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

[pdxindy]

In fact digital is still by far the main way of making music...

When it comes to keyboards sure... but there are far more people playing acoustic instruments (which are analog). You know, guitars, bass, drums, violins, vocals, etc., etc.

In that broad sense, analog is still the main way of making music.

[vurt]

In fact digital is still by far the main way of making music, only now its in a computer instead of a workstation or module.

do you mean recording? perhaps it is?
but one could argue the traditional "instruments" both acoustic and electric, outweigh synths as a whole i bet.

[ghettosynth]

And I was one of the first to get a Korg M1 despite everyone saying ewwww.... it's digital... and then it became one of the most popular synths. I have no problems with digital music.

In 1988 when the Korg M1 came out analogue was dead, everyone went digital, the Yamaha DX7 had pretty much killed analogue by 1985. No one wanted analogue, digital was all the rage for 15 years. In fact digital is still by far the main way of making music, only now its in a computer instead of a workstation or module.

I think it was MIDI that people were drawn to, with the availability of computers and sequencers. Nobody dumped analogue because of its sounds. Sure, the M1 and D50 etc offered different stock sounds, and the scene was changing as it does, but I really think it was MIDI, or lack of it, that convinced ppl to skip perfectly usable instruments

It was more than MIDI. This relates to what I was discussing earlier. The vast majority of analog synths sales in the 80s weren't synthesizer sales, per se. They were "keyboard" sales. This was especially true once the second big wave of consumer keyboards hit around the time of the DX7. At that point patch memory was important and while some people programmed sounds via simple single slider interfaces, e.g., the DW6000/8000, the Korg Poly 61, the Roland JX10, JX3P, or even no slider interfaces like the Roland MKS-50, most were just used as preset machines.

In fact, Roland separated the programmer precisely to reduce cost and make those interested in synthesis pay for the privilege of a better interface. For years these programmers were worth as much or more than the synthesizers that they were paired with because not many were sold and they just aren't as common.

As I mentioned earlier, the piano sound is what often sold a keyboard. This is why the D50 was so popular a few years after the DX7. Yes, digital native dance, or what the patch was called wowed people, but it was that piano sound, played through a bit of reverb, that was appreciated on stage in local cover bands.

There were no cost effective and painless samplers of the day. The M1 ushered in the "workstation" era with enough sounds for no futzing on stage performance. So, yes, many people did sell off their "analog synths", aka, their keyboards, to buy a better keyboard, the M1. People who actually cared about analog synthesis for the sound, did not sell off their analogs to buy an M1, generally speaking. I'm sure there were cases where a synth hoarder sold off some of their old stuff to get the new thing to put with their old things.

[vurt]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

[ghettosynth]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

[vurt]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

i better go buy something then.

[ghettosynth]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

i better go buy something then.

Indeed, gasex plus one module should do the trick. I know that you just bought one, but, today is a new day and there are still modules that you don't have.

[vurt]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

i better go buy something then.

Indeed, gasex plus one module should do the trick. I know that you just bought one, but, today is a new day and there are still modules that you don't have.

and about 100 hp of space

[pdxindy]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

i better go buy something then.

Indeed, gasex plus one module should do the trick. I know that you just bought one, but, today is a new day and there are still modules that you don't have.

and about 100 hp of space

Oh come on... surely you have a spare case?!? You know, for 'emergencies'

[vurt]

this was my spare case, now i need a new one of those too!

[ghettosynth]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

No, if you felt something, it was likely just gas.

i better go buy something then.

Indeed, gasex plus one module should do the trick. I know that you just bought one, but, today is a new day and there are still modules that you don't have.

and about 100 hp of space

Oh come on... surely you have a spare case?!? You know, for 'emergencies'

A fella has to have some emergency HP!

[pdxindy]

this was my spare case, now i need a new one of those too!

You should have had a new case ordered before you even replied!!

[pdxindy]

A fella has to have some emergency HP!

Exactly... I had to sit for a minute just at the thought of not having emergency HP!

[pdxindy]

So, yes, many people did sell off their "analog synths", aka, their keyboards, to buy a better keyboard, the M1. People who actually cared about analog synthesis for the sound, did not sell off their analogs to buy an M1, generally speaking. I'm sure there were cases where a synth hoarder sold off some of their old stuff to get the new thing to put with their old things.

Of course you are right that being able to produce analog synths cheaper plays a big part in the analog resurgence, but it is also in part because people realized over time that analog still has something they value.

[seafire]

has the balance shifted since i last checked here?

Mine has, I can barely stand up*.


*it's not that unusual, manual labour will play havoc with your body. Standing up sometimes sounds like jumping on a sheet of bubble wrap. Oh joy...