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Hardware synths or softsynths?
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Conny
IsraTrance Senior Member
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224
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149
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 09:21:14
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So what sounds best? I read in a interwiev that simon postford uses hardware. Would be nice to hear a track made with hardware and another made with softsynths to hear the difference |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 11:35
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knocz
Moderator
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40
Posts :
1151
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 11:57
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On 2014-01-07 11:35, Upavas wrote:
Both sound nice...
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+1
Also, both sound different. Hardware can be more fun to use, as it a more "hands on" experience, but it also tends to be a little more complicated to set up. However, more versatile with the physical cable routings.
Soft synths can do things that hardware ones only dream of, and digital filters are "better" (more accurate and flexible) than analogue ones. For more fun, soft synths can benefit from custom mapping to a MIDI controller, but then again so can hard synths.
Truthfully, it's not the tool that matters, but what you do with them. IMO, the best sounding result depends, and usually is accomplished by using the tools in the right way, no matter which tools. You can take the lowest quality sample, and do the right things to it and in context of the right tune, it could be the bomb. Or, take al the most expensive hard synths, play them all at the same time, and you'll have the most muddiest mix.
My 2 cents -> use and mix them both. There's nothing perfect, only more adequate for determined situations. Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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Ancient Alien
IsraTrance Full Member
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52
Posts :
269
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 12:46
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well...for me theres no doubts that Hardware sound way better then softsynths...
softsynths can doo all the job on producing, but good decent hardware gear sounds more solid, strong and hard....have more presence and clarity than softsynth, principaly analog gear...
i have now a nord lead2x...when im making a track with it, than i add some Vsti leads it really dosent blend well toghether, it seems the vsti is weak and the nord is much away strong sound...im just using nord now pratically
my fav artists keep using hardware on 90% of tracks....
https://soundcloud.com/ancientaliengoa
Goa for life |
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fraxi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
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159
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 14:51
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I think it is not about gear but about person who use it
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TimeTraveller
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
80
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3207
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 15:20
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subjective preference. If you want modern functionality, more than any hardware great sounding synth have to offer you'd go for virtual synth's like Sculpture,Octopus,Reaktor or some more.
If you like the analogish raw sound and it's essential for you to work with real faders and knobs on the device itself you'd go for analog most probably.
IMO it's pointless what if analog or virtual as far as the producer knows what he wants and how to achieve it. The level of experience and the mind of creativity are decesive.
https://soundcloud.com/shivagarden |
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Padmapani
Started Topics :
2
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431
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 16:11
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Quote:
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On 2014-01-07 12:46, Ancient Alien wrote:
i have now a nord lead2x |
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which is a virtual analog synth, so basically just a vst in a box. it's a good synth, no doubt about that, but there's nothing that fundamentally sets it apart from other softsynths.
Quote:
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On 2014-01-07 14:51, fraxi wrote:
I think it is not about gear but about person who use it
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this. |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 16:39
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Objective:
Both sound great and both can do things the other does not. Soft synths sound extremely close to classic analog synths. Take Monark for example. Its *very* hard to identify from a Minimoog in a raw sound example, it will be even harder to tell in a full busy mix.
Subjective:
I prefer hardware synths, its the unique interface of each box, even if its a digital hardware synth, that makes me program sounds in a certain way I would not have using the mouse, or even the same MIDI controller with mapped CCs.
The interaction with each hardware synth, with its own interface and the programming of sounds, without looking a monitor, results in different sounds. For example, I had a Virus Polar TI and used Virus Control to program sounds. Then I got rid of that and got a Virus C, which is a "lesser" synth, yet I got sounds that I far preferred from the sounds I got from the Polar TI.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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frisbeehead
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
1352
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 20:20
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Quote:
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On 2014-01-07 16:39, Nectarios wrote:
Objective:
Both sound great and both can do things the other does not. Soft synths sound extremely close to classic analog synths. Take Monark for example. Its *very* hard to identify from a Minimoog in a raw sound example, it will be even harder to tell in a full busy mix.
Subjective:
I prefer hardware synths, its the unique interface of each box, even if its a digital hardware synth, that makes me program sounds in a certain way I would not have using the mouse, or even the same MIDI controller with mapped CCs.
The interaction with each hardware synth, with its own interface and the programming of sounds, without looking a monitor, results in different sounds. For example, I had a Virus Polar TI and used Virus Control to program sounds. Then I got rid of that and got a Virus C, which is a "lesser" synth, yet I got sounds that I far preferred from the sounds I got from the Polar TI.
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that's funny! didn't know you had the Polar first. so you didn't like the TI side of things? or sold to get other gear? |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Jan 7, 2014 20:50
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The TI side was too buggy and the synth it self, too expensive in terms of sound, to warrant me keeping it. It has has a new firmware upgrade since the time I had it though and it is now, apparently, stable.
Although I do use my Virus C in every track I pretty much make, I would never buy a TI again, not when I can buy a Virus A/B/C/Classic at a fraction of the asking price of a TI.
I would much rather buy a C and a couple of Moogerfoogers, than a TI.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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Atherian
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
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51
Posted : Jan 8, 2014 00:15
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
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127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Jan 8, 2014 01:31
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I use both a lot. Hardware mainly for lead and fx sounds, software - for pads and noises, and basslines (hello Trilian:)
For me the main advantages of hardware devices are:
1) more fun to work with, you really feel how the sound appears under your hands. And the LEDs are so sexy when it's dark in the studio  )
2) it's easier for me to get good sound from a hardware synth (maybe i just use good hw and bad software, i don't know , but really: almost any random tweaking on hardware synth can produce something that can be useful...
However, what affects the sound quality most dramatically is your monitoring system and your experience with it...
http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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frisbeehead
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
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1352
Posted : Jan 12, 2014 15:56
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Quote:
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On 2014-01-07 20:50, Nectarios wrote:
The TI side was too buggy and the synth it self, too expensive in terms of sound, to warrant me keeping it. It has has a new firmware upgrade since the time I had it though and it is now, apparently, stable.
Although I do use my Virus C in every track I pretty much make, I would never buy a TI again, not when I can buy a Virus A/B/C/Classic at a fraction of the asking price of a TI.
I would much rather buy a C and a couple of Moogerfoogers, than a TI.
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I see. So you didn't get the TI working well for you, yes? I've heard it's mostly good as of version 5 and admit I'd welcome the extra features on it alone, but would also welcome automatic saving of patches within a project and more streamlined automation as well of course.
but yeah, those mooger foogers rock the world! I still have the Ring Mod on my wish list! Oh, and the black Polar must sound better then the other one |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
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162
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8087
Posted : Jan 12, 2014 19:04
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more hardware vs softwayre it s more analog vs digital..both have their place , analog is more suited in cases where you dont want any digital artifacts... digital software or hardware is good cause of less limitation , new synthesis technic ect... in the end both have their strenght and both can sound good or bad |
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faxinadu
Faxi Nadu / Elmooht
Started Topics :
282
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3394
Posted : Jan 13, 2014 08:29
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