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

[D-Fusion]

He could have easily commissioned some hardware builder to do exactly that in analog hardware but instead he realized that was not necessary and held no advantages so he had it done with software

The fact it didn't cost him a penny wasn't a factor of course

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

[SoftSynthLover99]

Taylor Swift uses VST plugins in her music production process. She utilizes a variety of VSTs, including Serum by Xfer and Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero.

Chappell Roan uses VST plugins in her music production, as evidenced by a YouTube tutorial that references specific VST plugins. The tutorial, a remake of her song "The Giver," specifically mentions Xfer's Serum, Native Instruments Kontakt, OTT, and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 as required VST.

Olivia Rodrigo uses VST plugins in her music production. Specifically, her team utilizes plugins like Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart for tracks like "Good 4 U" and "bad idea right".

Sabrina Carpenter utilizes VST plugins, specifically in the creation of her music. For instance, an Ableton Live remake of her song "Espresso" used Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 VST plugins. Additionally, the lead synth in "Espresso" has been recreated using various software synthesizers like Serum, Vital, and Pigments, as well as hardware synthesizers.

Some of them might use a Hardware synth here and there but it is not a analog Synth that makes the song a hit and they use vst's more than Hardware

https://musictech.com/news/gear/tycho-c ... ever-made/

I would suggest you look up the "Mix with the Masters" which break down some of the biggest songs from these artist and what was actually used to make the records. Jack Antonoff is known for not really using midi and using analog synths so pretty much all the things he does is either hybrid or analog. Dan Nigro also incorporates a lot of analog gear in his production process.

You're talking about remakes and tutorials while I am talking about the actual producers who made the song showing you what they used. Surprisingly on Good Luck, Babe! by Chappel Roan the shaker hi/hat is even white noise coming from a Juno 106. So yes a lot of modern hits are being done with analog synthesizers and especially analog gear. I don't think any hits are being 100% made in the box without analog gear these days.

[D-Fusion]

Taylor Swift uses VST plugins in her music production process. She utilizes a variety of VSTs, including Serum by Xfer and Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero.

Chappell Roan uses VST plugins in her music production, as evidenced by a YouTube tutorial that references specific VST plugins. The tutorial, a remake of her song "The Giver," specifically mentions Xfer's Serum, Native Instruments Kontakt, OTT, and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 as required VST.

Olivia Rodrigo uses VST plugins in her music production. Specifically, her team utilizes plugins like Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart for tracks like "Good 4 U" and "bad idea right".

Sabrina Carpenter utilizes VST plugins, specifically in the creation of her music. For instance, an Ableton Live remake of her song "Espresso" used Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 VST plugins. Additionally, the lead synth in "Espresso" has been recreated using various software synthesizers like Serum, Vital, and Pigments, as well as hardware synthesizers.

Some of them might use a Hardware synth here and there but it is not a analog Synth that makes the song a hit and they use vst's more than Hardware

https://musictech.com/news/gear/tycho-c ... ever-made/

I would suggest you look up the "Mix with the Masters" which break down some of the biggest songs from these artist and what was actually used to make the records. Jack Antonoff is known for not really using midi and using analog synths so pretty much all the things he does is either hybrid or analog. Dan Nigro also incorporates a lot of analog gear in his production process.

You're talking about remakes and tutorials while I am talking about the actual producers who made the song showing you what they used. Surprisingly on Good Luck, Babe! by Chappel Roan the shaker hi/hat is even white noise coming from a Juno 106. So yes a lot of modern hits are being done with analog synthesizers and especially analog gear. I don't think any hits are being 100% made in the box without analog gear these days.

There are more songs since the mid 80s up to today that has been made with vst's or digital synths like a DX7, M1 or D50 and so on.

Analog does sound great in isolation but they are not some kind of a magical instrument that will create hit songs for you

[IvyBirds]

So why dont the Moogerfooger plugins sound exactly like their hardware counterpart. They should pretty much have nailed it already, right.

