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

[HAL76]

Sorry if anyone's posted this one already, but it seems relevant to this thread.

So you really rely on some freaks assessment from a youtube video? I´d call that click baiting. Anthony wants to make some cash with his reputation, his social and cultural capital, and now shows off in more and more videos all around to make it - while sitting in his studio full of analog gear.

[Zipede]

Sorry if anyone's posted this one already, but it seems relevant to this thread.

So you really rely on some freaks assessment from a youtube video? I´d call that click baiting. Anthony wants to make some cash with his reputation, his social and cultural capital, and now shows off in more and more videos all around to make it - while sitting in his studio full of analog gear.

Nah, I have my own opinions on the analog/digital topic that I prefer to keep to myself, since they only serve me. However, I did find the video interesting, in that those two guys were able to hold such a discussion, without descending into the kind of madness much of this thread has.

[HAL76]

Sorry if anyone's posted this one already, but it seems relevant to this thread.

So you really rely on some freaks assessment from a youtube video? I´d call that click baiting. Anthony wants to make some cash with his reputation, his social and cultural capital, and now shows off in more and more videos all around to make it - while sitting in his studio full of analog gear.

Nah, I have my own opinions on the analog/digital topic that I prefer to keep to myself, since they only serve me. However, I did find the video interesting, in that those two guys were able to hold such a discussion, without descending into the kind of madness much of this thread has.

That's very commendable and exemplary. But nonetheless, it's all just communication and theory when it's all about sound. It's also ultimately clear that YouTube is all about clicks – and as you can see here, the topic of "real vs. virtual" is generating a lot of interest. Anthony also touches on a different target audience, telling them what they want to hear.

And the praise for Cherry Audio at the end... The only thing missing is him raving about the current sale with 95% off and that the Sound of the Synths just "blew him away"

[HAL76]

So you have two oscillators and you detune them. Then what?

And then you´ll realize that it´s way better to have four

[IvyBirds]

The Moog One back and forth can be resolved pretty simple, if the guy who has one posts an example sound of his Moog One that he thinks is impossible to do with software, and others can try to match it with a software-based example.

Software will then either fail, or show it is possible.

So, here's the dare: Moog One, one specific sound unique to it, post it. No YT-videos of overproduced demos, just an audio file. After all the over-confident posts about it, this should an easy One

Awesome so if so post a sound from a software synth that the Moog One can't do that means that software is the clear winner right?

How about if I post a sound from a hardware synth that Moog One can't do?

Because if the standard is sounds the other can't do there are infinite examples I can show in software that can't be done in hardware

[IvyBirds]

So you have two oscillators and you detune them. Then what?

And then you´ll realize that it´s way better to have four

Only having two or even four is an amateur move

[whassup]

The Moog One back and forth can be resolved pretty simple, if the guy who has one posts an example sound of his Moog One that he thinks is impossible to do with software, and others can try to match it with a software-based example.

Software will then either fail, or show it is possible.

So, here's the dare: Moog One, one specific sound unique to it, post it. No YT-videos of overproduced demos, just an audio file. After all the over-confident posts about it, this should an easy One

[zerocrossing]

The issue is, no one with a Moog One will dare do that because it would devalue their property.

I doubt very much people who drop 10k on a synth are the same people who argue pointlessly on forums or YT, or feel the need to justify anything. They probably just make music.

We're literally having a an argument with a guy who has a Moog One.

But the Minimoog the Legend Models doesn't have Oscillator Sync either and neither does the $5,000 Minimoog reissue

I also don't think many people are buying the Moog One to do Oscillator Sync or Filter FM either as there are very few demo videos of that feature and hardly anyone every talks about it except for people who don't actually own one for a variety if other reasons

How do you know what people are doing with their Moog Ones? I can't imagine owning a synth with these functions and not using them. What you hear from a handful of people on Youtube is not representative of the full experience of owners. Also, irrelevant. We're talking about an emulation of a Moog One, not what you feel are the salient features.

I mean how important is that feature when even someone like you who loves that sort of thing won't buy it because it lacks the full MIDI spec?

Irrelevant. All those features are important to me, but I have other synthesizers that do them. I do think that I might forego something else I have for the One, but it would have to have polyphonic aftertouch recognition, and it does not. That's a weird quirk of mine, though. Most don't care.

But as you are aware Oscillator Sync is found all over plugin land, and in doing so you are not locked in to just having 3 Oscillators and ladder filters to use it to use it with , or crippled with the rather limited modulation options relative to software options either

As for filter FM again that exists all over plugin land if you want it also and in software synths that give you far more options than what exists in the Moog One

Now one can argue all day which one "sounds better" but that is not definable and comes down to personal taste and opinions

I'm not sure what's going on with you, but it seems like you're responding to posts that you didn't read. Go back and read them and then come back with comments.

