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

[Uncle E]

I really am a huge fan of Phil Collin’s work, mainly with Genesis, but... maybe the guy wasted too much time talking.
We all sometimes do.

I think you just did.

(psst...this thread...they're going to hear you...)

[nanostream]

And if you owned a Fairlight you used that breathy voice patch in some way so everyone knows you own a Fairlight.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cen22TBHo ... BpbiBsb3Zl

How did I not know this song?! I’m embarrassed.

FKA twigs‘ Ache seems clearly inspired by it, I’d argue.

[enCiphered]

I would say the older dinosaurs are embracing software more and the younger generation like me and those in their 20s and 30s are really into hardware synths these days and have a hybrid approach.

It's probably because we (us dinosaurs, I mean) can't believe how good softsynths have gotten. You don't know how good you have it.

I think, what is actually happening is this: younger artists raised on software are now discovering hardware as an option, not a replacement. They’re hybrid by default. And yeah, veterans who suffered through the limitations of old gear are embracing the power and flexibility of modern software. Not out of nostalgia, but because we finally have tools that sound as good or better and actually work.

[IvyBirds]

I think, what is actually happening is this: younger artists raised on software are now discovering hardware as an option, not a replacement. They’re hybrid by default. And yeah, veterans who suffered through the limitations of old gear are embracing the power and flexibility of modern software. Not out of nostalgia, but because we finally have tools that sound as good or better and actually work.

I remember at some point around 1983 or 1984 I came to the conclusion that with a computer based system like the Fairlight CMI or Synclavier only more advanced that you could make any sound imaginable and use it in a musical context, it took about 30 years to make that a reality and in the 10 years since has only gotten better

[zerocrossing]

But my point stands. Just because we fossils have nostalgic love for the classics, and similar sounding synths, it doesn't mean someone who didn't grow up with them is going to have the same idea.

Well Serum is about as close as you can get to the sound a lot of mainstream electronic music. It just sounds like a lot of music that's out there. But that doesn't mean it's the ultimate best sound, even if it's an incredible synth.

I don't think nostalgia is the deciding factor of sound quality. That would be our ears.

Nostalgia is also not the driving force of the resurgent hardware synths or modular synth market, that's also down to the sound these things make.

Software can do things that many hardware synths can't. It's very possible to make music, even electronic, without even using a synth.

What I'm saying is that a lot of the nostalgia is driven from the full experience, not just the sound. Yesterday I ordered a highly mod'd Dunlop Cry Baby pedal. I'm getting great results from software (though pissed off at IK for not smoothing MIDI CC when even free wah plugins do) but I just wanted one. I don't really need it, but I want it. I don't even use wah all that much. I told myself that for $130 it's worth it just to have something I can instantly access, regardless of the patch I'm running. It's not total b.s... but somewhat.

[zerocrossing]

I would say the older dinosaurs are embracing software more and the younger generation like me and those in their 20s and 30s are really into hardware synths these days and have a hybrid approach.

It's probably because we (us dinosaurs, I mean) can't believe how good softsynths have gotten. You don't know how good you have it.

I think, what is actually happening is this: younger artists raised on software are now discovering hardware as an option, not a replacement. They’re hybrid by default. And yeah, veterans who suffered through the limitations of old gear are embracing the power and flexibility of modern software. Not out of nostalgia, but because we finally have tools that sound as good or better and actually work.

Yeah, but what kind of actual numbers do we have? I'd love to actually know how many people who got into music using plugins have added hardware synths, compared to veterans that started at a time before computers did good real-time synthesis.

I wonder if there are just a percentage of people who will always prefer a more tactile experience, and even a perfect emulation wouldn't do it.

[Uncle E]

Eating my words right now:

[elxsound]

Just based on products coming to market, I get the idea hybrid is where its at.

