Real analog vs DSP?

[kritikon]

As already stated - there is no "truth". It's all taste and opinion.

For example I'll happily use impOSCar as my main synth. A fantastic emulation of a fantastic synth (had a real one for a few years). I don't think I'd buy another OSCar even if one came up cheaply and I had the money...I've got too used to the lovely polyphony on the s/w version. I used to dream about being able to play pads on my OSCar!

I'd rather use several VSTi nowadays than my Juno106. It rarely gets dusted off, because it's so basic...and TBH, crappy-sounding in most areas compared to what modern s/w can do.

I wouldn't swap my MS20 for anything - the s/w is pretty good, but I still prefer my real one. There's just something about it that (to me) can't be replicated with one single plugin in the s/w world - although you can get close if you use extra FX etc.

There are some h/w analogues that I'd still love to own and use. I don't care what others say...for my own tastes, I haven't heard anything that gets close to Oberheim SEM modules. I generally really don't like Moogs - never did and probably never will - I seriously don't ever want a MiniMoog. BUT...I played with a full-blown 9-osc modular (I think it was a P3 rather than C3) with the complete list of modules and several multiples of some. No way on this earth does any s/w come even close to the sounds you could coax out of that monster. Talk about apples and oranges - it was more like dandelions and giant redwoods.

And then the other side again...give me a JenSX1000 and I'd likely throw it in the bin straight away. It's pathetic compared to most decent s/w synths from the past 2-3 years. A Yamaha CS1 - pretty darned pathetic when you actually play with one (although the higher CS range were quite delicious to my ears).


There's good and bad in everything - you simply cannot make an arbitrary line between digital and analogue. The only thing you can do is make a personal arbitrary line between what sounds good and bad. I'll always keep some of my analogues - and where pragmatic, I'll use as many s/w synths as I find sound good in my music. And if anyone tells you pros only use analogue or they only use digital - they are telling you rubbish. Pros use what suits them and their budget, same as everyone else. In my time I've had a far more expensive studio than many pros today have ever had access to. And I've known others who make music only for themselves that are far more serious about their gear than many pros. Swings and roundabouts, apples and oranges, horses for courses.

[z15]

AMEN.

[Fabriciom]

Excellent post, I just like to say that you also find this out with time and with time your taste also changes. I started messing around with a sound blaster sound card. Then changed to M-Audio FW410 and eventually ended with an RME 9632. If i would had know from the beginning and just bought the RME I would had saved a lot of time. But in the process I did learn to use Pro Tools which is a plus. Any who, where I was going. I wanted to get some monitors and I didn't want to repeat the above with the sound card and I just went out and looked what was available and got the best I could afford. I bought a pair of Dynaudio BM15A. They may not be expensive for some but for me its a lot and a good long term investment. Any who, back on the synth subject. My next hardware will be a roland v-synth not a software synth.

-Cheers

[softegg]

IMHO analog is better than digital or vice versa discussions do not really make sense. I love my Evolver which has digital and analog oscs. And I love the digital and the analog oscs. They are simply better suited for different sounds. If you intend to buy a hardware synth go to a shop try out the synths. If you find a synth that you fall in love with, buy it. Don't care to much about the technology that is used. The most important thing is that you enjoy using the tools that you use. You will be most productive if you have fun making music.