Have Modern VST Instruments Replaced Your Hardware Synths ?

[Effectsworks]

For the most part, they have. Although, I'm never going to part with my Virus.

[Tj Shredder]

The problem is that if the knob is at the extreme right but the patch has almost no resonance on it to start with, it will suddenly jump up to full res as soon as you touch it or it wont' do anything until you get the knob in the right spot and you'll miss your cue.

You should insist on encoders then. If done right even visually more informative....
I am all over hardware, couldn’t live without it, but its 100% controllers, except for my iPad no sound generators...
When reading about MODX for example I get tempted, but my iPad would beat it easily and I will never need a keyboard again...
One advantage of HW sound generators would be to not get lost in choices. But one could practice discipline (in theory...; - )

[recursive one]

For the most part, they have. Although, I'm never going to part with my Virus.

Same here

[alvfaria]

Vintage hardware romplers are replacing my modern vst synths

[yul]

Yes they have but it takes being good with computers and having an ergonomical workspace. I love hardware but it's hard to justify right now.

Last GAS impulses (which I did not give in) were Korg Prologue, MODX and PA700 arranger. These seem quite brilliant and great sounding but in the end, everything has to go on the computer so it's just more work at that point.

[Erisian]

I haven't owned a hardware synth since I sold my Jen back in the eighties but one day, I absolutely must have at least one.

[recursive one]

I have 2 HW synths, Virus TI and Arturia Microbrute and I think they both sound really amazing, but I have noticed long ago that I'm far more productive (i.e. actually have chance to finish some tracks) when I use only softsynths. Basically, using hardware requires planning the track structure in advance while 100% ITB process is far more spontaneous and flexible.

So far I managed to finish only one track using both my hardware synths.

Here's the track (it's not 100% hardware but large portion of the synth sounds is the Virus and the Brute)
https://soundcloud.com/recursion-loop/the-distance

[chk071]

I have 2 HW synths, Virus TI and Arturia Microbrute and I think they both sound really amazing, but I have noticed long ago that I'm far more productive (i.e. actually have chance to finish some tracks) when I use only softsynths. Basically, using hardware requires planning the track structure in advance while 100% ITB process is far more spontaneous and flexible.

That's exactly the problem I see with a hardware workflow. I like to stay flexible.

I thought about getting the Behringer Model D the other day, but, hell... I wouldn't really go along well with the complete inability to recall settings, or having to bounce it the whole time. For the 1% it would still give me over Monark, there's just too many trade offs.

I love the bass on your track BTW. Spot on.

[_leras]

The problem with the local cave is that there are twenty thousand other dudes also with laptops all with the same software as you all making roughly the same sound with roughly the same presets.

I’ve gone the other way. I could have bought a car with what I’ve just spent on Eurorackery. It’s such fun. It’s so intense and it’s nearly unique.

At least you said your euorack was fun - but no surprise that you're getting down voted for your woefully condescending suggestion that everyone else uses a laptop and makes the same music!

Surely the synth you use is not driving your music and creativity, but the other way round?

Might have been more useful to share what you think you get from your your eurorack i.e. hands on fun, thicker sound, that you think you wouldn't get just from e.g. using Reaktor.

.

[zerocrossing]

Last week I did a proper a/b between Repro and my Prophet 6. I’d sorted of informally thought the 6 sounded “better” but I like Repro too, and it’s got a lot of other things going on. Definitely worth having. But with a formal stress test of both synths, I clearly thought the Prophet 6 sounded better, from a basic oscillator sound to wild audio rate modulation via the poly mod section. Repro just doesn’t have the same sound. It’s like it’s just “closed” or something. It wasn’t a slight difference either. Very noticeable. Maybe less movement in the upper harmonics... not sure. Repro just sounded more muted. In a mix the Repro would probably fit better, especially if there’s a lot going on, but as a solo instrument the hardware synth blew it away.

Don’t take this to mean that I don’t use and enjoy Repro. I do, and it does sound good and is capable of things that my 6 won’t do (and definitely not the 5), but it’s not a replacement for hardware. More of an augmentation. At one point, I drifted away from my a/b testing and just started building two layered patches and it sounded phenomenal.

[e-crooner]

But Repro 5 is not an emulation of the Prophet 6.
Does the Prophet 6 sound exactly like the old Prophet 8?

[mladi]

Vintage hardware romplers are replacing my modern vst synths

Same here..

[foosnark]

Basically, using hardware requires planning the track structure in advance while 100% ITB process is far more spontaneous and flexible.

That's exactly the problem I see with a hardware workflow. I like to stay flexible.

I thought about getting the Behringer Model D the other day, but, hell... I wouldn't really go along well with the complete inability to recall settings, or having to bounce it the whole time. For the 1% it would still give me over Monark, there's just too many trade offs.

Pretty much everything I do is improvisational, and I use hardware synths for that more than software.

Patch recall is not interesting to me at all. Some of my synths and two of my more complex Euro modules have a default init patch and I just take it from there. Sound design often serves as the inspiration for my recordings rather than as some kind of creative speed bump.

I record live takes, with effects baked in. The closest I get to "bouncing" is recording looper fodder -- or deciding during the editing phase that a little extra drone or noise layer in the background would be nice.

[thecontrolcentre]

I'm using hardware without presets more than ever these days. I find it much more interesting and creative than loading a preset from a soft synth. I sample my analog gear to make instruments for Live if I make a patch I particularly like.

[rod_zero]

The problem with the local cave is that there are twenty thousand other dudes also with laptops all with the same software as you all making roughly the same sound with roughly the same presets.

I’ve gone the other way. I could have bought a car with what I’ve just spent on Eurorackery. It’s such fun. It’s so intense and it’s nearly unique. The flagship wavetable engine I took delivery of yesterday has a serial number 1,736. That’s how many other people out there can make same sound. How many hundreds of thousands of Xfer Serums are there? How many million Omnispheres (when you count the unofficial ones)? In a world of instantly reproducible software instruments hardware is unique. It’s like the original cover of JMJ’s Equinoxe. All those hopefuls, all scanning the same horizon for the same chance in the same lottery.

Somewhere there is some place
That one million eyes can't see
And somewhere there is someone
Who can see what I can see?
Someone, somewhere in summertime.

Simple Minds, 1982.

Way to show incredible deep knowledge of sound design