VSTi vs. Virtual Analog vs. Real Analog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDal_H2umvw

This video,via chronosproject, compares three synths, with nearly same settings, and demonstrates differences between digital computer tech, digital hardware tech & analog hardware tech.

I’ve got no idea what this really demonstrates, given that they’re three different synth designs, in addition to three different technologies.

But the analog synth does sound the best. : )

58 thoughts on “VSTi vs. Virtual Analog vs. Real Analog

  1. That is completely worthless annd doesn't prove anything about the point he thinks he is making. All he has shown is that they are 3 different synths which is not a fact in dispute.

    Really, the whole notion that Analogue is somehow intrinsically better is just another instance of the "Naturalist Fallacy". (google it)

    I would argue that the main reason VSTi's might seem to be of lower quality on average is because the barrier to entry to create a VSTi is almost non-existant in comparison to creating an analogue hardware synth.

    1. Not better, just different. VSTi, analog, VA, digital & sample based synths all sound different. It’s the same reason that different brand & makes of acoustic instruments sound different. Theoretically, all guitars should sound identical. They’re shaped the same, made of the same material & components, etc,….but they don’t sound the same, nor to hardware & software synths.

  2. That is completely worthless annd doesn't prove anything about the point he thinks he is making. All he has shown is that they are 3 different synths which is not a fact in dispute.

    Really, the whole notion that Analogue is somehow intrinsically better is just another instance of the "Naturalist Fallacy". (google it)

    I would argue that the main reason VSTi's might seem to be of lower quality on average is because the barrier to entry to create a VSTi is almost non-existant in comparison to creating an analogue hardware synth.

  3. Usually soft synths sound weak, because of the cheap sound cards. I have rather expensive sound card, but it sounds worthless! Shouldn't have bought it.

  4. Usually soft synths sound weak, because of the cheap sound cards. I have rather expensive sound card, but it sounds worthless! Shouldn't have bought it.

  5. Usually soft synths sound weak, because of the cheap sound cards. I have rather expensive sound card, but it sounds worthless! Shouldn't have bought it.

  6. This analog love shit makes me barf.

    To all you 40+ yr old freaks who think analog is almighty:

    Pull your head out of your arse and listen up. Is there REALLY an audible difference between a good VA or VSTi and real analog? Quit letting your nostalgic fantasies influence what you hear.
    If analog was any better, Roland, Korg, and even Yamaha would be making full blown analog synths with DCOs. Seems they won't even dare to go this route… and for good reason.

    Hell, stick with your crappy analog till you die. Just know that you'll be the last generation to use them. I will continue making hits with my "weak" and "unsatisfying" soft synths.