Why do they have to sound exactly like their hardware counterpart? Why doesn't the $5,000 Minimoog reissue sound exactly like a Vintage 1978 Minimoog and why doesn't that sound exactly like one from 1972?

But the software in question was released as a cash grab by a company in serious financial trouble one that was actively trying to sell itself and finally was rescued by a private equity firm just a few months later

Is anyone surprised the cash grab by a company on the verge of bankruptcy wasn't that great?

Imagine if instead of bankrupting itself on the failed Moog One project they had invested the resources in making world class plugins

[SoftSynthLover99]

Taylor Swift uses VST plugins in her music production process. She utilizes a variety of VSTs, including Serum by Xfer and Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero.

Chappell Roan uses VST plugins in her music production, as evidenced by a YouTube tutorial that references specific VST plugins. The tutorial, a remake of her song "The Giver," specifically mentions Xfer's Serum, Native Instruments Kontakt, OTT, and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 as required VST.

Olivia Rodrigo uses VST plugins in her music production. Specifically, her team utilizes plugins like Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart for tracks like "Good 4 U" and "bad idea right".

Sabrina Carpenter utilizes VST plugins, specifically in the creation of her music. For instance, an Ableton Live remake of her song "Espresso" used Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 VST plugins. Additionally, the lead synth in "Espresso" has been recreated using various software synthesizers like Serum, Vital, and Pigments, as well as hardware synthesizers.

Some of them might use a Hardware synth here and there but it is not a analog Synth that makes the song a hit and they use vst's more than Hardware

https://musictech.com/news/gear/tycho-c ... ever-made/

I would suggest you look up the "Mix with the Masters" which break down some of the biggest songs from these artist and what was actually used to make the records. Jack Antonoff is known for not really using midi and using analog synths so pretty much all the things he does is either hybrid or analog. Dan Nigro also incorporates a lot of analog gear in his production process.

You're talking about remakes and tutorials while I am talking about the actual producers who made the song showing you what they used. Surprisingly on Good Luck, Babe! by Chappel Roan the shaker hi/hat is even white noise coming from a Juno 106. So yes a lot of modern hits are being done with analog synthesizers and especially analog gear. I don't think any hits are being 100% made in the box without analog gear these days.

There are more songs since the mid 80s up to today that has been made with vst's or digital synths like a DX7, M1 or D50 and so on.

Analog does sound great in isolation but they are not some kind of a magical instrument that will create hit songs for you

Maybe, or maybe more records utilize analog than you realize. Not every producer wants to reveal how they get the sounds that make them the most money

But I agree analog synths don't create the hits. But more times than not the people who are creating the hits are utilizing analog synths. Maybe not every record but they are being used. People here want you to believe software is the only thing being used in the real world on all the big records, but that is just a KVR thing and not reflective of the truth.

[aanano]

Did the thread title change?
I thought it was software vs hardware. and I couldn't figure out how anyone has one without the other.
If the title changed - shouldn't it be analog hardware vs digital hardware? Software still needs hardware to run it.

[D-Fusion]

Taylor Swift uses VST plugins in her music production process. She utilizes a variety of VSTs, including Serum by Xfer and Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero.

Chappell Roan uses VST plugins in her music production, as evidenced by a YouTube tutorial that references specific VST plugins. The tutorial, a remake of her song "The Giver," specifically mentions Xfer's Serum, Native Instruments Kontakt, OTT, and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 as required VST.

Olivia Rodrigo uses VST plugins in her music production. Specifically, her team utilizes plugins like Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart for tracks like "Good 4 U" and "bad idea right".

Sabrina Carpenter utilizes VST plugins, specifically in the creation of her music. For instance, an Ableton Live remake of her song "Espresso" used Xfer's Serum and Nicky Romero's Kickstart 2 VST plugins. Additionally, the lead synth in "Espresso" has been recreated using various software synthesizers like Serum, Vital, and Pigments, as well as hardware synthesizers.