This new one from Instruo is aimed directly at those people that want to add an analog voice to their workflow, in a minimal form and with onboard controls.
https://www.instruomodular.com/product/seashell/

Then there’s 4MS that’s bringing the digital out of the computer into a play-nice eurorack setup.
https://4mscompany.com/metamodule

Even the Bree6 Uncle E added is a hybrid box, with analog voices, midi in/out seemingly designed to augment the hybrid user’s setup.

I think the market is speaking for itself in many ways signaling its less about better/equal/lesser than and more about accessibility.

The tools available seem to make it easier than ever to have the best of both sides work extremely well together.

[wikter]

OK, but couldn’t one argue that running a guitar through a chain of effects pedals and other devices or techniques that modulate an audio signal is, in fact, a form of synthesis and, therefore, their process is a synthesizer? I think I can win that argument and I’m going to hire a team of lawyers to sue Queen for false advertising, synth discrimination, pandering in the first degree, probably some trespassing, and just generally being rude to synthesizers. I’ll be posting from my new yacht soon.

Processed sounds made with an instrument are not Synthesizer instruments, Synthesize is to generate, not to process. You can also process a syntheziser.

[zerocrossing]

OK, but couldn’t one argue that running a guitar through a chain of effects pedals and other devices or techniques that modulate an audio signal is, in fact, a form of synthesis and, therefore, their process is a synthesizer? I think I can win that argument and I’m going to hire a team of lawyers to sue Queen for false advertising, synth discrimination, pandering in the first degree, probably some trespassing, and just generally being rude to synthesizers. I’ll be posting from my new yacht soon.

Processed sounds made with an instrument are not Synthesizer instruments, Synthesize is to generate, not to process. You can also process a syntheziser.

Agreed. Even though you can say that parts of a heavily effected guitar are analogous to synthesis, it is not synthesis. I think a good rule of thumb is, if an instrument makes no sound unless it's plugged in (hitting it doesn't count), it's synthesis. An electric guitar still makes a sound with no power.

[zerocrossing]

Eating my words right now:

Beautiful sounding synth, but I hear absolutely nothing that couldn't be done just as well with any number of plugins.

[cryophonik]

Ummmm, guys we need to talk. Look, I’m not actually going to hire any lawyers and sue Queen and most of the grounds I claimed I was going to sue them for were actually made up (I know, right? They sounded so legit!). Also, I wouldn’t win that case anyway because the notion is a bit ludicrous, which means I won’t be buying a yacht, unfortunately, since I already own a pretty spiffy captain’s hat. I thought it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t being serious, but apparently THIS is the “serious” hardware vs software debate thread and not one of the stupid ones that occur here every other month. But, I got it now and I’ll be 100% serious from now on. On that note, hardware is for pros because they all have golden ears and more money than they can spend and software is for beginners because they’re all poor and can’t comprehend the complexity of physical controls. Is that better?

[IvyBirds]

Eating my words right now:

Beautiful sounding synth, but I hear absolutely nothing that couldn't be done just as well with any number of plugins.

When I listen to the audio demos at the end you could tell me I was listening to a demo made with one of many plugins I own

If they were sitting in a mix or being played through a PA system you most certainly couldn't tell the difference

[whassup]

Ummmm, guys we need to talk. Look, I’m not actually going to hire any lawyers and sue Queen and most of the grounds I claimed I was going to sue them for were actually made up (I know, right? They sounded so legit!). Also, I wouldn’t win that case anyway because the notion is a bit ludicrous, which means I won’t be buying a yacht, unfortunately, since I already own a pretty spiffy captain’s hat. I thought it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t being serious, but apparently THIS is the “serious” hardware vs software debate thread and not one of the stupid ones that occur here every other month. But, I got it now and I’ll be 100% serious from now on. On that note, hardware is for pros because they all have golden ears and more money than they can spend and software is for beginners because they’re all poor and can’t comprehend the complexity of physical controls. Is that better?

Yeah, coughHansZimmercough

[whassup]

Eating my words right now:

Dunno which words you're eating here. Sounds beautiful.
But if you would tell me now that these sounds were actually made using Diva I would be hard pressed to say otherwise.
Nice GUI though.