    1. If you cant hear the difference then you have shitty ears. Simple as that. The difference between a moog voyager and its software version is night and day. Im 25 and have my head firmly on my neck to help study my third year in audio production. Just like thinking a plug in channel strip of a waves SSL bundle is ANYWHERE NEAR PUTTING YOUR AUDIO THROUGH A REAL SSL DESK. Really? Are you actually listening? Every software VA synthesiser I have come across has a static top end that fuzzes out your mix and doesn’t possess the attack and tone of a real analog synth. Every parameter and function of hardware synth blows the shit out of software. This whole industry is a farce that has bred over 500million amateur dumbstep remixes on soundcloud. After using a real moog Low pass filter going back to a software synth and playing with the cutoff of the filter is a joke. Even a nord will blow the shit out of software synths. Those things have dedicated DSP’s to make the sound with? Duh?
      Software will get better and no doubt one day sound better than these clunky electrical circuits but for now its a no brainer. Who in their right mind would spend $1,000 on a software synth (or package of them) when you could pick up a second hand DSI mopho or a slim phatty for the same price? (If your looking for an analog synthesis engine) A pack of ill informed idiots that cant critically listen to the point where they can tell the difference or have been fooled by the marketing plans that cost more than the product development. I put down the cash for a real synth a year ago once I realised computer music magazine was a biased piece of shit and what i was reading was utter lies. They honestly think that in 2011 a computer can sound better than a million dollar recording set up. Or a VA plug in sounds better than a modular synth. Bahahahaha.
      All the first years at university have their laptops with heaps of pirated software and by third year they all own hardware. Yeah if your REALLY REALLY good at getting juice out of software all the effing multy layered this and sub bass to fill out that and these special e.q settings. I say good on you. But also your wasting your fucking time on that shit instead of writing new sequences or chord progressions. Which i guess is a good way of putting off actually writing a track.
      In place of my 7 layer bass softsynth sound, one for nearly every part of the frequency spectrum created by a bass i now have one BIG FAT TASTY AUDIO channel that only needs compressing/parallel comp to taste and E.Q sweetening. Not e.q surgery, Notching out all the horrible little resonances and desperately trying everything you can wondering why does it sound so cheap and unprofessional? ANSWER: Your not using real gear and absolutely the most important thing that no one seems to mention……MASTERING!!!! Justice from ed banger (who copped so much nasty jealous shit on these bitchy little forums) famously did everything ‘IN THE BOX”. Where was it mastered????? at the exchange by NiIlz who is famous for his extreme use of tape and analog outboard. 99% of all the big sounding dance albums were mastered at the exchange on outboard analog gear. So its ultimately NOT ‘in the box’ and you will never ever get your tracks to sound like that coming out of your laptop. ROland KORG and Yamaha are asian companies and are very stubborn to the idea of using old technology. For these companies to make an analog synth would be like mcdonalds all of a sudden deciding not to put lips and ass holes in their burgers cos they taste better without. These companies want to be at the forefront of technology (in their minds, whilst only really caring about the bottom line) and will never ever come up with a design that reverts to older analog circuitry.
      Software will ultimately be refined more and more until it surpasses the sound of hardware. It has surpassed it in every way except for sound quality. Once we have computers that can run much higher sample rates and bit depth can be increased along with maybe better inbuilt word clocks.
      But right now if you are going for the analog sound or style of synthesis there is no software that sounds anywhere near as good. Your a retard for saying things like there is no audible difference cos there is a massive difference and KORG ROLAND YAMAHA are shit brands with shit products that are not for serious musicians. Have your joke of a re- issue of a jupiter MINUS EVERYTHING THAT MADE IT FUCKING FAMOUS IN THE FIRST PART and stick that up you arse. They dont give a shit what your music sounds like they just care about making shit as cheap as possible and tricking you into thinking that its a good thing. haha you dick head. Thats why they are not making them cos its not as cheap to make you retard. Look at moog, they really care about music and even though they are really expensive all their stuff is the best in the market. Got their own festival with informed line up’s. keep their website updated with musos playing their gear, cos they actually want to. Constant product launches and stuff that is aimed at making music not bitching on forums cos your so unsatisfied with your own shit music that no one has ever heard or ever will. Hey buddy enjoy making your shit music until you die knowing that your the only one who thinks your any good. Dan ling is spot on and has good ears. MASTER is a retard that is one of the many many little C&^%TS that are cheapening the art of making music with every piece of shit they come up with and throw into the world wide web. ITs like printing more currency, just makes your money worth less. I hate the fact that the internet gives people with no knowledge a place to say their piece. Enjoy watching all your favourite jingle writers press play on their laptop when you fork out good money for a public appearance billed as live. Once all of you kids have lost interest in this fake scene or whatever it is, the rest of us are going to stand up with our skills and play this shit in front of you with our bare hands like a real muso does and not some rude little shit on a laptop flexing his presets and sample libraries. God everything you say MASTER is retarded and just the last straw. Crappy analog? Oh my frieken god. My only hope is that your younger than 14 and are just a little dude who needs to grown up and work on critically listening. If your any older than that I want you to send me your hits? Or show us your soundcloud?? If your tracks were any good a dickhead like you would be showing them off at the end of every rant. Where are the hits buddy? Let me hear how tough all your software fart generators sound on your over compressed stinky tracks.