Some of them might use a Hardware synth here and there but it is not a analog Synth that makes the song a hit and they use vst's more than Hardware

https://musictech.com/news/gear/tycho-c ... ever-made/

I would suggest you look up the "Mix with the Masters" which break down some of the biggest songs from these artist and what was actually used to make the records. Jack Antonoff is known for not really using midi and using analog synths so pretty much all the things he does is either hybrid or analog. Dan Nigro also incorporates a lot of analog gear in his production process.

You're talking about remakes and tutorials while I am talking about the actual producers who made the song showing you what they used. Surprisingly on Good Luck, Babe! by Chappel Roan the shaker hi/hat is even white noise coming from a Juno 106. So yes a lot of modern hits are being done with analog synthesizers and especially analog gear. I don't think any hits are being 100% made in the box without analog gear these days.

There are more songs since the mid 80s up to today that has been made with vst's or digital synths like a DX7, M1 or D50 and so on.

Analog does sound great in isolation but they are not some kind of a magical instrument that will create hit songs for you

Maybe, or maybe more records utilize analog than you realize. Not every producer wants to reveal how they get the sounds that make them the most money

But I agree analog synths don't create the hits. But more times than not the people who are creating the hits are utilizing analog synths. Maybe not every record but they are being used. People here want you to believe software is the only thing being used in the real world on all the big records, but that is just a KVR thing and not reflective of the truth.

Usually when it comes to vs threads like this one there will never be a right or wrong answer since some Are diehard analog fans while other likes to only use digital and analog hardware.

Then we have the diehard software users that are just as bad as the analog users when it comes to telling you that their setup is much better.

In the last category we have the hybrid users like myself that doesn't care as long as the price is right and the synth sounds good enough for my use and i don't care if it is a vst or hardware as long as it gives me what I want.

[IvyBirds]

Maybe, or maybe more records utilize analog than you realize. Not every producer wants to reveal how they get the sounds that make them the most money

But if analog synths held any sonic advantages wouldn't it be obvious just by listening to them?

What you are saying is there is no difference between analog and software instruments that you can actually hear in the mix

Welcome to the club

But I agree analog synths don't create the hits. But more times than not the people who are creating the hits are utilizing analog synths.

Not according to what you just claimed. You would have no way of knowing

Maybe not every record but they are being used. People here want you to believe software is the only thing being used in the real world on all the big records, but that is just a KVR thing and not reflective of the truth.

No one is saying Analog Synths are not being used, we are simply stating the obvious that there is no real sonic advantages to doing so as even the most die hard supporters of analog synths with extreme confirmation bias like your self say you can't hear any difference in a mix

[pekbro]

IME analog eurorack sounds better than digital counterparts, when they exist, which is not as often as you would think.

Also, there is a huge advantage, which we’ve gone over before, cpu boundaries…

[stoopicus]

Just dropping a reminder that three of Korg’s current flagship hardware synths are based on Raspberry Pi running their native plugin sound engines.

And even setting aside the obvious digital synth hardware legends, some of the best hardware synths from the ‘80s were digital/analog hybrids.

Digital or analog is not a binary choice, hybrids are a thing too and have led to some truly outstanding gear. Digital into analog filters can be a wonderful combo.

[D-Fusion]

IME analog eurorack sounds better than digital counterparts, when they exist, which is not as often as you would think.

Also, there is a huge advantage, which we’ve gone over before, cpu boundaries…

Cpu limitations doesn't matter when it comes to a hardware vs software debate.

You can only use 1 instance of a hardware unit and you have to bounce to audio if you want to use another sound while you can use more instances on a Mac or pc before you need to freeze a track to audio.

[pekbro]

IME analog eurorack sounds better than digital counterparts, when they exist, which is not as often as you would think.

Also, there is a huge advantage, which we’ve gone over before, cpu boundaries…

Cpu limitations doesn't matter when it comes to a hardware vs software debate.

