Analog VS digital (its that time of the year again)
Nectarios
Martian Arts
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 03:08:18
Right then, started a new tune yesterday and I am split between two basslines. One of them is more hammering, the other has this chunky funky attribute...decisions, decisions.
For years everyone knows (or has been told) that analog sounds better, especially for bass.
Others say digital sounds just as good now days, only different.
So a quick test, two different basslines, same EQ settings, same compressor circuit, same compressor parameters and gain reduction, both peak at -11dB.
One of them is a Minimoog model D (that stays in tune across a whole octave!).
The other is the ES1.
a) Which one sounds better to you?
b) Which one is the analog bass synth?
TimeTraveller
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 03:28
hard to say what is there analogue,could be both somehow..btw amazing tune! Very psycedelic °
I like the first bass a bit more .
Also I guess this is the Moog and the second version is the ES1.
https://soundcloud.com/shivagarden
golem
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 03:50
PoM
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 03:58
can t downlaod the file to listen on monitors on shity speakers after a quick listen i like more 1 ,it sound a bit thiner but have no lowend on these speaker...it make me think it s es1
Mute
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Access Gremlin
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 07:36
1st sample is the Minimoog Bass for sure and it sounds better then the 2nd sample.
In situations where you eq the sound to shave off those harsh analog frequencies isnt doing justice in my oppinion. Now days nobody will point out an analog bass from a digital one simply because of the processing done on it with digital effects. Better to leave it unprocessed as much as u can to feel the power of whatever that it is from analog bass to lead fx etc.. Digital just sounds much cleaner and fits in tracks nicely but analog is so hard to fit in tracks but requires subtle treatment.
Good luck
Speakafreaka
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 10:31
One is subbier than the other, and has a nice cyclic effect in the very lows (bass 1).
Bass 2 rings slightly more in the high sections (could be an EQ doing that though), and the subs feel subjectively 'higher' - although I prefer the body of bass one, I like that there is slightly more presence in bass two.
I am not confident to say which is which - the presence of more bass does not absolutely convince me - for example I know the korg polysix HPs its saw waveform, and played very low doesn't look like a clinical saw at all - one of the things I dislike about a lot of digital synths is that their saw waves are too 'perfect' and can need a lot of corrective EQ for bass purposes - which leaves me in two minds, if you haven't changed EQ settings around between the two... BLine 2 definitely sounds more EQ'd ... which if the settings are the same suggests it might be the moog - but as I say, I couldn't suggest which is analog and which is not with any confidence.
Overall, I prefer bass one - it works better with the kick, and sounds less 'effected' - beyond that - fuck knows..
http://www.soundcloud.com/speakafreaka
klippel
Stereofeld
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 11:41
my guess is also bass 1 is the moog and i like it better as well..
one thing on the kick: on my headphones it has a very long decay with lots of subs which kinda muddys the whole mix in my eyes - is that by purpose?
lil to techy for my taste overall but nice synth programming and besides the kick clean overall sound as it is your trademark ;-)
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 12:44
I have virtually no experience of analogue synths so I couldn't tell.
Listening on my shitty Vaio laptop speakers I'd go for #2, sounds a bit 'fuller'. Probably because - as Speakafreaka pointed out - it has slightly more presence in the higher frequencies.
A.Rosengren
Solid Snake
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 15:03
Number 1 is better, and it wouldn't suprise me if #2 is the analog synth!
A
PoM
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 15:18
if you eq the es1 and then use that eq for the mini it don t make much sense ,imo you should leave them wihtout any processing or make them sounding as best as possible with the same tools but not same settings
orange
Fat Data
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 15:43
i think the 2nd is the moog cos it has a nicer crunch to it!
nowadays low end is easy with some proper eq even in digital synths!
Zero-Blade
Zero-Blade
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Posted : Feb 11, 2010 15:58
First bass feels more alive and real and second feels more artificial.
First one sounds good alone with the kick, but when the synths come in it sounds bad - you can only hear the very low end, which is kinda muddy, and the 'plop' in the high end, it's like you hear reoccurring noise.
Second feels more artificial and boring when it's alone with the kick, but when the synths start it has a little bit more presence between them.
So, I would say, use the first, but add more presence above the very low end and lower the volume of the 'plop' at the high end a little.
Triplag Music
http://www.triplag.com/
on shity speakers after a quick listen i like more 1 ,it sound a bit thiner but have no lowend on these speaker...it make me think it s es1 