      1. You pretty much manage to disrespect everyone that doesn’t like what you like in your rant. Too bad very little of it is true.

        I’m not a 15 year old kid and I acknowledge the power of digital. Summarizing the entire landscape of VAs, VSTs, etc into a cluster and saying they all sound like crap is childish and shows you listen more to your own assumptions than reality.

        Software has it’s limitations, but so does hardware. Many talented musicians have composed using digital instruments. For you to sit here and bash everyone because they don’t run out an buy some dusty 60’s synth is ridiculous.

        By the way, my studio used to have over 7 keyboards with several racks of gear. Today, my studio is neat and tidy thanks to softsynths. My workflow is faster and easier. Sure I’ll dial up some analog gear if the project needs it, but it’s not a necessity and it certainly doesn’t determine if someone is talented or not.

        I wonder if you have the same hate towards LCD TVs, CD players, HD, The Internet.

        Technology moves and we as musicians have to move with it. Even analog keyboards got some hate when they first came on the scene.

        Stop being angry. You might as well argue with Father Time, and we all know that’s a losing battle.

        1. That’s really not a fair comparison. (actually, there is no comparison for the internet) When you try to compare CDs, HD, LCD TVs, etc, to Synthesizers, it’s like comparing apples to oranges. In any event, CRT, LCD, Plasma & OLED all have pros & cons. Without getting into a long discussion, I will just say that VSTi has it’s place, but it’s NEVER going to sound as fat, warm & thick as a real, analog synth.

      2. VSTi is to analog/digital/hybrid synths & drum machines, what Soybean Meat Substituent is to Beef. A big part of most synths, (ESPECIALLY Analog) is the FILTERS. No algorithm/program is every going to duplicate or replace that. Also, all synths sound different & have their own individual character. For example, I have a Roland JD990, JV1010 & XV5080 & a Vintage Synth expansion board. That same board sounds slightly different in each sound module. There’s also the individual key action of different synths & even the aesthetic value. (though it’s unimportant to the actual sound) VSTi is appealing to many people because they’re cheap & or even free. It’s like “Ohhh….free sounds!”. But if you’re using the same sound card with all of them (which is usually the case), you’re not going o get the same, tonal character as using different, individual synths. I dabble with VSTi & I have 17 real synths & sound modules. Ultimately, I just don’t think VSTi sounds as warm or dynamic as the real thing, nor do i think it EVER will. A $400 PC running some Oberheim VSTi, is NEVER going to sound as fat as a real, Oberheim Matrix 12. It’s just a fact.

      3. Morgan!!

        I CANNOT AGREE WTH YOU MORE YOU ARE 100 PERCENT CORRECT in everything you refer to in reference to Analog and software synths and digital recording.

        I had to learn the hard way not knowing the advantages of analog recording and spent a lot of money with these digital freaks here in Brisbane Australia to be left with a SHIT sound and I mean shit!!! plus a lot of money spent it wasn’t until met an audio engineer who explained to me the differences and then invited me to his studio then he ran the saved files through his Neve console AND BANG THE UNIVERSE MOVED!!!!! –What a sound I will never forget it so 7 years later and I have just finished my CD recorded with a Classic Neve and SSL and the sound is so superior to digital – THERE IS NO COMPARISIN !!!! NONE WHATSOVER

        I have looked at software synths and the only company I believe at this stage that does a reasonable job is G Force, but with software synths you tend to loose the compression and thickness that hardware produces, maybe in the future it will catch up but right now and at this moment no software emulations ( expect maybe Masters oftware hits sound different to his circle of unsigned friends… rent a crowd etc. ) come close.

        I mean I have listed the moog replications and comparing them to the Classis Mini Moog D is like comparing Korean pop music against Deep Purple!!!!

        By the way I’m in my early 30’s but the classic sounds of the analog synths I hope one day will be reproduced, I mean Korg are looking at reproducing the oddesy which is fantastic and means we all don’t have to pay massive amounts of money for a used analog synth.

