In the Lord of the Rings fandom there’s a persistent debate whether balrogs, or Durin’s Bane specifically, have wings. The text in Fellowship is ambiguous whether what it is describing are literal wings or something else wing-like.
In the Lord of the Rings fandom there’s a persistent debate whether balrogs, or Durin’s Bane specifically, have wings. The text in Fellowship is ambiguous whether what it is describing are literal wings or something else wing-like.
Synthesizers: digital vs analog.
Common opinion holds that analog (specifically oscillators, but also filters and even VCAs [voltage controlled amplifiers]) are warmer and more natural sounding while digital are cold and harsh.
The thing is, digital emulation of analog hardware has become virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, but there is a certain segment that refuses to believe their $5000 Minimoog can be so easily replicated by software (realistically I doubt Bob Moog could tell the difference anymore).
Of course some also choose to argue which is better, which is just ridiculous because they both have their uses depending on what kinds of music you’re composing or just what sounds you’re trying to make.
You can extend that further to the cranks in the DAW community who swear that their rebranded standard compressor algorithm is somehow different and worth spending hundreds of dollars on. Generally you‘re paying for a different UI and maybe a hardcoded EQ.
Ugh, compression is a nightmare in general. One person will tell you unless you’re using some fancy multi-band compressor on every single track, you’re doing it wrong, and another will tell you you should do your best to not use any at all. Add to that many, many people don’t even know what it does, and more can’t even hear what it does.
Yeah by the time you add effects, throw that synth into a full mix with other instruments, THEIR effects, and all the compression and EQing in a finished track, the only thing that matters is whether that single instrument adds what it needs to add to the whole.
Objectively, digital oscillators are better - they don’t drift unless you want them to, they stay in tune, and they can always be run through analogue filters to add imperfections (sorry, “warmth”).
But it still boils down to my first point: it’s a single part of a multi-part song. As long as it gets the job done, who cares whether it’s fluctuating voltage or zeroes & ones. It’ll be analogue on its way into the listener’s ear canal either way.
Absolutely. So much nuance is lost in a mix. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just dumb to think a $3000 synthesizer is going to sound better than a $10 plugin when you’ve got it buried amongst guitar, bass, drums, and vocals.
See, the point you’re missing is that my kind of music is just better. If you prefer <option I dislike>, it’s just because your taste sucks. Try making good music, like <whatever music fits>. Then you’ll see that <option I prefer> is clearly superior.
(I have no idea about synthesisers, but I heard similar discussions among e-guitar / amp enthusiasts. I’m just guessing the above parody fits your case too.)
It fits quite well.