda richness in those sounds with distortion.

I think that must be the FM in that synth.

[HAL76]

This way to think and the availability of cheap substitutes is why music sounds so lifeless and clean today.

The biggest culprit for that is the fact that for 40+ years many people can't get past the need to make every instrument they own based on 1970s technology, a few VCAs, playing the same boring waveforms, with boring ADSR envelopes, and filter designs from. 40-60 years ago has been done to death

That goes for hardware and software versions

So music gets recycled over and over again, compare that to the 1980s where new Synths and new technology was being used with every new release and pushed music forward

I suppose I got your point. Have to confess that my definition of what I call "music" has nothing to do with synths anymore.

But hey - the piano is a hundreds of years old instrument ...

[HAL76]

I´m just playing around with Unison and Sync on my MKS-80 -

Cool. What controller do you use to edit it?

https://roland-mks-80-editor-controlle.jimdofree.com/

and maybe a Stereoping somewhen

[_leras]

Just to illustrate that a talented sound designer like Ayin Zahev can do great things with either hardware or software, and it is difficult to determine which is better in such a case.

For sure he gets great sounds out of synths.

But the reason I use him as an example is that you can go through his YouTube videos and compare different soft synths quite well, but also to my ears, it's pretty clear the hardware synths are still not matched sonically. Not to say software is bad, I use it a lot.

Anyway here's another hardware that software can't do

[whassup]

Another example where software can't match sonically.

Software: Hold my beer...


https://soundcloud.com/blamsoft/aiyn-za ... ets-in-103

The synth and the presets do sound great (as expected as Ayin is one of my favourite preset creators) but I didn't hear anything that specifically grabs me in terms of unique chartacter of that synth. And that is what I am after. That is the main reason these days why I get "yet another" synth or other tools.

[zerocrossing]

Here's another one that software just can't match...

Not hard. I could build a Liepzig v3 in Softube Module. I couldn't find anything built with the Moog modules, but this was done with the Yamaha modules and some others.

[Uncle E]

Not hard. I could build a Liepzig v3 in Softube Module. I couldn't find anything built with the Moog modules, but this was done with the Yamaha modules and some others.

Too bad they didn’t use any reverb. /s

Seriously, though, 12:45 is lovely.

[zerocrossing]

Not hard. I could build a Liepzig v3 in Softube Module. I couldn't find anything built with the Moog modules, but this was done with the Yamaha modules and some others.

Too bad they didn’t use any reverb. /s

Seriously, though, 12:45 is lovely.

Yeah, I tried to find a dry demo, but I couldn't. It's easy enough to download the demo and give it a spin on your own. It's got a ton of presets if you don't feel like making your own.

[crimsonwarlock]

that actually sounds really good and gets pretty close to that kinda richness in those sounds with distortion.

I think that must be the FM in that synth.

Zero Hybrid combines FM with ring modulation and additive synthesis, all at once on each operator, and runs that through two filters. It's pretty complex, so difficult to tell where a certain 'richness' in a preset comes from.

The synth and the presets do sound great (as expected as Ayin is one of my favourite preset creators) but I didn't hear anything that specifically grabs me in terms of unique chartacter of that synth.

It's a beast of a synth, and known for it to be challenging to program because of its deep complexity. For example, each operator has five sixteen-stage envelopes, and every knob in the FM/RM matrix can be automated individually for FM and RM. Those things alone are crazy to work with. Even Ayin can't get to all the possibilities within the span of a preset-pack development.

[whassup]

The synth and the presets do sound great (as expected as Ayin is one of my favourite preset creators) but I didn't hear anything that specifically grabs me in terms of unique chartacter of that synth.

It's a beast of a synth, and known for it to be challenging to program because of its deep complexity. For example, each operator has five sixteen-stage envelopes, and every knob in the FM/RM matrix can be automated individually for FM and RM. Those things alone are crazy to work with. Even Ayin can't get to all the possibilities within the span of a preset-pack development.

Yeah, FM and RM combined is cool.
The complexity... sometimes yes, sometimes not.
There are situations where I am happy with simple synths and actually want that.
And then I want a little more here and there or have more complex ideas from the start.
Ideal would be a synth where I could easily add things as wanted and get rid of them when not needed.
In theory that sounds like Reaktor or such environment.
In real life I would like it to have ALL the goodness.
All the super good filters, great wavetable editor, easy sample mangeling, blablabla.
As much oscillators as I want. FM, PM, RM, and whatnot.
Something new or fancy seen otherwise? Just add it to the toolbox.
Yeah, dream on... Hahaha

[crimsonwarlock]

Ideal would be a synth where I could easily add things as wanted and get rid of them when not needed.
In theory that sounds like Reaktor or such environment.
In real life I would like it to have ALL the goodness.
All the super good filters, great wavetable editor, easy sample mangeling, blablabla.
As much oscillators as I want. FM, PM, RM, and whatnot.
Something new or fancy seen otherwise? Just add it to the toolbox.
Yeah, dream on... Hahaha

Well, getting back to the actual discussion here, I would say that's more feasible in software than in hardware

[whassup]

OK, right so.
Fully on topic: Has the balance shifted?
Yes! It shifted from not being able to afford quality tools decades ago to rediculously good software and hardware that partly is rediculously cheap.
Synclavier, OBXa, MemoryMoog, Prophet5, blabla: Available in software and in very high quality.
Nina, Behringer, TEO5, Polybrute, all the funky Eurorack stuff!
Some is high priced, some is crazy cheap while sounding great!

Some people want a V8, some want it all electric.
Politics aside it is a matter of taste.

I still see lotsa space to grow in both areas.
Hardware controllers that are screens with physical knobs/faders/button upon and they can be placed anywhere and in any amount. Configurations would change according to situations.
The controls (knobs/faders etc.) could be automatically stored in a department that would open and close automatically for and after the automated reconfigurations.
I would pay real money for that. Probably will when available.
Such a controller could be used to control software AND hardware synths, FX processors, etc.
Food for thoughts.