        Any way lastly I would like to share with everybody here the best hardware analog emulations and cheap analog synths that I have personally found the best on the cheap. From owning up to 20-25 synths analog and digital I downsized last year and this is what I found to be good emulations of analog hardware and synths;

        Small Akai SG module ( Made 2002 ;

        I can remember the actual code name they pop up on e bay from time to time but sounds are amazing very organic warm and analog . They received great reviews from SOS. These are very underrated

        Kurszweil K 2000

        ( Try running this through an analog filter and it sounds really good , there are many different floppies that emulate analog synths and I have to say they sound very close I have brought quite a few from E Bay – One I recommend is by the sound engineer Simon Phillips; BRILLANT SOUNDS and try experimenting with the programming e.g. different layers /setting to low pass filter etc. and using the low pass filter. If you use tape during the recording Id say its 95% there

        Roland RS O9

        These are usually on e bay for around $500.00 Run them through an analog phaser and Mama Mia!!! Not even the Real Master Jean Michel Jarre could tell the difference!!!!!

        Yamaha SK 20

        These are usually on e bay for around $ 400.00, made in 1977 I think but sound very warm and are great for pads and lead sounds again run it through an analog phaser/effect and Wow !!!it can sound so good

        And lastly the Korg X5D What !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes this cheap digital synth can re emulate analog in an amazing way it is a must have synth for me, Once you start programming this little baby it can sound awesome so warm. I have previously owned the triton, trinity and the poly 6 , but this synth I will never depart with. This is a very deceiving digital synth, Jena Michael Jaree uses this one on a lot of his CD’s

  7. This analog love shit makes me barf.

    To all you 40+ yr old freaks who think analog is almighty:

    Pull your head out of your arse and listen up. Is there REALLY an audible difference between a good VA or VSTi and real analog? Quit letting your nostalgic fantasies influence what you hear.
    If analog was any better, Roland, Korg, and even Yamaha would be making full blown analog synths with DCOs. Seems they won't even dare to go this route… and for good reason.

    Hell, stick with your crappy analog till you die. Just know that you'll be the last generation to use them. I will continue making hits with my "weak" and "unsatisfying" soft synths.

    1. Of course there is. Only a deaf person would disagree. A big part of any real synth & especially analog synths, is the FILTERS. Do you really think some algorithm/program is going to completely & accurately duplicate, the all the warmth, character & nuances of a real filter, tube, transistor, etc? Impossible. The difference is so HUGE, it’s not even debatable.

    2. Admin: Personal attack deleted.

      Also, your IP address is being used with multiple user names (no, bah, synth_master, etc) to post comments. This increases the likelihood that your comments will be treated as spam or held for moderation.

  8. This analog love shit makes me barf.

    To all you 40+ yr old freaks who think analog is almighty:

    Pull your head out of your arse and listen up. Is there REALLY an audible difference between a good VA or VSTi and real analog? Quit letting your nostalgic fantasies influence what you hear.
    If analog was any better, Roland, Korg, and even Yamaha would be making full blown analog synths with DCOs. Seems they won't even dare to go this route… and for good reason.

    Hell, stick with your crappy analog till you die. Just know that you'll be the last generation to use them. I will continue making hits with my "weak" and "unsatisfying" soft synths.

  9. You mean VCO's? Analog IS better, but not that much that we want to pay for, hence their rarity novadays. Also digital synths tend to have more interesting modulation options. But any synthesist should have some real analogue components in their palette, even if they are slightly expensive. I recommend awesomely exciting hybrid synth named Poly Evolver!!! Soft synths need expensive sound cards if they want to sound anything other than piss, and even then they are weak.

  10. You mean VCO's? Analog IS better, but not that much that we want to pay for, hence their rarity novadays. Also digital synths tend to have more interesting modulation options. But any synthesist should have some real analogue components in their palette, even if they are slightly expensive. I recommend awesomely exciting hybrid synth named Poly Evolver!!! Soft synths need expensive sound cards if they want to sound anything other than piss, and even then they are weak.