[Funky40]

vs. that whole debate if SW can sound like a real analog one, to me:

- this is very much specific to the single sound, ...sound-types / period
- with some sound types its possible to get a match. Easy or by hard work.
- with some sound types it´s to me not eaxctly possible to get a real match.
- with some sound types SW "can" win.

This is leaving out any post processing

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- the same debates you can see going on today, SW vs. HW......we had the VERY SAME debates 2 decades back => "vintage analog" vs. "modern analog" ! Same debates !

Even better:
- Guitars vs. Guitars
- HW outboard vs. HW outboard
- HW synths vs. HW synths
SAME DEBATES !
(pick yours, haha)

we all hear the gold !
and it´s great when it makes you smile.
It´s GREAT when it inspires you.

BUT: it´s not these sound-details that would make the music. *
YMMV

* i know, most will disagree

[Funky40]

personally , i see a linear developmend:
- nowadays gear fanatism vs. how crap the music has become.

throughout all forums:
- rules you MUST follow
- gearquality you MUST have, or better ! MUST HAVE


and then look the music......
I´m even nolonger interested in anybodys music.
And if i stumble over a pearl, it´s a small guy from the street, with his rough production.

Assoon the pros are involved, EVERYTHING is just about overproduced !
quasi across all styles.

Is that where all the rules have brought you ?
looks not good to me

[_leras]

The Moog One back and forth can be resolved pretty simple, if the guy who has one posts an example sound of his Moog One that he thinks is impossible to do with software, and others can try to match it with a software-based example.

Software will then either fail, or show it is possible.

So, here's the dare: Moog One, one specific sound unique to it, post it. No YT-videos of overproduced demos, just an audio file. After all the over-confident posts about it, this should an easy One

Or just post a video of a soft synth that matches one of the Moog One videos.

I might not buy one myself as I look for something more edgy in sound, but sonically its very good.

[_leras]

Usually, until you get duped into buying an unfinished monstrosity from a company that hadn't made a poly in decades and bit off far more than it could chew. I bet I could best your Moog One with a Korg multi/poly.

OK, sure you could...

The Korg Multi/Poly is very VA and is not really in the top tier of soft synth sounds, it's basically a ModWave repackaged. Get it sounding analog at all, and just analog like, and I'd be quite impressed.

Even if is did sound analog its nothing like moog. And it definitely is also not thing like a Mono/Poly either.

[wikter]

vs. that whole debate if SW can sound like a real analog one, to me:

- this is very much specific to the single sound, ...sound-types / period
- with some sound types its possible to get a match. Easy or by hard work.
- with some sound types it´s to me not eaxctly possible to get a real match.
- with some sound types SW "can" win.

This is leaving out any post processing

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- the same debates you can see going on today, SW vs. HW......we had the VERY SAME debates 2 decades back => "vintage analog" vs. "modern analog" ! Same debates !

Even better:
- Guitars vs. Guitars
- HW outboard vs. HW outboard
- HW synths vs. HW synths
SAME DEBATES !
(pick yours, haha)

we all hear the gold !
and it´s great when it makes you smile.
It´s GREAT when it inspires you.

BUT: it´s not these sound-details that would make the music. *
YMMV

* i know, most will disagree

But you can't resell a piece of software at eBay/Reverb to increased paid price. That's not possible with plug-ins

[Papuzzo]

vs. that whole debate if SW can sound like a real analog one, to me:

- this is very much specific to the single sound, ...sound-types / period
- with some sound types its possible to get a match. Easy or by hard work.
- with some sound types it´s to me not eaxctly possible to get a real match.
- with some sound types SW "can" win.

This is leaving out any post processing

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- the same debates you can see going on today, SW vs. HW......we had the VERY SAME debates 2 decades back => "vintage analog" vs. "modern analog" ! Same debates !

Even better:
- Guitars vs. Guitars
- HW outboard vs. HW outboard
- HW synths vs. HW synths
SAME DEBATES !
(pick yours, haha)

we all hear the gold !
and it´s great when it makes you smile.
It´s GREAT when it inspires you.

BUT: it´s not these sound-details that would make the music. *
YMMV

* i know, most will disagree

People in the music scene think this is important, then they look at other gearhead debates in other scenes and say that is so ridiculous. For example, there are people that still think a 1970 Camaro is superior to a 2025 Lexus. And those people who swear by the 1970 Camaro think people who spend more than 10K on old vintage synths are complete idiots when U-He Diva blows any old analog synth out of the universe. What is the lesson to be learned here? Don't pay so much attention to people arguing on the Internet and pay more attention to your ears. To my ears Diva is more than I could ever need. Hell, so is Surge XT.

[jamcat]

People who drive 1970 Camaros don’t know or care what Diva is. But they do know who Dave Murray is.