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

[seafire]

So there's a gap in the market!

[IvyBirds]

So what you are saying is that Analog Filters don't matter and digital filters can do things that can't be matched with hardware

You're really determined to label peoplr and try and put words in their mouths, eh?

I use all kinds of processes on all kinds of sounds.

Digital filters can be easily automated, for some kinds of things that's very helpful.

And I don't think anyone said anything like all digital filters are bad. I think people have just, accurately, stated and shown examples of tonal qualities software doesn't quite do yet.

I am not putting any words in your mouth just stating the obvious you don't find Analog Filters to be better than digital ones because you use digital filters and again just said you use "all kinds of processes on all kinds of sounds"

[IvyBirds]

Use hardware, use software, use analog, use whatever I don't care

Seems like you do, judging by your rants

Nope not even close, go back and read what I wrote, I don't care what anyone uses, what I do care about is elitism and cork sniffing of which there is a ton of it in this thread by the purists, along with all kinds of false information about software synth options

Ah I see, having a preference or even a liking equates to elitism and cork sniffing in your mind.

Do carry on. Such fun.

Having a personal preference is fine, liking something is fine, never said it's not

But define it as such

[IvyBirds]

I have to admit that I am baffled by the question as to whether digital can ever equal analogue? One is electrical voltage, the other is digital, what do they have in common? It makes much more sense if we compare like to like, as in, does a behringer analog thingy copy the real thing exactly? Both are analog voltage. Is an electric car the same as an ICE car? They both get you from A to B but the means of engine propulsion is completely different. I guess people like to compare.

in the end it's all voltages as that's how we listen to the end product, voltages make speakers vibrate and move air which in turn makes our ear drums vibrate

Every example posted on this thread is also all digital because at some point voltages were turned into 1s and 0s

[IvyBirds]

Why does digital even want to copy analogue?

Does it suffer from an inferiority complex? In the future digital human clones will lie on the psychiatrist couch and complain how unfair life is. Why do carbon based life forms think they are superior?

Why does analog even want to copy other analog?

Why did Sequential remake the Prophet 5? Why did Moog North Carolina clone the Minimoog? Why did Korg make a 2600 or MS20? Why does Behringer clone old Analog Synths?

[dellboy]

I have to admit that I am baffled by the question as to whether digital can ever equal analogue? One is electrical voltage, the other is digital, what do they have in common? It makes much more sense if we compare like to like, as in, does a behringer analog thingy copy the real thing exactly? Both are analog voltage. Is an electric car the same as an ICE car? They both get you from A to B but the means of engine propulsion is completely different. I guess people like to compare.

in the end it's all voltages as that's how we listen to the end product, voltages make speakers vibrate and move air which in turn makes our ear drums vibrate

Every example posted on this thread is also all digital because at some point voltages were turned into 1s and 0s

An original MiniMoog did not have DACs, it was entirely analogue in its output. My Juno 6 has analogue output.

[dellboy]

Why does digital even want to copy analogue?

Does it suffer from an inferiority complex? In the future digital human clones will lie on the psychiatrist couch and complain how unfair life is. Why do carbon based life forms think they are superior?

Why does analog even want to copy other analog?

Why did Sequential remake the Prophet 5? Why did Moog North Carolina clone the Minimoog? Why did Korg make a 2600 or MS20? Why does Behringer clone old Analog Synths?

Mainly for commercial reasons, people will buy them.

[Uncle E]

Page SH-101

[seafire]

Use hardware, use software, use analog, use whatever I don't care

Seems like you do, judging by your rants

Nope not even close, go back and read what I wrote, I don't care what anyone uses, what I do care about is elitism and cork sniffing of which there is a ton of it in this thread by the purists, along with all kinds of false information about software synth options

Ah I see, having a preference or even a liking equates to elitism and cork sniffing in your mind.

Do carry on. Such fun.

Having a personal preference is fine, liking something is fine, never said it's not

But define it as such

I haven't said otherwise. Do you need a definition for everything people say here? You seem to have a bee in your pretty bonnet about this thread. Go and make sweet music, don't take everything so seriously or personally.

[seafire]

Page SH-101

I just came

[vurt]

Every example posted on this thread is also all digital because at some point voltages were turned into 1s and 0s

[BazJacuzzi]

Good work everyone, let's see if we can get this to 200 pages now.

[ghettosynth]

Good work everyone, let's see if we can get this to 200 pages now.

Obviously, this thread needs to survive to just over 300 pages.

[zerocrossing]

The first 100 pages! Nicely done _leras. Also well put. I don’t fully agree with your last sentence but it’s completely accurate to say when *trying* to model an analog filter, there will be gaps to an exact representation.

Whether or not those are really meaningful is open for debate though.

It's funny, I talk about the fact that I can often find that software doesn't hold up when doing various types of things at higher notes, but I forgot to mention that those notes are also pretty annoying sounding on analog synths as well.

[pdxindy]

Well, there is a tendency of people to say their analog equipment is better, meaning superior, to all digital hardware and software. There are purist analog snobs out there.

There are a few such analog purists over on Gearspace. I don't recall anyone in this thread saying such a thing though.