  11. Good soft synths can sound fantastic and yes the modulation options are limitless and you can create sounds that would require massive rooms of hardware to reproduce, but you cant just add a bit of random "humanising" to get the warmth of real hardware, the DCO / DCF on reaktor comes close to the real thing to my ears, but most soft synths do sound reedy and thin, no matter how good a sound card you buy it wont change that, I'm yet to hear a VSTI that can sound better than my Prophet or Roland real analog, it's not nostalgia, even modern bands use real analog, that riff from Prodigy's firestarter a VSTI? No it's from their namesake a Moog Prodigy. You might be hearing music every day and thinking hasn't technology come a long way and yet you're listening to 30+ year old gear without realising it. I just use both digital software and analog hardware, they're equally good in their own ways, why choose, anyone serious about sound experimentation will want all options open to them, there's no argument, the experiment above is perfectly valid it's stripping the synthesizers to the bare minimum oscillator, filter and ADSR, any good digital analogue simulation should sound good with just ONE oscillator filtered and no tricks to beef it up.

  12. Good soft synths can sound fantastic and yes the modulation options are limitless and you can create sounds that would require massive rooms of hardware to reproduce, but you cant just add a bit of random "humanising" to get the warmth of real hardware, the DCO / DCF on reaktor comes close to the real thing to my ears, but most soft synths do sound reedy and thin, no matter how good a sound card you buy it wont change that, I'm yet to hear a VSTI that can sound better than my Prophet or Roland real analog, it's not nostalgia, even modern bands use real analog, that riff from Prodigy's firestarter a VSTI? No it's from their namesake a Moog Prodigy. You might be hearing music every day and thinking hasn't technology come a long way and yet you're listening to 30+ year old gear without realising it. I just use both digital software and analog hardware, they're equally good in their own ways, why choose, anyone serious about sound experimentation will want all options open to them, there's no argument, the experiment above is perfectly valid it's stripping the synthesizers to the bare minimum oscillator, filter and ADSR, any good digital analogue simulation should sound good with just ONE oscillator filtered and no tricks to beef it up.

  13. "Is there REALLY an audible difference between a good VA or VSTi and real analog?"

    Yes. I own several good VSTi's, VAs. and a real VCO analog. There is a big difference in the sound. Which is better? Depends what you want.

    'If analog was any better, Roland, Korg, and even Yamaha would be making full blown analog synths with DCOs. "

    They make what works well enough for what they're trying to market and offers good profit opportunity.

    "Seems they won't even dare to go this route… and for good reason. "

    Yes, because pure digital is easy to develop, is reliable, costs less to manufacture and many people want features over analog parts. Most people don't even have an analog to compare them against. I'm going to bet you're writing this rant without a decent analog to compare against either.

    Why the rage, anyway?

  14. MirlitronOne made the most important point "they're just different". And they are. I have an SH5, a Chroma Polaris, a Mono Poly, an MKS80, a JX8P, and a DW800, as well as a DX9 and a TX7. I keep them all because they each have their own unique signature and strenght. The common denominator with all of the above mentioned is a certain sonic richness. maybe it's the nuances of analog, but I can never get that from any of the VSTI's that i also have. However, Arturia's ARP2600 emulation seems to be the exception,, it's alive and bubbling. With all of that said,, back to MiritoneOne's point. There are so many amazing timbres and sonic possibilities available with these VST synths that older analogs cant't achieve (well maybe of you had a 100,00.00 Buchla modular and time to burn) but in the end, it's not so much about the pallete you have to work with, it's what you do with it. JJ Cles' "Naturally" was inspired from Rolands first drum machine, and Ace Tone device with some early preset rythyms and sounds.

