Soft Synths or Hard Synths?

[nvisibl]

What do you think are the pro's / cons of both?

Looks like the T1 is going a step midway, perhaps gauging the potential future.

[jasedee]

I voted hardware!

I just dont think you can beat it with software, not so much in terms of sound, as I think that the softsynths are getting better all the time, but because you rely on your computer for calculations, and they are just not as fast as the dedicated DSP's used in hardware synths, and ultimately your processing speeds get eaten up and there is not enough room for the rest of the mix (compression/EQ etc)

Plus the fact that when you open up the box with your new synth inside, yuo actually feel like you own something. Not just some software on a disc.

AND......knobs!

[Midi_Glider]

Well, I simply adore hardware synths and absolutely love soft synths that sound hard and juicy! :lol:

and there are more and more of those around these days, BTW...


Best,
midi.

[Hollowcell]

Voted Hard.

Can't beat the chunky sound of a raw analogue bass.

[nvisibl]

I've heard many go on about Hardware synths being a thing of the past and that Soft synths are here now for the future. Personally I prefer my hardware and find such software plugins etc.. quite piddly and false. Not to say that many don't produce great sounds or that they aren't created by knowledgeable and hardworking individuals. They are just not for me, right now anyway.

I just don't think the likes of Access, Korg, Roland etc... are going to suddenly say "Oh well, lets close all the manufacturing plants, cancel our tradelines and halt all prototype research, software synths is the way to go". :lol: Yeah, lets all ditch the hardware and start creating software only so that some bunch of hackers can crack them all and put them on the web for anyone to download for free. I don't think so!

There is a growing market for software as far as I can see which appears to be stemming mostly from noobs sitting at their PC wanting to be superstar DJ's after hearing their mates bung together a techno boom boom track on Fruityloops. Again, there is some shit hot proffesional software out there so i'm not knocking it completely.

Ultimately I think neither hardware nor software will fade, there will always be a place for both.

Did the Piano die when electronic keyboards were invented?

Exactly.

[Gopal]

Did the Piano die when electronic keyboards were invented?

Exactly.

Post of the day right there mate.

Couldn't have said it better myself 8)

[Tomer=Trance]

i would say both.
the TI has nothing to do with softsynths since its entirly dsp based...

cpu based synths have still not reach the same level of dsp based but look at the price difference... :)
so each has its own advantages.

[Merlot]

Give me my freakin guitar anyday!! But i also love the sounds of synths, both hard and soft!! <--- sounds king of perverted! :oops:

[hatembr]

i didin't vote because i think both of them are great. Depends on what you are doing.
Ususally, i use the virus for mais sounds (lead/bass/pad), and soft synths for FX/noises.
This can vary of course, because some soft are good for both noises and main sounds.

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

To me, hard and soft means......

Hard - true analog components, voltage controlled.
Soft - Software based sound (even if its wrapped up in 'hardware knobs and buttons')

My definition encompasses what generates the sound. The Access Virus is a softsynth in my eyes. So to is every digital synth ever made. Softsynth with a 'hardware' interface.

True analog synths represent real hardware. Theres no denying it.

DS

[harrystainer]

I voted hard because to me they just sound so much better. I prefer the hands on tweakability of a hard synth aswell.

Software has the advantage of integration with no recording etc. but hardware still wins it for me.

[midislut]

use both

i personally love the korg legacy collection (soft) and also have the korg triton (hard) and love them both !!

they are very different....but you can do more with hardware IMHO

i see softsynths as a "add on" sound bank, and prefer tweaking hardware synths

[Gopal]

To me, hard and soft means......

Hard - true analog components, voltage controlled.
Soft - Software based sound (even if its wrapped up in 'hardware knobs and buttons')

My definition encompasses what generates the sound. The Access Virus is a softsynth in my eyes. So to is every digital synth ever made. Softsynth with a 'hardware' interface.

True analog synths represent real hardware. Theres no denying it.

DS

What about the filters, the adsr envelope, etc etc those are hardware circuitry aren't they? To consider the Virus a softsynth, the sound would have to not pass through the filters. Is this true? Do the filters just control calculations on the dsp board or does the sound actually pass throught them?

Lots of old analogues had the sound generated by a DCO but the rest was analogue, ya get where I'm goin with this?

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Gopal.....

I believe the filters, envelopes etc etc are all software generated. The software is programmed into the chips? What you are hearing is 100% software. Look at the Virus Powercore.....its all software....

I cant think of many DCo synths....most of the old analogs were VCO. But anyways...DCO are still analog.....its just that there tuning was digitally controlled.

DS

[Tomer=Trance]

DS your looking at software from the wrong direction...
dsp runing software and synth synths have total different capabilities.
i still think dsp is better then cpu.
i cant realy see the virus runing on a pc without taking about 80% of a 3gh prosessor.
but if you think about it a 3ghz pc will cost you less then an accual virus :D
i wish it was affordable to easly connect between computers to creat a massive low latency daw system. (ah... dreamy...)

about the virus stracture,i belive its all software and coding,not a single piece of analog cuircitry is used.

[ledge]

Voted hard, because KNOBS.

Yeah, I know you can get midi controllers but you have to swap the controller over for different softsynths, or even different instances of the same one.

And the fact they don't chew up CPU power is pretty important as well.

As far as sound quality goes, there is no reason that softsynths shouldn't sound just as good as hardware VAs as underneath they are both digital.

[Analog Warriors]

Hard - true analog components, voltage controlled.

True analog synths represent real hardware. Theres no denying it

co-signed !

[diskonext]

Software anytime,

Ableton Live, some creamy VSTs, some sampled 808 kicks through a flanger. As for control, BCR2000? 2 of them? Wee!

Add some hardware and an analog mixer into the mix for some added effect, but don't take my PC away!

;)

-diskonext

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Hard - true analog components, voltage controlled.

True analog synths represent real hardware. Theres no denying it

co-signed !

AnalogWarriors is my new best m8 :twisted:

DS

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Software anytime,

Ableton Live, some creamy VSTs, some sampled 808 kicks through a flanger. As for control, BCR2000? 2 of them? Wee!

Add some hardware and an analog mixer into the mix for some added effect, but don't take my PC away!

;)

-diskonext

Granted, but do you really like the super clean sound (sometimes sterile) that you get from using digital instruments and digital recording? For me, half the fun is bringing in dirtyness and a certain rawness....hence I really dig those early 90's rave tunes. Alot of analog gear......

I hope analog gear goes down in price and becomes more mass market....but everytime manufacturers release more digital stuff....the price of analog gear just keeps going up. Surely, one of the major players could release some analog mono's with keys for cheap. Im not into the inflated price of new Moogs....or the osbscurity = high price of power modulars (M5).

Come on Roland, Korg, Clavia & Access. Make some real analog!!!

DS