Hardware vs Software

[Al Davison]

When recording music, is software synth is just as good as hardware? If we
are not at a gig, does it really matter if its hardware or not when
recording? I saw people arguing about this and I don't know why. If it
sounds good, thats all that matter right? From a recording point of view,
can anyone tell if a hardware synth or a software synth has been used?

--AL

[Ethan Winer]

Al,

> is software synth is just as good as hardware? <

I think so, but some will say your question is like asking if an apple is as
good as an orange.

> If it sounds good, thats all that matter right? <

Yes. Move to the head of the class!

> can anyone tell if a hardware synth or a software synth has been used? <

I don't think so, except perhaps by knowing the sound of a particular patch
that's unique to one brand or model.

Also, many/most modern hardware synths are really software synths that run
on a computer inside the keyboard's case.

--Ethan

[xy]

there are fabulous software synths out there. there are some really
unusual hardware synths like the hartman neuron that came out
recently. but those are $5k. probably really cool, but i'm not about
to drop $5k on a synth anytime soon.

i love that software synths take up no physical space, and no wires!

[Analogeezer]

(xy) wrote in message >...
> there are fabulous software synths out there. there are some really
> unusual hardware synths like the hartman neuron that came out
> recently. but those are $5k. probably really cool, but i'm not about
> to drop $5k on a synth anytime soon.
>
> i love that software synths take up no physical space, and no wires!

Actually that's the part I hate about software synths....If I want to
change a parameter I gotta grab the mouse and turn a knob on a screen.

Sure you can program your controller to send cc messages to your
software but I have yet to see a midi controller that has even half
(my XT-K has 44 knobs, the Q had 58) the knobs of hardware.

I'm sorry but having to remember which knob controls what and then
only having four or eight of them, and having a really ****ty
controller response from them is just a big creativity suck for me.

So by the time you've got your computer (even if it's a notebook),
your usb midi keyboard, mouse, regular keyboard, computer monitor,
wall wart for the midi controller (yeah some are usb powered but those
are the toylike ones), usb and/or midi cables, power to the computer,
some sort of amp and speakers, etc. ,etc. you're telling me this is
less of a physical pain in the ass than just having a piece of
hardware?

I think software synths are pretty cool, but when I messed with them I
found myself caught up in a nest of wires, mice, keyboards,
controllers, etc. that really sucked the fun out of it...even changing
programs was a total PITA.

I can take a hardware synth upstairs, plug it into the wall and plug
in a set of headphones and drink a beer while I fiddle with it late at
night. It takes all of two minutes to set up.

I'm sure most hardware will eventually go away (other than some stock
"shells" that will load software synths for live gigs) but it will be
due to price more than ease of use.

Analogeezer

p.s. They'll take away my synth hardware when they pry my cold, dead,
fingers off the knobs on the front panel <g>