You can only use 1 instance of a hardware unit and you have to bounce to audio if you want to use another sound while you can use more instances on a Mac or pc before you need to freeze a track to audio.

What are you talking about? You can use as many instances as you happen to have on hand,
all at the same time. No cpu hit. Mix them, filter them, modulate and record them however you want, still no cpu hit.

You mean virtual copies, you can effectively do that too. It just depends on the limitations you
want to impose on that. You have 10 instances,
I have my one instance play 10 different parts at the same time, that kind of thing.

[IvyBirds]

IME analog eurorack sounds better than digital counterparts, when they exist, which is not as often as you would think.

Also, there is a huge advantage, which we’ve gone over before, cpu boundaries…

Awesome but they are Monophonic and most of the interesting models are software/digital

What are you talking about? You can use as many instances as you happen to have on hand,
all at the same time. No cpu hit. Mix them, filter them, modulate and record them however you want, still no cpu hit.

You mean virtual copies, you can effectively do that too. It just depends on the limitations you
want to impose on that. You have 10 instances,
I have my one instance play 10 different parts at the same time, that kind of thing.

I have plugins that can play 64 parts at the same time with polyphony you have a Euro Rack system that can play 10 Monophonic parts at once

I can use VCV Rack or Voltage Modular and play dozens of parts at the same time with zero issues, I have yet to find any hardware Eurorack modules that interest me that are not in VCV rack

For the amount of money a large Eurorack system would cost you can have a pretty kick ass computer system and never worry about CPU hits

Now you might prefer and enjoy using a hardware Eurorack system, and that's awesome but let's not pretend polyphony, multi-timbrality, or to save CPU cycles is your driving reason

[pekbro]

IME analog eurorack sounds better than digital counterparts, when they exist, which is not as often as you would think.

Also, there is a huge advantage, which we’ve gone over before, cpu boundaries…

Awesome but they are Monophonic and most of the interesting models are software/digital

What are you talking about? You can use as many instances as you happen to have on hand,
all at the same time. No cpu hit. Mix them, filter them, modulate and record them however you want, still no cpu hit.

You mean virtual copies, you can effectively do that too. It just depends on the limitations you
want to impose on that. You have 10 instances,
I have my one instance play 10 different parts at the same time, that kind of thing.

I have plugins that can play 64 parts at the same time with polyphony you have a Euro Rack system that can play 10 Monophonic parts at once

I can use VCV Rack or Voltage Modular and play dozens of parts at the same time with zero issues, I have yet to find any hardware Eurorack modules that interest me that are not in VCV rack

For the amount of money a large Eurorack system would cost you can have a pretty kick ass computer system and never worry about CPU hits

Now you might prefer and enjoy using a hardware Eurorack system, and that's awesome but let's not pretend polyphony, multi-timbrality, or to save CPU cycles is your driving reason

You’re like a broken record, and you don’t really know what you’re talking about.

Whatever, you guys believe what you want.

[SoftSynthLover99]

Maybe, or maybe more records utilize analog than you realize. Not every producer wants to reveal how they get the sounds that make them the most money

But if analog synths held any sonic advantages wouldn't it be obvious just by listening to them?

What you are saying is there is no difference between analog and software instruments that you can actually hear in the mix

Welcome to the club

But I agree analog synths don't create the hits. But more times than not the people who are creating the hits are utilizing analog synths.

Not according to what you just claimed. You would have no way of knowing

Maybe not every record but they are being used. People here want you to believe software is the only thing being used in the real world on all the big records, but that is just a KVR thing and not reflective of the truth.

No one is saying Analog Synths are not being used, we are simply stating the obvious that there is no real sonic advantages to doing so as even the most die hard supporters of analog synths with extreme confirmation bias like your self say you can't hear any difference in a mix

People like you make this discussion an absolute waste of time. You aren’t looking to gain insight into the way other people work or discuss the nuances between software and hardware honestly. You just cannot accept that “some” hardware synths do have a sonic advantage over software.

But believe whatever you want, I’m out of this discussion now