  15. Virtual analog synths CANNOT do smooth high-frequency pitch bending and filtering without aliasing artifacts that sound nasty. The true analogs have an ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY SMOOTH high-frequency sound when bending notes and sweeping the filter, whereas ALL the virtual synths have awful aliasing artifacts that sound like crap in comparison, and the difference is very, very apparent to anyone who knows the gear. Try it: set up an analog and a virtual side by side and do this: create a simple single-oscillator square wave sound with no modulation/LFO. Now play in the high frequencies and bend the pitch widely (say 5 or 6 semitones. The digital will sound like radio interference and the analog will sound smooth as silk. Now try the filter cutoff frequency. Same aliasing problem. Aliasing is a problem that has not yet been solved, and it is not only real, but it is VERY audible.

  16. Crow-eating time…after spending many years searching for a softsynth with no audible aliasing, I finally found one that comes close only hours after I made that last post: U-He ACE. Pure high frequency tones pitch bend very cleanly…though I still hear artifacting when I bend pitch while doing a Jan-Hammer style sync sweep guitar (sync osc A to osc B, turn down A vol to 0, sweep A's osc freq with foot pedal: voila: Hammer's screaming Miami Vive guitar with artifacts). Still, that Jan Hammer sync sweep requires a real Moog or Obberheim.

  17. For me: VA and real analog is far best sound than VST definitely!… VA and real analog have a DEDICATED circuitry with dedicated specification and with pieces and elements that make better control, feeling and processing. Never a VST will sound good with AMD/Intel and a Fast Track, because all manufacturer make each component with very limited specification to get "maximum" compatibility with all rest of hardware and finally, all top ten synth music in clubs and discos are made almost 90% with hardware instruments.

    1. Listen here kiddies,I own a Virus TI2,Mogg Voyager,DSI Prophet08,and tons of software synths.I run everything through UAD and Waves plug ins.My friends can’t tell the difference on some of my tracks.If you don’t belive me,ask my friend DR Dre.Dre fell in love with Omni and Virus.VAs and VSTIs are getting so darm close it’s pathetic.Once you mix down your beat,it’s hard to tell a difference.I think anolog serves best in a live performance setting.

  18. Digital is for conformists and analog is for rebels. Two wrong choices but at least the rebel has character. Go along to get along, or remain yourself. Jupiter 6 all the way!

  19. I have had Manny synths VA, digital and analog (about 85 pieces). Also used Vsti.
    Now i mainly got analog (alesis andromeda, oakley modular, tinysizer, ms-10, rhodes chroma), a microwave 1 (analog filter), and one digital Microkorg.
    I sold al the VA’s and digitals and don’t use vsti’s annymore. Through there are some good digitals and VA’s.
    The reason for selling all is soundquality.
    For making music annything will do Depending on your musicality.
    My interest is THE sound and THE quality of it. and THE is nothing that comes close to an analog sonicly. I can’t realy tell what makes THE difference, but there is a huge difference.
    I wasn’t an analog freak because i was interested in the sound itself. But over THE years i became one. Sometimes i try a new VA, Vsti. But sell them quit fast.

  20. After reading the first half of the comments, I was disappointed that people were slagging off the broad categories of VSTis and VA synths, while praising the broad category of analog synths.

    Clearly all are not equal withing these categories. It would be really helpful to me if people would name specific VSTis they like, or don’t like. Personally, I am not looking for VSTis that have their own, unique character: I want technology that does a good job of recreating analog sounds, and does it on the cheap. I’m not against spending several hundred dollars for good software, or a couple of thousand for good hardware for that matter.

    My own experience is that I have a Kurzweil PC3x (and an old K2000), and I am not satisfied with the sounds I am designing with its VA engine. To my ears, they still have a “digital edge” that good analog sounds do not have. The recordings I listen to that were made with good analog gear have, in my opinion, extra warmth and smoothness.

    1. Try running the K2000 through an analog filter or even re programming the sounds to have the low pass filter and experimenting with layers

  21. I got my first analog 2 weeks ago and must say it blew my vst’s out of the water . User of vst for 7 years thinking this was hot sound — but boy was I mistaken . Now , I want to try true compressors and Eqs . No wonder I have been struggling with sound for so long .

