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

[pdxindy]

It would be true that the cpu in a modern pc would blow away the cpu in an Rytm if it only had to do as much as the chip does in the Rytm,
unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It's meaningless noise to bring up the processing power of an analog synth/machine.

[ghettosynth]

It would be true that the cpu in a modern pc would blow away the cpu in an Rytm if it only had to do as much as the chip does in the Rytm,
unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It's meaningless noise to bring up the processing power of an analog synth/machine.

Right, I was going to post a few more words, but that's far more concise.

[stoopicus]

It would be true that the cpu in a modern pc would blow away the cpu in an Rytm if it only had to do as much as the chip does in the Rytm,
unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It's meaningless noise to bring up the processing power of an analog synth/machine.

Right, I was going to post a few more words, but that's far more concise.

Not so fast. There's still hope for a spirited discussion of analog computers vs Turing Machines and Von Neumann architectures.

[vurt]

It would be true that the cpu in a modern pc would blow away the cpu in an Rytm if it only had to do as much as the chip does in the Rytm,
unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It's meaningless noise to bring up the processing power of an analog synth/machine.

Right, I was going to post a few more words, but that's far more concise.

Not so fast. There's still hope for a spirited discussion of analog computers vs Turing Machines and Von Neumann architectures.

i dont have the module but a few folk here do.

[IvyBirds]

This is a classic spec sheet fallacy comparing GHz and core counts in isolation and ignoring what those CPUs are actually doing in context.

The Elektron Rytm’s CPU runs a bare-metal or real-time OS (or sometimes no OS at all). Executing only the code required to run the Rytm, nothing else. It has direct, predictable access to RAM, audio I/O, DACs, etc. All CPU cycles are reserved for running the synth engine and timing-critical tasks (sequencing, envelopes, CV control, etc.). No multitasking, no background apps, no operating system overhead.

A modern PC CPU (even 16-core at 5 GHz) has to run the operating system, the audio driver stack, the DAW, every plugin loaded in the session, background services, UI rendering, file I/O, networking, etc.

Awesome but what you fail to realize is that the NXP ColdFire running inside of the Rthm is single core and running at 300mHz

So sure the Rthm is running bare-metal but it's doing so at 300mHz

It's a rather ignorant assumption that a modern multi core CPU has nothing left after running it's OS and audio driver stack that it doesn't have anything left and is so crippled it can't do what a NXP Coldfire can do

also it's rather hilarious that to make your point you have to assume that you are running in addition to a Rthm emulation but also a DAW and multiple other plugins in the session

Maybe you can explain, I mean since you claim to know so much how a modern CPU that you claim is so crippled after running the OS and Audio Driver Stack is able to run a DAW and multiple plugins at the same time as you just admitted?

How can I run Cubase and 50+ plugins at the same time including hundreds of voices of Polyphony but you think running an emulation of an 8 voice analog Drum synth with a single LFO is a bridge to far

[HAL76]

"Help making softsynths sound analogue " - a trending topic not only on gearspace.

https://gearspace.com/board/electronic- ... logue.html

I think that despite of different opinions on possible solutions the fact that this question arises again and again it´s time to ask what that is so. Why do people call for help with something that seeems soo easy for not just a few of us?

I have just spent two evenings on running the MKS-80 through the Sherman Filterbank ( :/ ) and I think to know that he´s lost somehow. But I know as well that reality is polycontextural. I think I´ll also ask gemini about that tomorrow.

From the first post
"I'm looking for recommendations for plugins to make some very old soft synths sound less digital and have more analogue character."

Most of the old Plugins where made to sound very digital since that was what was popular back then and plugin developers where more interested in Sounding closer to the VA synths than a Analog one..
So my answer to that person would be to get newer plugins that are made to emulate Analogue Sounding synths since it is nearly impossible to make very old plugins to sound Analog

Oh I just read the title to be honest

But the web is full of forum threads and articles on this topic ...

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... -gPoripkQ8

https://www.vintagesynth.com/articles/h ... ore-analog

But at the enjd of the day it´s clearly a matter of the targets and ... the listening environment.

Instead of asking if softsynths really sound like analog synths we should maybe better ask what listening environments the people who argue about this topic are sitting in and which effect the listeing environment has on the perception of sound. I suppose that there´s a siginificant quality gap that corresponds the method of sound generation.

[ghettosynth]

It would be true that the cpu in a modern pc would blow away the cpu in an Rytm if it only had to do as much as the chip does in the Rytm,
unfortunately, that’s not the case.

It's meaningless noise to bring up the processing power of an analog synth/machine.

Right, I was going to post a few more words, but that's far more concise.

Not so fast. There's still hope for a spirited discussion of analog computers vs Turing Machines and Von Neumann architectures.

i dont have the module but a few folk here do.

AFAIK, it's not analog though. That's why I don't have one!

[ghettosynth]

Eurorack sound quality is astounding. Truly in a league of its own compared to software.

Little offtopic here but Will this be a great starter setup?

Serious question? I wouldn't start there today.

[whassup]

For the fun of it I checked YT for the Rtm as I wanted to hear that superior sound that couldn't be replicated in software. And I didn't find it. But yeah, to each their own. Gave me another dose of perspective. Like what you want and make music that you like. For sure I won't use that thing. The flexible cowbell was nice though. More cowbell.

