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

[El°HYM]

Would it be ok to run a software based Wavetable synth through an analog 2 or 4 pole filter

Digital synth into analog filters worked great for Ensoniq

Seriously, the CEM filters on the ESQ-1 sounded awesome.

I was lately running a sine wave from my old Amiga through a hardwired Coolaudio V3340 chip, which got me quite astonishing results.

[El°HYM]

Would it be ok to run a software based Wavetable synth through an analog 2 or 4 pole filter and then record that back into the DAW, asking for a friend.

That is soo old way to do things. Nowadays we run analog sources through digital filters.

Yepp, the Minilogue XD is a nice synth, especially for Ambient Music.

[stoopicus]

Would it be ok to run a software based Wavetable synth through an analog 2 or 4 pole filter

Digital synth into analog filters worked great for Ensoniq

Seriously, the CEM filters on the ESQ-1 sounded awesome.

I was lately running a sine wave from my old Amiga through a hardwired Coolaudio V3340 chip, which got me quite astonishing results.

Yeah the CEM3378/3379 were amazing filter/VCA chips. No idea if Behringer cloned them as Coolaudio or not, but I hope so.

[_leras]

Careful now you analog purist heretic!!

And that Waldorf M may cause some serious cognitive dissonance...

That is also a synth that makes sounds the computer can't replicate.

With the exception of the Microwave Plugin of course

The Waldorf M is just recreating the original Microwave 1 hardware from back in the day, which I was a long term owner of, as well as owning a Microwave XT long term

Not sure why anyone would say the sounds of a computer which is what the M and the Microwave were can't be be replicated with a computer

The Waldorf M has analogue filters.

[El°HYM]

Would it be ok to run a software based Wavetable synth through an analog 2 or 4 pole filter

Digital synth into analog filters worked great for Ensoniq

Seriously, the CEM filters on the ESQ-1 sounded awesome.

I was lately running a sine wave from my old Amiga through a hardwired Coolaudio V3340 chip, which got me quite astonishing results.

Yeah the CEM3378/3379 were amazing filter/VCA chips. No idea if Behringer cloned them as Coolaudio or not, but I hope so.

Coolaudio improved the CEM3396 with their own V3397 chip, which is also the reason that (B)oberheim clones sound much better than their heritage.

https://www.coolaudio.com/buy.php

[El°HYM]

Would it be ok to run a software based Wavetable synth through an analog 2 or 4 pole filter

Digital synth into analog filters worked great for Ensoniq

Seriously, the CEM filters on the ESQ-1 sounded awesome.

I was lately running a sine wave from my old Amiga through a hardwired Coolaudio V3340 chip, which got me quite astonishing results.

Yeah the CEM3378/3379 were amazing filter/VCA chips. No idea if Behringer cloned them as Coolaudio or not, but I hope so.

Coolaudio improved the CEM3396 with their own V3397 chip, which is also the reason that (B)oberheim clones sound much better than their heritage.

https://www.coolaudio.com/buy.php

[El°HYM]

Careful now you analog purist heretic!!

And that Waldorf M may cause some serious cognitive dissonance...

That is also a synth that makes sounds the computer can't replicate.

With the exception of the Microwave Plugin of course

The Waldorf M is just recreating the original Microwave 1 hardware from back in the day, which I was a long term owner of, as well as owning a Microwave XT long term

Not sure why anyone would say the sounds of a computer which is what the M and the Microwave were can't be be replicated with a computer

The Waldorf M has analogue filters.

Hi!

The Microwave Rev A has a CEM3389 chip, the Rev B uses a CEM3387 (improved version of the 3389) instead. The newer MW1 plugin on the other hand is modeling both; revision A & B analog filters.

Personal preference:

MW1 Rev A > MW1 Rev B > MW1 Plugin (which is a good plugin!)

[zerocrossing]

At the same time, in 2025, avoiding use of virtual instruments in making electronic music seems pretty self defeating too

That's a ridiculous statement. The only thing self defeating is not doing what you desire because some random person thinks it's self defeating.

I'm regretting my original phrasing there because if you keep reading later in the thread you'll see that what I was actually trying to say about purism and workflow evangelism was closer to what you're saying there. I won't repeat it but it's all upthread.

A couple people have misunderstood it so it's clearly the fault of how I phrased it.

