How realistic is it, at this point in time right now, to create full-blown commercial quality productions ready for release using ONLY software VSTs and VSTi's? Additionally... if the answer is 'not very', how long do you think it'll take until you can get the power of, say, the Motif XF or the Virus TI2 in a VSTi? Which soft synths out there right now would you say are comparable? Anyone have any good examples of current releases that were made solely with software instruments?

The reason I ask this is because I've been moving from place to place over the last 3 years or so, and I've come to find hauling a studio of shit to be extraordinarily tedious. Not to mention the buildup/breakdown, cost of power consumption ect.

So I've been considering the possibilities of a truly 'portable' recording studio.

With the way things are moving, trying to plan for the future is getting more and more difficult, but that doesn't stop one from trying.

The only thing I'm having trouble visualizing is mixing and mastering without sufficient monitors, but I suppose a good solid pair of headphones or in-ear monitors could do the trick if you got good at it. What do you guys think? Can you do it all on a laptop? I mean dynamic rich quality productions not lifeless over-compressed preset pig shit.

Last edited by meriter on Jan-30-2011 at 19:02

I'm the case study at trying to do just that - making full-blown production with severe technological restrictions. I'll submit that a lot more of my problems reside on the operator error side of the equation than anything to do with restricted access to state-of-the-art technologies in terms of software and hardware, but there are toys I'd love to have that I think would greatly enhance my ability to create well-rounded music.

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my old stuff, not quite up to snuff - but I still dig it - UPDATED 9/23/2012

all my tracks so far are made in Reason only. Its no problem at all man. you need a decent laptop / macbook pro and a daw and some headphones. nothign more. infact its pretty stupid thinking you need a studio for making EDM. but its nice to have some proper monitors+soundcard in addition though, and maybe a midicontroller. software is better, easier, faster, cheaper, more flexible and more accurate than hardware. analog sucks. soon all serious monitors will be digital too, i cant wait.

quote:

Originally posted by meriter How realistic is it, at this point in time right now, to create full-blown commercial quality productions ready for release using ONLY software VSTs and VSTi's?

I think we passed that point some time ago. There's nothing stopping people from making commercial quality tracks using software only (not including vocals, of course).

quote:

Originally posted by meriter Additionally... if the answer is 'not very', how long do you think it'll take things to progress until hardware synths are phased out completely?

That will never happen. This is the problem with many "producers" - they fail to comprehend that there are people called "musicians" who actually need/want to play an instrument, rather than sit on their fat asses in front of a computer screen. Sorry if I sound like a condescending ass here, but c'mon people - get off your fucking "all-you-need-is-software" crusade. Goddamn that's gone beyond annoying. If you like software and/or don't know how to play an instrument and don't want to learn, then knock yourself out. But there will always be people who prefer to work with hardware and play an actual keyboard in both live and studio situations. And not everybody makes their purchase decisions based on how cheap (or free/easy to pirate) an instrument is. There are many musicians out there who will spend a lot of money to own a fine instrument(s), and I guarantee you that will never change. [/rant]

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NAMM was what, two weeks ago?

The only things that I can remember on the purely software front being a big deal were Omnisphere 1.5 and BTs Stutter Edit. What was everything else? Hardware. Synths, controllers, various pieces of outboard gear....hardware is not dead.

I have a buddy who used to be in a couple of different bands in the 80s, and he never sold his gear. He even has a freakin Memorymoog, and that thing is worth what....$3K? More? And that's just one piece of what he has....I can't remember everything that he has, but I think he could get about $10K for all his stuff.

There will always be hardware buyers, there always will be people who want something physical to play on....and not just a midi keyboard. I'm a example of that. I plan on getting NI Komplete 7, but also a Roland Jp-8080 and a Doepfer Dark Energy (I like the acid sound). I could just have a full-on software setup, but what fun is that?

While it's great that in this day and age, you could just get the bare minimum of hardware and doing everything "in-the-box", there's always gonna be people that wont.

And now taking a look at recent posts since I hit reply, what Cryo said as well.

Cryo I totally agree with you man. Another perhaps hidden reason I'm asking this question is because I'm considering selling my Motif ES 6 and my Virus B desktop synth. Nothing quite like the hands on experience.. BUT... the Motif alone weighs like 80 pounds and if I could get the same sound quality out of a VSTi and control it with a small midi controller, that's very well an option for me. Do I want to part with this amazing beautiful piece of gear of course not. But I'm also broke as fuck and seriously thinking about selling everything I own and working on an organic farm in New Zealand.

EDIT: What I meant by 'phased out' simply meant if you could compress the capabilities of a popular hardware synth into a VSTi and control it with a smaller more compact interface like a midi controller or even just on screen with multi-touch. I'm aware people are never going to stop buying hardware for the performance aspect and I don't want to have this discussion ever again

Last edited by meriter on Jan-30-2011 at 18:53

quote:

Originally posted by meriter I'm aware people are never going to stop buying hardware for the performance aspect and I don't want to have this discussion ever again

Sorry meriter, my rant wasn't aimed at you - it was aimed at those people who we see constantly insisting that hardware is a waste of money, software is better because it's cheaper/free, easier, etc. Those people have such a limited understanding of the music world that they can't see beyond their own laptop. And, that's fine with me, it's just that it gets so annoying when they insist that their tunnel vision should apply to everybody. They fail to realize that not everybody is interested in easy/free/cheap - the best musicians aren't the guys who are always looking for shortcuts.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik the best musicians aren't the guys who are always settling for shortcuts.

Fixed for truth!










Unless you envy my spartan, utilitarian approach to making music.

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my old stuff, not quite up to snuff - but I still dig it - UPDATED 9/23/2012

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Fixed for truth!

Good point.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Unless you envy my spartan, utilitarian approach to making music.

Hey, I went to Michigan State, so I envy anything Spartan-related.

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software is a parallel universe, i meand people who rave over an "Korg MS20" or "MOOG filter" on an iPad.

Software is extrely close to "as good as it gets" since most vsti's can run on a pda and there is really nothing left that brings a modern i7 to it's knees.

So yes full fledged productions can be made totally ITB, even more they ARE already being made. If the question is if you can make songs sound identicalas hardware, using the VSTi's, the answer is no. Does it sound better or worsse? that's for you to decide.

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quote:

Originally posted by Raphie So yes full fledged productions can be made totally ITB, even more they ARE already being made.

Any examples?

all lady gaga logic synths and macbook pro only !!