Why i prefere software to hardware

[StantheBeatsmith]

i'd say software over hardware. been using FL Studio for about a few years now. but i'm guessin with a midi controller you get both of them combined since the controller is kinda hardware but without pre-stocked sounds (unless it's a Maschine or a MPC Renaissance).

[deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup]

I'm currently making the switch/transition....Software certainly takes up less space... That said, I can't see myself ever parting w/my nord-lead, EVER! I also don't think I would have been able to 'learn' soft-syths without the tactile experience of its hard-synth counterpart.... Or not as easily anyway.

Check out DiscoDSP Discovery. It's a Nord Lead based VST. They even have vids of the same tweaking being done to both the hardware and vst and the sounds are pretty close. Disturbingly close.

[SUPERBANANABOMB]

I have been using hardware and software both for a long, long time. At one point I sold off all of my hardware and did everything "in the box." What I came to realize is that I no longer had FUN producing music. Yes, computers are capable of a lot of amazing things these days in the realm of music, but if it isn't fun and inspirational, what's the point? These days I am 100% hardware once again. I think that the reason why many people prefer software is because they are too cheap to actually buy hardware. Let's face it - most "producers" these days are running pirated software, pirated VST's, pirated samples, etc.

Also, many musical instruments appreciate rather than depreciate in value, especially if you keep them in good condition. It is not at all uncommon to sell a piece of gear for more than what you actually paid for it, especially if it is vintage, analog, and/or rare. I know that many people claim that there's no substance to the "hardware sounds better" argument, but that simply is NOT true in my experience. Hardware definitely sounds better. That's not to say that software sounds like crap, but if you're a true audio mad scientist like me, it's hard to deny.

Many VST instruments and effects are modeled after real instruments, and although they might sound okay on their own, when you compare them with the hardware originals, the difference is like night and day the majority of the time. I love the Arturia Arp 2600 emulation, but does it sound nearly as good as a real 2600? Hell no! Not even close! For me the differences (however miniscule they may be) make owning hardware soooo worth it. All I use my computer for music-wise is editing samples and digital recording. Half of the time I don't even record digitally... I record straight to analog tape.

Building up hardware is expensive and it does take space and dedication, but the fun factor simply cannot be matched, even if you have a super powerful computer and a midi controller or two. Besides, who is proud of their VST collection? lol

If you're a bedroom producer who never plays live gigs and doesn't have much money to spend, yeah, you can get great results with nothing but a laptop and a midi controller. However, if you ever want to put on live sets, 98% of people would rather see an act using a hardware rig. It is more interesting, more mysterious, more interactive, and YES - sounds better.

Just my 2 cents, of course.

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:29 PM ----------

Other things to consider:

Once you buy a piece of software, it basically becomes worthless after purchasing it. Good luck reselling used software that isn't basically brand new. In no time at all, they tend to become outdated and worth next-to-nothing. Some software isn't transferable at all from owner to owner. As operating systems continue to evolve, there will be a time in which some stuff will no longer be compatible. Hardware doesn't have this problem. Also, what you can actually do with software is limited by the specs of your computer. Try inserting one too many instruments or effects and you get audio dropouts. This never happens with hardware. You rarely if EVER have to worry about a hardware unit crashing. In fact, nothing I've ever owned has done that, but I've had plenty of crashes when using various DAW's and VST's. This would be absolutely unacceptable in a live scenario. If you play keyboards, the latency when using midi controllers is also unacceptable. Even if you have a fairly good interface with low latency, the latency can still cause many problems and limit the amount of technique and expression you can use while playing. Another major issue with the ubiquitous nature of software-based producers is the fact that people tend to be far less experimental these days. Most people use presets, or slightly modified presets. I can spot them instantly. The sheer amount of patches and options is kind of overwhelming and it is easy to get bogged down... it seems a lot easier (for me) to focus on production with hardware. Another thing that sucks about the fact that software is so accessible is that people tend to be really cookie-cutter these days and make really unoriginal, uninspired music. (look at what passes for "dubstep" these days)

[TheMasterMirza]

HW because you can feel what you're doing and stuff.

[Xabiton]

HW because you can feel what you're doing and stuff.

I used to feel that way then I figured out midi mapping with my plug ins and it made a lot of difference for me.

[Desire Inspires]

Hardware has a certain sex appeal to it. Being able to touch those keys and knobs is feeling on some...you get the point. Girls like seeing guys play with real instruments. It's called "hardware" for a reason.

[JBlongz]

Baloney LOL..When girls see how I buss out a plugin and play the keys...its guaranteed kitty.

[stillfunkin]

I have been using hardware and software both for a long, long time. At one point I sold off all of my hardware and did everything "in the box." What I came to realize is that I no longer had FUN producing music. Yes, computers are capable of a lot of amazing things these days in the realm of music, but if it isn't fun and inspirational, what's the point? These days I am 100% hardware once again. I think that the reason why many people prefer software is because they are too cheap to actually buy hardware. Let's face it - most "producers" these days are running pirated software, pirated VST's, pirated samples, etc.

