Real analog or VA?

[projectwoofer]

I guess this topic has been discussed before but...sometimes I wonder: is it worth it to invest (sometimes huge!) amounts of money to a real analog (VCO or DCO) synth or a decent VA (be it H/W or S/W) will do the job? How many people will tell the difference between them?

It is worth noticing that I used to be an analog purist. I believed that no VA could sound convincing...but after hearing lots of analogs and VAs I sometimes cannot tell the difference...and in the end it's music that counts, no?

[CS_TBL]

but after hearing lots of analogs and VAs I sometimes cannot tell the difference...and in the end it's music that counts

What a wonderful conclusion for this -no doubt- popular thread! *grin*

[Dogboy73]

but after hearing lots of analogs and VAs I sometimes cannot tell the difference...and in the end it's music that counts

What a wonderful conclusion for this -no doubt- popular thread! *grin*

Indeed. Think you've killed off your own thread with that conclusion Probably a good thing before this thread descends into another VA V's Analogue/soft V's hard/VCO V's DCO type thread

[ensoniqphreak]

VA's have thier place and are without a doubt beautifully expressive and useful instruments in their own right. That said, even the most convincing VAs (Nord Lead and Ion/ Micron come to mind) can never *completely* trick my ear into thinking they are analog. I prefer digital boards like the DX7, DS-8, and hybrids like the ESQ-1 to both VAs and Analogs so I guess I am a rare bird in that sense.

[balma]

No matter wich one. Any type of synthesis becomes useful when you learn how to get the best of it, and use its advantages for your own purposes.

I'm not a pro on Real Analog (I've owned only 1 analog).... sometimes a rompler will do better than analog on a song composition, if the sound requires it, as simple as that.

If it sounds good, use it.

[Solderman]

...How many people will tell the difference between them?

...but after hearing lots of analogs and VAs I sometimes cannot tell the difference...

Just to clarify, are you asking if other people can hear a difference or yourself? And why the concern if someone else can?

FWIW, sometimes I wish I couldn't tell a differnece. VA's can do so much more at once, usually with vastly superior control and flexibility for different working methods. Whereas RA takes up large amounts of studio space, usually has sonic limitations one uses to exploit likeable character unique to that instrument, can be more difficult to integrate into a modern studio environment and are definately more challenging to deal with in terms of recording technique, gettting them to fit in a mix, timing issues when using Midi, etc.

That's all I can say really, as going much further is to delve into too much subjectivity, and that generally is not at all useful.

[clubbedtodeath]

I give this thread 2 pages before it descends into the seventh circle of voltage-controlled h**l.

[StepLogik]

either one would sound better than a stage-prop matrix-12

[Solderman]

Yeah, before it descends into iniquity, I wanted to add that a friend from a different forum did two full mixes with one of his tracks once, one using only soft synths, and the other using a Prophet 8, Little Phatty and Alpha Juno. The latter just sounded nicer and more natural. Maybe it was just his working method. Maybe certain subtle tonal characteristics start coming to the fore. But then again, maybe you don't want nice or natural.

[StepLogik]

Yeah, before it descends into iniquity, I wanted to add that a friend from a different forum did two full mixes with one of his tracks once, one using only soft synths, and the other using a Prophet 8, Little Phatty and Alpha Juno. The latter just sounded nicer and more natural. Maybe it was just his working method. Maybe certain subtle tonal characteristics start coming to the fore. But then again, maybe you don't want nice or natural.

how did he mix the two tracks? analog desk for both or mixing "in the box" for the soft synths?

[Solderman]

I'd have to ask to be sure, but I think the soft synth mix was all done in software, whereas the outboard mix was through a desk, a few tracks at a time. The drums I'm not sure about. Here's the blog. It's a good read in regards to this thread topic, as several posters point out it's more important how productive you are than what tools you own.

[Sir Nose]

It's like sex with or without a condom.

You know which choice is gonna feel better, but it's not always a wise choice.

[tallowwaters]

Both sound like s**t, buy an oboe.

[tekkentool]

Both sound like s**t, buy an oboe.

f**k that, get an irish whistle instead.

[CfNorENa]

It's like sex with or without a condom. You know which choice is gonna feel better, but it's not always a wise choice.

Well f**k me. I've read a thousand posts on this topic, and that is hands down the best analogy I've seen yet. Bravo!