  22. I soley use hardware synths to make my productions.I rarely use soft synths anymore.I think softsynths are better for bedroom dwellers.But,softsynths have made musicans famous,that ordinarily wouldn’t have made it using just hardware.It’s all going towards the softsynth realm,along with dummy controls.

    It’s all about cutting out the hardware aspect,and using your pc as the brain to cut costs,and to create a multi platform rig.I say in 5 years,softsynths start to get on par with hardware.Omnisphere,UHE,Alcamey,and ect have come damn close,but they not quite there yet.I give it upwards of 5 years folks.People will start to emulate the circutry of hardware,and implement these nuences too these softsynths to sound more analogish.Thats really the only thing holding back softsynths.Otherwise,Arturia,comes so damn close to hardware,it’s pathetic.However,they still can’t get the nuences from the hardware to reflect into the softsynths sound.

    Ah,I use hardware,because it’s the source.I don’t like using samples that are already made.I like to design my own shit from a true piece of hardware.Until software can truly emulate hardware,i’m not entirely sold.Call me what you will,but my willy stands up stright when I hear the warmness out of my babys,especially my Jupiter 8 and Voyager.Two of the best synths,ever made period.

  23. I’m now looking at the’Moog Music Slim Phatty Analog Synthesizer’ in two weeks . Would this be a good investment ? Is the Ti snow a worthy investment since it is digital ?

    What would is difference between a VSTi vs. Ti snow ? will the Ti snow produce higher quality sound over say a romper like Nexus or Spectrasonics omnisphere ?

    I need something for pads .

  24. The biggest diference in this video is sound setup. Everyone who has a bit of experience in sound designing can clearly hear suggested bullshit.

  25. Isn’t this all a matter of taste at a point in time. There is a tendency for many listeners and aspiring musician’s to want to duplicate the sound of their favorite artist or song. It is possible that in the not too distant future, young musicians will think analog sounds like shit, simply because it does not sound like their favorite artist. I happen to love the sound of my Strat through my Marshall tube amp, but isn’t that because my guitar hero’s tone was shaped by the Marshall distortion. It is not that the Marshall distortion sounds objectively better, its just the tone that I want to achieve.

  26. It’s pointless when it hits your saw, lol. Sure, analog is great in a daw because you don’t have to layer the sounds as much. However, you lose a lot of that warm sound. Then you produce your album and the crap goes to mp3 ,lol. Good luck telling the difference between analog, Va, VSTI, and ect, lmfao. People make me laugh!!!!!

    1. I agree! It seems like many people are making music in a lab for scientific audio research. THE AUDIENCE DOESN’T KNOW OR CARE! And in a car or jogging or in a noisy dorm room etc. no one can hear the difference anyway. Go ahead and use your expensive and temperamental hardware, I get it, it sounds great. But stop this foolish crap about the “game-changing difference” between that and the digital stuff.
      Who are you making music for, the audience or yourself?

  27. honestly , do you fell the same having a real moog synthesizer or a virtual one ,clearly not…there is a big difference between a musical instrument and a piece of software.vsti are ok and you can get it for free.but they will never replace a real analog synthesizer. it sound better ,it fell better and in the future you will resell it like a vintage for a good amount of money.and if you like so much vst do you a favor and start programming http://www.synthedit.com/.at least you will learn something lol…..

    1. I own over 20 hardware synths and make music for a living. And I know more about synthesis than you. But that wasn’t the point I was making, kiddo.

  28. This reminds me of the “Gibson vs All Others” debates in the guitar world. I’m glad there are options for all out there, but here’s my 2 cents:
    1. In the mix it’s a lot harder to tell what plays what. Unless you’re soloing it’s usually not too critical. Add FX and…
    2. I have heard some amazingly rich and textured digital synth sounds and have programmed both analog and digital professionally. I love them all.
    3. No one but the composer/sound designer gives a damn. If you write and record for yourself you may need the Gibson/Moog difference. Your audience couldn’t care less.

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