[D-Fusion]

"Help making softsynths sound analogue " - a trending topic not only on gearspace.

https://gearspace.com/board/electronic- ... logue.html

I think that despite of different opinions on possible solutions the fact that this question arises again and again it´s time to ask what that is so. Why do people call for help with something that seeems soo easy for not just a few of us?

I have just spent two evenings on running the MKS-80 through the Sherman Filterbank ( :/ ) and I think to know that he´s lost somehow. But I know as well that reality is polycontextural. I think I´ll also ask gemini about that tomorrow.

From the first post
"I'm looking for recommendations for plugins to make some very old soft synths sound less digital and have more analogue character."

Most of the old Plugins where made to sound very digital since that was what was popular back then and plugin developers where more interested in Sounding closer to the VA synths than a Analog one..
So my answer to that person would be to get newer plugins that are made to emulate Analogue Sounding synths since it is nearly impossible to make very old plugins to sound Analog

Oh I just read the title to be honest

But the web is full of forum threads and articles on this topic ...

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... -gPoripkQ8

https://www.vintagesynth.com/articles/h ... ore-analog

But at the enjd of the day it´s clearly a matter of the targets and ... the listening environment.

Instead of asking if softsynths really sound like analog synths we should maybe better ask what listening environments the people who argue about this topic are sitting in and which effect the listeing environment has on the perception of sound. I suppose that there´s a siginificant quality gap that corresponds the method of sound generation.

[D-Fusion]

Eurorack sound quality is astounding. Truly in a league of its own compared to software.

Little offtopic here but Will this be a great starter setup?

Serious question? I wouldn't start there today.

Yes
I have them in my cart while i wait for Thomann to get them in stock
Is there a reason why i shouldn't go for it?

The demos i have heard of the surges filter is exactly the type of sound that i like.

[ghettosynth]

Eurorack sound quality is astounding. Truly in a league of its own compared to software.

Little offtopic here but Will this be a great starter setup?

Serious question? I wouldn't start there today.

Yes
I have them in my cart while i wait for Thomann to get them in stock
Is there a reason why i shouldn't go for it?

The demos i have heard of the surges filter is exactly the type of sound that i like.

The Surges filter is fine. I have a chunk of the B.Roland modules, but, I don't really like them that much. I would buy Abacus(Maths) and Chaos(Marbles). , the B.Arp.1047 filter, A Brains (plaits). After that I would consider what I wanted from a VCO, but, I really love the TipTop 258t. From Behringer I think that the Moob 923 is fun. I really dislike the tiny controls on the Roland stuff. But, I do have one of the dual VCOs and two of the synth voices. They just don't get much use.

That's for a basic kind of system that is mostly traditional analogue with some modern twists. I started a thread in this a year or two ago. Feel free to bump it, or I will. Then put your system together on Modular Grid and people will give you useful feedback. At least that's what was happening.

[D-Fusion]

Eurorack sound quality is astounding. Truly in a league of its own compared to software.

Little offtopic here but Will this be a great starter setup?

Serious question? I wouldn't start there today.

Yes
I have them in my cart while i wait for Thomann to get them in stock
Is there a reason why i shouldn't go for it?

The demos i have heard of the surges filter is exactly the type of sound that i like.

The Surges filter is fine. I have a chunk of the B.Roland modules, but, I don't really like them that much. I would buy Abacus(Maths) and Chaos(Marbles). , the B.Arp.1047 filter, A Brains (plaits). After that I would consider what I wanted from a VCO, but, I really love the TipTop 258t. From Behringer I think that the Moob 923 is fun. I really dislike the tiny controls on the Roland stuff. But, I do have one of the dual VCOs and two of the synth voices. They just don't get much use.

That's for a basic kind of system that is mostly traditional analogue with some modern twists. I started a thread in this a year or two ago. Feel free to bump it, or I will. Then put your system together on Modular Grid and people will give you useful feedback. At least that's what was happening.

Thanks for the tip
The reason i went for this setup was because they sell the system 100 as a bundle for cheap and i wanted to add the other stuff to it to expand it a bit beyond the Broland theme

[pdxindy]

Little offtopic here but Will this be a great starter setup?

I'd add the multiples module if there's room in the case.

That's generally speaking. I never used any of those specific modules.

[zerocrossing]

I've lost hope on them doing a FIZMO, but at least there's some Transwaves included in the SQ-80 emulation.

I would love a Fizmo so much. And yeah, SQ-80V is nearly perfect. I can't tell a meaningful difference between it and my old ESQ-1. Sure, the differences are there, but I can't tell them.

cEvin Key has been doing synth retrospectives on his Patreon and recently did the ESQ-1. Reminds me of why I bought one in the first place. (I literally did buy one in '89 because of him, Skinny Puppy has always been my favorite band).

Even the SQ-80 (which I owned... twice) didn't sound like the ESQ-1. At least not entirely. I don't know the reasons, but the ESQ-1 always sounded a little more raw, and the SQ more polite.

My second SQ-80, like my second TS-10, didn't stick because of keybed issues. The SQ's keybed had become so stiff and clacky it was horrible, and the TS-10 (oddly, my original unit purchased again on Reverb) had a good feeling keybed, but the aftertouch had become unusable and I didn't want to deal with trying to refurbish it.