Hardware synths vs. Software synths

[stringsthings]

Just curious to know what others think about the two.

I've had a couple of hardware synths that I enjoyed.  Now, I'm recording with a midi controller and software synths.
( arturia analog 3 ).  The amount of sounds available in software wins for me handsdown. As well as the controller weighing
next to nothing compared to a vintage hardware synth.  OTOH, I can see where someone would prefer a hardware version.

The other nice thing about a software synth is that it doesn't break.  ( except into very tiny bits ...  )

[alanp]

I'm a troglodyte. I prefer something I can mess with, with my hands.

[gordo]

I picked up a 49 key Samson Carbonite and it came with a suite of software synths.  I got the keys just to run the Ambika build but I have to admit, I'm pretty impressed with the quality of software based stuff.

[oip]

huge + and - for both.  hardware feels way more inspiring, fun, hands-on etc.  after a day at work, coming home and sitting in front of another screen clicking around to make music is not particularly joyful.  but the convenience and power to weight ratio of software is pretty absurd.  it takes a lot of cables and miscellaneous bits of equipment to get a setup that costs nothing in software.

sound wise i don't think there is any difference worth mentioning, both can sound incredible or garbage.  though again playing with hardware often leads to more unexpected results with clipping and harmonic content that you wouldn't necessarily stumble across in software.

there's also the whole issue about limitations and creativity - again if you're sitting in front of one hardware synth that's it, that's what you have to work with, so you make it work.  whereas with software you are basically unlimited and this can be paradoxically stifling.

[ahiddentableau]

there's also the whole issue about limitations and creativity - again if you're sitting in front of one hardware synth that's it, that's what you have to work with, so you make it work.  whereas with software you are basically unlimited and this can be paradoxically stifling.

Huge +1 to this--I couldn't agree more.  Having limitations to work within is enormously liberating.  When I am dealing with software, I spend hours tweaking and yet somehow I'm never really happy with anything.  With hardware, I accept the limitations at the outset.  This compels me to concentrate on the other things within my control--like the song and the actual performance--which are in fact a hundred times more important to the result and (maybe more importantly) to my enjoyment of the music making process. 

[stringsthings]

I'm in total agreement with the advantages of limits.  I think my background in software helps me
to blur the software/hardware line when it comes to limits.  Perhaps the hardware designer is analogous
to whomever wrote the software.  I'm lucky to be able to appreciate well-written software.

[Muadzin]

I reckon that hardware would be the most fun to use in the initial stages, when you're messing about looking for sounds. But when you found the sounds you wanted its probably best to switch to software for gigging purposes. Far easier live to have a single laptop and controller live then a whole battery of hardware synths. Which all have to be hooked up individually. And who all might decide to go finicky on you at some point. So might the laptop, but having done a few gigs the less complicated your rig is, the less chance it has to go wonky on you.

[stringsthings]

I've never played keys live, but I wonder about the visual aspect with laptops.
I suppose a full-size controller would look pretty much the same.

One reason that I like home recording with soft synths is that I've got all the time in the world
to tweak. 

Any piano players out there?

[Muadzin]

I've never played keys live, but I wonder about the visual aspect with laptops.
I suppose a full-size controller would look pretty much the same.

In general unless the keyboard player gets put at the front of the stage they're usually not in the public's eye. Most of the time they're at the back, with the singer and the guitar and bass player grabbing the attention, as A: they're usually at the front of the stage and B: not tied to a physical work space, like the keyboard player and drummer usually are. And while a whole battery of keyboards and synths would draw the attention of fellow keyboard nerds, those rarely make up the majority of an audience. So laptop with controller vs. huge battery of keyboards and synths, I doubt it will matter much. In my experience most keyboard players tend to gig with one keyboard or synth anyway.

One reason that I like home recording with soft synths is that I've got all the time in the world
to tweak. 

Any piano players out there?
[/quote]

[stringsthings]

In the interests of expanding the scope of the original post:

What software are y'all using to record with?  ( I'm using one of Magix's products )

[alanp]

I'm lazy.

Audacity.

[peAk]

Great topic

I have been using softsynths for about 20 years now and boy have they come a long way.

A lot of things have already been said in this thread so I will keep my opinion short.

I truly believe even the die hard analog hardware lovers couldn't blind test say... a real Minimoog vs. Synapse The Legend or Native Instruments Monark. Or say a Prophet 5 vs. UHE Repro-5. Now that said, Korgs VST MS20 sounds like ass compared to a real MS-20. So it's kind of hit and miss with the emulations.

While I absolutely love midi controllers (have a few), they can't compare to the actual feel of say a cutoff filter knob on an analog hardware synth. And you guys with modulars know how much fun and inspiring it is to create fabulous sounds patching real cables.

So IMO, kind of like guitar plugins vs real amp and effects, both have come a long way in recent years and it's cool to use both!

[stringsthings]

So IMO, kind of like guitar plugins vs real amp and effects, both have come a long way in recent years and it's cool to use both!

I'm in total agreement.

[movinginslomo]

As a avid Reason 9.5 user I enjoy my software synths. Even more so with the adaption of VST host capabilities. I have however found the arturia collection to be OK, but not as good as the real thing. They just don't do it. I do highly recommend however, Bitley's amazing fairlight collection, and sonic project's staggeringly amazing sounding op-x pro II oberheim ob-x emulation.

[stringsthings]

I do highly recommend however, Bitley's amazing fairlight collection, and sonic project's staggeringly amazing sounding op-x pro II oberheim ob-x emulation.

very cool.