I definitely don't think it's self defeating, but when I'm having some kick ass time using something like Madrona Labs' Kaivo, and I know there's nothing remotely like it in hardware, I do feel bad for those people. Poor little guys.

[IvyBirds]

I have participated in enough of these threads over the years to know that's how it goes

What was your previous name?

I have only ever had one name. Conspiracy theory much?

What was yours?

Over defensive much?

All I did was answer your question, but hilarious how you want to continue the conspiracy theory

Seems like you are the one being overly defensive

[IvyBirds]

Careful now you analog purist heretic!!

And that Waldorf M may cause some serious cognitive dissonance...

That is also a synth that makes sounds the computer can't replicate.

With the exception of the Microwave Plugin of course

The Waldorf M is just recreating the original Microwave 1 hardware from back in the day, which I was a long term owner of, as well as owning a Microwave XT long term

Not sure why anyone would say the sounds of a computer which is what the M and the Microwave were can't be be replicated with a computer

The Waldorf M has analogue filters.

And? Just like with the 3rd Wave bolting analog filters on the end of signal chain on a 100% digital software based instrument isn't very exciting and most certainly doesn't really add anything to the sound

Analog filters used like that can and are modeled extremely well in software these days and they most certainly are in the Microwave Plugin. The Waldorf M uses modern SSI2144 filters which are ladder filters, ladder filters have been modeled many times in software very effectively

The most interesting and best filter in the M is the Dattaro-Chamberlin SVF that is the final stage in the digital engine especially when it's engaged in the Microwave Mode with the ASAIC bug, which emulates the distortion from the original Microwave which allows you to overdrive it up to clipping, but again that's all software running inside of a computer

Again you made the baseless claim that the Waldorf M can't be replicated in software and that is 100% not true, because it's already software

[koalaboy]

Again you made the baseless claim that the Waldorf M can't be replicated in software and that is 100% not true, because it's already software

It's like each time a new LA2A plugin comes out, and they are compared to the 'real thing' and it's become a running joke as most original LA2A units sounded different to each other.

Most everything can be simulated in software. What is much harder to achieve, what takes the skill (of the producer) is making it sound as if it wasn't... because you need to degrade the signal enough to make it sound old, and at the same time good. Warm. Analogue. Whatever.

In a year or two, we will be on the "AI vs Human in 202x - has the balance shifted".

Once AI learns to play Analog instruments, we're clearly in trouble...

[El°HYM]

Kazrog - Synth Warmer is a good Ladder - Filter emulation.
https://kazrog.com/products/synth-warmer

[seafire]

All I did was answer your question...

Not quite, but keep projecting

I have participated in enough of these threads over the years to know that's how it goes

Joined Nov 2024

So an innocent enough question, but whatever

[SoftSynthLover99]

Careful now you analog purist heretic!!

And that Waldorf M may cause some serious cognitive dissonance...

That is also a synth that makes sounds the computer can't replicate.

With the exception of the Microwave Plugin of course

The Waldorf M is just recreating the original Microwave 1 hardware from back in the day, which I was a long term owner of, as well as owning a Microwave XT long term

Not sure why anyone would say the sounds of a computer which is what the M and the Microwave were can't be be replicated with a computer

The Waldorf M has analogue filters.

And? Just like with the 3rd Wave bolting analog filters on the end of signal chain on a 100% digital software based instrument isn't very exciting and most certainly doesn't really add anything to the sound

If Analog filters add nothing to the sound of a synth, why do plugin developers spend so much time trying to emulate various types of analog filters?

[IvyBirds]

All I did was answer your question...

Not quite, but keep projecting

I have participated in enough of these threads over the years to know that's how it goes

Joined Nov 2024

So an innocent enough question, but whatever

Why are you lying about when I joined? You keep on engaging in conspiracy theories against me and are now flat out lying about me.

But these types of threads have existed in many forums, Facebook, Reddit, and other places for decades. These types of threads were happening on the old Amiga dial in Bulletin Board I participated 35 years ago

And for the record I joined KVR in November of 2023 the same as you which is why I asked you what was your previous user name since you think joining in November 2023 is somehow nefarious

But I lurked on this forum for a long time prior, I finally joined because by November of 2023, I was for the most part fully software based and this forum is one of the most popular forums for software Synths, and I specifically wanted to actively participate in the HALion7 thread

Ohhhhh what a conspiracy, man joins forum with a heavy focus on software synths to talk about software synths