Also, many musical instruments appreciate rather than depreciate in value, especially if you keep them in good condition. It is not at all uncommon to sell a piece of gear for more than what you actually paid for it, especially if it is vintage, analog, and/or rare. I know that many people claim that there's no substance to the "hardware sounds better" argument, but that simply is NOT true in my experience. Hardware definitely sounds better. That's not to say that software sounds like crap, but if you're a true audio mad scientist like me, it's hard to deny.

Many VST instruments and effects are modeled after real instruments, and although they might sound okay on their own, when you compare them with the hardware originals, the difference is like night and day the majority of the time. I love the Arturia Arp 2600 emulation, but does it sound nearly as good as a real 2600? Hell no! Not even close! For me the differences (however miniscule they may be) make owning hardware soooo worth it. All I use my computer for music-wise is editing samples and digital recording. Half of the time I don't even record digitally... I record straight to analog tape.

Building up hardware is expensive and it does take space and dedication, but the fun factor simply cannot be matched, even if you have a super powerful computer and a midi controller or two. Besides, who is proud of their VST collection? lol

If you're a bedroom producer who never plays live gigs and doesn't have much money to spend, yeah, you can get great results with nothing but a laptop and a midi controller. However, if you ever want to put on live sets, 98% of people would rather see an act using a hardware rig. It is more interesting, more mysterious, more interactive, and YES - sounds better.

Just my 2 cents, of course.

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:29 PM ----------

Other things to consider:

Once you buy a piece of software, it basically becomes worthless after purchasing it. Good luck reselling used software that isn't basically brand new. In no time at all, they tend to become outdated and worth next-to-nothing. Some software isn't transferable at all from owner to owner. As operating systems continue to evolve, there will be a time in which some stuff will no longer be compatible. Hardware doesn't have this problem. Also, what you can actually do with software is limited by the specs of your computer. Try inserting one too many instruments or effects and you get audio dropouts. This never happens with hardware. You rarely if EVER have to worry about a hardware unit crashing. In fact, nothing I've ever owned has done that, but I've had plenty of crashes when using various DAW's and VST's. This would be absolutely unacceptable in a live scenario. If you play keyboards, the latency when using midi controllers is also unacceptable. Even if you have a fairly good interface with low latency, the latency can still cause many problems and limit the amount of technique and expression you can use while playing. Another major issue with the ubiquitous nature of software-based producers is the fact that people tend to be far less experimental these days. Most people use presets, or slightly modified presets. I can spot them instantly. The sheer amount of patches and options is kind of overwhelming and it is easy to get bogged down... it seems a lot easier (for me) to focus on production with hardware. Another thing that sucks about the fact that software is so accessible is that people tend to be really cookie-cutter these days and make really unoriginal, uninspired music. (look at what passes for "dubstep" these days)

you sound like you are convincing "yourself" hardware is better than software...

one thing is "true"... when hardware was big... the "actual" music was better... for someone to spend 3 to 4k on a workstation... 9 times out of 10... they could play it...

cant say the same about software...

i perfer software by the way!!!

[Gabolinho]

Hardware is superior.

When using hardware I really have the feeling that I literally produce music, I’m a musician and I use an instrument to produce sounds and tones. I have something to touch, controllers to operate with. I miss this immediateness when producing with software. PLUS: It’s way more fun, and for me this is what it’s about. As long as I’m not and maybe especially when I’m a professional a lack fun won’t direct you to creativity and satisfying music.


Sure, with Ableton etc. you probably have more opportunities and configurations, but sometimes less is more. Sometimes to be limited will lead to results, which are straight to the point, as you don’t have to decide whether to use “Drum Kit 768” or “Drum Kit 769”. To quote Kanye West: “It is just about how it sounds at the end of the day. My claim to fame is to get the most out of the least: SIMPLIFY.”

I better master my three crafts instead of being a jack-of-all-trades.

[SUPERBANANABOMB]

you sound like you are convincing "yourself" hardware is better than software...




one thing is "true"... when hardware was big... the "actual" music was better... for someone to spend 3 to 4k on a workstation... 9 times out of 10... they could play it...

cant say the same about software...

i perfer software by the way!!!

I am not convincing myself of anything. I've known for a long time now that I prefer hardware. Producing music on a computer is boring to me, bottom line. I've tried being software-only, and had midi controllers all mapped out and it still isn't the same. It's like having sex with a condom on versus not wearing one. There's no comparison when it comes to which is more enjoyable and fulfilling.

For the kind of music that I do, I need complete control over everything in real-time, and I don't want to spend hours configuring a perfect midi controller setup. For me, music is more about the experience of live jamming and discovering awesome sounds rather than having a "perfect" finished track rendered to mp3 and put up on the web. Being software-only can be very costly as well, depending on what you buy and/or whether or not you download pirated software.