Hi guys,
I browse the posts here often and I notice that a lot of people are using Reason, Fruity Loops, or virtual instruments, basically all software programs.
My studio is hardware based and I never use any software for the sound design. What's the advantage of using software?
Check out my remix, done with hardware synthesizers.
Damaged

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entranced

advantage of software shit?

cheap...

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Found Atlantis - Mixography [mix archive/mokumentary/my soul]?
i writed a song.

The advantages of software are:
1. They are easy to call up on demand and load presets for.
2. You can have many instances of the same synth running at once in realtime.
3. There are no wires required so installation is painless.
4. You never have any technical problems unless there's something wrong with your computer.
5. They are a LOT less expensive.
6. The only equipment they require to run is a sequencer that supports VST's.

The disadvantage is:
You are counting on your cpu to do all the computations that a synth would use its DSP chip for, meaning you get more cpu overload problems and thus the sound breaks up in realtime. This can be remedied, however, by working on one synth at a time and exporting to wav as you would with any hardware synth anyways.

People will tell you that hardware sounds warmer. That's a lie unless they're talking about the old analogue synthesizers that actually use electrical impulses to create sound waves. All of the synths that people are obsessed with these days like the JP80x0 and the Virus C are virtual analog synths, meaning they're digital. Therefore they can't sound any warmer than software because both use computational algorithms to generate sound waves digitally (DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing).

I always say use both and get the best of both worlds. Personally I will be sticking to software because I just dont have the space, the patience, or the money to invest in a lot of hardware that frankly to me doesn't sound any better than my software. Take your pick.

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Most recent tracks:
1) Ilan Bluestone - Spheres (State of Matter Eleventh Hour Mix)
2) MK-S - Illuminate (State of Matter Revival Mix)
3) Scarab - Vagabond (State of Matter Revival Mix)
4) Ferry Corsten & The Thrillseekers - Sublime (State of Matter Revival Mix)
5) State of Matter - Saving Icarus (Original Mix)

https://soundcloud.com/stateofmattermusic

Good points. I use Buzz personally, and once you get a feel for it you'll be amazed at the sounds you can get out of it. Just listen to any James Holden productions if you don't believe me, hehe.

There are some crack synths out there I would love to get my hands on.

A nice $3500 Roland would be cool. They can generate some amazing sounds with the advantage of using a single generating unit and midi control built into one. I like the idea of using hardware samples, where the nobs are easily accessable, and all the effects are built in.

Acoustic instruments are nice too. I love using my own recorded samles of things noone would dare playing live (tic tac container, boucy ball, pencils, awesome dripping sound my toilet makes while just sitting there.)

Speaking of which, I need a new sample recorder. What do yous all sample with?

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Or the real reason for a lot of people : because you can get lots of software for free (even if you have to pay for it in "normal conditions). Don't deny it, it's that way.

Don't use it - have 6 synths, but would like to get it once a new PC makes its way into my studio.

quote:

Originally posted by Monkey Mouse Don't use it - have 6 synths, but would like to get it once a new PC makes its way into my studio.

Well THAT was a well thought out response. Just to say "don't use software" without any reason or logic behind it. Can you dispute any of the things that I've said in my previous post? There are certain VST's, especially the native instruments pro 53, that are capable of amazing sounds.

EDIT: Unless you mean that you yourself don't use it, of course then I completely apologize

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Most recent tracks:
1) Ilan Bluestone - Spheres (State of Matter Eleventh Hour Mix)
2) MK-S - Illuminate (State of Matter Revival Mix)
3) Scarab - Vagabond (State of Matter Revival Mix)
4) Ferry Corsten & The Thrillseekers - Sublime (State of Matter Revival Mix)
5) State of Matter - Saving Icarus (Original Mix)

https://soundcloud.com/stateofmattermusic

Last edited by State of Matter on Sep-29-2003 at 01:33

I don't use REASON. The only reason why is becaue it does not support VSTI or DXI. The advantages of vsti has been explained in previous post. If that mix of Damage was suppose to prove that hardware is better, those sounds can be duplicated with softsynths. No signature sound or angthing special about it that screams this was made with software.

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JustinKredible

i use software simply, like everyone else, i'm an ametuer and i don't have a couple grand to spend on hardware. i would someday like to incorporate hardware into a studio, but never replace software...thats impossible nowadays...

as far as your remix...you made some pretty good sounds there, but i would work on the composition and flow of the track...

quote:

Originally posted by State of Matter The advantages of software are: 1. They are easy to call up on demand and load presets for. 2. You can have many instances of the same synth running at once in realtime. 3. There are no wires required so installation is painless. 4. You never have any technical problems unless there's something wrong with your computer. 5. They are a LOT less expensive. 6. The only equipment they require to run is a sequencer that supports VST's. The disadvantage is: You are counting on your cpu to do all the computations that a synth would use its DSP chip for, meaning you get more cpu overload problems and thus the sound breaks up in realtime. This can be remedied, however, by working on one synth at a time and exporting to wav as you would with any hardware synth anyways. People will tell you that hardware sounds warmer. That's a lie unless they're talking about the old analogue synthesizers that actually use electrical impulses to create sound waves. All of the synths that people are obsessed with these days like the JP80x0 and the Virus C are virtual analog synths, meaning they're digital. Therefore they can't sound any warmer than software because both use computational algorithms to generate sound waves digitally (DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing). I always say use both and get the best of both worlds. Personally I will be sticking to software because I just dont have the space, the patience, or the money to invest in a lot of hardware that frankly to me doesn't sound any better than my software. Take your pick.

Good post, well thought out points. I too use software (although i do have a midi keyboard). I do however intend to get a synth someday (although it will no doubt be a long way off due to money constraints )

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• Space Tribe Vs Electric Universe - Rabbit Hole
  
• CPU - So It Begins
  
• Too Short & Mistah FAB - The Sideshow
  

quote:

Originally posted by Floorfiller i would someday like to incorporate hardware into a studio, but never replace software...thats impossible nowadays...

Amen, that says it all right there, hardware to supplement software, or for the people who have been around a bit longer than us, software to supplement hardware.

A good example is on J00F's website (www.john00fleming.com) in his diary he talks about the use of softsynths and what they are doing for music now.

Also when you really get down to it, a softsynth is theoretically generating the same waveforms as a hardware synth with the same ammount of ocilators and effects, the reason you get differences has to do with imperfections i believe... anyone got more info on this?

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