This would acctually be a great oppertunity for a small contest:

Someone makes a midi-file, (a really simple tune). Sends it to one (DS hehe) who has alot of analogue beasts. He samples everything as pure .wav files who send it back to which ever made the midi-file.

If he doesn't got a virus maybe someone else could help out abit and also recives the midi-file and makes exactly the same thing with the .wav and sending the files back -

Simple leads/bass-type of sounds will be used,

And now the bloke who first made the midi-track will mix them as close as the other track. and loads them up to a webpage and we'll all take a listen and say which one is better

Sounds like a cool little challenge......

But I think the real test would be too play it to someone that is not so knowledgable about analogue/VA synths...and then ask them which one has "nicer qualities", such as warmth, depth, aggressivness???

i dont think someone with no knowledge will know what thos words exacly mean.

Probably not, but then if we play the sounds to someone that knows what to expect, then maybe the answers they give may be a bit biased.

Are we trying to tell which is analogue/VA, or are we trying to see if we can fool people into thinking a VA is an analogue? Or is that the same thing? Or is it just a case of "which one is better?"

Hmmm.....

303 got use totaly confused :o

Err.. I got confused aswell after reading my reply.. what the hell did i mean?

Well, never mind..

this calls for hollow to un-confuse us! :lol:

I think "general non-production" people can hear differences between analogue and VA, but only if they are in the same room with the machines. I have tested this with a few students who like electronic music, but have no idea about production. With-out a digital link in the chain, they always like the analogues more.

Post recording/production people tend to hear the sound of the production over anything else. Because most of us are using the computer for recording it's become difficult to judge.

One thing for sure though, it's easier to produce an analogue bass synth than it is a VA. For example when I record bass from the CS (single OSC mono) it fills the bass end really well, but to do it with the VA (Virus for example) I need to use the unison alot, use slight distortion (maybe stauration), sub, and maybe the 3rd OSC.

I think for recording tunes VA does a great job! There are things I'd use a VA over analogue anyday. But for sheer inpriation playing (specially bass) analogue gear has an edge. That's what I'm leaning to these days - more fun when playing and less worrying how I'm gunna produce.